What Math Class is Your 9th Grader In?

[Christine]

Interesting...ds is in 8th grade and taking geometry. He had Algebra I last year, and will do Algebra II in 9th grade. He gets high school credit for the the classes even though he's taking them in middle school.
I'm surprised I'm not seeing more people with their kids on an accelerated math schedule.

It's not the norm in the schools in this area, although, it is available in most public schools if you have the scores/grades for it. It was not even an option in DS's private schools, probably because the school was small and they wouldn't have enough students to fill it.

 

[taylor3297]

I am trying to figure out why we are still encouraging algebra I, Geometry, then Algebra II? In the days when a student was only required to take 2 maths to graduate, that was the best way to go. Now since most schools require 4 years of math, why not take Algebra II after Algebra I? That is what I have recommended for most of my students and they so far seem to be doing very well.

On a different note, not everyone is ready for the abstract of Algebra I in the 8th grade. So many parents think that if their child is not in Algebra I in the 8th grade that their child is behind. This is so not true.

 

[Julia M]

Oldest ds (he's a senior) took Algebra I homors after taking Algebra at his parochial school. He's not as strong academically, so we didn't even have him try and test into geometry.

DD is a freshman and honors student, and she is in honors geometry. There are maybe 5 freshman in her class, the rest sophomores. This made her eligible for honors bio, but we didn't have her do it. She's not a big science kid and I was afraid that having 4 honors classes would be too stressful (she also has English and World History honors)

AT Ds's school, you have to maintain an A or A- to continue the honors or AP track. At Dd's school, you have to maintain a B. They both attend Catholic prep schools.

Julia

 

[Christine]

I am trying to figure out why we are still encouraging algebra I, Geometry, then Algebra II? In the days when a student was only required to take 2 maths to graduate, that was the best way to go. Now since most schools require 4 years of math, why not take Algebra II after Algebra I? That is what I have recommended for most of my students and they so far seem to be doing very well.

On a different note, not everyone is ready for the abstract of Algebra I in the 8th grade. So many parents think that if their child is not in Algebra I in the 8th grade that their child is behind. This is so not true.

When it comes to math, I'm pretty clueless. Was never my best subject. I thought I was told that Algebra II best followed Geometry. I don't know because I never went that high in high school.

What I'm trying to figure out is why, at least in our school system here, all of this math is mandatory for all kids. Let's face it, not everyone is going to be an engineer or go into the math/sciences field. My DD was horrible at math and she just limped along through Geometry and Algebra II. Agony I tell you. And for what? So she could go to college and be a psych major and take ONE easy math class in her 4 years. I never thought she should have been forced into those math classes. It just doesn't make sense to me.

My son is a different story and is more mathmatically inclined and has some desire in engineering so the track is okay for him.

 

[dawson5]

Interesting...ds is in 8th grade and taking geometry. He had Algebra I last year, and will do Algebra II in 9th grade. He gets high school credit for the the classes even though he's taking them in middle school.
I'm surprised I'm not seeing more people with their kids on an accelerated math schedule.

We are the same also. My DS13 is in 8th grade and taking Geometry now. My youngest DS will follow the same route. Both are in honors math. My oldest took Algebra I in 9th grade. Neighbor a few doors down will not let her DD13 take the Geometry this year, she fears her daughter will run out of math options in high school. Not sure I follow it, I had heard that they were able to take classes at the college for math if they ran out of options in high school.

 

[Tinijocaro]

i don't know that the private schools are behind the public when it comes to math-just the other night at the highschool open house i questioned the math teacher when he remarked that algebra one is always a challenge to kids because it's like teaching them a foreign language they've never been exposed to. my kid's private schools have had elements of algebra in their text books going back to the first grade-that apparantly is not the norm with many of the popular math books used in the public schools.

When I was in public school many years ago, 8th or 9th grade was the first time algebra appeared in the curriculum. Nowadays, it IS introduced very early-just very basic concepts like 1X + 2X= 3X. Each year a bit more is added on-I believe this is called a spiral curriculum or something like that. I think it's great because I remember just not getting how you could do math with letters!

 

[celeste.]

DD is in Geometry
Private Prep school
Geometry is the "normal" for 9th graders in her school. If you are transfering in -or have a math weakness -you take Algebra 1 in 9th grade -if you are advanced you take Honors Geometry

the "normal" where i live is the other way around.
in 9th you take Integrated Algebra and in 10th you take Geometry.
and you only move on to Geometry if you pass the Algebra regents exam.
the algebra is all in one year, too. there is no algebra 2, its 1 & 2 all in one year. 11th grade is trig.

 

[Buckalew11]

8th grade...AlgebraI
9th grade...Geometry
10th grade...AlgebraII

I'd be wondering about kids making A's and repeating classes but whatever...

She'll continue to have math classes her JR and SR year also. We're homeschoolers.

 

[Buckalew11]

When it comes to math, I'm pretty clueless. Was never my best subject. I thought I was told that Algebra II best followed Geometry. I don't know because I never went that high in high school.

