Thanks for sharing AoPS's response about the percentages. That's a good rule of thumb to keep in mind.

If your family has chosen not to create your own tests for AoPS, what method have you used for grading (particularly related to a high school transcript)?

Thanks for the scope and sequence input. The responses (and link to other threads) were helpful. Excuse me if this seems a ridiculous question, but no one seems to have mentioned tests. Does the AoPS curriculum include tests? If so, do you feel the tests accurately reflect the student's understanding?

Our family is considering switching to AoPS as a high school math curriculum next year (my son will be in 8th grade). I am trying to get a handle on what order to do the AoPS curriculum. It seems like there are too many books for the number of years we have left in high school (5 years). The website lists 9 books (8 if we begin with Algebra): Pre-algebra, Intro to Algebra, Counting and Probability, Number Theory, Intro to Geometry, Intermediate Algebra, Intermediate Counting & Probability, Precalculus, Calculus. How many lessons on average are in the books? Are these books designed to take a full year or less (assuming that the student moves at a somewhat steady pace)? Does one do all the books? Please share your experience if you have used this curriculum. Thanks!

Thanks, rjd2027, for sharing about your children's experiences with math. It's wonderful to hear about your 11yo discovering a math program he could do and enjoy. :-) Like you said, we'll have to try it out and see where it takes us.

Thanks for the replies. They make me feel like AoPS might be a little more realistic. I was beginning to get the impression AoPS was only for the highly gifted math students who enjoyed living and breathing math. If doing the books only is realistic and practical, (not needing the on-line classes), it sounds like a good option.

Thanks for the replies. It seems there is a good deal of variation about how much/little students using AoPS are able to self-teach, and/or need teacher or online instruction. I guess we'd need to try it and see what works for my ds. In regard to the above 2 quotes from Julie and snowbeltmom, I would not say my ds yet "feels empowered by math discovery," or "wants to devote a great deal of time to math each day." He's solid in math, is starting to enjoy the puzzle-solving nature of it, and is appreciating what math can do for him (via programming and robotics). I think he's going to be more of an applied math person, than a theoretical math person. My ds averages about 90 minutes a day on math, but wants to get it done ASAP. At 12yo/7th grade, he does get frustrated easily, but comes around and retackles the task after he's had a chance to cool off. I'd say this is more developmental than math specific, but he wouldn't naturally have a cheerful "willingness to struggle." He's very pleased when he gets a tough problem correct, and likes feeling accomplishment. Would you recommend AoPS for someone described this way?

Thanks for the replies. I've heard several positive recommendations for AoPS, so I spent some time browsing their website. I hadn't heard about the program before, so thanks. For those who have used AoPS, I have a couple questions. 1. Do you generally feel the student book gives all the teaching/explanation the student needs (or you might need to answer a question)? 2. Do your students use the AoPS forums? (Are responses to questions written by students, adults, both?) 3. What is the highest level you've used, and how long did you use it before the student and you felt comfortable with the curriculum? For those who are happy with another high school curriculum, what is it and what do you like about it?

This question is for parents of high schoolers who have "been there, done that." I'm looking ahead at options for high school math curriculum for my ds (who will be in 8th grade next year). I'd appreciate your perspective on high school math curriculum--pros/cons, what worked, what didn't, what you or the kids liked, etc. Here's what we've used so far. For 1st-5th grades, we used Everyday Mathematics (http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/) and for 6th-7th, we used Connected Mathematics 2 (http://www.phschool.com/cmp2/). I've been mostly pleased with these programs and feel they've focused on understanding math (vs. just "doing" it), and have integrated proper mathematical terminology and algebra and geometry concepts from the beginning. I am pretty confident a good foundation has been laid. My ds is solid in math, but I haven't yet seen a spark that tells me he is wired to love it and enjoy playing with it in his spare time (although being on a robotics team last year has been a math motivator). Any tips / perspectives on math curriculum would be helpful. Thanks.