I am rereading portions of Developing Math Talent by Assouline & Lupkowski-Shoplik and am a bit puzzled by the following paragraph:
The work by the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY) at Johns Hopkins University has been useful in helping school personnel determine when students have the formal reasoning skills needed to make a rigorous Algebra I course. SMPY defined readiness as having earned a score of 500 or above on the mathematics section of the SAT 1 before age 13.
First of all, I don't really know how low of a score 500 on the SAT is, but would have guessed that it was somewhere in the middle range. However, as I recalled, SAT tests Algebra and Geometry. An inference from reading the text would be that you don't need algebra or geometry to do okay on the SAT? Would it be fair to say taht a 500 on the SAT would represent solid Pre-Algebra skills but no mastery/training in Algebra?
This is not a purely academic question. I am trying to figure out whether DS who will be starting 4th grade in the fall is ready to study Algebra. He has mastered the Pre-Algebra course in Aleks fairly quickly (a few weeks) and without much difficulty (occasional clarifications from me). Does this mean that he is ready for Algeba? However, I guess I am partly hesitating because the acceleration seems kind of radical, especially for a kid who is really more of a "verbal" rather than a "math" talent. If I leave everything alone, he would be scheduled to take Algebra I in 6th grade. These days I seem to be going back and forth as far as what is best for him.
