What is the Reading Level of AoPS PreAlgebra?

[elmerRex]

If you have used AoPS PreAlgebra then can you please tell the reading level of the text?

[Dmmetler]

I would say a solidly independent middle school level. It's pretty big blocks of text, and, since it's a math book, lots of specialized vocabulary, although usually defined in text. Because the PA book is defining so much terminology and is written to the user, it uses more words where later books will incorporate more Mathematical shorthand. It also really expects writing skills at about a middle school level as well, since students are regularly asked to explain why a problem works and the solution and steps in words, although if you do it at home instead of in a class that is easier to tweak.

[wapiti]

I can't recall what grade your young student is in, but I can tell you how it went for my ds when he was 9, 4th grade - an example of the tweaking that dmmettler mentions above.  He didn't have much difficulty reading the problems themselves.  Once in a while, I might have explained the language.  However, I did not have him read through the lengthy solutions.  Instead, I skimmed over the solutions and then discussed with him anything of significance.   I don't remember what my ds's reading level was at that time, probably above grade level.

Edited January 11, 2016 by wapiti

[SanDiegoMom]

We tweaked -- my ds almost never read through the text. I read it and we discussed it and most importantly he watched all the videos after working the problems and before the exercises.  Actually it was videos, then problems and then exercises for quite a few chapters, until he felt comfortable enough to do problems first.  For most of the explanation problems, he explained to me.  I was worrying about this but now that he is in algebra his notebook has magically become neater and he writes his explanations without being asked.  

[bugfree]

First child took the online class, used the videos and did the homework for the class.  He rarely used the pre-algebra book unless he had to look something up.  My second child is taking an in person class with book work.  He reads the book and does the homework in the book.  He can't really watch the videos, so he relies on the book much more than my first child.  I would think a solid late elementary reader could do it.

The "writing challenge problems" in the online class require pretty good writing skills.  Especially in the beginning of pre-algebra, I would read over my son's answers with him.  

Edited January 31, 2016 by bugfree

[Julie of KY]

My daughter does not read the text - only the problems. She's dyslexic and slow at reading. I go through the teaching problems with her and do the teaching and explanations. She can read the problem sets herself.

[Black-eyed Suzan]

I do what several posters do/did and read through myself and discuss with him or read the text out loud. He does read all problems and exercises. I scribe any explanations required.