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Angel
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| Posted: May 27 2009 at 7:44am | IP Logged
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My ds has reached the end of his rope with Saxon, but I don't think we want to go the Teaching Textbooks route. I'm also not sure he's ready to do full blown algebra quite yet. What I'm hoping is to find a pre-algebra program or the equivalent that will cure some of his dislike for math. (For the record: he's pretty good at math, just doesn't like it much, and is looking toward college and a career in science. He has an ADHDish personality and a really, really low tolerance for frustration.)
Other than Saxon, Abeka, and TT, here's what I know about:
Mathematics: a Human Endeavor by Harold Jacobs (Not technically pre-algebra, but I've heard good things about it igniting interest and the topics certainly *look* interesting.)
Making Math Meaningful Algebra (technically Algebra, but it looks a little skimpy to me and says "with pre-algebra"; I like the hands-on aspect)
K12 Pre-Algebra A and B
Math-U-See pre-algebra
Anything else? Anyone have any experience with any of these books/curricula? We're leaning toward the Jacobs book and the K12 options right now, but still in the thinking stage. G. will finish Saxon 7/6 in the next week or so.
Thanks!
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Angela
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mom3aut1not
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Angela,
I used New Elementary Math with two of my dds. Check it out on singaporemath.com. (I hope it's still there...) I used it through 3B, added a unit on logarithms, and went straight to precalculus.
In Christ,
Deborah
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heidimomof7
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| Posted: May 28 2009 at 9:17am | IP Logged
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I'm in the same situation, so I don't have advice, but I'm wondering why you're not considering TT. My son finished Saxon 8/7 but did not enjoy math at all, so I'm trying to decide between TT and MUS. From the placement test on their website, it looks like Pre-Algebra (8th grade) will be a review, but he needs a break and could probably benefit from review. He's also interested in a science (forestry) field. JMJ, Heidi
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Martha
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| Posted: May 28 2009 at 10:36am | IP Logged
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After lots of researching I've decided to use Lials Basic College Mathematics (a.k.a lials BCM)
I like the look and layout of it, the price used is pretty good, and it has a complete solutions manual. (a must for the sake of time, imho, even if one can do the math!)
I also have Life of Fred, which we like with mixed results. 1 ds is doing great with it alone, the other needs something else as the main text. But hey both enjoy reading it. The combination of fractions, decimals and percents makes up prealgebra.
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Martha
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Angel
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| Posted: May 28 2009 at 6:23pm | IP Logged
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Ok, I like Fred. More importantly, I think my ds will like Fred. We'll see what my dh thinks about it.
Heidi, I ruled out TT for ds for a few reasons. The first is that having to sit through the long drawn out explanations (like the one in the sample prealgebra lesson) would probably drive my ds batty. He's the kind of person who likes to be able to read something on his own, figure it out, and do it. Having to wait through somebody else's explanation would make him very fidgety, particularly if it was an explanation of something he could get himself easily. I also didn't like the way the sample lesson was explained; that may be a personal preference, but I thought it was a little confusing.
Another reason that I ruled out TT was because I'd heard some negative things about it being skimpy and not very rigorous (word of mouth from people whose opinion I trust and online). Now, one of my goals for this next year is that my ds get over the extreme dislike of math which the last month or so of Saxon has fanned into full-blown flame, so I guess maybe I'm not as concerned with pre-algebra being TERRIBLY rigorous... but I do think that a good foundation in algebra is extremely important, particularly if one is determined to go into a science-related career. So I had already ruled out TT for Algebra I(I'm pretty sure we'll go with Jacobs Algebra). I'm not sure if I want to introduce the series and manner of teaching if we're just going to go back to books next year.
And then there's the price. It's pretty pricey, especially since I doubt that my ds would want to use many of the CDs.
So that's just us. I know that many people use TT and really like it, so it may be that we are just weirdo's.  Like anything else, I think it's really just a matter of matching the math program to the child.
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Angela
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mom3aut1not
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Angela,
I am just curious, but have you heard anything about the Math Mammoth pre-algebra? Yea or nay? I have a friend who may need a math program, and she doesn't have much money -- to put it mildly.
In Christ,
Deborah
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Martha
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| Posted: May 28 2009 at 7:37pm | IP Logged
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ug. I just bought the entire Math Mamoth on CD a few weeks ago - it's horrible, imho.
the lay out is very confusing to vague and there's not nearly enough practice. there is a lot of material to print off, but a LOT of it is duplicate stuff. for example everything in the blue is EXACTLY what is in the light blue book.
maybe it is actually more meaty once one gets into it, but so far I'm not impressed at all.
I'm really disappointed in it because I had really high hopes after hearing nothing but praise for it.
Now it's just $ sitting on the shelf that I'd really like to have spent elsewhere. 
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Martha
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mom3aut1not
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Martha,
Thanks for telling me. I won't offer it as an option for someone I know. I wonder if it would be helpful as a supplement -- in bits and pieces.
Can you return it?
In Christ,
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Martha
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| Posted: May 29 2009 at 10:08am | IP Logged
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I could see it as a suppliment, but that is a very expensive suppliment, kwim?
No, can't return it. At least I didn't pay full price to begin with. That's small comfort.
Of course on the heels of that bummer, my dh was excited to find Story of the World Vol 2 book and activity guide dirt cheap in new condition. Brought it home and I go to the shelf to put it next to the vol 1 that I already have and .. oh wait.. no it won't fit on the shelf because I already have it. brand new. I didn't see it honest. I remembered buying the vol 1 and wondering if should go ahead and get vol 2, but I didn't remember actually buying vol 2.
