Middle School Advanced Math Class anyone?

[mamamary]

Hi. My son just started 6th gr. middle school in aug. He was put into an advanced math class called Transitions. He did very well in elem. school in every math class he took. Transitions seems to be your guide into starting algebra and algebra II next year. He just got his interim report card and he has a grade of 94 in that class. Here lies the problem though. He gets ALOT of homework every night and it's stuff he just doesn't seem to understand. So every night my DH sits with him and teaches the lesson all over. They spend alot of time on this every night and weekends.

My son seems to be burning out from this. Of course he has homework in other classes too so he gets home from school and we start on homeork right away.

I have a meeting with his math teacher on Thurs. evening. I'm going to ask her that since he's not really getting the work in school should he be moved down to the "average" math class. I hate to feel like I'm giving up on the advanced class but I have a feeling this may go on all year with DH having to help constantly. What if DH can't help at some point? I know I'm clueless with this work

I guess I'm just looking to see if anyone has had any experience with this type of problem? Thanks.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What does your ds want to do?

 

[mamamary]

What does your ds want to do?

Good Point. We have talked this thru and he is conflicted. On one hand he tells me how hard it is but he also hates to give up. We were actually going to wait until the first report card (which is I think in Nov.) but this interim report card came with the chance to speak with his teacher. So I thought I'd meet with her and get a sense of where he fits in with the other kids learning wise and to let the teacher know that DH sort of re-teaches everything at night when they go over homework. I just get the feeling that if it weren't for DH my son would definately not be doing as well.

 

[abdmom]

I'm the mom of a middle schooler and a former middle school teacher.

Middle school is hard. It's a new environment, he's one of the "little" kids, the work is harder, and the expectations are higher. I wouldn't move him down - he's doing fine, albeit with a lot of help. I don't know when your school started, here it's just the 4th week of school. Kids take a while to adjust to a teacher's communication style and the rhythm of the classroom. My ds13 is having a hard time in one class, because he's not understanding the teacher's expectations or how she is communicating homework.

My recommendation would be to have your husband slowly wean himself out of the picture. Not entirely, but mostly out of the picture. It's OK for a kid to struggle somewhat with his homework. He needs to develop the confidence that if he doesn't understand something, he can figure it out from the book and what the teacher said in class and by working on the assigned problems. Of course, it's much easier on ds if dad helps, but he will understand the concepts so much better if he can learn to figure them out on his own.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[mamamary]

I'm the mom of a middle schooler and a former middle school teacher.

Middle school is hard. It's a new environment, he's one of the "little" kids, the work is harder, and the expectations are higher. I wouldn't move him down - he's doing fine, albeit with a lot of help. I don't know when your school started, here it's just the 4th week of school. Kids take a while to adjust to a teacher's communication style and the rhythm of the classroom. My ds13 is having a hard time in one class, because he's not understanding the teacher's expectations or how she is communicating homework.

My recommendation would be to have your husband slowly wean himself out of the picture. Not entirely, but mostly out of the picture. It's OK for a kid to struggle somewhat with his homework. He needs to develop the confidence that if he doesn't understand something, he can figure it out from the book and what the teacher said in class and by working on the assigned problems. Of course, it's much easier on ds if dad helps, but he will understand the concepts so much better if he can learn to figure them out on his own.

Just my 2 cents.

This does make sense. I feel DH shouldn't have to constantly help him with the work. I would like him to be able to keep up in the advanced class. Maybe I'll feel better after talking to the teacher on Thurs.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Our middle school principal is very tuned into the academic, and social needs of this age, and all of the brain research that is done on kids and learning. He holds monthly meetings to talk with parents about various issues in Middle School.

He is absolutely determined that homework should be a very small assignment--NOTHING new, ever. It should just be a few problems that review what was done that day--maybe 15-20 mins tops. We are to report it if there is more than that or the teachers are not following his rules.

AND he also feels very strongly that kids in middle school are just not developmentaly ready for Algebra. Their brains haven't reached the point where they can truly understand the abstract concepts. He says he has seen many times kids that even do well in MS Algebra but get to high school and the lightbulb goes on and they truly "get" what it is about.

