Plan math for me, please!

[Momofeat]

Okay, I need for the hive to tell me what to use, and I need for you to all agree. ;) I've looked at this stuff until my eyes are crossed and algebraic equations are dancing through my head at night.

 

Here's what I have:

 

1) Dd (11) is beginning SM Primary Mathematics 6A today. She is also in RS Level E. She has loved the teeny-tiny easy pre-algebra problems in RS, so I would like to capitalize on that & have her do a little pre-algebra on the side--preferably something lightweight & fun. She does well in math, but it's not her favorite subject. I've been looking at Hands-on-Equations. What do you think? What should we do after 6A & 6B?

 

2) Dd (15) has dyscalculia & ADHD and is beginning CLE Algebra. I've heard that it's best to supplement this algebra a bit. With what? Also, where do we go after the algebra? I'm thinking that she will probably need geometry & algebra II together so that she doesn't forget one or the other.

 

Okay, you all can now solve my problems for me. :D

 

Thank you!

[Kareni]

I'll give you a bump and suggest that your eleven year old might enjoy working through some of the

Balance Bendersâ„¢  books.  The books are

 

Beginning

 

Balance Bendersâ„¢ Level 1

 

Balance Bendersâ„¢ Level 2

 

Balance Bendersâ„¢ Level 3

 

 

There is another series entitled Balance Mathâ„¢ & More!  that has three levels plus Balance Mathâ„¢ Teaches Algebra!

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Momofeat]

Thank you, Kareni. I will check these out. :001_smile:

[OneStepAtATime]

Hands on Equations for both, perhaps.  Love HOE.  Maybe Khan Academy as well?  

 

And for supplementing CLE Algebra, I would be interested in suggestions/opinions for that myself. 

[Hunter]

There is no need to supplement for a struggling student, unless it is to provide more practice with a difficult concept, or to add some hands on or other resource to help the student complete the main curriculum. Struggling students don't need "more" and they don't need an increase in rigor. I do not suggest supplementing for a struggling student except where you HAVE to.

 

If you google "algebra tiles" you should be able to find plenty of free hands on resources.

http://mathbits.com/MathBits/AlgebraTiles/AlgebraTiles.htm

 

Many students are just not ready for more than about the first half of algebra 1 and some very simple geometry until they are 17 or 18. This is "normal" and COMMON, and anything common is normal, not an LD. The educational world has just gotten wacky over math. Rah, rah, we need to beat all those other countries. Math is important, but shouldn't be the focus. Math expertise is easy to MEASURE, so people surely do like to measure it, and then to assign way more worth to it than is warranted. Arithmetic is the third R, not the first, and arithmetic is not all of mathematics.

 

If your older starts getting too bogged down in the algebra, take a break after awhile, do some easy geometry for a bit, and then go back and retackle some more algebra. 

[Momofeat]

There is no need to supplement for a struggling student, unless it is to provide more practice with a difficult concept, or to add some hands on or other resource to help the student complete the main curriculum. Struggling students don't need "more" and they don't need an increase in rigor. I do not suggest supplementing for a struggling student except where you HAVE to.

 

If you google "algebra tiles" you should be able to find plenty of free hands on resources.

http://mathbits.com/MathBits/AlgebraTiles/AlgebraTiles.htm

 

Many students are just not ready for more than about the first half of algebra 1 and some very simple geometry until they are 17 or 18. This is "normal" and COMMON, and anything common is normal, not an LD. The educational world has just gotten wacky over math. Rah, rah, we need to beat all those other countries. Math is important, but shouldn't be the focus. Math expertise is easy to MEASURE, so people surely do like to measure it, and then to assign way more worth to it than is warranted. Arithmetic is the third R, not the first, and arithmetic is not all of mathematics.

 

If your older starts getting too bogged down in the algebra, take a break after awhile, do some easy geometry for a bit, and then go back and retackle some more algebra. 

 

I totally agree with you on not supplementing unless there is a need. One of the criticisms I've read about CLE Algebra is that it doesn't provide enough practice with word problems, so that is the main reason I've thought about supplementing.

 

I also can see your point about students not being ready until ages 17 or 18. However, I do believe we are dealing with a bona fide disability here--based on her past as well as her present. She was diagnosed with dyscalculia in the 5th grade, and I believe it was an accurate diagnosis. The problem with letting her go any more slowly through the math courses is that even at our current rate she will only make it through Algebra II before she graduates. She is a very bright child (an "A" student in her other courses) who wants to go to college, so we have to do everything we can to help her through this. I also wish that our culture put less emphasis on math, especially for those who really do not need a whole lot of it for their chosen field, but we have to play with the cards we're dealt.

 

Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions. I'll check out the website you've linked.

[Emerald Stoker]

I wonder if your teen might like Christy Walters's "Fresh Approach" series? I've not used it, but it looks like a valuable alternative to some more traditional texts to me. She has Algebra 1 and 2, as well as Geometry.

 

[Hunter]

The best word problem instruction I have seen is the junior college remedial texts by Aufmann. You can get older editions for a penny.

http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Algebra-Applications-Richard-Aufmann/dp/0395969794

 

If you have an older computer running 3.1 through XP, you can download these free computer tutors and drill the word problems with an unlimited number of computer generated problems all with step by step solutions.

http://college.cengage.com/mathematics/resources/computer_tutor/students/