tmstranger Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 My youngest (4th grade) is currently doing CLE math. I decided to supplement with Beast Academy to make sure he is using his brain and can problem solve...instead of just following a formula. I started him with 3A because I think that is where he'll fit best. Now, my older boy is suddenly interested and wants to take on the challenge (some of the placement questions are hard if you're not used to thinking that way!) My oldest is in 7th grade and has always been a gifted math kid. He is taking Geometry through a tutorial now. Where do I start this kid? I think he'd blow through parts of BA, but he may struggle with others. I have always considered using AOPS for him, but I honestly think he could benefit from some of the younger books. Has anyone ever placed a much older child in the BA books? How? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiara.I Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Since he wants to do it, I'd just start him at 3, like you did your younger. He'll likely race through it faster. But you already have them anyway, might as well! But the material in 3 contains tricks that *I* sure didn't know, and I was quite good at math. So it's not like he'll get nothing out of it!!! And then you can buy the books for 4 to have on hand as he gets through 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 I agree, start him with 3 and let him go at whatever pace he can manage. Some areas he may breeze through, other areas he may need to slow down. If he isn't turned off by the cartoon format then yeah, just start him in 3. There were things in 3 that sort of stumped me, too, and I needed to really restructure my thinking about math. I love Beast. (We used it as a supplement to CLE, too. I think they pair well, TBH). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 (edited) I would skip BA entirely for a gifted 7th grader who is currently taking a high school geometry course. I might consider the Prealgebra text (chapter reviews and topics that he feels less familiar with) and/or possibly working through topics in Alcumus, but I'd also look at the MathCounts online class at AoPS or some other group math contest experience or perhaps Art of Problem Solving Vol. 1. I'd probably start with Alcumus first. There's more than one way to add in problem solving experience. Edited February 21, 2017 by wapiti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EndOfOrdinary Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 My son really liked BA mainly because he got to feel like a big shot when large parts were easy. It was not an ego blow. He liked the tricky ones too. The comics were neat because for a bit, he got to be silly. He did not have to openly enjoy the silly (since he was bigger and *super* cool), but it could be a subtle reminder that math was fun. He did not get BA until he was through PreA and a chunk of C&P. I think if it really was all hard, he would have hurt his confidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Instead of the BA books, I would start a 7th grader on free past year AMC8 exams and also on Alcumus. I might even start him on AMC10 if he might be keen on AIME later. AMC8 past year exams and solutions http://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php?title=AMC_8_Problems_and_Solutions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmstranger Posted February 22, 2017 Author Share Posted February 22, 2017 Thank you for the suggestions. I had him do some of the placement tests, which he enjoyed, and I think I'm going to buy him 5C to do for fun. He can always tag along and peek at things when his brother does the other levels, but still got most of the 5C questions correct (it just took him some thinking time!), so I don't want to spend the money right now to get him all of the level 3 books. I just bought 3A for his brother to start...it all adds up fast! I think we'll see how he does with 5C and then give him tests for the AOPS books. I have a feeling he'll pick up 5C quickly and be ready to move on. Or maybe 5D will be done soon? Is that a thing? I actually love that he was able to figure out these placement tests since he initially thought they looked hard. He has learned *something* from me! Also, I didn't know you could get practice tests for the amc competitions...thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Targhee Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 I would skip BA entirely for a gifted 7th grader who is currently taking a high school geometry course. I might consider the Prealgebra text (chapter reviews and topics that he feels less familiar with) and/or possibly working through topics in Alcumus, but I'd also look at the MathCounts online class at AoPS or some other group math contest experience or perhaps Art of Problem Solving Vol. 1. I'd probably start with Alcumus first. There's more than one way to add in problem solving experience.Agreed.Though let him read the guides to his heart's content. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetpea3829 Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 I agree with the others on skipping Beast, unless he REALLY wants to. No harm in him breezing through for fun, but I wouldn't require it. You might want to look into this course, though. https://www.elementsofmathematics.com I'd like to get my mathy 10 yr old in it as soon as he finishes 5th Grade with Singapore and Beast. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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