what are the benifits of teaching Algebra early?

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by TeacherMom, Sep 27, 2009.

  1. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    I am confused.. okay my dd took two years to get through algebra 1, she did great with MuS geometry and is now doing ALg 2 well enough ( B's and As) even though she is actually doing two curriculuims at once as her school does this. ( private school)

    knowing how hard it was for my brighter child to do this I am wondering why anyone would want ot force that on a jr high student who is going through so much stress of life anyway?

    What are the beinifits? My ds did alg1 in 9th, geo then alg2 in 11th normal like and tested into the last level of math he needs for college education.
    So this is why I am really wondering? I know my ds 12 is taking pre-algebraic maths now and we will go into alg1 next year anyway but I am wondering if this will be a hard task or not?
    He is very math oriented and wants to become an architect when he grows up. So... anyone have any?
     
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  3. chicamarun

    chicamarun New Member

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    DS here is 12 and taking Algebra I (Saxon). His thing was that he wasn't challenged - basic math came easily so honestly the boy would doodle and just give you the answer. Very annoying.

    Right now he's right on with the challenge of the work - not super easy and not super hard.

    Benefits? None really unless it's where he is academically. Who knows if Jake will ever go into anything that requires math skills - but it's where he's at. It will be interesting to see where he goes though - I never "got" geometry.... it was my worst subject - but Algebra was easy for me. Jake "sees" math problems and gives you the answer with showing almost no work (very annoying)....which is a trait he got from dh. So in 2 years I can't wait to see where he goes.
     
  4. Emma's#1fan

    Emma's#1fan Active Member

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    The only benefit I see in teaching Algebra early is if the student is ready for it. If this is the case then it isn't too early because the student is ready to take it on.
     
  5. momofafew

    momofafew New Member

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    I don't think anyone forces it on their child, I have not seen it anyway. I force math on my child, as well as vocab, English, and so on. And if my child is at the algebra level, whether that would be 12 yrs old or 16, that is when we would do it. I just follow the sequence. I would not do algebra before prealgebra. But if your child has completed prealgebra with success, no need to repeat or anything, then it makes little sense to just do no math at all for a year, or to redo it if they have the prealgebra down.
     
  6. Crunchy

    Crunchy New Member

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    The longer you spend on each area of math, the more he will benefit. That might sound like I'm advocating doing algebra early, as to keep him in it as long as possible--but really I mean that if every earlier level is fully mastered, then algebra (and all other maths) will be easier.

    No harm in showing that he is using algebra sometimes like 5x5=n--just to familiarize him with the letters.

    We are lucky to be able to spend as much time on a subject as neccessary. When the time comes, it won't be as stressful as it could be in a ps situation--it'll just be more number rules with Mom=)
     
  7. wackzingo

    wackzingo New Member

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    When I took Algebra and Calc 1 & 2 I realized that many other academic areas improved because I learned how to logically reason through problems. Also, many other areas of the sciences come easier the greater your understanding of math. However, in our area there is a program called 'Running Start' where high school age kids can attend the college and earn a high school diploma and AA degree simultaneously. Many hs families teach Algrebra early so they can enter the program at college level by 9th grade. So I guess the benefits depend on your educational goals/plans.
     
  8. Deena

    Deena New Member

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    In our area of WA you have to be 16 to enter Running Start.

    The fact is, some schools are pushing, not homeschool parents per se. They are making it "normal" for Algebra 1 to be in 8th grade. I am not sure why though...
     
  9. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    okay, I dint think about the 5x5=n level of algebra as algebra 1
    My ds has been doing that for two years already and done exponential notation etc, which I figure is PRE algebra.. but perhaps its considered Algebra?
    SO this year he is doing these as well does that mean he is in algebra 1 in 8th grade math? I am one who followed the grade/year that my kids were supposed to take what in, figuring it was the best layout up to this year. I have jumped my ds to 8th instead of 7th because he would have either whizzed through it or been bored wiht it as he already did what the curriculuim we have is teaching, because we are using a different one.
    We are finding a few things like the Numbers other than regular ones, that I spoke of in another thread, and so there are a few things he has not learned but mostly its review.. as 8th grade is supposed to do.

