How to keep an A in Math?

bjkmom
Wed, 17 Jun 2015 09:37:08 +0000

@niabost ,

She’s taken Algebra I at this point, right?

Then, no, there’s no reason to teach herself a course she’ll be taught. (For what it’s worth, many kids find a rigorous course of Algebra II & Trig to be among the tougher courses in high school.)

But make sure she enters the course knowing Algebra I thoroughly. Begin, believe it or not, with her times tables-- she should know them cold. From there, make sure she can factor and solve any quadratic equation she comes across, including ones with a leading coefficient not equal to 1. Make sure she can solve a system of equations in 2 variables. Make sure she can solve any linear equation she comes across, whether the coefficients are rational, decimal, or whole numbers. Make sure she’s good with algebraic fractions, particularly adding and subtracting those with different denominators. Make sure she can handle a complex fraction. Make sure she can handle an absolute value equation and inequality. Make sure she can make sense of verbal problems-- say, investment, motion, mixture, percent mixture for starters. Make sure she has a good understanding of the basics of trig-- any trig problem involving SOHCAHTOA that can be solved in a right triangle.

And make sure she can do all of that without the help of a graphing calculator. (The trig will require at least a scientific calculator, but make sure she can do the rest basically without a calculator.)

She should be comfortable with all of that, having passed Algebra I.

The last thing I would do, no kidding, is watch her health. Algebra II & Trig is a rigorous course. Once they hit Trig in particular, it builds and builds and builds. Miss the foundation, or any small step along the way, and you’re in for a rough time. A case of strep or mono, and you’re in real trouble.

That’s the speech my daughter is getting this year before taking the course next fall.