Ditto on changing the mind set about being “late”. Our school district wisely had some students who took 8th grade algebra but struggled with it retake it in HS instead of letting them get more and more behind because they did not have a firm foundation in it. Likewise many students who take AP calculus and pass the AP exam, perhaps with only a 3 (think C), start over with first semester calculus at UW-Madison. Otherwise they struggle too much attempting the second semester as the UW courses have a lot more content. It was probably best for your D’s learning to have had an additional year of math before algebra to really learn the concepts.
It is not a race to see how many courses one can get through, it is learning the material. What would work best for her? Also- what other HS course would she need to forgo to double up on math courses? And- for a likely business major waiting until college to take calculus is fine (also fine for a math major, btw). AP statistics in HS could be more fun for her and free up time in college for other courses.
Every kid is different. Yes, Geometry and Algebra require different ways of thinking, but History and English require different ways of thinking as well yet nobody says “don’t take History and English at the same time” so I don’t understand that logic.
Why not have her go through both a geometry and algebra textbook during the summer? That way, she can determine how easy it is for her.
Actually, the latter is not necessarily true, and in most cases, not true (which is why most grads attending law school finally learn critical thinking skills).
Regarding post #13, it depends on your district but I would say most colleges are going to expect that she finish those three classes (Algebra 1, algebra 2 and Geometry) if they are offered. It will defend on the district if they will allow you to flip the order of Algebra 2 and Geometry and it will depend on the district if they will allow her to double up geometry and algebra 2.
Why take pre-calc if she does not intend to take calc? Is statistics a pre-req for AP Stats? In our district AP Stats only pre-req is Algebra 2.
I said this before as well as another poster, but business majors take calculus for one or two semesters in college even in the non-selective schools. What schools is your daughter considering?
Is she a strong math student? Does she like math? If you can answer ‘yes’ to both questions, then I would say double up on the algebra 2 and geometry. But high school isn’t a race; it’s a process. The long-term goal is to have your daughter prepared to take college math classes, not necessarily be in the highest math level in high school. I also echo wis75 and UCB - not being ahead in math doesn’t mean your child is behind in math. She may very well be at her proper placement level.
Here are two possible scenarios:
10th grade: honors geometry and algebra 2
11th grade: precalc
12th grade: AP calculus AB or AP Stat
or
10th grade: geometry
11th grade: algebra 2
12th grade: precalc or (and?) AP Stat.
fwiw, I “held” my child behind in math. I forced her to retake algebra I in ninth grade along with taking honors geometry. She was a fairly strong math student (not stellar but good) but I found a sizable gap in her algebra I knowledge. She ended up getting high 90s in algebra I until her gap when her grade fell to low 90s. I felt this extra prep meant she was more solid when she reached precalc and calculus. I never felt the need to push her to the highest levels, even though one mother tried to tell me my child was “behind”.
The students who take algebra 1 in 8th grade are accelerated…which has taken on a life of its own, in my opinion.
Your daughter who took this in 9th grade is not behind.
My husband is not a math teacher, but he is an engineer. He says…a good math foundation is very important for success in higher level math courses. Of course, some students can and should be accelerated in math. But many really shouldn’t be…and are pushed to do so because there is a misguided notion that this should be the norm.
The normal, unaccelerated sequence is Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus.
And yes, I know that means calculus isn’t being taken in HS. Believe it or not, a kid can get a college degree and take calculus in college…not high school. And this can even be done in fields like engineering.
Your daughter also doesn’t “need” to finish AP statistics and statics in HS either.
I can’t imagine how your daughter would double up math courses as a tenth grader…at most schools, there would not be room in the schedule of a student for this to happen.
Also, it would probably be better for her to take the Math classes in the same sequence her age group / friends are.
Asking each other about homework, group study, etc are all important social aspects of HS.
So even though I personally think taking Alg 2 right after Alg 1 makes the most sense, if most of her current class is taking Geometry next she should probably take that with them.
