Oh, another idea: 4. Critical Thinking Company's "Algebra Word Problems" Book 1 by Anita Harnadek. I included a more representative sample page on my other posting.... https://www.criticalthinking.com/algebra-word-problems.html For reviews: https://www.amazon.com/Algebra-Word-Problems-Book-1/dp/0894557998

Just thought I'd throw out a few ideas: 1. Book "Real World Algebra" by Edward Zaccaro starts by "explaining how to turn words into the math language of algebra." I own the book, it takes a lot of time to walk students though every single step of algebraic thinking to translate words into algebra. The whole book is step-by-step, and the answers to the solution sets are step by step, rather usefully for the self-learner. Just over 300 pages. Here's Amazon link, just for reference to read the reviews: https://www.amazon.com/Real-World-Algebra-Edward-Zaccaro/dp/0967991528/ 2. As just a total mild suggestion, you might want to consider taking a diagnostic test of pre-algebra math readiness. I learned about it on this forum actually, and it looks like it's widely accepted for designing IEPs in the public school system. My son has been doing the "K-end of 7" math diagnositics test from "Let's Go Learn," (abbreviated "ADAM" he's done it three times over the past 6 months) and he's pretty much at the top of the scoring now. The next test we'll do is their pre-algebra readiness test. They call it "DOMA". $25 for a test. It's been worth it for us, and on the nose in terms of where I had to shore up some of my son's gaps. https://www.letsgolearn.com/solutions/diagnostic-assessments/ 3. Have you thought about going through zearn.org's (free) Grade 6 program to reconsolidate Grade 6 skills? I'm not saying you're at Grade 6 but it's heavy on fractions and percents and some algebraic thinking. It has word problems. My son's just finishing their Grade 6. I think I learned about it from EdReports as a widely used supplemental program. It's a great program, you could create a teacher and a student account for yourself and do 2 or 3 lessons a day. It's interactive videos, great content: you watch a teacher present a teaching point with math models and then it stops and you have to answer a question right in the video. It has some level of adaptive learning depending on whether you get the answer right or wrong. Then you do a test section for each lesson. It's mainly K-5, but they are rolling out Middle School in the next year or so, only Grade 6 so far, but I'm hoping for Grade 7 soon.... https://www.zearn.org/ Anyways, just ideas. Good luck.

Commenting only on the "fun program" part, not on the "looking at the keyboard" part of your post. I'm having the same problem with my DS, new 6th grader, not much typing skill progress despite grade, but we don't stick to programs very well in the past. We've started "Typesy" this school year. It's paid, they make you buy a few licenses for homeschool, so I'm doing the lessons on my account as well: My son responds to competition. Lots of lessons, points system, lots of games that you unlock by earning points. The system tells you your typing and accuracy speed all the time. I myself sometimes skip through the little "Use your homerow keys" cutesy videos, but my son watches them, which is the main thing.... It also has lots of built in courses for Common Core grade level words, which I plan to use to improve his spelling. (His spelling really needs improvement.) Parent-administration account also has lots of reporting, which is mainly what I wanted, to make sure we keep doing it every day, and to map improvement..... we somehow stop using a free typing program way too quickly.... Anyways, just throwing it out there.

This is all I've noticed recently, wrt decimal operations at the Grade 4/5 level. You could think about SplashLearn, which is iOS and Android. You can try out the games in a browser. Subscription, but a person could just buy a month. Noticed it while looking for metric conversion games.... I don't have a subscription myself, and I don't know that much per se about the program. https://www.splashlearn.com/decimal-games As a lesser option, Doodle Maths has decimal drills/questions. It's also subscription at the level where you can customize the assignment to be decimals. (Otherwise it is adaptive, and has some reduced questions available a day that the app will chose for you.) My son is currently doing a subscription to Doodle Maths. It's a fun way to improve speed and accuracy. https://doodlelearning.com/

Wanted to mention that Spectrum Language Arts is a good resource to consider, if you end up needing other at grade level options. (I have a different level that we're just about to start, and we've done Grade 3 Spectrum phonics thoroughly.) Pages have color, illustrations. If challenging at grade level, you could try the level below. Grade 1 might be appropriate. https://www.amazon.com.au/Spectrum-Language-Arts-Grade-1/dp/1483812057

Just a thought, I haven't bought this book yet, but will in my next order (I save up to get to free shipping). Your question reminded me of it, the sample pages look interesting: https://www.criticalthinking.com/mastering-logic-math-problem-solving-book.html