    So... what I mean is the review they do of all the levels is to set your child up to be ready to take on the world right?
     
  10. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    Where we live, the ALL students in the PS MUST have Algebra 1 in 9th grade, if they haven't had it before then. Whether they understand math or not. Whether they're ready or not. No alternative.

    When I was a kid, those who were considered "advanced" could take it in 8th, some took it in 9th, and others waited until 10th. Rachael had it early. Faythe is taking pre-Algebra this year as an 8th grader, but I've already warned Carl that it might take us longer than a year to go through it. If I need to go slow and easy with her, I will. And he's agreed to that (at least in principle, lol!)
     
  11. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    this is what I was thinking at first with ds doing 8th grade pre algebraic math... but so far so good he has 100 % correct on lesson work and only had two that he did not really get what they meant when they worded the question and so I went over tht with him as well.
     
  12. mom2ponygirl

    mom2ponygirl New Member

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    I have read studies that kids who enter college without sufficient math to at least start the Calculus sequence their first semester, fail to stay in a major that requires calculus. I think the statistic was like 3% manage to take their remaining prerequisites and then move on to Calculus and succeed in a major requiring that level of math.

    Of course, taking Algebra before you are ready doesn't make any sense either. Every kid is an individual, some will be cognitively ready for algebra at 9 and others at 15 or 16. However, I do think it is good to keep in mind that if you have a kid interested in science or engineering or architecture, etc. you want to try and have them thru pre-calculus if not Cal 1 by college .
     
  13. bejs

    bejs New Member

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    Students who have managed to take a calculus course in high school definitely have an advantage in college. College Calculus I typically has a high failure rate. If you have done calculus before you have a better chance of keeping up with what is usually a fast-paced course. Rushing through just so you can get calculus in during high school can backfire however if you don't have good solid basic algebra skills. From what I've seen, I'd say take two years on algebra 1 if you need to - it'll be worth it. Algebra requires abstract thought, and the capacity for that really takes off somewhere between 12 and 15. Homeschool gives us a better chance at synchronizing instruction with individual development.

    I grew up in Holland, where gifted students started algebra in grade 7. I never took pre-algebra, and I don't think that was around in those days. We just got a very good background in arithmetic, and then did algebra. I taught my son that way too, and we had time for calculus even though we spent nearly two years on algebra.
     
  14. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    its funny cause when I was in school Trig was part of Geometry Advanced. now days its a seperate course,
     
  15. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    I also look at the fact there are more things to learn now days as in Bionary numbers Base 2 stuff that I never learned in school but learned when my kids did because it did not exist yet. (okay so my age may be showing).
     
  16. scottiegazelle

    scottiegazelle New Member

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    I took Algebra in 8th, Geometry in 9th, Algebra 2 in 10th, Trig in 11th, and Calc in high school. So early Algebra works if you're going sequential and/or wants your kids in higher math by high school. Or if they want it.
     
  17. Lindina

    Lindina Active Member

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    My goodness, woman! How old are you anyway??? I'm in the second half of my 50's, and WE had Binary (Base 2) in 8th grade math! Also Base 12 and Base 16....
     
  18. Lindina

    Lindina Active Member

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    I took Algebra I in ninth, Geometry in 10th, and Algebra II in 11th, and I don't even remember if my high school taught anything higher than that!
     
  19. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    My dad taught me Base 2 when I was a kid. I don't think I ever learned it in school, though! It was more of a neat little game he taught me.
     
  20. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    Well in 8th grade I was in a good school I think..., my teacher met with me once a week to teach me how to show my work ... I remember exponents and I remember learning x-y=4 or some sort but i dont recal bionary code...
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2009
  21. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    pst Lind--- I could say was as old as my grandmas toes and twice as corny? lol
    I am younger than you but I have long sence learned that different schools teach things in different ways.
     

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