Education

duffyduff

(3,251 posts)

8. That's why I rail against requiring seventh and eighth graders to learn algebra

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 02:59 PM

Feb 2013

Many if not most students of that age cannot think much in abstract terms, and they will fail it because algebra is entirely abstract. A few precocious kids can get it, but most cannot. I don't like seeing kids forced into special education resource when the problem is not with them but with developmentally inappropriate curriculum.

When I was in high school forty years ago, algebra was taught in the tenth grade. Even then, it was hard to grasp. Kids haven't changed much developmentally in the years since, but the standards are being upped so that more kids fail.

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Story Time’s Over Kindergartners—Time To Write Expository Essays! [View all] Modern School Feb 2013 OP

Republicans and Democrats are both to blame Angry Dragon Feb 2013 #1

Entirely developmentally inappropriate. mbperrin Feb 2013 #2

That's the point. It's to deliberately cause children to fail duffyduff Feb 2013 #3

Absolutely. It also eliminates the learning that the kids ARE neurologically ready for, and we see Squinch Feb 2013 #5

I was criticized recently for making that very point. proud2BlibKansan Feb 2013 #7

That's why I rail against requiring seventh and eighth graders to learn algebra duffyduff Feb 2013 #8

We start it in 3rd grade now proud2BlibKansan Feb 2013 #9

I remember being in a self-led math program in elementary school in the '70s AllyCat Feb 2013 #10

The point is to make money Modern School Feb 2013 #4

I wish more teachers understood that. proud2BlibKansan Feb 2013 #6