My oldest will be in 8th grade when we start shortly. I have been doing some long term planning and trying to figure out what to use in terms of curriculum in such a way that we will have a student ready to transition into public school should she decide to do so. I was looking at the math courses that are taught. It seems that they are pushing what I consider to be post secondary math into the high school years and what used to be high school math into Jr or Middle school years. Additionally I see so many AP courses offered and I can not help but wonder what happened to High School, and when did it turn into the first years of college. I think I am going to have to buck against this trend. I think I am going to "waste" a year that could be spent in a college level math subject teaching "consumer" and "Business" math. It seems that most college students get hooked up with massive debt and have no idea the impact of getting that masters with loans will have on their lives after. If so many kids are finishing up a year or more credits in high school with AP, why the large debts. It would seem that they would save a year of tuition. I think I am going to use high school to prepare for college and not to substitute for it.
Me, too. I agree with using high school to prepare for college. I haven't really understood that trend or the one to offer loads of pre-AP classes in middle school.
I graduated from high school in 1996 and most of the kids in my high school took at *least* 2 AP courses our senior year. Here's the rub, though: Almost none of them passed the AP test. So there was no college credit awarded. I have NO idea how typical that is, but it sure has tainted my perception of AP classes.
I think if you are homeschooling high school, AP tests can give extra credibility to mommy grades. I also think it is great that they are offering AP in high schools. For some kids it is necessary. I wouldn't plan on it being accepted at a university though. Some schools won't accept them especially if they are in your major field of study.
I think it is just sad the way things have been going for quite some time. I don't see the need for algebra II or anything beyond basic geometry and consumer math in high school or at least making them mandatory. It seems that there is a belief out there that if kids can learn things earlier, they will learn them better and be better prepared for harder things to come. I think it is backwards thinking. Why? 1. If a child has a hard time learning higher math at an earlier age, they could be very discouraged and come to believe they are no good at math. 2. There is a time and it varies greatly when a person is ready for abstract thinking. 3. Not everyone needs the higher math classes. Well, according to the educational system that is in place they are mandatory in high school and even harder math classes in college. In reality though, very few people need anything beyond basic algebra and geometry. I have yet to have anyone prove to me that the general population uses anything above these two. Of course there are exceptions, but I believe people should learn math they will use. Anyway, I don't think consumer math is a waste. I would rather my son be able to balance a budget and a checkbook and make change than be able to factor a polynomial.
I agree!! If you can't balance your checkbook and manage your own finances, you aren't going to be very successful, no matter how many upper level math classes you've taken!
I'm curious how math classes have changed. What was required when you went to school and what is different now? My school didn't have any AP classes, but you could get an honors diploma with a math designation if you took pre-Calculus. We had to take Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2. We did have a consumer math class, but it was an elective that you took in addition to the required math classes. It was also only a semester long. I think consumer math is important too. I just checked the requirements for the same school I went to and now they require 4 math credits for graduation. They offer so many more options too! Wow! I feel a bit cheated :/ This was a private Christian school that I worked full-time in the summer and part-time all school year to help pay for. We are looking towards AP math for my older two, at least. They both want to go into a field that is math-heavy.
I graduated in 1991. We had no AP classes. Honors classes were available but only in American History, English, and Biology 1. I took all of those. I took Alg 1, Alg 2, Geometry and Advanced Math as math courses. My HS had no Calculus or Trig or any other higher level math. You had to be chosen for Advanced Math. I was. Those who wanted another math, but were not chosen for Adv. Math took Advanced Algebra. I graduated with honors, but I agree with Cabsmom. Other than basic Algebra, Geometry, and maybe a tad of the statistics I got in Adv Math and a college statistics class, I haven't needed them. I'm not saying the classes shouldn't be available. I just think we (society in general) focus way too much on everyone having the same education, rather than creating productive adults with educational choices centered around career/life choices. If you plan to go into a field where advanced mathematics is a necessity, you should definitely chose to prepare yourself wisely!
I had Algebra in 9th grade, and Geometry in 10th. That was it. I also took General Science in 9th and Biology in 11. That was it for science. However, I took four years of French, and LOTS of language classes! This was in the mid 70's.
I didn't realize how off this was at the time, but in hindsight..... BOTH of the high schools I went to only let the kids who were behind take consumer math. It was considered the remedial math you took if you couldn't handle what the rest of the freshmen were taking. So I, an average student, graduated without having any concept of how to balance a family budget. Someone please explain that to me?
We had only two years of either Spanish or French- both taught by non-natives. I might remember 20 French words!
We didn't have AP classes back when I was in school, but like Aimee, only the struggling kids took anything not Algebra or "above". Algebra 1 was offered to kids who excelled in 8th, but was usually begun by everyone in 9th (unless you struggled of course). Now, Garrett is going into 9th grade with a year of Alg 1, a year of Alg 2 combined with beginning Trig.
