Middle child is enrolled in CAVA and one of his required courses to graduate is algebra. He is struggling mightily with it. When I was in high school, I struggled with algebra and the furthest my husband got in high school with math was pre-algebra. For myself, it took going back to school when I was in my twenties when I finally "got" algebra. The biggest factor the second time around was that my teacher at the local community college was really good at teaching this class.
My husband is good in math, but back when he was in school, algebra wasn't a requirement to graduate. (My husband has a lot of little mental tricks when it comes to figuring out math. I think that had his parents pushed a bit harder, he probably would have been successful in high level math classes. However, his parents did not place the same value on education as my parents did.) Typically algebra, geometry and calculus was for those students who were interested in attending college after graduation. In today's world, algebra is a requirement to graduate, even if you have no plans of furthering your education beyond high school.
I understand part of the reasoning for this, but as a parent, I can't help but feel that if a child is required to take a mandated state test to graduate, then the recommended math classes to graduate high school should tie in with this math test. This is not the case. Students take the CAHSEE in 10th grade. The CAHSEE, obviously, cannot test them on things they have not been taught. For many students, they do not take algebra until 10th grade.
At this point, I'm telling him to focus on his other courses and then I'll figure out what we need to do about algebra. I've already paid for tutoring through hotmath.com, which he'll start on Monday. I just don't understand the rationale behind making every student take algebra as a requirement to graduate. Maybe someone can enlighten me. That being said, I'm curious what are the math requirements in your state?
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I don't really know. I haven't bothered to think about it, because no one over here has a problem with it. Now geometry, that's a different story . . .
In Mississippi, Algebra I is required to graduate, and it is state tested. Students are required to have 4 math credits including Algebra I and one course above Algebra I (geometry for most). However, most students at my school make it to Algebra II.
I teach algebra, and I think it is an important skill and that working with algebra develops other important thinking skills. However, I think too many people push kids to take algebra before they're ready for it & we try to cram too much into the curriculum. It shouldn't have to be as difficult & overwhelming as it often is.
Good luck with the tutoring!
Thanks, Alane, for commenting. I agree that algebra helps with critical thinking and I'm not advocating that it shouldn't be taught. I just can't help but feeling that it may not be a necessary requirement for every student.
I agree with Alane. If students aren't developmentally ready for Algebra, they will have a hard time. I think because of the abstract ideas. Of course, I loved algebra and never had a problem (but we won't talk about geometry!).
I keeping running across kiddos who never learned how to multiply fractions who are in Algebra and are completely lost. I agree with you. I would like to see more of an emphasis put on Math Models.
I found algebra bewildering in high school (barely scraping a C+) not much better in college (another C+) and then --shazam! at the age of 24 taking it at a community college, it all made sense.
I don't know if was maturity, calculators, or the previous two tries that made the difference.
But I am pretty sure that in the current episode, kids do not have the arithmetic automaticity they need to tackle algebra.
I feel as if I was right there with liz...I barely made it out of high school algebra...and then in university in the "how to teach math for teachers" methods courses, it finally began to make sense.
Now...I look at what my son will be doing next year in 5th grade...and I'm thanking the stars above that Dad can do that stuff, 'cause I'd be lost!!!
as a math teacher Algebra is really important and should be required to graduate. In our district most of these kids are seeing Algebra 1 in the 7th grade. That's 6 years to pass it...not counting summer school.
As for the CAHSEE, all he has to do is pass the 8th grade standards questions and he passes the test. That's right...the HIGH SCHOOL EXIT EXAM is based on 8th grade material. Nice huh?
I teach Algebra B (part 2 of Alg. 1) and we don't prepare for it and the kids do fine. I taught a Pre-Alg class once and out of 16 students that took it 10 passed the first time.
The CAHSEE is a joke.
Our district goal is to have kids ready for algebra by 8th grade. The district we left in CA had adopted the same goal about four years ago so fortunately my middle kids weren't behind when we moved. The CAHSEE was a joke when my oldest took it. He was failing everything but passed exit exam.
Well, in Michigan, beginning with the class of 2011, graduates are required to pass 4 years of high school math and three of the courses must be Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry. This year's ninth graders are the first class under the new requirements and the high school teacher who now has all 9th graders in Algebra I is beside herself. I no longer want her job when she retires (I teach 7th and 8th grade math). You are absolutely right about the maturity factor. While some students are motivated, focused, and intellectually mature enough to process the abstraction of advanced algebraic concepts, many are not and may not be so for many years to come. Requirements this rigorous are well meaning but ultimately will spell academic doom for many students. We are waiting to see how these new requirements play out. Meanwhile, for our students' sake, we are trying to be positive and doing the best we can.
annkas, I really can't see that thing holding up in a court. If it does, there are going to be a lot of kids that don't graduate. I can't even begin to imagine the panic that would set in over here if that went into effect.
Let us know what happens in 4 years.
Do you suggest all the subjects that might present difficulty should be made optional, or just the ones your son might have problems with?
anonymous, I really feel like being snarky to you and letting a few four letter words fly, but I'm biting my tongue.
I will say this: screw you.
Be glad you are not in Ohio - they are now going to require Algebra 2 for graduation.
Ohio teacher,
do you agree with this policy?
i cant even pass alg 1 and im a senior in fucking highschool in ca the math teachers are horrible and it feels learning algebra would be useles waste of brain space if you didnt intend on a higher education.
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