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Posted By: chapinme Algebra 2 in one semester? - 11/23/20 03:23 PM
Our DS is currently in 7th grade and travels to highschool for his geometry class. This year the high school is doing a 4x4 class structure?? I'm not exactly sure what that is but it means that he will be completing Geometry in one semester. He is doing very well in the Geometry class thus far. so far so good

They have offered for him to move on and take Algebra 2 in the second semester. While we are happy the class is fast-paced, is this too fast? Does anybody have experience with something like this? This would mean he would be taking pre-calc in 8th and AP Calc in 9th...
Pros and Cons??
Posted By: Kai Re: Algebra 2 in one semester? - 11/23/20 03:39 PM
My son found that high school classes that went at double the normal pace felt more natural than the typically paced ones.

Also, for reference, prior to high school he was homeschooled and at that time he completed the Derek Owens Honors Algebra 2 course in three months with no problems.
Posted By: madeinuk Re: Algebra 2 in one semester? - 11/23/20 04:36 PM
For reference, the AOPS intermediate algebra runs for 15 weeks.
Posted By: aeh Re: Algebra 2 in one semester? - 11/23/20 08:27 PM
Actually, quite a number of high schools have gone to the 4+4 format for all students. If it works out that your DC can benefit from effectively curriculum compacting, then that's great! Most NT students seem to cope fine with the pace, as they have half as many courses. Think of it like an overgrown block schedule.
Posted By: chapinme Re: Algebra 2 in one semester? - 11/23/20 11:47 PM
Thanks for the feedback...

We just had a PTC and were happy to find out that the class was being taught as an honors Geometry class (we were not previously sure if this was true). So that put our minds at ease a bit that it was, in fact, a rigorous class. Now I guess our only concern moving forward is that the second-semester Alg. II class might consist mainly of 11th graders, and our 7th grader. My gut feeling is the work would engage him and we should do it, as the alternative would probably be DS sitting through some middle school GT math class during that period and being given enrichment/busywork.
Posted By: Kai Re: Algebra 2 in one semester? - 11/24/20 02:08 AM
[quote=chapinme]Now I guess our only concern moving forward is that the second-semester Alg. II class might consist mainly of 11th graders, and our 7th grader. /quote]

If there is an honors section, perhaps that would be a better fit. It would be more appropriate for a gifted math student, and the other students in the class would probably be somewhat younger.
Posted By: aeh Re: Algebra 2 in one semester? - 11/24/20 10:47 PM
I agree with Kai. An honors section would definitely be a better peer group and likely pace of instruction. But even college prep alg II would be better than the alternative you expect. FWIW, that was exactly how my 7th grade year opened---sitting in the back of the classroom working on "extension" math until my parents persuaded them to let me try out algebra I. A couple of weeks later, the algebra I teacher recommended sending me to algebra II. I can attest to the substantial improvement in my math experience after the move!
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