Jackie Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Ack! So many math books! What order do you do the Zaccaro books in? My daughter just started Beast Academy 4 and I think she'll probably finish poking through the Primary Grade Challenge Math book soon. I would guess the next one is Upper Elementary Challenge Math, but what about all the rest of the books? Where do they come in? Similar question on the Borac books. DD wants to do Math Kangaroo next year and specifically requested something that would help her with that. She'd be a second grader. Is the best thing for her the first level for grades 1-2 (she would be a second grader by age/enrollment)? Or should I be bumping that up a level since she's working on higher level math? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal_Bear Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 At first I liked the Borac books, but my goodness the solutions have too many errors! I got super annoyed at the end of the series for 7 to 9 year olds. Then I saw people complaining there were even more solution errors the next level up which would just drive me batty. The Upper Elementary Challenge Math, then Challenge Math for the Zaccaro books. The Upper Elementary is much denser with problem sets for each chapter than the Primary book. Maybe 3 to 4 times as many problems. You might want to just order the old Math Kangaroo tests. You can find them here. http://www.mathkangaroo.org/2010page/Booklets/MATH_KANGAROO_Books2009.html While Pakistan and Canada Math Kangaroo questions are available, I swear those seemed easier than the actual US exams as the most difficult problems seem to not be in their exams. For Math Kangaroo, I kept mine at his age/grade. I'm using the Hard Math for Elementary books rights now for my 3rd grader which is pretty good so far. You can also get the MOEMS books as well. (old Math Olympiad questions). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slackermom Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Our kid used Zacarro at approximately this rate: Grade 2- Primary Grade Challenge Math Grade 3- Challenge Math For the Elementary and Middle School Student Grade 4- Becoming a Problem Solving Genius: A Handbook of Math Strategies Grade 5- The Ten Things All Future Mathematicians and Scientists Must Know (But are Rarely Taught) We were afterschooling and using a math circle in early elementary. We used the BA books at home as they came out (grade 3, 1/2 of grade 4), and a variety of other materials (but not Borac). Our child's second grade teacher at public school asked if we had suggestions for supplemental material in the classroom, and I suggested the Primary Grade Challenge Math book, which I think was recommended by the math circle leaders. The teacher purchased it, and our kid generally used that instead of doing what the other kids in the class did, and finished before the end of the year, so the teacher bought the next one too. The third grade teacher did not allow supplements, in order to turn all focus on standardized test prep. So, that book came home. Upper Elementary was not available at the time. We started homeschooling mid 4th grade, using AOPS pre-Algebra. I didn't really need to supplement that book, but I mixed in the other stuff when I felt the kid needed a change for a few days here or there. Our kid went back to public school in 6th. I don't really afterschool math anymore, thanks to the math track at their school, but probably would have supplemented with Zaccarro's Real World Algebra if we had done Algebra at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie Posted August 24, 2017 Author Share Posted August 24, 2017 Thanks for the feedback! We don't "need" to supplement, but DD likes variety in all her subjects. The more books, the better, it seems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal_Bear Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 You might want to take a look at the Michael Serra books for later. http://www.michaelserra.net/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaConquest Posted August 27, 2017 Share Posted August 27, 2017 (edited) Ack! So many math books! What order do you do the Zaccaro books in? My daughter just started Beast Academy 4 and I think she'll probably finish poking through the Primary Grade Challenge Math book soon. I would guess the next one is Upper Elementary Challenge Math, but what about all the rest of the books? Where do they come in? Similar question on the Borac books. DD wants to do Math Kangaroo next year and specifically requested something that would help her with that. She'd be a second grader. Is the best thing for her the first level for grades 1-2 (she would be a second grader by age/enrollment)? Or should I be bumping that up a level since she's working on higher level math? Keep her at grade level. California is competitive enough, as it is. Btw, I got our charter to start offering MK two years ago, so it will be great to have another buddy. We also have a spelling bee and other competitions (writing, robotics, etc.). She's going to love it. Edited August 27, 2017 by SeaConquest 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie Posted August 27, 2017 Author Share Posted August 27, 2017 (edited) Sorry, I should have been clearer. I will definitely *register* her for Math Kangaroo at grade level. I was wondering whether it was better to buy Practice books at grade level or at the higher level. The EF said they had Math Kangaroo. I was excited not to have to find a location! Edited August 27, 2017 by Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syllieann Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 I think the 7-9 borac book will be too easy after ba 3. I didn't really see a lot of crossover in mk either. It is interesting in it's own right, but not necessarily helpful for mk. For mk, I would just do loads of practice tests. You can easily vary the problems enough to reuse. There are free tests on the Canadian site and some on the us site. You can purchase others. You'll probably want to focus on the 5 point questions. There is an emphasis on turning a 3D object around in your head and on problems that require either simple algebra skills or advanced bar modeling skills. I think the mk FB page offers a daily problem as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rush Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 At first I liked the Borac books, but my goodness the solutions have too many errors! I got super annoyed at the end of the series for 7 to 9 year olds. Then I saw people complaining there were even more solution errors the next level up which would just drive me batty. The Upper Elementary Challenge Math, then Challenge Math for the Zaccaro books. The Upper Elementary is much denser with problem sets for each chapter than the Primary book. Maybe 3 to 4 times as many problems. You might want to just order the old Math Kangaroo tests. You can find them here. http://www.mathkangaroo.org/2010page/Booklets/MATH_KANGAROO_Books2009.html While Pakistan and Canada Math Kangaroo questions are available, I swear those seemed easier than the actual US exams as the most difficult problems seem to not be in their exams. For Math Kangaroo, I kept mine at his age/grade. I'm using the Hard Math for Elementary books rights now for my 3rd grader which is pretty good so far. You can also get the MOEMS books as well. (old Math Olympiad questions). Are to talking about this Borac book? https://www.amazon.com/Competitive-Mathematics-Gifted-Students-Level/dp/0692240071/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 I was just about to purchase it for my little one. There is nothing in the reviews regarding the wrong answers, so I was just wondering if I have to go ahead or not :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syllieann Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 Are to talking about this Borac book? https://www.amazon.com/Competitive-Mathematics-Gifted-Students-Level/dp/0692240071/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 I was just about to purchase it for my little one. There is nothing in the reviews regarding the wrong answers, so I was just wondering if I have to go ahead or not :( It looks like they did a new edition. Mine has a green cover. I think I bought it in 2014. I didn't notice wrong answers, but I rarely looked at the answer key. Maybe the new edition was to correct those...idk. Mistakes in the answer key would not stop me from getting it if I wanted it otherwise. It is for 7-9 year olds. I usually found it quicker to figure out the answer myself rather than flip to the answer key. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal_Bear Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 I think that the new edition is only for 7 to 9..but the next levels up from 7 to 9 have not been updated which is why I quit using them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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