Best Prealgebra? Prereqs for Prealgebra?

[MeganW]

What's your favorite Prealgrebra?  This is for a child who has completed Singapore Standards through Grade 6, and is currently working through Math in Focus Course 1.  

Do I really need to finish the rest of this Math in Focus series before moving on to PreAlgebra?  We haven't hit anything yet that he has found new or difficult.  Or maybe the best next step is an easy Algebra program?

[HollyDay]

I have not used Math in Focus.  Oldest dd did Saxon 87 AND Saxon 1/2. It was a good fit for her.  Youngest used Horizons Pre-Algebra.   I really liked Horizons.  It gave a lot of review but also covered material needed for algebra.  Several curriculum houses have placement tests.  Saxon, MUS, and TT have placements for sure. 

[wapiti]

If I'm not mistaken, a student who has completed Singapore Standards through grade 6 should be more than ready for prealgebra.  What is "best" will depend on the type of student.

 

Consider your plans for algebra and up - that may help you choose a prealgebra.

 

For a bright student who enjoys puzzle solving, my absolute favorite is AoPS Prealgebra.  For something more straightforward, I like Dolciani's Prealgebra, An Accelerated Course.  To go directly to algebra, I like Jacobs' Elementary Algebra, though even there I prefer a prealgebra first.  For a student who may be entering school around the prealgebra or algebra levels, that may involve a few additional considerations.

 

Here is the old giant thread of prealgebra choices:  http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/342798-pre-algebra-fence-straddlers-master-thread/  I don't think it's been added to in ages, and now there's a website problem with the link - it got tucked under OneStep's social group somehow and I can't open it.

Edited September 3, 2017 by wapiti

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

We went straight from Singapore Standards grade 5 to AOPS Pre-Alg and have not had a problem.  I did briefly go over negative numbers and exponents with ds because those weren't heavily covered in SM5.  We are a third of the way through AOPS Pre-Alg and have had no issues so far.  

 

I don't know any other programs to compare, but we have been really happy with AOPS.

[Farrar]

As always, I think the best program is the one that works well for you as a teacher, your kid as a learner, and meets your goals. So there is no best. But one of my boys used Jousting Armadillos and I liked it a lot. Another used Dolciani and it was also excellent, just in a very different way.

 

I hope that Fence Straddlers thread issue gets worked out - it really goes over most of the options.

[Lucy the Valiant]

We went SM 1-6 and then right to Dolciani Pre-Algebra with our first 2; it was a smooth transition and has been excellent preparation for future courses. 

 

A current student is finishing SM 6B and headed to AoPS Pre-A. 

 

In our particular cases, the decision rested on (A) confidence & ability of teacher, (B) preferred learning style of student, and © materials available to us at the time.

 

 

[ByGrace3]

DD did MM Grades 1-6 and just a few weeks ago started Tablet Class prealgebra. It has been great so far (but we are only 3 weeks in!) ;) I like that I only have to grade the tests, (practice problems are self graded via videos), it seems very thorough, it was affordable, and importantly-- my dd really likes it. 

[Mrs Twain]

My kids did Horizons K-6. Then they did Dolciani Pre-A (1988) with my husband or I teaching the lessons and working through the class exercises with our student before assigning the written exercises to be done independently. This prepared them exceedingly well for taking Algebra 1 in a B&M school.

 

Whichever program you chose, make sure that your child is very solid on math facts and all arithmetic. This is crucial for success in Algebra and courses beyond. We found Horizons 6 to be very useful in solidifying the arithmetic because it provided many practice problems and review of all prior concepts.

[mirabillis]

We did RightStart A-E, transitioned to Singapore 5&6 Standards. After Singapore 5B or 6A, you can feel confident going straight to Pre-A. And this is for both mathy kids and non-mathy kids. We jumped to Dolciani Pre-A, anywhere from 6-7th grades. Then Dolciani Algebra. Worked well for us.

[ondreeuh]

MIF course 1 should be the same as Singapore 6. The MIF courses 1-3 cover all of prealgebra; algebra comes after. I plan on having my youngest do all 3, but we can accelerate as needed. He is young, and I would rather be thorough than jump ahead.

[luuknam]

Here is the old giant thread of prealgebra choices:  http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/342798-pre-algebra-fence-straddlers-master-thread/  I don't think it's been added to in ages, and now there's a website problem with the link - it got tucked under OneStep's social group somehow and I can't open it.

 

 

Looks like that link is working again.

Edited September 8, 2017 by luuknam

[Targhee]

We went straight from Singapore Standards grade 5 to AOPS Pre-Alg and have not had a problem. I did briefly go over negative numbers and exponents with ds because those weren't heavily covered in SM5. We are a third of the way through AOPS Pre-Alg and have had no issues so far.

 

I don't know any other programs to compare, but we have been really happy with AOPS.

We also finished Singapore 5 and then to AOPS preA with oldest and Singapore 5 (well, half of it, he did BA 3A-5B, then finished topics in Singapore) to AOPS preA with DS. Just wanted to add there is coverage of negative numbers with exponents (and numbers with negative exponents) in preA so not to worry.

[cintinative]

OP, I am in the same spot as you.  We are doing MIF Course 1 this year and next year I hope to use Dolciani's Pre-Algebra.  How did I pick it?  Honestly, I picked it without seeing it but based on people's reviews here.  I do own the other Courses for MIF (Course 2 and 3) but don't want to spend three years on Pre-Algebra. I figure I can dig them out if we are lost with the Dolciani.  

 

ETA:  I didn't think we could handle AOPs. I love math but my kids don't necessarily and I wanted something gentler. We should touch base next year and see how things are going!

Edited September 14, 2017 by cintinative

[PineFarmMom]

8th grade son used Saxon when he did pre-algebra. It was thorough but we didn't like it. I do, however, really appreciate the drill sheets for 8/7. 6th grade son is using dolciani. I prefer it. He uses the Saxon drill sheets with it. Dolciani seems to just make things clear, and I like that they have those C level problems. It is more than enough work to get the point across. If he seems to grasp a concept, I will cut back on the number of problems he does.

 

Also, we used Singapore from essentials through 5b then skimmed quickly through Saxon 7/6 to make sure he was ready for pre-A

Edited September 24, 2017 by PineFarmMom