Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Single Subject Accel - Pre or regular Algebra

Ok then.. let try to explain the changes to common core. A LOT of kids who are currently in junior high math right now are getting caught in these changes. I've been involved as a parents in trying to fix the mess of this our district made this past year.

Common Core Math officially doesn't spiral, and this means the official line is that no skipping should ever occur. The plan is for smarter/faster math students to take "compressed" classes. The official line is that students shouldn't be compressed to junior high. (I don't agree with this.) 7th & 8th grade math are integrated math and that means they include a bit of pre-algebra & pre-geometry. I use the term pre to mean material to get you ready to take what used to the the H.S. algebra & geometry class for lack of a better word.

CC 7th grade math - pre-algebra, pre-gemoetry, other topics..

CC 8th grade math -- pre-algebra & pre-geomentry topics, ~4 chapters Algebra, ~2 Chapters of geometry. This includes algebra topics up through solving systems of equations in two variables.

CC Algebra - Assumes you have had 8th grade CC, includes a few chapters from what used to be Algebra II. -- starts assuming students can already do some basic algebra.

This web-page on Kahn Accademy site shows a good break down on what is covered each grade level of Common Core Math through 8th grade. It's a bit confusing for High School though.

https://www.khanacademy.org/commoncore/map

Before Common Core the push was for all 8th grades to take Algebra, so this is actually a push for the average student to start Algebra topics a semester later.

This begs the question of what topics are in this "Pre-Algebra" class the school is recommending to you. (I am very frustrated with all these names.) If your son is in a 7th/8th grade class right now this is probably an compacted common core class trying to fit 2 years of math topics in one year. One possibility is your school district is having similar "transition" problems that ours is having and it's possible this pre-algebra class is a temporary one because they have identified a whole cohort of kids that don't appear ready to take next years Algebra class. I would ask questions. Who else will be in this class? Will they finish the topics from the CC 8th grade class this year. What grades will he have to get in this "pre-algebra" class to get into algebra the next year.

Is he bored in math right now or challenged? What is keeping his grade down?

I hope this helps.

Bluemagic - I think you hit it exactly. We are in such a transition time that everyone is confused. Our 7/8 is supposed to be the entire curriculum in one year, but it's not all going to be covered. And yes, some of the 7/8 is already pre-algebra so that is why I'm questioning it. If he takes pre-algebra will he actually be taking the same skills twice? I'm going to get a skills list for each one and I bet that will help make a better decision.

On the grades - I'd say his grade is mostly due to rushing and making careless errors. He's smart and he doesn't always pay attention to details. As he gets older he's a lot less "Squirrel", but he has his moments

Sounds familiar. (And for the record, my DD is in college. And math is one of her majors.)

Portia.. I agree with you about the grades. I was this way and so is my son. I got B's if I was in honors or non-honors. thus I was better off in the honors class because I'd then get the +1 point in H.S. and I was a lot happier because I was more challenged.

What I'm concerned is this case is that this is an area of flux for the common core requirements and setting up math classes. And to do well in math in the future one needs s good grounding in Algebra. Skipping basic Algebra seems a bad idea.

One option could be to learn that particular material over the summer and go on to the Algebra class. There is no reason that material must be learned during the school years.

I have to admit if you do get around to listing the different curricula, I'd be interested in a followup post. I'm having trouble imagining how 7/8 grade math would substantially differ from pre-algebra

Read my post. Common Core has changed the name of the game. Common Core Grade 8 is about HALF Algebra.

What I don't understand is how you go from the 8th grade CC class, to one called Pre-Algebra. Thus the reason to investigate what these titles really mean.

As always, this forum has given me much to think about. I've email my state for their opinion on what pre-algebra skills versus algebra will be and I'm going to see if I can get a list from for our school specifically. Thanks all!

UPDATE - I made some inquiries as to what exactly Pre-Algebra is in my area and it seems Common Core has left a bit of confusion.

According to the state pre-algebra is certain strands of 7th and 8th grade math.

According to the district it's certain strands of 6th, 7th, & 8th grade math.

According to our school, pre-algebra is 8th grade math.

My DS took 6th grade math last year with a GT teacher and he's taking 7th & 8th grade math this year with a regular education teacher. So..... no matter whose definition you use, taking pre-algebra next year would be repeating skills.

Blue magic, if middle math is integrated now, does that mean high school math will be, too?!

Not necessary. The CA standards(*) state that districts/H.S. are allowed to choose either an integrated model (Math 1, Math 2, Math 3) or a traditional one. (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2). I know of a county wide magnet school that offers both. The classes cover the same material but in a slightly different order. These courses assumes that you have taken Common Core 8 and already have some basic algebra & geometry to start. Basic trig is covered in this sequence. And common core standards only go through Algebra 2, although Algebra 2 includes some topics that used to be in Pre-Calculus. If you moved from a school that teachers one model to one that teacher the other there would be material missed.

The officially(*) approved way to accelerate kids is to offer 'compressed' courses and the details are left to the district. For example districts are looking at Grade 7/Grade8/Algebra 1(or Math 1) over 7th & 8th grade. It certainly helps if the junior high & H.S coordinate.

I've heard that some large districts in the state are going to insist that ALL students take the "grade level" course (ie.. all 9th graders take Algebra 1) no matter if they have previously taken the course or not. Not sure how long that will last.

(*) I'm framing this from the CA state standards because I basing this frorm CA state dept of education documents. I can't guarantee that they are options in other states.