Not sure about availability in Australia, but I wish I had known about Voyages in English a few years ago. To see some sample pages: https://www.rainbowresource.com/product/068322/Voyages-in-English-2018-Grade-1-Student.html? Evan Moor Language Fundamentals is also a good resource, if available. They preview all of their pages online, so you can see the fit. We're rather thoroughly doing the Grade 3 of this as well. Available as an e-book. https://www.evan-moor.com/language-fundamentals-grade-1-teacher-reproducibles-print

Another thought I had was an Epsilon Math Camp recommendation (I got it from their website, we don't attend or intend to....) for Douglas Downing's book, E-Z Algebra. I bought it based on their recommendation, and it tells stories and as a part of the narrative, the characters start to solve algebraic concepts. So it's not a formal, teach you a concept, now do a bunch of questions, instead the concepts unfold. https://www.amazon.com/E-Z-Algebra-Douglas-Downing/dp/0764142577/

Not sure it's a complete fit, but you could have a look at CTC's Algebra Word Problems Book 1. I own it, it concentrates on getting the student to set up the problems, it's pretty much only problem based. There's a Book 2 as well, I don't own that. https://www.criticalthinking.com/algebra-word-problems-book-1-ebook.html https://www.amazon.com/Algebra-Word-Problems-Book-1/dp/0894557998 Edit: Adding example page, Page 1. CTC's sample page not representative, IMO. All the beginning pages walk the students step by step through solving problems. Algebra Word Probs - Page 1.pdf

Very, very interesting, I'd forgotten that Mark Twain publishing has interactive notebooks for upper elementary - middle school. They look very accessible. You can see part of the TOC at Rainbow Resources, so it definitely covers some chemistry: https://www.rainbowresource.com/product/004655/Interactive-Notebook-Physical-Science.html?

Well, I said I "owned" it, which unfortunately doesn't mean we've done it (.... a different problem.....) My argument is that my son is a rising 6th grader, so it's part of my plan for this year. I only own the workbook, not the software package, as far as I can tell software activation had to happen by end of 2020, Dimensions Science has been discontinued. Science Fusion is what they have available now for K-8. Rainbow Resource link to Science Dimension module A where it details activation date I do have quite a substantial collection of middle school science interactive worktexts, however. HMH Science Fusion covers chemistry in the "Matter and Energy" worktext, about 3/4 of the book is chemistry, so it's a bit misnamed IMO. The Dimensions Chemistry is probably a bit clearer, photos are full color and pages are less cluttered. You made me curious, so I've been looking, and the clearest, most accessible language for middle school chemistry would seem to be in the McDougal Littell Science Interactive Reader "Focus on Physical Sciences." Font size is enlarged, the lexile rating is probably at or below a Basher book (fortunately without the humor....) I've attached a scanned sample page from McDougal Littell, but if you have a topic your son is expressly interested in, I could scan a relevant page so you could see if it would work. Here it is on Amazon, very reasonably priced: https://www.amazon.com/McDougal-Littell-Science-Physical-InterActive/dp/0618908145 McDougall Littell Chem Page sample.pdf

As a suggestion, you could buy a middle school chemistry consumable and get him to cut out the interesting pictures, like this. That way he can augment his dictionary/grid book. This type of book is meant to be used up in any case, and you could just ignore the text in the places where it gets a bit at middle school grade level -- in general, it's not that challenging. I own this book. It's full color with interesting photos. Amazon link, reasonable price: Student Edition Module J Grades 6-8 2018: Chemistry (Science Dimensions): HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT: 9780544861022 Here is the (now discontinued) full package on Rainbow Resource so you can see a sample photo, last preview page. I'm just suggesting the student consumable book.... https://www.rainbowresource.com/product/045175/Science-Dimensions-Homeschool-Package-Module-J-Grades-6-8-Chemistry.html

Critical Thinking sells iOS and Android apps and Windows/Mac software for their MindBenders series. Haven't tried digital versions, but really like the books. Scroll down the page. https://www.criticalthinking.com/mind-benders.html Building Thinking Skills is available on Windows/Mac, again scroll down. Haven't tried the software, really like the books. https://www.criticalthinking.com/building-thinking-skills.html

You could supplement with the multi-media from the American Chemical Society's Middle School curriculum (free). (You might already know about it, I'm just mentioning it for posterity-thread-reader....) https://www.middleschoolchemistry.com/

I'll throw this out as a suggestion, it's not a curriculum, but very fun, no reading. I believe the workbook shows pictures of the little block animals. My son loved this and we kept it until Grade 3 or something, I eventually gave it to a local ps Kindergarten teacher. Sold on Amazon as well, lots of reviews. Anyways, just in case you don't know about it.... https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/inchimals.cfm