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hereinantwerp
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| Posted: Jan 01 2006 at 4:36pm | IP Logged
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YIKES I was just going over schoolwork tonight to see where we're at for starting up again, and my oldest son is a few pages away from the end of his math book for the year! He's been working through a review of basic math using "Arithmetic the Easy Way," because we both got frustrated at the end of Singapore 5 (just didn't like their way of presenting things, and the scanty explanations weren't enough for ME, the mom!), and so I used this other book I found which covers/reviews all basic math skills in place of Singapore 6. Now he's finishing several months early and the YIKES is, I'm out of math!
Next step, algebra? This child is only 10. I'm really not ready for that. I'm not convinced he is, either. I have an algebra book on my shelf ("the algebra survival guide and workbook"), was reading it tonight, all those confusing terms . . .. Even if he is ready, where do you end up heading when you do algebra at age 10? I'd rather put it off a while and let him mature. My gut feeling is he'd do much better with it later. He likes math o.k., but is not real enthusiastic about it, his "passion" is more for history. (Did I mention he also has 2 math-phobic, very-math-dumb parents?)
So I was wondering if the Harold Jacobs mathematics book would fit the bill? Or, just skipping math for a semester because my budget is already spent and it's hard to get stuff over here?? Maybe I could find him some math-oriented stuff to read for a bit? Will a big break in math practice harm him at this point?
Also re. the Harold Jacobs book, is there an answer key or any explanations/solutions? I couldn't tell.
Hope that makes sense . . . 
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Angela Nelson
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MacBeth
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| Posted: Jan 01 2006 at 4:56pm | IP Logged
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Hey Angela!
There is an answer key within the book for problem set 2, in every unit/chapter. There is also a teacher's guide. I can't seem to find the teacher's guide online, but if I can find my own copy, it's yours.
FWIW, I use his Mathematics: A Human Endeavor with my advanced 10-year-olds. We don't use the whole thing, but it introduced logic and deductive reasoning from a mathematical perspective, and gives a great pre-algebra course. Frankly, I just find this book fun. It's meant for college students who don't care for math, but my kids will attest to the diversion from long division and fractions, yet strong real math lessons between the covers of this book (and all Jacobs' books).
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Leonie
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| Posted: Jan 01 2006 at 5:50pm | IP Logged
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I haven't used the Harold Jacobs books but MacBeth makes them sound fun and very do-able!
I alos happen to think that a semester without a maths text would be fine, too. Especially given your desire to save some money. Your son could look up interesting maths websites and also investigate the connection between Maths and History ( since History is a passion). The activities could help keep both his interest and skills up to date.
This site has lots of links. We check them out on an ad hoc basis.
The Fascinating World of Mathematics
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hereinantwerp
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| Posted: Jan 03 2006 at 10:03am | IP Logged
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MacBeth wrote:
Hey Angela!
There is an answer key within the book for problem set 2, in every unit/chapter. There is also a teacher's guide. I can't seem to find the teacher's guide online, but if I can find my own copy, it's yours.
FWIW, I use his Mathematics: A Human Endeavor with my advanced 10-year-olds. We don't use the whole thing, but it introduced logic and deductive reasoning from a mathematical perspective, and gives a great pre-algebra course. Frankly, I just find this book fun. It's meant for college students who don't care for math, but my kids will attest to the diversion from long division and fractions, yet strong real math lessons between the covers of this book (and all Jacobs' books). |
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Thank you, that's a great offer!
As I have read more about the book it sounds very fitting. Somehow I need to put the "spark" back into math with this boy--he's one who gets excited about concepts, but bogs down in the details. And for the last few years it has felt like kind of a drudge, especially long division! When he was younger he was excited about math. He certainly has math abilities!
Actually my goal with him is to get the spark back in school, period. I got to relying more on just assigning him things as he DOES work well independantly and I was pregnant and then baby . . . now I'm trying to get back to why we're doing this homeschool thing in the first place! Thank you for your help with questions. BTW the boys and I took a genuine nature walk yesterday and had the first good experience in ages!  My six year old, who is having a very hard time with any sitting-down-school, seems just made for that sort of thing. So I am newly resolved to make it work!
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Angela Nelson
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orchdork
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| Posted: April 20 2007 at 1:41pm | IP Logged
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Username wrote:
MacBeth
FWIW, I use his Mathematics: A Human Endeavor with my advanced 10-year-olds. We don't use the whole thing, but it introduced logic and deductive reasoning from a mathematical perspective, and gives a great pre-algebra course. Frankly, I just find this book fun |
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Do I need a Teacher Manual to use Mathematics: A Human Endeavor?
If so, do the publishing dates need to match?
Thank you for your time!!
Jacque
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: April 20 2007 at 4:29pm | IP Logged
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Human Endeavor has some of the answers in the back, but if you want all of the answers you would need the Teacher's Manual.
I can't answer your "edition" question, because I only have the Third edition and do not have a Teacher's Manual, but my guess is that it would be best to buy the same edition of both. They do have TMs for each edition. (at amazon) (Often homeschoolers sell the used TM and text together, so maybe you could go that route?)
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lapazfarm
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We like Human Endeavor also. I might also suggest the books "Math for Smarty Pants" or "I Hate Math Book" (I forget the author now)that we have used from time to time as a fun diversion.
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teachingmom
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| Posted: April 21 2007 at 7:02pm | IP Logged
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My 12 yo is using A Human Endeavor this year as well. I really like it, and she doesn't complain about math anywhere near as often as she had the past few years with Singapore in 5th and 6th grade. She still doesn't love math, but finds this more interesting. And speaking as a math person, I think the book is lots of fun and extremely interesting!
I don't have the teacher's manual. It makes more work for me in grading her work and coming up with tests. I think having the manual would help, but if I remember correctly, there weren't any available at a reasonable price when I looked. Actually, I don't even know if there are tests in the manual, so you still might have to come up with those if you want to test. BTW, I have a very "schooly" oldest dd who begs me to test her, so that she can have real grades in her subjects. Go figure.
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: Harold Jacobs & what to do questions
