Any Middle School Math Teachers?

I have a situation and Im on the fence. My dd is 12 going into 7th grade. She is a B-B+ student except in Math where she excels. I spoke with her math teacher at the end of the school year about placing Cassidy in accelerated Math, but in our district they have to be in both Acc. math AND science. Although her teacher felt she could definately handle the math she wasn't sure about the science, so I opted for regular classes. I received my daughter's state math scores and they were extremely high and her ela were above average. She wants the accelerated classes. Now I feel like I should give her the chance. Any thoughts? This is so new to me. Both my boys stuggle.

stephanie

Message edited 7/18/2008 12:21:42 PM.

Re: Any Middle School Math Teachers?

I don't teach middle school, but I teach high school and I'd like to share with you my thoughts.

If you still are able to, I would definitely place her in the accelerated class for math, even if that means she will be in accelerated classes for science or other subjects.

In my opinion, being in classes with peers who are at her level or even above is better for her education and learning than being in classes with students who are below her level. She will be challenged more and interested more, there are fewer behavior problems that are distractions in the advanced classes, and if she is motivated (which she is according to what you said), I think she should do it.

Re: Any Middle School Math Teachers?

I teach 5th grade, but I will tell you that my principal sat in on a meeting with my grade level this past spring when we were doing placements for next year.

She had just had a principals meeting in our district about the topic, so she wanted to pass along some info...

She told us that studies have shown that teachers are more likely to place males in advanced classes and that when females aren't given the chance in middle school to be tracked into advanced classes, they rarely will end up in advanced classes as they get older. Kind of like if they miss the boat in middle school, they end up tracked in reg. ed. even if they *could* have done well in advanced.

If it were my child, I would say go for it. She is obviously motivated, and I would hate to tell a child "no" when they have the ability to back it up based on one teacher thinking she couldn't handle it....but I would monitor her VERY closely, and make sure that if it turns out to be too hard that you advocate for putting her back in grade level classes.

HTH!

Re: Any Middle School Math Teachers?

Thanks guy. My initial gut feeling back in April was to put her in, should have listened to it. I just got off the phone with the school. I had to fax over my request.

stephanie

Message edited 7/18/2008 1:51:12 PM.

Re: Any Middle School Math Teachers?

Re: Any Middle School Math Teachers?

Put her into the accelerated class and if she starts to get behind in either class, change her back to regular.