Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Our school district doesn't teach a class called Algebra 2 anymore. There's Math 1, Math 2, Math 3, and then pre-calc. The Math 1-3 sequence is a more integrated series of algebra and geometry, rather than having it (geometry) separated out into one year's worth of class.
About 45% take Math 1 in 8th grade and 45% in 9th grade. The rest are the outliers, taking it 1-2 years earlier or later than the majority.
They started doing the general math classes in my high school in the late 90s. It has continued since then.
Regular track kids took Integrated Math I, II, III, and IV was optional (only needed 3 math credits then.)
Advance track kids took Geometry, Algebra II, Trignometry, and Pre-Calc. (Pre-Algebra in 7th, Algebra I in 8th)
Honors kids took Algebra II, Trigonometry, Pre-Calc, AP Calc. (Pre-Algebra in 6th, Algebra I in 7th, Geometry in 8th)
Before the "Integrated Math", it was the traditional Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and rarely did anyone take a fourth year, but it was Trig.
I want to be a student-teacher for an Algebra 2 class. However, on the application, I have to check a box next to the grade that I want to student-teach for. I know that Algebra 2 is typically taken in 9th or 10th grade, but I'm only allowed to select one grade. Which grade should I choose?
It is neither. The more appropriate questions (1) where does Algebra 2 sit in your school's college prep sequencing? (2) whether you want to teach 9th graders or 10th graders? and (3) what experience you seek?
(1) If your school tops out at Calc BC, and that population is substantial enough, then Algebra 2 will be taken by a good number of freshman.
(2) Teaching Algebra 2 to freshman on schedule to take Calc BC their senior year than teaching Algebra 2 in a school that tops out with Pre-Calc, in which case it would be a sophomore year class. On average, the former will be more compliant, quick, and self-disciplined than the latter.
(3) Are you looking for an easy experience to work on techniques that will be gobbled up by more gifted kids or are you looking to repair students from years of a weak curriculum, to give hope to students who are behind the frontier without knowing it; to unlock the depths of Algebra 2 to students who might not have ever had a teacher who challenged them? I think no student teacher is complete without a full range of teaching experiences.
9th Algebra I
10th Geometry
11th Algebra II
12th Trigonometry
For science it was:
9th General
10th Biology
11th Chemistry
12th Physics
For me (1989-1993), NYS Regents track, it was
Course I - Algebra
Course II - Geometry
Course III - Trig
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
We didn't have to take a 4th year of math or science. In the Regents track, you could actually get away with just taking 2 years of either one, unless you were using the subject for one of two (required) 3-year "sequences," as English, Social Studies, and Foreign Language could not be used for sequences, because you HAD to take 4 years of English and SS, and the language you usually started in 8th grade, so most people took the language Regent Junior year, and then they were done with that.
I didn't get my Regents diploma because I bombed both math and science, so I couldn't use either one for a sequence (music was the one sequence I did complete). I barely squeaked through with the 2 years of each (Biology & Earth Science, and Course I & II). I also failed Regents Economics because the class was just too fast-paced for me (it was a half-year course, paired with Participation in Goverment), so I retook it at the non-Regents level. I just got the regular high school diploma without the Regents endorsement.
My boys both had Algebra II in 9th grade (advanced track). My daughter will take it in 10th (standard track here).
Quote:
So I'm in 9th grade is it good im taking alegrba II already?
As long as you're ready for it and can do well in it, sure it's good. Spelling "algebra" correctly and using punctuation will help you go a long way in ELA
In my old high school, and I wasnt good at math, I did:
9 pre algebra
10 Algebra 1 ( failed)
11 algebra 1
12 we weren't required to take math and I gladly took that opportunity.
Normal smart people did calculus, geometry, etc. I don't know what order.
Good catch! Actually the course name is "Advanced Math Topics" and the description says it includes Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and an independent project. We haven't gotten to this course yet.
Ah, thank you. The "regular sequence" is what I'm familiar with. It's great that some kids really love math, though, and can jump ahead! Why don't those kids ever factor into those international academic rankings?
Ruth, I read a study once that our top HS math students are every bit as competitive internationally as students from other countries. However, it is our lower academic levels that bring down our overall rankings.
My daughter spent a few days last June attending high school classes in Germany and she was surprised (and reassured) to find out that her U.S. math curriculum was one year ahead of the German school math curriculum. And this was a college-prep/advanced track German school... Her German hosts were actually math teachers and they were also surprised at how advanced her HS math was.
Ruth, I read a study once that our top HS math students are every bit as competitive internationally as students from other countries. However, it is our lower academic levels that bring down our overall rankings.
My daughter spent a few days last June attending high school classes in Germany and she was surprised (and reassured) to find out that her U.S. math curriculum was one year ahead of the German school math curriculum. And this was a college-prep/advanced track German school... Her German hosts were actually math teachers and they were also surprised at how advanced her HS math was.
Shhhh, you're going to make heads explode telling the truth. Don't you know you're not allowed to point out that other countries assemble their statistics using different metrics than the US?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
