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teachingmom
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 11:51pm | IP Logged
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Are any of you familiar with current typical scope and sequence information for math in the US? My question is actually a spin-off from the Singapore Math discussion. My oldest is going to finish Singapore Primary level 6 at the end of this year, and I am starting to give some thought to where we should go next year for math. I realized that I don't know much about what they are teaching at each grade level in typical US schools these days.
I was an advance math student who ended up majoring in math, mostly due to the 6 credits I entered college with for Calculus BC in high school. Way back then  , I had some sort of pre-algebra class in 7th grade (I have no memory of what was covered that year), Algebra I in 8th grade, followed by Geometry, Algebra II/Trig, and Calculus in high school. Since I took four years of high school math, I must have had one more course in there sometime prior to calculus, but I cannot for the life of me remember what it was.
What is the typical progression for math courses these days in the US? There most likely is one for those who take algebra in 8th grade and another for those who take it in high school. I am interested in the 8th grade algebra situation, and am trying to figure out what 7th grade math looks like. (And what typically follows algebra to lead up to 12th grade calculus.) All of my girls may not follow this progression, but my oldest looks like she will.
I am also wondering if going right into algebra from Singapore 6 makes any sense, since I have read many times that Singapore Math is typically 1/2 to 1 year ahead of typical US math programs. I really DON'T want to rush dd, but I also don't want to waste a year just because she's not the typical age for a certain subject.
MacBeth? Anyone?
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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MaryM
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| Posted: Feb 01 2006 at 1:40am | IP Logged
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teachingmom wrote:
| What is the typical progression for math courses these days in the US? |
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The sequence is still very similar to what you described doing yourself in high school. My oldest self-taught pre-algebra (UCSMP Transition Mathematics) in 7th grade and Algebra in 8th. He then entered a local Catholic high school which is college prep and this is the sequence he has followed from there.
Freshman year - Geometry
Sophomore year - Alegbra II
Junior year - Trigonometry/Analytic Geometry and Math Analysis
Senior Year - AP Calculus
He takes the AP test in a few months. Hopefully he will enter college with a few math credits as well.
Anyway, hope that helps. My next son is on the more traditional route of Alegbra this year as a freshman so he won't get to Calculus in high school - everything would just be shifted back a year in the above sequence(unless he does an additional class on his own during a summer).
Although this is still the most typical sequence I have heard some educators and a few schools saying a better sequence is:
Algebra I
Algebra II
Geometry
Trigonometry
Math Analysis
Calculus
(keeping the alegbras together and then the geometries)
To find out the typical scope and sequence of a particular year in math you can most likely go to your local school district web site and download it. That way you could see what would typically be included in the "pre-algebra" year to see if you think you need to do it with her. If you can't find it on your local page just search around a few other school district pages or search math scope and sequence in general.
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Mary M. in Denver
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: Feb 01 2006 at 4:37am | IP Logged
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Irene,
Did you take Functions and Analyt before Calculus? I think that was the typical course for the advanced math student in Fairfax County...
It's funny you don't remember. I can still see the book. The difference, I think, is that the book gave me nightmares  . Good math students aren't traumatized by high school math!
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Molly Smith
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| Posted: Feb 01 2006 at 5:19am | IP Logged
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Hi Irene,
I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but here is the link to the Virginia Standards of Learning. You can look up the subjects by grade. Seventh and eight grade math are broken out separately and then high school math is lumped into "secondary". The secondary math takes you through Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II, Trig, and then at least 1/2 dozen more topics. I hope it helps...
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Molly Smith in VA
Mom to seven beautiful children, ages 1-14
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teachingmom
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| Posted: Feb 01 2006 at 9:59pm | IP Logged
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This is all so helpful. Mary, your son's track is only slightly different from the one I remember. Molly, I'll take a look at the standards of learning. Thanks for the reminder. I half thought of that, but didn't know how it would break down the normal track vs. fast track.
Elizabeth, that's it exactly! Functions/Analytical Geometry. I cannot picture the book at all, even after being reminded of the course title. It is scary sometimes to have information from my youth go completely missing from my memory bank like that. It's my 41 year old brain cells I guess.  My mom keeps reminding me that as the mom of 5 young children, my brain doesn't have room for lesser important things and not to fret when I cannot remember things. It still bugs me though.
I also learned that my good friend next door, whose kids go to public school, has a few handouts that trace the math options for our county from 6th grade on. I'll get copies of those from her and that should help too. Thanks again!
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: Scope and Sequence question
