What do you do during the "math gap"?

[2smartones]

I like the way the Life of Fred site states it... a child isn't ready for algebra until they have hair under their arms. :lol: So what DO you do with a child who finishes all of the lower level math 3-4-5 years before puberty? HOW do you expand (other than workbooks like Primary Grade Challenge Math)? :confused: How much abstract thought is required for the new LoF pre-algebra books (biology, economics, and physics)? How do they compare to Apologia (because we'll definitely be using that)?

Edited August 6, 2010 by 2smartones

[HalonaD]

I'd say let him go on, my assumption being that the majority of children aren't ready for algebra before puberty. My oldest DS is 11, with just a smidgen of hair on his upper lip. We are using Saxon; he just finished Algebra 2 last month and is currently on Advanced Mathematics.

[3andme]

I'm in a similar situation with my ds. I'm not sure I agree with waiting on Algebra. I would move ahead and see how it goes. You can always backtrack if you hit a wall or just proceed more slowly. I'm planning on doing the LOF pre-algebra books for 4th and then Foester's, Kinetic Books or LOF for algebra in 5th.

 

Art of Problem Solving (AOPS) has a challenging series of textbooks for Algebra on up as well as some discrete math courses which look really great. I'm not sure I would recommend their Algebra for a really young student (4th or 5th grade) due its rapid pace and challenging material but it might be a good course for review and consolidation. Their discrete math courses would be good for adding breadth if you want to slow things down later on.

[EKS]

Have you looked at the Art of Problem Solving books?

 

Also, just because Life of Fred says it, doesn't make it true.

[marie33]

I don't have older kids yet, but my experience with teaching and watching children learn is to not hold them back over the societal norm. Again, advanced children will realize quickly that you are just trying to keep them "busy" and if your ds excels in math, maybe he's going to need to use that someday soon for the next scientific discovery or something super cool! Why make him wait to reach his contributional capacity in the world over age?

 

Also, you might find that even though he has blown through all the elementary math, he might need to take more time with the more abstract concepts.

 

I think that when I do get there with mine, I will proceed forward with whatever level they are capable of. There must be some reason they were created with such gifts! Use them!

:)

[regentrude]

I like the way the Life of Fred site states it... a child isn't ready for algebra until they have hair under their arms.

 

You could do a variety of things: number theory, geometry etc.

OTOH, the thing about the hair is just the same nonsense as "kid is not ready to read until he loses the first tooth" (by that point, DD was reading 1,000-page books) .

Many younger kids are perfectly fine with abstract concepts such as algebra.

DD is halfway through algebra 2... no hair yet. My 11 y/o DS (no hair either) is working on Intro to algebra from AoPS.

A younger child might need a bit more time than an older one, but I do not believe in holding a child back just because the AVERAGE child might not be ready for the material... isn't that one of the points of homeschooling to customize the education so it's appropriate for the individual child?

Agnes

[HeidiD]

I like the way the Life of Fred site states it... a child isn't ready for algebra until they have hair under their arms. :lol: So what DO you do with a child who finishes all of the lower level math 3-4-5 years before puberty? HOW do you expand (other than workbooks like Primary Grade Challenge Math)? :confused: How much abstract thought is required for the new LoF pre-algebra books (biology, economics, and physics)? How do they compare to Apologia (because we'll definitely be using that)?

 

 

Oh gosh, that's got to be tongue in cheek! :)

 

If you want to avoid abstract algebra, how about Hands-On Equations? They have a word problem book that goes with it.

[SnegurochkaL]

Hi, I don't think I would wait. My oldest is only 8 and I don't expect her to do Algebra when she is 11. I plan on having her to do Algebra in 7 grade (and math is not her strong area of study). I did Algebra at 12 and in a public school abroad, so it is doable for regular kids not even accelerated.

 

I am planning on using AoPS book with my kids too. They look very good and solid to me.

[2smartones]

Thanks everyone! I'll just introduce things as they come along and see how it goes. :)

[Bostonian]

I like the way the Life of Fred site states it... a child isn't ready for algebra until they have hair under their arms. :lol: So what DO you do with a child who finishes all of the lower level math 3-4-5 years before puberty? HOW do you expand (other than workbooks like Primary Grade Challenge Math)? :confused: How much abstract thought is required for the new LoF pre-algebra books (biology, economics, and physics)? How do they compare to Apologia (because we'll definitely be using that)?

