Another School Question.......Geez.

[AC7179]

Okay.........I need opinons.

My daughter is in 8th grade. She is in Pre-AP for all for core classes. The rule is that to remain in Pre-AP classes you must keep at least an 85 average in Pre-AP courses. If you teceive a grade of 84 or below during a six weeks period, then you are put on probation for six weeks. If you do it again the next six weeks, you are removed from the Pre-AP class and placed in a regular section of whatever class. All of that is fine, and I don't have a problem with the grade requirement.

EXCEPT.....my daughter is not so great at math. She does okay, usually an 88 or 89 in the Pre-AP class, but it is always a struggle and she has to work very hard. It doesn't come easy for her. She is starting tutorials on Tuesday just for some extra help. As of Friday, she had an 83. This year, her teacher counts tests as 67% of their average, so I can see her having a really hard time all year long.

Okay, poitn being is that Pre-AP 8th grade math course is Algebra I, and regular math is prealgebra, which was the 7th grade Pre-AP course. My daughter had a yearly average of 89 in 7th grade Pre-AP pre-algebra. The other core classes are basically teacher the same thing the AP classes are, just not in as much detail. The math class is a totally different course, with a different book, etc.

So, sorry this is taking forever for me to tell....................but my understanding is that if my daughter makes below an 85 in Algebra I for two six weeks in a row, which is a possibility, she gets sent back to a course that she already had last year and in which she made an 89 in because there is no Algebra I class that is not pre-Ap.

I have no idea if this makes ANY sense.....but basically my point is that I don't really feel that having an 83 average in a course constitues being removed from that course and placed back in a course that she has already mastered. I wouldn't mind her being taking ot of the AP group, but there is no other group. I also wouldn't mind her finishing algebra I this year, and having to retake it again in high school next year if her grade wasn't above an 85-------but I just see so many problems if they end up placing her back in class that she already had.

Opinions? I'm a teacher at another district, so I don't want to be THAT PARENT.........but I just don't know about this.

Thanks for any opinions. If there are typos all through this, forvgive me. I took two Tylenol PM a few hours ago for a headache and they are definietly kicking in!

 

[daisyduck123]

I don't agree with removing a child who scores below 84% from the class....but I guess they have their reasons.

My DD12 (also in 8th grade) is in Geometry this year. She had Algebra I last year & they did not have any requirement like that...I know there were some kids who got Cs in the class, with one girl who did get put back in General Math around Thanksgiving.

I know it's got to be frustrating for you. I would wait & see how she does with the tutor.

 

[FreshTressa]

I took Algebra I in 7th grade (AP) and did okay...about 80%. But...I got 80% and did not know it all. This made later math harder for me than it needed to be. If I were to go back, I wouldn't have gone on to geometry in 8th grade, but waited until I had algebra down.

Algebra I is sooo important to have down at 100% before moving onto higher math, that I would not feel comfortable moving ahead unless I had it all down pat.

While 84% does not sound bad...it means she is missing something and needs some extra help getting it.

Just my opinion!

 

[millermouse]

That doesn't make any sense!!!! But don't freak out yet, tutoring can be a big help. I had a problem in grade school and my mom got me tutoring to help. I was a year behind in my reading skills (only had a problem in reading). After just 2 months of 2 times a week tutoring I had advanced to a 3 year ahead reading level. I actually raised 4 years in 2 months. Tutoring is such a big help. BTW I graduated high school at 16 after this! You are doing the right thing! Don't worry!

 

[Aidensmom]

Honestly, I don't really know what would be the ideal thing to do with AP. I went to private school and we didn't have that stuff.....but that is a whole different discussion.

Anyways, you say your daughter struggles with math. If the standard is that AP kids do well in everything, maybe it would benefit your daughter to repeat the class. Perhaps she would come to really understand the concepts and not struggle for the grade she got. In my experience, HS kids got A's or C's, there were few B students in math. You got the concepts and it all came together, or you struggled to figure out what you had to do. If she was not AP for one year, would it be that big of a deal?

It is also my experience SAT and ACT scores had a much bigger bearing on what college you got into than your GPA...if she struggles with math this could hurt her. It may be in her best interest to be sent back.

 

[Cool-Beans]

If she's having trouble with math and you can shell out the $100 or so, get her a math book written by Marvin L. Bittinger. They are fantastic books! So many schools use really bad math books. It makes a big difference.

Also, most schools are trying to be creative about teaching math, which really is no help. If you don't learn it correctly, step by step, you'll be forever lost.

Except for my oldest...who is just a flippin genius (not my genes!) and never needed help...I've taught all the kids out of Marv's books. And my nephew. They all do math in the summertime. Never know what kind of teacher they'll get the next year...and I don't want them to spend all their time on math.

If your daughter is really bright and can pass AP classes, they are a big help when it comes time to apply for college...especially Ivy League. But, if it is too hard on her...no big deal. You can get in to decent State schools, and many private ones, without the AP (especially if it is just math.)

