Pre-algebra suggestions

[Space station]

Hi everyone -

I purchased the Fred Pre-algebra series for my almost 10 year-old dd.  She is about 1/2 way through the Physics book and I do not like the look of the Pre-algebra 2 with Economics book, so I have decided not to use it.  I estimate that she will be finished with the Pre-algebra 1 with Biology book by February.  My question is, where should we go from there before she takes Algebra?  Jousting Armadillos and the other books in that series look good.  I also have Fred Algebra (my older daughter is using that now) and Jacobs Algebra on my shelf, as well as Jacobs Mathematics a Human Endeavor.  Do you see a natural progression from Fred Pre-algebra 1 to anything that I have, or should I bite the bullet and buy JA?  Should I just get that now and switch her to that instead of Fred if I am not going to have her do the Fred Pre-algebra 2?  In the past, we have used Fred for summer review - this is the first time we have used it for the main math.  Should I get the JA now and then use Fred just for summer review again?  I hate second guessing myself after we have started something!  I appreciate any thoughts.

Thanks!

Kristin

[Chrysalis Academy]

Sounds like we have some things in common, so I'll tell you what we're doing:

 

Dd10 has loved LOF so far, and she is working on PreA w/ Biology alongside MM6 and Jousting Armadillos.  I also bought and quickly resold PreA/Economics.

 

I would say that you should choose either Jousting Armadillos and its following 2 books, or the Jacobs books, but not both.  The 3 JA books cover the material in the two Jacobs books, specifically directed toward a younger (6th-8th grade) audience, and re-ordered.  But I believe they are redundant, I would choose one or the other but not do both.

 

If LOF Algebra appeals, there is no reason not to do it alongside the 2nd two JA books (meaning, not JA, but the 2 that follow it).

 

I absolutely love Jacobs Algebra for me .. . . and I absolutely love JA for my dd10.  I am planning on having her do all 3 JA books.  LOF has always been, and continues to be, a supplement, but not our main program.  I would drop it before dropping either JA or Jacobs, but so far we are enjoying both.

[Space station]

Thank you, Chrysalis Academy, that is very helpful!

[Chrysalis Academy]

I should also say that if you decide to go the Jacob's route instead of buying the three JA books, you can probably start right into it after LOF PreA.  The first part of that book covers PreA before delving into Algebra.   That was my original plan, before discovering JA.

[Brad S]

My son at roughly the same age as yours read the LoF Pre-algebra 1 with Biology and LoF Pre-algebra 2 with Economics.  Although I think the Pre-alg w/Bio was a little better than Pre-alg with Econ, we thought they were both good.  We bounced around with some other stuff before doing Jacobs Algebra.  We weren't that thrilled with Jacobs Algebra, but it was the best fit we found for a "younger" student doing algebra and we looked at a lot of curricula.  We did not, however, try Jousting Armadillos, which I'd never heard of before this post.