My point is that it is very possible that your son, while very bright, is just not developmentally ready for what is being taught, and the teacher may be sending too much homework, and the wrong type of homework.

I wouldn't hesitate to move him down. I absolutely don't want my kids burning out in 6th grade. It is already a huge change and lots of pressure. This math class will be there for him next year or the year after.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My 6th grade dd is not in the advanced Math and would kill to be there. That is why I asked what your ds would want to do.

She is suffering in a class that some kids SLEEP IN...and no I am not kidding.

She is trying to get all straight A's to be able to go to "Challenge Classes" next year. She works very hard at her classes.

Knocking him back to a reg. class is a challenge in itself and is something to think about. It is not a bed roses in the reg. classes. Apathy is a killer.

Of course that will depend on your school.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Be sure to look at what his placement would mean for high school. They wanted my son to start Algebra in 7th, Geometry in 8th which would place him in Algebra 2 as a freshman, Trig/Math Anal. as a sophomore and Calculus as a junior. He would have to go to a community college for his senior year. Our HS and "better" state schools here require 4 years of high school math (yes - completed 9th grade and beyond), so finding this additional year outside of high school would have been essential.

My DH and I talked about it and thought, "Why"? My DH is a structural engineer and took Calc as a senior - that's good enough. Better yet, take AP Calc when you get there - but as a senior. That is the road we chose. He took Pre-Algebra as a 7th grader, and Algebra as an 8th grader. Yes, 7th grade was a bit of review, but no biggie. He is currently in Honors Geometry as a freshman, and I am so glad we chose the Honors route instead of the 2 years ahead group. I can't imagine him in Algebra 2 at this age - why struggle? - I just believe it is unnecessary even though we are a big Math family.

 

[Brianne]

We ran into this problem with DS in 6th grade, although we do think a large part of it had to do with the teacher. The kids were expected to "self-teach" with her just throwing tests at them every so often. We talked to the school and DS, who chose to drop down a level.

It hasn't hurt him at all; he's now taking an Algebra 1 honors class in 8th grade with no troubles at all. But DS wants to go into engineering so he pushed himself to get into that class---they have to choose a major in 9th grade in FL now (something I don't agree with, FTR).

Your DS is old enough to have some say into what he wants to do---I'd set up an appointment with his guidance counselor and talk about the options.

 

[Sandy321]

We're struggling with this very thing for my DD - and I had the gall to speak up and question the 4 hours of homework on a few nights a week...

oh well...

So we have told dd the choice is hers, to either do the homework, switch to a different math class, or homeschool... I have had 2 boys go thru this jr hi crap and I hate it! I have worked in this school so I feel that dd can do the work, but what's the point? She isnt going to be a math major, she doesnt get any extra credit for the higher math class (used to be in the 'old days" they'd get a percentage higher, so a B in advanced math could be an A or a B+ on the GPA system - not any longer)

I will say she used to read books during her last 5 years of math class because she was bored, and she did get A's on tests etc, and she did test high to get in the Pre Alebra class... but seriously the teacher does NOT teach - she goes over homework, sends home a packet to explain the next week's assignments, then they get a packet for the weeks homework - and they dont get graded on homework - it will show up in Quizzes and tests!

The worst part is the time they spend on the Problem of the Week, (CML = Chicago Math League I think!) they are crazy - she called her brother in college to help her thru it - he got it wrong (added wrong) the work was half a page - no credit for all the work in solving the problem, the answer is wrong, its wrong!!

for me its just a bunch of BS - so its up to DD to decide, and I'm staying out of it!

 

[mickeyboat]

Here's my take FWIW:

He is clearly understanding concepts and is able to do the work in the way that the teacher taught him (showing his work) because he is getting great scores on graded work - which I am assuming means quizzes and tests.

Algebra is a tough concept at the beginning, but once he has a good understanding of the general concepts (what your DH is helping him with now), he will be able to build on that. It takes some time and perserverence to learn those first steps.

I bet it won't be long before your son will be able to do his homework without your DH's help. I think he will be fine.

I am glad you are going to talk to your son's teacher about it. He or she should be able to help you figure out what to do. Make sure the teacher understands how much your DH is helping. It is possible she is not spending enough class time on each concept and needs to adjust her teaching style. I wonder how the rest of the class is doing.