Schools around here do it both ways. When I started HSing, I had a choice of which to do first so I asked my nephew who is a SR in high school what his thoughts were (he's a math whiz). Either way was fine to him but he thought that since there is some AlgebraII on the SAT that his opinion was to do AI, then Geo, then AII--that way AII would be fresher. Otherwise, he didn't think it'd matter.

 

[Christine]

8th grade...AlgebraI
9th grade...Geometry
10th grade...AlgebraII

I'd be wondering about kids making A's and repeating classes but whatever...

She'll continue to have math classes her JR and SR year also. We're homeschoolers.

I guess the A's don't mean much if you can't get the minimum score on the entrance exam. But then again, some kids don't test well. My son happens to be a good tester so his not passing the entrance exam sort of validated that the Algebra class he took in 8th grade didn't go far enough as we all suspected.

 

[debbi801]

Here (we're in Maryland, Baltimore county), the order is Algebra I, Algebra II, and then Geometry. It's interesting to see so many places do Geometry before Algebra II.

My Kids both took Algebra I in 7th grade. (The schools base whether or not you'll take Algebra I in 7th or 8th grade based on your 6th grade math grades.) Then, Algebra II in 8th grade. My 9th grader is currently in GT Geometry. My 11th grader took Honors Geometry in 9th grade, Trig in 10th, and he is currently in College Algebra in 11th.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

DS was in a Parochial middle school and is now in a Jesuit HS...

8th. grade - Regents Algebra
9th. grade - Geometry Honors
10th. grade - Algebra II - Trigonometry Honors
11th. grade - Pre-Calculus Honors/Calculus A
12tth. grade - based on placement one of the following:
Advanced Placement Calculus (AB)
Advanced Placement Calculus (BC)
Advanced Placement Statistics

While DD had the Math A - Math B situation and took the regents for both and was place in Pre-Cal Honors....

 

[Christine]

Found this information on the 'net regarding regarding the placement of Geometry between Algebra 1 and 2:

Why Geometry before Algebra II?

A student can easily keep Algebra I skills by weekly review sets, and one is better enabled to understand higher algebraic proofs after having completed classical geometry. Also by putting geometry before Algebra II, the student completes Algebra II much closer to the time the SAT/ACT exams are administered. Students completing Algebra II before geometry will have many more concepts and skills to review before taking the SAT/ACT. More importantly, students will also lack the ability to understand the reasoning behind advanced algebraic proofs. Furthermore, this sequence better cements Algebra I skills for students who were weak in Algebra I. With this sequence of courses, the student can truly master Algebra I, gain logic training, and be better prepared for higher mathematical concepts, i.e., topics and proofs in Algebra II. Many students who are not of a mathematical bent find geometry a refreshing and enjoyable math course, the added review and drill in algebra helps them to "catch their breath" and use the algebra they have studied. "

Algebra I is necessary in order to properly do Geometry; Geometry reviews concepts from Algebra I and prepares the student for Trig.; Algebra II cements Algebra I concepts and prepares the student further for Trig. (although Trig. is sometimes incorporated into Alg. II).

Interesting and confusing.

 

[Shelton123]

I am in 9th grade, and I'm in Algebra II Intensified, and I'm getting an A so far, but it's early in the year so we'll see

So far, I totally agree with putting Geometry in between the two. You learn stuff in Geometry that you use for Algebra II, that would be VERY hard to do without taking Geometry.

 

[Buckalew11]

I guess the A's don't mean much if you can't get the minimum score on the entrance exam. But then again, some kids don't test well. My son happens to be a good tester so his not passing the entrance exam sort of validated that the Algebra class he took in 8th grade didn't go far enough as we all suspected.

Hmm. I guess. Still, I wonder about the grading system.
I had a girl in here (a JR) doing Geometry last week. She'd taken a test and made a 79. I thought her mom was going to have a stroke. She said, "Don't worry, mom. a 79 was one of the highest grades in the class. Lots of people made 59s." I mean, use a curve--you can't fail the whole class. Geez...and who suffers? The kids because a 79 isn't a good grade even though they'll curve it to make it look better.

Found this information on the 'net regarding regarding the placement of Geometry between Algebra 1 and 2:

Why Geometry before Algebra II?

A student can easily keep Algebra I skills by weekly review sets, and one is better enabled to understand higher algebraic proofs after having completed classical geometry. Also by putting geometry before Algebra II, the student completes Algebra II much closer to the time the SAT/ACT exams are administered. Students completing Algebra II before geometry will have many more concepts and skills to review before taking the SAT/ACT. More importantly, students will also lack the ability to understand the reasoning behind advanced algebraic proofs. Furthermore, this sequence better cements Algebra I skills for students who were weak in Algebra I. With this sequence of courses, the student can truly master Algebra I, gain logic training, and be better prepared for higher mathematical concepts, i.e., topics and proofs in Algebra II. Many students who are not of a mathematical bent find geometry a refreshing and enjoyable math course, the added review and drill in algebra helps them to "catch their breath" and use the algebra they have studied. "

Algebra I is necessary in order to properly do Geometry; Geometry reviews concepts from Algebra I and prepares the student for Trig.; Algebra II cements Algebra I concepts and prepares the student further for Trig. (although Trig. is sometimes incorporated into Alg. II).