My poor finacially beleagured hubby is going to develop an eye twitch if this keeps up. At least the SotW was cheap enough to just donate to another family, so someone benefited from it.
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KerryK
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| Posted: May 29 2009 at 10:22am | IP Logged
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If you go with Life of Fred would you do Beginning Algebra? I used TT for my sixth grader this year and I wasn't thrilled. He's good at math but doesn't like it too much, so he liked the TT format, but I found it not to be rigorous enough - he wasn't retaining the concepts like he used to with Saxon (which he hated). I was thinking of trying Life of Fred but don't know enough about it to trust it. I'm not going back to TT, but I don't want to go back to Saxon either.
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mom3aut1not
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Martha,
Well, I was thinking of the individual download bits as a supplement. They don't cost much....
Hhmmm. Can't return it. Could you give it to someone whose dh has lost his job? It might be a blessing to someone who can't buy anything..... I know it's a lot of money lost in that case, but are you really going to use it? It pretty clearly doesn't pass my Grandma Test. (Because my youngest is 12 years younger than my next-to-youngest, I devised my Grandma Test for materials my big kids were done with. Is something so good I want to keep for any grandchildren I might have? If yes, keep it. It's worth the space. If no, give it away.) I know MM might not take up much space, but is it worth the space it takes up? If so, how can it be salvaged? Could you jazz it up? Or pump it up?
I'm curious. What math curriculum have you used before this?
I'm so sorry you got it. I am happy you shared your experience. I would hate to buy something for someone that was inadequate, and I was seriously considering buying Light Blue 1 for a family without resources.
In Christ,
Deborah
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Martha
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| Posted: May 29 2009 at 11:33am | IP Logged
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done did it. I went ahead and printed off all of light blue and golden (because I need to have something in hand to get a feel for it) and it's sitting here awaiting being dropped off to another homeschooling mom. If it works for her, then I'll probably just give her the disk. 
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Martha
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mom3aut1not
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Martha,
Bravo! Smiling despite the pain!
I hope it works for her. Then it won't be a total loss.
Yow. What a lot of printing!
In Christ,
Deborah
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mom3aut1not
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| Posted: May 29 2009 at 12:47pm | IP Logged
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Angela,
Have you looked at Key to Algebra? (Key Curriculum Press, and available from Rainbow Resource among others.) It's cheap to try, anyway.
I don't know what I'll use with my son. I used NEM with two of the girls, but with him..... I just don't know. I know that Videotext is supposed to be good, but it is expensive -- and I have an extensive background in math so I don't need dvds to teach math. Otoh, he might find the visual presentation helpful.... I just don't know.
I think I'll wait until we get there. It'll be years so I have time to ponder pre-algebra.
In Christ,
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Martha
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I really love the Key To series of books! My kids like them too. VERY basic and simple.
You know upon reading this thread, it occurs to me that there's a plethora of math in this house. 
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Martha
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Martha
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mom3aut1not wrote:
Martha,
Bravo! Smiling despite the pain!
I hope it works for her. Then it won't be a total loss.
Yow. What a lot of printing!
In Christ,
Deborah |
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Yep. benefited from other's generosity too often not to know the value of passing it on to others.
Yes, a lot of printing, another negative to consider.
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Martha
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Martha
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| Posted: May 29 2009 at 1:18pm | IP Logged
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KerryK wrote:
If you go with Life of Fred would you do Beginning Algebra?
I was thinking of trying Life of Fred but don't know enough about it to trust it. I'm not going back to TT, but I don't want to go back to Saxon either. |
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LoF Beg Alg is equal to a rigorous Algebra 1 course. I wouldn't skip the first 2 books which equal a prealgebra course (fractions followed by decimal/percents). Don't be misled that it's very simple and enjoyable format means it's a cake walk. there's some heavy math in those books! The books are fairly cheap and nonconsumable and honestly a fun read even if you don't do the math. If the kid is good at math, then he might just zip right through the pre-alg books - and that's great. If not, you catch any trouble areas along the way and he has some time to adjust from Saxon pergatory to LoF.
I had the same concern about LoF and I bought the Key To series books to go along with it. The combination has been great without feeling as thoughthe is drowning in math, which can happen very easily if combining math programs. One son didn't need the Key To books, the other did at points. Both greatly enjoy reading the LoF books.
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Martha
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KerryK
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Martha,
Thanks for the info! I wasn't sure what was what when I was looking at it all on the website. Your combo of LoF and Key To sounds like a real possiblity for me next year. Math that is an enjoyable read would be hard for me to say no to right now!
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Angel
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| Posted: May 29 2009 at 4:43pm | IP Logged
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Martha, did your son use the Key to Algebra books along with LoF or the other Key to books? I've used the other Key to books with both my eldest and my dd. Both seem to like them all right, so I doubt my ds would have a problem using them in combination with something else. (Actually, he was just working in the Percents books and then I made him go back to Saxon. Now I'm wondering if that was such a great idea.  )
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Angela
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Martha
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| Posted: May 29 2009 at 5:31pm | IP Logged
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Angel wrote:
| Martha, did your son use the Key to Algebra books along with LoF or the other Key to books? |
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We use/used Key To fractions, percents, and decimals with LoF books and are just beginning the algebra.
If this continues to work, then I sure ain't gonna try to fix what ain't broke.
If it doesn't, then I'll switch to either Jacobs elementary algebra or lials introductory algebra, both are on my shelf. Figure odds are good one of the next 8 will need that instead of LoF.
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Martha
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4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: Pre-Algebra curricula?