Denae

 

[mamamary]

I appreciate everyone's comments. I do find it hard to think about his future math classes years from now. My son has absolutely no idea of what he wants to do when he gets older. So I can't say "Oh he doesn't need to cram the math all in now" or "Yes he needs all these advanced classes". I just can't think that far ahead.

I'm going to just see what his teacher says. Yes it is early in the year and maybe something will click where he won't need much help from us.

I think what really frustrates me is that I can't help. It's too hard for me

 

[shelly3girls]

Could it be that he just has a bad teacher? There are many great teachers out there but you just never know. It may make for a rough year but it may be worth it. I flew through all math and science but had a bad chemistry teacher. My dad had to help me through it (teaching me what the teacher should have been during the day). I would have been terrible if my parents had dropped me a level, I would have been bored to death. Of course, only you know your child but I think it is something to consider.

 

[mamamary]

Could it be that he just has a bad teacher? There are many great teachers out there but you just never know. It may make for a rough year but it may be worth it. I flew through all math and science but had a bad chemistry teacher. My dad had to help me through it (teaching me what the teacher should have been during the day). I would have been terrible if my parents had dropped me a level, I would have been bored to death. Of course, only you know your child but I think it is something to consider.

I don't know if it's the teacher or not. I've only met her on back to school night and she seemed OK to me. The school is brand new. Just opened a year ago. So I haven't come across any friends whose kids have had her. I think our face to face meeting will give me a better idea of what she's like.

 

[XYSRUS]

I have an advanced math student-now in 7th gr. doing Algebra and in 8th will do Geometry. Middle school and what I call "true" advanced" classes are a tough transition at first. He obviously has the ability or else he wouldn't be invited to the class. Make sure he gets all the help he can...peer tutor, extra time before or after class with teacher...and yes, maybe the teacher isn't all that great. Globally, our (US) kids are behind. Plus, everything isn't always easy. These new concepts will take a lot of work and practice to master. Give it time and support-maybe even a half a year. Good luck!

 

[SpecialK]

I'm the mom of a middle schooler and a former middle school teacher.

Middle school is hard. It's a new environment, he's one of the "little" kids, the work is harder, and the expectations are higher. I wouldn't move him down - he's doing fine, albeit with a lot of help. I don't know when your school started, here it's just the 4th week of school. Kids take a while to adjust to a teacher's communication style and the rhythm of the classroom. My ds13 is having a hard time in one class, because he's not understanding the teacher's expectations or how she is communicating homework.

My recommendation would be to have your husband slowly wean himself out of the picture. Not entirely, but mostly out of the picture. It's OK for a kid to struggle somewhat with his homework. He needs to develop the confidence that if he doesn't understand something, he can figure it out from the book and what the teacher said in class and by working on the assigned problems. Of course, it's much easier on ds if dad helps, but he will understand the concepts so much better if he can learn to figure them out on his own.

Just my 2 cents.

I'm the mom of a seventh grader and a former Jr. high teacher.

We were in the same position last year. The beginning of the school year was really rough. Every night DS had a minimum of 25 math problems; more often than not it was closer to 50. He was struggling to understand. After the first couple of months, he stopped asking for help as often. By the second semester, he was doing the math on his own. This year has been a breeze.

Would you be comfortable asking the teacher the reason that he/she assigns so much work? Current research shows that after the first ten math problems, misunderstanding is reinforced more than understanding. Good luck. I know how frustrating it can be for all concerned.

 

[georgina]

Of my 3 kids, the first two were in the regular math track. Oldest D had a wonderful 6th grade teacher who recognized that it was all review for several of the students, and let them take the chapter test at the beginning of the chapter, then gave them enrichment packets instead of them being bored. S did not have that experience, and became so lazy in math that he had some trouble when he hit pre-algebra in 7th grade. Youngest D is in advanced math, and while we did have to help some at the beginning of the year, she got the hang of it and is very happy now in geometry in 8th grade. She will take Algebra II, Trig/pre-calc, AP Calc and AP Statistics in high school. She loves math and is happy to be challenged, especially as some of her other classes are less so. (Also, I always liked math and can help as needed.) It is hard to know which is the right decision, good luck to you.