Interesting and confusing.

This is exactly what my nephew told me. And he also said that people can do very well in Geometry even if they stink at Algebra. I do think, if that is how it works (A-G-AII) it probably boosts the confidence of the student if they suddenly have a good year in a math class. JMHO.

 

[Christine]

Hmm. I guess. Still, I wonder about the grading system.
I had a girl in here (a JR) doing Geometry last week. She'd taken a test and made a 79. I thought her mom was going to have a stroke. She said, "Don't worry, mom. a 79 was one of the highest grades in the class. Lots of people made 59s." I mean, use a curve--you can't fail the whole class. Geez...and who suffers? The kids because a 79 isn't a good grade even though they'll curve it to make it look better.

I have to wonder what a teacher thinks when no one in their class gets a good grade on the test? My DD, who is in her first few weeks of college just had her first Biology exam. The teacher published the class average for the exam. Now, realize there are 300 people in this class. Class average was a 66.

For my son's high school entrance exam, he had to score a 70 to make it into Geometry for the 9th grade. He got a 60. He was okay with repeating Algebra because, despite his A's, he said he just felt like he was missing something. Some of his other classmates got really low scores so I'm thinking their 8th grade teacher didn't do so well.

 

[AshleyW]

My school did math a little strangely.. we had two different tracks you could choose from. The first was the standard track, 9th grade: Algebra I, 10th: Geometry, 11th: College Algebra, 12th: Calculus or Statistics. The 2nd track was Integrated Mathematics 1, 2, 3 and 4. It's basically the way the rest of the world does math, with the exception of the US and Canada.. they don't separate it into subjects, you just learn everything at once, pretty much.

Anyway, I was a year ahead in math, so in 8th grade I started with Integrated Math 1. 9th grade I did IM 2, 10th I did IM3, 11th I did IM4 and senior year I took AP Calculus. I LOVED Integrated Math, and I feel like I retained a lot more math skills than people I know who took the normal math track.

 

[disneychrista]

Here Geometry is considered "grade-level" for 9th grade.

My younger daugter took Algebra 2 in 9th, Geometry in summer school, Trig in 10th and is in Calculus this year (11th) and will take second year Calculus next year.

 

[SydSim]

the dual program here is one where the universities and colleges have worked with the highschools to determine which of the higher education courses they offer will both fullfill the highschool requirements for graduation (not all college courses are acceptable to meet the requirements) as well as meet that university's lower division general ed. requirements. the idea is that a student who does the program will graduate from highschool as a senior but will have allready completed all of their freshman and sophmore general ed. requirements (so they graduate as a highschool senior with college junior standing).

so-a student interested in doing it needs to look at what other requirements the colleges they want to go to require for admission (or realy want to see on their highschool transcripts) but don't require as part of their fresh/soph general ed. students also need to look to the major programs they are interested in to see what they require (before and during).

in dd's case the programs she's interested in (and the bulk of the non math/science majors) only require calculus for a degree. to take that she would need to have done intermediate algebra and pre-calculus. now, her highschool requirement is 3 years of math-one has to be taken in 9th, one in 12th. she's better off to take math in 11th and 12th when she can at least earn college credit for it. so we were left with the choice of having her do intermediate algebra this year and then an entire year without math to go into pre-calculus with. we feel she's better off taking a year off math with very strong algebra 1 skills and then going into algebra 2 (she'll end up needing to take only one math course for her lower division requirements and since she will be fresh out of pre-calc we will encourage her to do it right off the bat).

if we had her take math all 4 years it would have eaten up her one of her 2 elective periods in 10th grade, one of which she needs for spanish 2 (needs 2 years of foreign language for college) and the second to hopefully take an extra honors english program that will help her qualify for the higher level english/writing courses she needs if she's to get into the college program she wants.

2 benefits to this program for us-it's got dd realy jazzed about school and if she sticks with the dual program we're looking at her first 2 years of college tuition free

Oh, I already understood what dual enrollment is. My question was about your comment on taking too many math classes so soon being counterproductive. I was always under the impression that the more math classes taken before the SAT's (espeically if you're taking any math subject tests too), the better. So starting the courses in 8th grade would set the student up to complete pre-calc before their senior year - perfect timing for SAT's.

I don't quite understand why your HS would require that a math has to be taken in the senior year. If they take their last math class in their junior year as a dual enrollment course, wouldn't they still get the credit (possibly) and get the information in time for the SAT's?

 

[Pin Wizard]

DS took Honors Algebra I his freshman year. When they had testing in 8th grade for which math class to go into, he missed Algebra by one point. Gee...no thanks to the nuns for discussing it with the parent to see if he might be able to handle Algebra. He was in regular math in 8th grade. He's done fine in Honors Algebra and then Honors Geometry last year. Now he's in Honors Algebra II/Trig. He is the ONLY junior in the class. The rest are freshmen and sophomores. Grrrrrrrrrr...to the parochial school that didn't involve the parents back in 8th grade.