 

Good grief. You are posting in the "accelerated learner" AKA "gifted" forum of WTM. Your assumptions about algebra and puberty may be true for most kids, but as a statement about ALL kids they are BUNK. If your son has mastered arithmetic, let him try algebra. If he doesn't like it or won't do it, back off -- there is no hurry. But if he likes it in small doses -- as does my 7yo, keep moving through algebra. We use EPGY Beginning Algebra and Algebra for Dummies (book and workbook).

 

My 7yo loves to read the LoF Beginning Algebra book, and I have promised to buy further volumes when, and only when, he has shown that he can do the problems, not based on his physical development. I plan to circle back later with the Dolciani series, which has intermediate and harder questions (labelled "B" and "C").

[Crimson Wife]

The readiness issue is the reason why I prefer to go deeper rather than faster with my kids when it comes to math.

 

Why not try something that isn't usually covered in tradtional school math like cryptography (using The Cryptoclub & other books)?

[nmoira]

(using The Cryptoclub & other books)?

This was a hoot. It takes awhile to get into the heavier math, but it was worth it :) The workbook is a free download from the linked page, and the publisher will send you the answer key on request. A very little basic algebra is required (e.g. solving systems of equations with two variables). Here are some more short, free codes & ciphers units from CIMT (the MEP folks).

 

Things we've used in our great algebra put-off:

 

LoF: Fractions, Decimals & Percents and Pre-Algebra 1 (and soon 2)

Venn Perplexors A-D (we use them without the pre-drawn charts)

Can You Count in Greek? (highly enjoyable)

Selected MEP units, including codes and ciphers

It's Alive, and It's Alive and Kicking (found a couple errors in solutions)

Logic Countdown, Logic Liftoff, Orbiting with Logic

The Cryptoclub

Becoming a Problem Solving Genius

Challenge Math

Brain Maths (puzzles, from SingaporeMath.com, we found a few errors in the solutions for Book 1, many for Book 2)

Mathematics 6 (Russian Math, selected sections and problems; this text is a thing of beauty)

CWP 5 and 6 (slowly working through the series)

Alien Math (working four operations in different number bases)

Piece of Pi (meh)

Patty Paper Geometry (I highly recommend this)

 

Now we have little alternative left but to move on. She's got five or six months more work max -- finishing up Zaccaro, CWP, LOF: Pre-Algebra 2 and Patty Paper Geometry.

[2smartones]

Ooooh! Thanks! Bookmarking this! That's why I love this place! :D

[StephanieZ]

Some children are ready much earlier. The son of a good friend will be doing Caculus this year, his freshman year. He has only been hairy the last year or so, and has been doing Algebra for at least 5 years.

[zaichiki]

the thing about the hair is just the same nonsense as "kid is not ready to read until he loses the first tooth" (by that point, DD was reading 1,000-page books) .

Many younger kids are perfectly fine with abstract concepts such as algebra.

DD is halfway through algebra 2... no hair yet. My 11 y/o DS (no hair either) is working on Intro to algebra from AoPS.

A younger child might need a bit more time than an older one, but I do not believe in holding a child back just because the AVERAGE child might not be ready for the material... isn't that one of the points of homeschooling to customize the education so it's appropriate for the individual child?

Agnes

 

:iagree:

[zaichiki]

just because Life of Fred says it, doesn't make it true.

 

:lol: Yes! This. :lol:

[babysparkler]

Have you looked at the Art of Problem Solving books?

 

Also, just because Life of Fred says it, doesn't make it true.

 

:iagree: My ds10 started Algebra in 4th and is going to finish it in a couple of months. We took it slow, probably slower than he needed to, just to be sure he "gets it"... he is doing wonderfully and is quicker to the answers sometimes that his "Mathy-Mom". If you feel your child is ready, go for it... if not, there are some great offerings from AoPS!

[babysparkler]

oops... double post :)

[talexand]

I must have missed that quote from Fred. My son started Life of Fred Algebra at 10 and that was after I held him off with a year of RightStart Geometry. He did take it slow. He won't officially have algebra at school until school starts next month, in sixth grade. That is as much as they could accelerate him and it is better than most schools will do so I'll take it. We homeschool part time so he gets math at school (with a great math teacher) and we afterschool math.

 

For us it wasn't just a matter of continuing in math. He got to the point that I had to teach him algebra in order to give him the science he needed. We do a lot of physics and it doesn't take long before you need algebra to do anything interesting.