Damn seems like children are learning math faster and faster.

[ICRS]

I was helping my cousin with her math homework, she is in 6th grade. This was the kind of stuff they were doing:

Solve for x

(2.5x+1.75)/3 = 1.5x

or even

(3x+1)/(2x-4) = (x+1)

I don't remember doing this until 7th grade.

 

[shortylickens]

Ummmm, when I was in the 6th grade in 1989 we learned algebra.
That was in public school in Minnesota.

Where are you?

 

[Minjin]

I certainly didn't do algebra that early. I was picked for the Johns Hopkins Talent Search in 7th grade and I had to take my SAT's then. I remember getting somewhere around a 400 on each, for a total of 800. And I also remember that most of the math section was algebra and other stuff that I had never seen before.

 

[Shadow Conception]

I remember in 5th grade, we'd have this weird ass shit where you'd have x in an envelope with a number added to it equaling a number. Befuddled me to no end, those problems did. I didn't take pre-Algebra 'til 7th grade and Algebra I 'til 8th grade (and that's considered one year ahead).

But even in 1st grade, most kids are taught algebra-type concepts, aren't they? My little sister's learning stuff like "5 + __ = 8", which is basically the same thing as "5 + x = 8".

 

[darkswordsman17]

I think we did some pre-algebra stuff in 6th grade (although 7th was labeled pre-algebra, and 8th algebra). Unfortunately our junior high math teacher sucked at teaching math. Luckily my high school algebgra II-Calculus teacher was way better.

Really, though, they can try teaching it sooner, but I don't think that's actually going to improve anything, as if anything it seems to be frustrating students more. I hated math in junior high, but liked it a lot more in high school. I really wish that I'd have hit math hard in college.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

In 6th grade, we learned Pre-Algebra. I was in the accelerated course though.

So I was a bit better prepared for the SAT (wow, I meet some other random guy who did talent search).

I scored over 700 in math. They covered some advanced algebra and geometry, so I didn't get perfect (daddy, what are those squiggly lines?).

 

[yhelothar]

Class of 2004 here..
When I was in middle school, algebra was advanced math in 8th grade. They changed it to 7th grade two years after I left. This was a predominately asian school too. Heh I remember in the advanced math classes, you could basically speak chinese in the class, and just about everyone minus 2-3 could understand.

 

[Imdmn04]

So what, algebra is taught in 4th grade in China, Japan, India, etc.

Our k-12 education suck balls.

The only reason our universities are top notch is because of all the top foreign academics we attract.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: Imdmn04
So what, algebra is taught in 4th grade in China, Japan, India, etc.

Our k-12 education suck balls.

The only reason our universities are top notch is because of all the top foreign academics we attract.

Guess what?
Over the past 7 or 8 years, thats been dropping off sharply.

 

[clamum]

Fail troll is fail.

 

[soccerballtux]

Man my algebra in 6th grade was brutal, I learned nothing in 7th and 8th grade after that 6th grade algebra class.

edit: actually I did learn about the concept of matrices in 8th grade. We added matrices and multiplied by constants.

 

[blinky8225]

Keep in mind, though, sometimes it's more important to learn the material well than it is to just introduce new topics. Unfortunately, mandated testing is forcing the teaching of new topics before some students are ready (although, perhaps your cousin is gifted).

I think it is more important to teach our children to think creatively using math and real problem-solving skills (think competition-type problems) rather than being taught that math is just endless number grinding.

 

[Whisper]

I believe I remember learning Algebra in 7th grade, although it was through the "gifted" program, so I'm not fully sure whether that made any difference.

 

[Molondo]

I remember doing algebra in junior high, not sure of which year it was. It was 7-9.

 

[fatpat268]

I wish i got to learn algebra in the 6th grade. I didn't take it until 8th grade (which was a year early too).

I always found math classes to be a bit slow as a kid.

 

[troytime]

my 6th grade daughter is using the same math book that I used in 8th grade, and i was in advanced math.

 

[rocadelpunk]

Do not believe for a second kids are learning algebra in 4th grade. No way kids are cognitively ready at that age - even with the filtration system those countries use. Maybe...MAYBE...they are learning some algebraic concepts.

Yes, states are pushing algebra lower and lower - especially as geometry is further seen as a useless topic.

This is bad bad bad. I would much rather work on students' number sense. We might very well be able to teach them the procedures, but an actual meaningful understanding of what's going on - hah.

They don't have the logic, work ethic and it would be very dumbed down version most of the time.

So, fine, they know the procedures - ask them to actually apply anything they 'learned' and you'll get diddly squat.

/me is a math teacher so I suppose take my opinion with a grain of salt.

 

[timosyy]

lol ... I did the John Hopkins talent search thing too. I remember being confused as heck by the math part, but I did get like a 780 verbal & a pretty certificate.

 

[Soundmanred]

I vividly remember doing prealgebra/algebra in 6th grade. I even remember my teachers name.
Class of 1994...

 

[troytime]

Originally posted by: rocadelpunk
Do not believe for a second kids are learning algebra in 4th grade. No way kids are cognitively ready at that age - even with the filtration system those countries use. Maybe...MAYBE...they are learning some algebraic concepts.

Yes, states are pushing algebra lower and lower - especially as geometry is further seen as a useless topic.

This is bad bad bad. I would much rather work on students' number sense. We might very well be able to teach them the procedures, but an actual meaningful understanding of what's going on - hah.

They don't have the logic, work ethic and it would be very dumbed down version most of the time.

So, fine, they know the procedures - ask them to actually apply anything they 'learned' and you'll get diddly squat.

/me is a math teacher so I suppose take my opinion with a grain of salt.

if kids don't have the logic and they don't know how to apply the procedures, its the fault of the teachers

 

[Red Squirrel]

Wow, I only remember learning that in like grade 8. That's logical algebra mind you so it's fairly easy once you understand it and each problem can be taken on using same methods of logic. Wait till grade 11, all logic is non existant, then you hit calculus and it only gets worse from there. It's just a set of rules you have to learn, and there's no logic as to why. The reason it's done a certain way is "because".

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

I was doing pre-algebra in 7th grade and algebra in 8th/9th grade. I was in sucky math classes, though.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

All I remember is:

Calculus - 11th Grade
Trigonometry, Matrices etc - 9th Grade

Everything before that is a blur. Not sure when I had probability and random processes.

 

[rocadelpunk]

Originally posted by: troytime

Originally posted by: rocadelpunk
Do not believe for a second kids are learning algebra in 4th grade. No way kids are cognitively ready at that age - even with the filtration system those countries use. Maybe...MAYBE...they are learning some algebraic concepts.

Yes, states are pushing algebra lower and lower - especially as geometry is further seen as a useless topic.

This is bad bad bad. I would much rather work on students' number sense. We might very well be able to teach them the procedures, but an actual meaningful understanding of what's going on - hah.

They don't have the logic, work ethic and it would be very dumbed down version most of the time.

So, fine, they know the procedures - ask them to actually apply anything they 'learned' and you'll get diddly squat.

/me is a math teacher so I suppose take my opinion with a grain of salt.

if kids don't have the logic and they don't know how to apply the procedures, its the fault of the teachers

yes & no

 

[JMapleton]

I think math is overrated. There is really no need to learn anything beyond Algebra unless you're going to the science professions.

If kids were taught more financial sense and taught social skills more we'd be a lot better off. But I'm sorry, most math is a waste of time.