I never get why our schools insist on inserting Geometry between Algebra I and Algebra II. Taking Algebra II right after Algebra I seems like a much more logical sequence. I know of many homeschooling families that do “Singapore math” type of curriculum where they combine Algebra I, II, Geometry and Trigonometry into a single curriculum and teach a little of each every year for 4 years, so it’s definitely not out of whack to combine Geometry and Algebra II, especially if your child is strong in math and enjoys math.
OTOH I don’t see it as a big deal either to just take 1 and end up with Precalc in 12th grade. Most top schools just want kids to take 4 (some 3) years of math in HS, none I know require Calc although some may prefer it. Something tells me schools would rather see kids get A’s in Algebra I, II, Geometry, 750-800 in SAT Math I and II than C’s in AP calc. If math is not her strength, I’d say don’t rush it, just take 1 class and do really well in each. A strong foundation in Algebra is key to success in higher level math in finance and economics.
Agree with @cmsjmt, above. I would recommend Precalc in 12th grade, and would not push the “doubling” up if the track record in math is not that strong. Could possibly add stats as an elective in 12 th, but not in lieu of precalc. I would add that precalc concepts will cement the foundational algebra knowledge, and will be a stronger prep for the math in college, including business math. Virtually all universities have a math placement test, and the stronger the foundational algebra skills, the better the placement.
Op,
My experience is over 30 years old.
I was somehow placed in regular math track, although math is my strongest subject.
Since I wanted to move towards the accelerated math track, I did double up on geometry and alg 2 as a sophomore.
So my sequence was: alg 1 in 9th, geometry and alg 2 in 10th, trig/precalc in 11th, AP Calculus AB in 12th. Could take AP stats by doubling up as well, say in 11th or 12th grade if there is room in the schedule, although AP stats is not really necessary and kind of easy…
Kid can double up in math, if kid is strong in math.
I also doubled up on math as a sophomore in the dark ages when nobody (at my school anyway) took algebra before 9th grade. Some students at my kids’ school double up these days, although many come in already having taken algebra. My son took algebra 1 in 9th grade and didnt double up–although he considered it. He still got into college.
I doubled up on Geometry and Algebra 2 in 8th grade, and I was fine, but I’m good at math and found them both easy. Does SHE want to double up? I think if a kid is motivated to do this they can but it should be their choice.
DS doubled up on Algebra 2 and precalc. But he his a true math whiz. At teacher conference we learned that it’s not usually allowed. (He really should have doubled up on Geometry and Algebra2 freshman year … just didn’t know it. But it’s how he was ready to have 2 years for IB Math HL.) He did fine, but most students should not go this route.
i did both my freshman year so i think she can do it because those two subjects dont really overlap. its like doubling up on two different science classes. different material, different curriculum, totally doable.
Agree with marie–the subject material is different enough to double up if you are good at math.
Don’t understand why you need stats and AP stats–why not just AP stats?
I’m very interested in this topic. DD feels she is behind her peers by taking Alg I in 9th. She’s decided that she wants to take Honors Geometry next summer instead of doubling up in 10th. Our counselor said that it is common for kids to double up in Alg II and Geometry and that summer school won’t give her a strong enough base…I would much prefer she take Honors Chemistry next summer to make room in her schedule.
I’m with the counselor, but I’d really love some feedback. Also, to the OP, what about having her do Khan academy this summer in both math classes? She could be prepared to drop one class at the beginning of the school year if it’s too much?
What does the counselor think about taking chemistry over the summer? Personally between the two, I would say the risk of not having a strong enough base is higher taking chemistry. Out of all the options, I’d go with geometry over the summer. Oh, and in the future, you should pose your own question instead of hijacking someone else’s discussion.
To the OP:
The lack of these subjects would not prevent her from getting into college, nor will the inclusion of these subjects assist her in that endeavor. I also fail to see any need for two statistics classes in HS.