Algebra in 8th or 9th grade
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 8:38 pm
So......just working on some summer planning and meandering here. My dd is getting ready to start Singapore 5A next year. I am trying to plan for her future and trying to figure out how quickly I want her to get to Algebra.
My oldest is not very mathy at all but she is thriving with Singapore. We used RightStart math for her before I found HOD and that put her really far ahead in the scope and sequence of math topics. There are a lot of repeat topics in levels 4A through 5B but because she was so young, I put her in 4A. Plus, she didn't master all of the info in this level from doing RS level E which is what she had finished the prior year. Last year we completed level 4A and 4B for Singapore and I was very pleased with it. She learned a ton about decimals and converting fractions, which were the two areas that she needed some additional review with.
This year my intentions are to put her in level 5A. She is 10 now and won't be 11 until Nov 30th. If I maintain this pace, she will do Level 6A & 6B when she is 11 and be ready for algebra at 12. My concern though is that Foerester's is considered very challenging and I am concerned about putting her in here at age 12. In addition, my dd has always been on the youngest end of the age range for each guide. So at this point, she is scheduled to graduate a year early. I have NO idea if I will allow her to graduate early or not. My thoughts haven't even made it that far LOL. Even though she is in CTC, she has 4 unit to finish next school year and she will then be moving straight into RtR. Honestly, I had always thought that I would aim to have my kids do algebra in 8th grade. However, she is on target to hit 8th grade level work when she is 12. I am thinking that because she is so young, putting her in algebra when she is 13 (and doing 9th grade work) might be more wise.
This leads me to my questions.....what are the pros and cons of doing algebra in 8th vs 9th grade? From what I remember with my original goals of aiming for algebra in 8th grade, it was mainly driven by having the kids well prepared for the SAT and ACT. Now my goals are adjusting (primarily because of my dd's age) and I am thinking it might be better for her (or even all of my kids) to do algebra in 9th grade having them only finish up through Pre-Cal for their senior year. This way when they get to college, all of this math is fresh in their minds for their college level math classes. I guess realistically each child is different. My son is very mathy and I could totally see him taking Calculus as a senior. But I don't necessarily see my oldest being ready for Calculus when she is 16 years old.
What to do, what to do?!?!? Can my dd handle the higher math early on, honestly I just don't know. I guess I won't know until we get there. Realistically, her doing high school Algebra at age 13 is still young. But for all you moms with high schoolers and graduated kids, what are your thoughts?
My oldest is not very mathy at all but she is thriving with Singapore. We used RightStart math for her before I found HOD and that put her really far ahead in the scope and sequence of math topics. There are a lot of repeat topics in levels 4A through 5B but because she was so young, I put her in 4A. Plus, she didn't master all of the info in this level from doing RS level E which is what she had finished the prior year. Last year we completed level 4A and 4B for Singapore and I was very pleased with it. She learned a ton about decimals and converting fractions, which were the two areas that she needed some additional review with.
This year my intentions are to put her in level 5A. She is 10 now and won't be 11 until Nov 30th. If I maintain this pace, she will do Level 6A & 6B when she is 11 and be ready for algebra at 12. My concern though is that Foerester's is considered very challenging and I am concerned about putting her in here at age 12. In addition, my dd has always been on the youngest end of the age range for each guide. So at this point, she is scheduled to graduate a year early. I have NO idea if I will allow her to graduate early or not. My thoughts haven't even made it that far LOL. Even though she is in CTC, she has 4 unit to finish next school year and she will then be moving straight into RtR. Honestly, I had always thought that I would aim to have my kids do algebra in 8th grade. However, she is on target to hit 8th grade level work when she is 12. I am thinking that because she is so young, putting her in algebra when she is 13 (and doing 9th grade work) might be more wise.
This leads me to my questions.....what are the pros and cons of doing algebra in 8th vs 9th grade? From what I remember with my original goals of aiming for algebra in 8th grade, it was mainly driven by having the kids well prepared for the SAT and ACT. Now my goals are adjusting (primarily because of my dd's age) and I am thinking it might be better for her (or even all of my kids) to do algebra in 9th grade having them only finish up through Pre-Cal for their senior year. This way when they get to college, all of this math is fresh in their minds for their college level math classes. I guess realistically each child is different. My son is very mathy and I could totally see him taking Calculus as a senior. But I don't necessarily see my oldest being ready for Calculus when she is 16 years old.
What to do, what to do?!?!? Can my dd handle the higher math early on, honestly I just don't know. I guess I won't know until we get there. Realistically, her doing high school Algebra at age 13 is still young. But for all you moms with high schoolers and graduated kids, what are your thoughts?
I was chatting with hubby last night thinking how nice life would be if God just game me an 18 year instruction manual for each kid KWIM? LOL - I know I have the Bible but a manual with my name and each one of my kids name......