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Khan Academy math vs homeschool favorites


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Wondering how the Khan Academy pre-algebra level compares to some of the homeschool standards out there (Foerster's AOPS, Saxon, TT, etc.)

 

Is it as rigorous and are there enough practice problems?

 

These are the two weaknesses that people seem to note, but I wanted to hear from actual Khan users (and recent users at that!). 

 

Seems the comments and criticisms I find about Khan are from several years ago and I know they have made great improvements since then. 

 

Thank you!

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Well, I haven't watched Khan's videos, just the exercises (I've done all the pre-alg ones to "mastery"), and I'd say it's not as rigorous as AOPS (not that we've gotten far yet in AOPS). Not real sure how to compare it to LOF - just completely different. I don't have experience with the other pre-alg programs. 

 

ETA: I don't think there are too few practice problems in Khan. Then and again, I'm mostly fine with LOF too, and people tend to criticize that one for too few practice problems, so, ymmv. If there's one thing my kids struggle with, I just find some more problems online, or make up some more problems, or, uh, have them do Khan (Khan is not our primary program - I just occasionally have the kids do Khan for variety or when I need a break, so my assessment of the number of problems is based on when I went and did all of it - it seems like they have a decent number of problems, but since they randomize them you do sometimes get the same problem almost back-to-back, and, if you're new to a topic, only doing Khan to mastery might mean you haven't mastered it - you probably do need to do more problems than they make you do, but that's not the same as there not being enough problems). 

Edited by luuknam
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I can’t compare to other programs but Dd did only Khan for 3rd through 8th grade and went seamlessly into getting A’s in Jacobs Algebra. (We started algebra in 9th grade due to some LDs).

 

 

Edited to add the caveat that I always add when I talk about Khan. I did not leave her to just do Khan with no input. I sat beside her or was close by to answer questions and to actually teach hard subjects. I had a systematic system for getting the foundations done first before other topics.

Edited by Jean in Newcastle
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So good to get the feedback. It's hard to change programs -- especially when your students have to invest several hours in Khan's evaluation before you get to the right level. 

 

I think we are going to try it. One of my students is not AOPS-mathy; she is more Key-To mathy. Sounds like Khan might be a good fit; she likes to do math independently (ie not taught by mom!) but still needs verbal instruction. 

 

Here's hoping this one sticks!!

 

Thanks again.

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So good to get the feedback. It's hard to change programs -- especially when your students have to invest several hours in Khan's evaluation before you get to the right level. 

 

 

IIRC there is a way to be able to just do whatever exercises you want. But it's been a while - the kids and I have been on Khan for about 5 years, iirc.

 

ETA: to be clear, a few months ago I did most of the exercises they'd added in the last couple of years - it's not like the last time I looked at Khan was 5 years ago. 

Edited by luuknam
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