 

[barkley]

that just seems like an odd policy. i can see if the school took the position that you had to score at a certain level in the pre ap classes in order to qualify to go into the actual ap classes, but to get a passing grade (and 83 is not bad) and still be faced with being 'demoted' into a class they already successfully accomplished? seems like they only want kids in the ap program that they know will master the concepts/perform at top level. so they eliminate the possibilty for non 'high achievers' or those that are great at math but have no desire to go onto college (so the ap classes have no value for them) to take the same subjects? seems very short sited.

if she does end up back in the other class but wants exposure to the concepts in her current class you might check out (if you have one available) your local community college. ours will take highschool students, and i've known several who have taken courses to get more exposure to a subject. in my experience the evening math classes because they attract more older working adults who havent had recent math classes are very focused on learning and working through the concepts-there's allot more discussion and practice vs. the highschool drive to get through the text book. it could get her the concepts she wants along with gaining some college credits ahead of time (we have some kids in our area that forego the ap classes totaly in favor of taking a couple of college general ed classes each semester that are transferable to our state colleges/universities-they can end up graduating from highschool and having incoming sophmore standing with less pressure than the ap programs create).

 

[ksjayhawks]

If she is not good at math and struggles with it, why not move her back down to the pre algebra class and let her retake it. It would give her a chance to really strengthen her math skills and would be ess stressful on her (and you). The Algebra will only get harder as she goes along, which means that her odds of stuggling even more are very high. I wouldn't wait for the "probation" period, I would ask to have her transferred now.

 

[golfgal]

If she is not good at math and struggles with it, why not move her back down to the pre algebra class and let her retake it. It would give her a chance to really strengthen her math skills and would be ess stressful on her (and you). The Algebra will only get harder as she goes along, which means that her odds of stuggling even more are very high. I wouldn't wait for the "probation" period, I would ask to have her transferred now.

I agree. Retaking the math class will make high school math that much easier. DS14 has always been a pretty good math student but Algebra I got him last year in 8th grade. We could never really figure out if he was not paying attention in class, the teacher seemed to think he was, if he didn't understand the way the teacher was presenting it or if it was just too hard. He is retaking Algebra I this year, which is still an "advanced" math for 9th grade but not the top (Geometry).

 

[diznygirl]

I think it's too early to get worried about it. She hasn't started the tutoring yet, and she will have 6 weeks of probation (if needed) to bring up her grade.....

Give her the chance to work on it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Hire a good tutor!!!!! It does cost but let me tell you it is so, so, so worth it!
The idea is for the student to not only pass but understand the concepts better. Also if she wants to maintain PREAP/AP track for math you need to find someone good to tutor her now!

We hired a tutor for dd in Algebra because it is a weak area for her. There is no shame in knowing your weaknesses and seeking help.

 

[Barb D]

I haven't read the rest of the responses, but we just went through a similar issue with my DD13 (also in 8th grade.) She desperately wanted to do Algebra so that she could stay on the GT science track. (You have to be doing Algebra II in 10th grade to be doing Chemistry in 10th grade, so it ripples back.) Anyway, in our school district it is our choice since she passed pre-Algebra, so we decided to move her ahead. We've already hired a tutor, who will be helping her both with math and with test-taking skills. We've also told her that she might have to miss free-period chorus rehearsals to get extra tutoring from the Algebra teacher at school. She's motivated enough that she's willing to do this.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I am very much with you. Why have her repeat a class that she did well in. I would insist that she stay in Algebra1 this year and if she struggles (with or without tutoring, your call), I would then have her either repeat it next year, or drop to a non honors geometry class next year. Actually, I if she does ok this year and you don't want her to repeat, I probably wouldn't have her drop down to non-honors geo, since that's a totally different thing and my son had a hard time in algebra, but a very easy time in geometry.

When I started reading your post, I thought that you were going to be "one of those parents" and I was already formulating my response. I was going to tell you that your child doesn't have to be good at everything to be a bright student. That she could be honors in other classes, but be in regular math. But then I read on and figured out that you knew this.

We had to figure that our with our daughter, which was a relief. It took the pressure off of our oldest son since we are much more likely to have him take the classes that are suited to him and we don't worry about what they are called, what label they have (and he has), and what things are going to look like on college transcripts. Maybe we'll regret it in a year when he's applying, but it's a lot lower key and less stressful right for him.

Our middle son is on a higher math track and is taking honors geometry as an 8th grader. As far as I know, they do not have any certain percentage that he has to be at in order to stay in the class.

In our area, we, as parents, have the final say as to which class our kids are in. The schools don't advertise this, but it's good to know that we can override the schools. Of course there are parents who could abuse this, but in your case it could be good. There was only one time that I insisted that my DD be in a higher level math class in 6th grade since she was complaining about being bored (she NEVER complained about being bored in math, so I knew she really was bored ).