I did a very similar thing, although I kind of recall actually starting pre-algebra independently in the 6th grade, but was in an actual pre-algebra class by 7th grade. I was a straight A student in middle school, and I don't know how relevant my situation is, but by the time I got to high school I developed a serious motivation problem, so my grades suffered because of that, but it wasn't because I didn't understand or couldn't do it, I just chose not to. I figured it out by my junior year and I was able to manage an A in calculus class my senior year and never felt I missed out on anything in the learning process either.
Anyway, point being, if he can pass the test then that probably means the math skills are there, but if he's already struggling is it because he doesn't understand it completely or other reasons?
Honestly, his grades in math go up and down. One report card he'll get a high A, then next a low B. He says his teacher "talks too fast" and when he asks her to repeat something, she gets mad. Also, he rushes through problems, skips steps and doesn't check his work. We're working on that, but he seems to think math is a race to the finish line or something.
Hmmm...he's intelligent, but my concern would be the same as yours in that it's the class that he's not consistently aceing already...of course..that may have absolutely nothing to do with lack of understanding.
Not to mention, if he's anxious to jump to the Advanced class because his best friend is doing it as well, he's more likely to put in the effort and learn it, if he is floundering, because his pride will be on the line since his best friend is really good at math
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I just don't want him getting in over his head and burning out at 12 years old. He isn't wanting to take the advanced class because he has a thirst for knowledge, he's doing it because his friend is doing it. Is there such a thing as academic peer pressure?
He isn't wanting to take the advanced class because he has a thirst for knowledge, he's doing it because his friend is doing it. Is there such a thing as academic peer pressure?
Absolutely..but it's usually considered to be 'healthy competition' as its usually motivating for all parties. Do you really think he'd 'burn out' though? I mean, if he's completely overwhelmed, he can always drop back to the regular class. I think by potentially telling he can't do it, you're potentially implying that you don't think he can do it and I think that would be more harmful in the long run than him potentially biting off more than he can chew. If he only tries for what he knows he can do, rather than stepping out on a limb, he's (or you) is letting fear limit his potential
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I'm not sure I can help much, as most of my teaching was juniors and seniors in Algebra 2 and PreCal, and only one class was advanced or honors students. (So, no, none that were skipped.)
My own experience is that the most important thing for a bright child is that they be emotionally ready for the grade they are in. Will a lot of his friends be in the class, or just the one? If it is just the one, what happens if they have a falling out or grow apart? Is he good at thinking abstractly (important for Algebra) or is he very literal and concrete? Do you think he might need a little more time to develop concrete thinking? Are his grades lower just because he finds it easy and makes silly mistakes? (Thus a challenge might make them go up?)
And, this may sound silly, but make sure he has a really good knowledge of fractions (adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing them), and that he is good with order of operations.
I'd say he's more of an abstract thinker. He's very good at problem solving. For instance, he won't know how to do something, so he keeps working on whatever it is until he figures it out. I think that comes from playing video games, actually.
I think he has a pretty good grasp of fractions. Not sure about order of operations.
We spoke with Ian's math teacher and the WAVE co-ordinator and decided to let Ian take the test. If he scores high enough to skip 7th grade math, then we're going to let him.
Well, I can only speak for my experience, which was the advanced math track where 7th grade math for me was a combination of 7th grade math and 8th grade math so that 8th grade math was effectively 9th grade math. I like to think I turned out ok, but I am a math whiz generally speaking ;)
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Anyway, point being, if he can pass the test then that probably means the math skills are there, but if he's already struggling is it because he doesn't understand it completely or other reasons?
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Not to mention, if he's anxious to jump to the Advanced class because his best friend is doing it as well, he's more likely to put in the effort and learn it, if he is floundering, because his pride will be on the line since his best friend is really good at math ( ... )
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Absolutely..but it's usually considered to be 'healthy competition' as its usually motivating for all parties. Do you really think he'd 'burn out' though? I mean, if he's completely overwhelmed, he can always drop back to the regular class. I think by potentially telling he can't do it, you're potentially implying that you don't think he can do it and I think that would be more harmful in the long run than him potentially biting off more than he can chew. If he only tries for what he knows he can do, rather than stepping out on a limb, he's (or you) is letting fear limit his potential ( ... )
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I'm not sure I can help much, as most of my teaching was juniors and seniors in Algebra 2 and PreCal, and only one class was advanced or honors students. (So, no, none that were skipped.)
My own experience is that the most important thing for a bright child is that they be emotionally ready for the grade they are in. Will a lot of his friends be in the class, or just the one? If it is just the one, what happens if they have a falling out or grow apart? Is he good at thinking abstractly (important for Algebra) or is he very literal and concrete? Do you think he might need a little more time to develop concrete thinking? Are his grades lower just because he finds it easy and makes silly mistakes? (Thus a challenge might make them go up?)
And, this may sound silly, but make sure he has a really good knowledge of fractions (adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing them), and that he is good with order of operations.
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I think he has a pretty good grasp of fractions. Not sure about order of operations.
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That's what my husband keeps saying, too.
We are going to meet with his math teach next week to talk to her about it.
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