Why daughter is being taught algebra in 5th grade?

Question

We are just starting 5th grade and the math is algebra (functions and variables). She is really struggling and personally, I think it's because at 10 years old children are not ready for this type of math. Do you think they are pushing kids beyond their capacities?

Answer 1

We have to. We have to prepare our kids for the future and I think that we do our children a diservice when we say... they can't be pushed.

STudents will live up to our high expectations .I also do believe in teachers paying attention to what is developmentaly correct and what is considered best practices.  I'm not in agreement to drill and kill math. If there are fun ways where students are taught to think and problem solve and it is in the area of patterns, functions and variables then awesome.. but it has to be applicable to real life, it has to be reachable to the kids at that age.  But, yes we need to raise the bar or else America will lose it's position as a world power in the future.  

Answer 2

Algebra teaching actually starts in K.  Perhaps there were steps overlooked in the teaching at the lower levels.  Try going on websites to find the areas with the gaps.

http://www.algebasics.com/index.html

Excellent web page with great detailed answers.

Answer 3

I honestly do not think anyone is pushing kids beyond their capacities. It helps to at least go over simple areas of algebra at a younger age, I think. Plus, is there really an exact age in which it is appropriate or 'the right time' to begin teaching algebra to students? I agree with sage one, in that students do rise to expectations.

If she needs help, try finding a tutor or simply go over the difficulties she's having in the subject, with her. And, technically, she's starting fifth grade... Not 'we'.

Just my $0.02.  

Answer 4

I taught 5th grade prior to being a stay at home mom and substitute teacher.  Your daughter learned skills in the previous years to help her with what she needs to learn now.  They start learning about variables in the 1st or 2nd grade when they see a math problem written as ___ +  5 = 10.  They have to fill in the blank which we could also write as x + 5 = 10.  Maybe show her a variable in this type of format so she can understand that a variable can be any number and that you could put any letter in to represent that.   Hopefully your daughters teacher will do a lot of review and reteaching to help the students get the curriculum.  They will see many problems like this on the state or national testing at the end of the year.

Answer 5

They don't do actual algebra (solving parallel equations and the like), just the things that are needed to eventually get there.  Many kids can do it, so if she has trouble with it, maybe you need to talk to the teacher about getting her into a somewhat slower class for math.

Answer 6

if shes having too much trouble the teacher will notice in her grades and send her down a math class. shes fine

Answer 7

The upper grade curriculum is slowing moving down to the lower grades.

EDIT:  Germany also separates their students onto the vocational and university bound tracks at an early age. I believe around 4th grade.

Answer 8

Its part of the curriculum....

Answer 9

if you ask an asian or european what kind of math their 10 year olds do in school you would demand more from our system.  when exchange students visit our classrooms they often comment on how simplistic our work is and how undisciplined our students are.  in germany students are through with school at 15 and start attending universities.

there is a theory about concrete and abstract learning stages. but how does this reflect what is going on in other countries?

whatever you do, do not let your daughter know that you think this is above her intellectually or that you disagree with the curriculum.  you will be surprised how students rise to the expectations that are given to them.  

encourage her an let her know how impressed you are that she is learning this at such a "young" age.  she will feel like it's a "cool" thing to be getting it earlier than you did.

if she needs help then find a tutor.  

do i think we are pushing kids beyond their capacities?  absolutely not.  not if we want them to compete in a global society.  i really think what we are giving is more watered down every year.

Answer 10

I remember being taught algebra in fifth grade and this was in 1960. It was simple fill-in-the-blanks kind of algebra like 2 plus X equals 5. Like that.