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Math Mammoth users, what will you use


Rhea
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I think after MM 6B (and Singapore 6B as well), many kids could go straight into Algebra, especially some of the "lighter" programs like TT or MUS. (I returned MUS Prealgebra, because DS had already covered too much of it in MM 5A-6A.) Unfortunately, it looks like 6B won't be available for another few months, so DS is doing LoF and KB Prealgebra, and I may even have him start MUS Algebra* if MM6B is delayed into late fall. After he completes 6B, whenever that is, he'll start Foerster's Algebra.

 

(*8FilltheHeart uses MUS Algebra as a sort of Prealgebra program after Horizons 6 and before Foerster's; that's where I got the idea from.)

 

Jackie

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So I'm assuming by that post by Maria that she DOES think a pre-algebra course would be good after 6b? Or is she giving those suggestions because there is no 6b yet and 6b will eventually cover that?

I think those are her suggestions for kids who need Prealgebra, either because they aren't mature enough for Algebra (e.g. they finished 6B in 4th or 5th grade) or because they just need another year of review. Most Prealgebra programs are about 75% review of basic operations, and 25% gentle introduction to algebra. Most Algebra programs start off with a review of basic operations as well, so a student who completed a rigorous 6th grade math program and was mentally ready for algebra could go straight into algebra, especially one of the "lighter" programs. For example, 8FilltheHeart had her kids go from Horizons 6 to MUS Algebra, often in lower grades (like 5th or 6th, I think), then do a more rigorous algebra (Foerster).

 

MM5A-6A covers a lot of material that you would normally find in a prealgebra program (and I assume 6B will go even farther), including some topics (like graphing functions, covered in MM5B) that don't show up until Algebra in some other programs (like MUS). I don't think a child would have any trouble going from MM6B to MUS or TT Algebra; DS (who is not mathy at all) tested into TT Prealgebra after MM5B and I still found it too basic for him. As I mentioned above, I sent back MUS Prealgebra because we had already covered too much of it in MM5-6A. DS is currently doing LoF Prealgebra and KB Prealgebra, and will do MM6B when it comes out, then start Foerster's Algebra. I plan to have DD go straight from MM6B into Foerster's, or perhaps do MUS Algebra first if she finishes 6B in 5th grade. We do use LoF as a fun supplement, so she will probably have done one of the LoF Prealgebra books as well.

 

I really wish Maria would write a Prealgebra program, because I think Math Mammoth leads into Foerster's so perfectly — there are so many similarities in approach and method — that I would love to have one more year of MM for kids who finish 6B early (as I suspect DD will). Plus I would love to have Maria provide a gentle introduction to quadratics before kids hit that topic in chapter 4 of Foerster!

 

Jackie

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Jackie-great food for thought, printing it out for future reference. I am *just* starting to look ahead into this stuff for non-mathy dd10. (We are working hard to remediate so her conceptual understanding is better. MM is a huge help!) We'll do our CLE/MM combo through grade 6, then ??? I'm thinking she will definitely need a pre-algebra year. I like the MUS algebra idea, thanks. I thought either that or someone mentioned Lial's BCM, I think, as an overview review plus pre-algebra. Want to get some LOF in there too, maybe in the summers.

 

Haven't looked into Algebra programs yet but I know Chalkdust and Jacobs and Foerster's are well-thought of; was glad to see Maria liked them too. Yes, a pre-algebra by Maria would be great!!!

 

(Side note: MM was going so well for dd that I dropped Singapore for very mathy ds7 and am using MM/CLE with him too! We do other mathy stuff on the side with him too. But you were right; the MM is much easier to teach than the Singapore.)

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