Damn seems like children are learning math faster and faster.

[Fenixgoon]

regardless, it still seems like most people are a bunch of retards. maybe it's just me, though

and no, i'm not saying i'm stephen hawking jr.

 

[irishScott]

We got the basics of algebra in 6th grade. Middle school had "honors math" which was pretty much the next level, with actual "Algebra" being taught in 8th grade.

 

[blinky8225]

Originally posted by: 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.

And this is why our schools fail at teaching math. I love math, but honestly, I can't blame you for feeling that way. In school, you're taught that math is just endless number grinding, but it is much bigger than that. It's more about thinking logically, recognizing patterns, and reasoning through problems.

While it is important to learn the processes and algorithms, I think our schools often lose sight of the thinking part of math.

 

[Hacp]

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.

Have fun mopping the bathrooms.

 

[Excelsior]

I graduated HS in 2004, and I remember doing Pre Algebra in 7th grade, Algebra 1 in 8th, Geometry in 9th.

 

[randomlinh]

err.. dang, i took algebra in 8th grade. a few years later, they let you take it in 7th. Though, there were about 3 kids who went to HS with us to take geometry when they were in 8th grade... they'd come for the morning class then get shipped back to middle school. my little cousin who is a good 10 yrs or so younger than me I swear is taking pre-calc as a freshman in HS, heh. But he's also an exception to the rule.

 

[Leros]

Let me try to remember.

5th grade - we were doing stuff like the OP said.
6th grade - kinda slow
7th grade - pre-algebra
8th grade - algebra
9th grade - geometry
10th grade - algebra II
11th grade - pre-calculus
12th grade - calculus AB & BC, and statistics


On a side note, I think about half those classes covered conics and I still don't remember the details.

 

[Fenixgoon]

this was my math:
7th grade - basic algebra
8th grade - algebra 2
9th grade - repeat algebra 2 (had to for HS)
10th grade - geometry (required for trig)
11th grade - trigonometry
12th grade - AB calc

i could have done BC calc in 12th grade had i taken geometry and algebra2 in the 9th grade. it worked out ok

 

[Bateluer]

I didn't start Alegra until 9th grade, pre-algebra in 8th. I hated math though, always have, so I avoided taking the math courses in high school. They probably offered the Alg and pre-alg courses earlier for qualified people, but, as I said, I hate math.

Barely skirted by with a C- in college algebra.

 

[Pepsei]

why are asian good in math? it's not because they're good, they started early.

in elementary school in taiwan, i was only an average student in math... when the family moved to the states, in six grade, i realized that they're teaching what amounts to something i've learned 2-3 years ago. i got really good in math (only because i learned this stuff earlier, which gives me extra time to build my foundation). getting A's consistently in math. it isn't until college when i took calculus that i hit the wall, and dispelled the myth that all asians are good with math.

 

[yhelothar]

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.

Agreed. I tutored math. I had one or two really bright students that just blew me away in how conceptually capable they were in elementary school, but I'd say only about 1/30 kids, tops.

 

[episodic]

Problem is math curriculums mostly in the US are a mile wide and an inch deep. . . they teach alot of everything - but not a whole lot period

 

[imported_Lothar]

Learning Algebra in the 6th grade isn't early.

6th- Pre-Algebra
7th- Algebra I
8th- Algebra II
9th- Geometry
10th- Trigonometry and College Algebra
11th- AP Calculus
12th- No math class

 

[habib89]

i had pre-algebra in 8th grade, and algebra in 9th. i went all the way up to ordinary differential equations and i'm now an engineer. i think really it depends on the student. if they "like" math and enjoy it, then they'll want to learn it and eventually be good at it. my sister hated math, and therefore sucks at it. i think being "good" at math isn't based on how early you learn it, but how you learn it. that said, i fully support bringing algebra earlier. from 3rd grade (fractions and division) till 8th grade (pre-algebra) i learned nothing new.

 

[Zolty]

Originally posted by: Hacp

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.

Have fun mopping the bathrooms.

You can fly commercial airliners with Algebra with a little trig sprinkled in if you forgot your plotter that day.

We have to take Calc and Physics although the engineers laugh at the concepts in the "Pilot" courses.

 

[Kev]

Originally posted by: 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.

Agreed. I was great at math and won the algebra award for having the highest average in the school. Then we started getting into geometry, trig and calc and I basically just slacked off because I realized that I would never use them, ever.

 

[Inferno0032]

Originally posted by: Imdmn04
Our k-12 education suck balls.

I've been meaning to start a topic about this.

Where are most of you from who knock the K-12 system?

I'm from Minnesota, so maybe that's why it's different, as I *think* I remember news reports of having one of the better high school systems.

Because most people I know in school are coming into college with credits via AP or PSEO, as myself and several other people I know gained a semester's worth of credits coming in. You may argue that these classes are much easier to get credit for, but in technical classes, such as physics, chemistry, and math I felt completely prepared for, despite only a "crappy k-12 public education."

Perhaps Minnesota is an exception in comparison to the rest of the country, or at least better off overall?

 

[Redfraggle]

I can't remember what math we did in 6th grade. I remember being in the advanced group, but not exactly what we did. I'm sure we started doing some algebra though -- it was a pretty good school system.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: Lothar
Learning Algebra in the 6th grade isn't early.

6th- Pre-Algebra
7th- Algebra I
8th- Algebra II
9th- Geometry
10th- Trigonometry and College Algebra
11th- AP Calculus
12th- No math class

I didn't learn FOIL method until 8th grade at a different school.

8th was Geometry after I moved. I forget what we did in 9th, but 10th was Trig. 11th and 12th were Algebra and some Pre-Calc.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: 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.

Hey, I did that too! I think I ended up with mid-500's in math. Ironically I had no idea how to do a square root in 8th grade. No one ever taught it... and I was in the AP class!

 

[villageidiot111]

My school started algebra in kindergarten.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

I was also introduced to X in Kindergarten.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: 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.

I've never even learned Pre-Algebra, but the basic math I learned has served me just fine. Never had an interview where they asked "do you know Algebra or Calculus?" I understand it's important for a lot of job fields. But the average person will never need it. Math classes after fractions for me as a whole were a worthless waste of time. Gotta love the dude a few posts down who responded "have fun mopping the bathrooms" math won't factor in most jobs ever.

 

[Xylitol]

i was learning pre-algebra in 6th grade
Dr. Osoka was my teacher
He lives in Nigeria now

 

[njdevilsfan87]

For me...

7th: Pre-Algebra
8th: Algebra
9th: Geometry
10th: Algebra II & Trig
11th: Pre-Calc
12th: AP Calc
1 Year college: Calc 2&3
2nd year: Calc 4&5

I think I "beat" math two years ago.

Math may not be "important" depending on what you do, but it does single out those who have brains, versus those who do not. (the engineer in me is now talking hehe).