Kareni Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 I'm asking a question on behalf of an acquaintance who is looking for a pre-Algebra curriculum. She said that they have used Singapore math to date but that her son needs a little more repetition and detailed directions. Any suggestions would be welcome. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evergreen State Sue Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 I have two kids taking Pre-algebra at a co-op. They are using a text book called Transition Mathematics (pub: Scott Foresman) ISBN: 0-673-45745-1. We found this text used very inexpensively. It might be worth a look at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Lial's texts have very clear explanations and lots of review. We tried BCM and it had too much review of old topics. We're going to try Pre-Algebra next which should have just as much review, but more new topics. I'd been led to believe that they were fairly similar but BCM just had a bit more practice, but the TOCs are almost entirely different. Depending on where they're at, either might work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Saxon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Horizons is publishing their pre-algebra program in January. Of course, no one has seen it yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgehog Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Saxon :iagree: Saxon 8/7, or Saxon Algebra 1/2 [half] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 if repetition and detailed direction are wanted, Saxon would fit the bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hscherger Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 :iagree: Saxon works well for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Testimony Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Has she tried the extra practice books or intensive practice? Those books provide more repetition. Also, The Challenging Word Problems book will offer more repetition and challenges. Right now, my older son is doing Singapore Math's New Elementary Math 1 (NEM), Challenging Word Problems 6 (old), and Life of Fred Pre-Algebra(actually he just finished the book). It seems pretty challenging to me. But, I could be wrong. Blessings, Karen www. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorMom Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Saxon... I have the Transition Mathematics books - and they worked well for my older son (we used it to supplement LoF when he needed more practice) - but the pages were too busy for my younger DS. I do really like the theory behind it, though - and wish younger DS could use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted December 16, 2010 Author Share Posted December 16, 2010 Thank you for all the suggestions. I continue to welcome more ideas. Can anyone speak to Systematic Mathematics or Teaching Textbooks at the pre-Algebra level? Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaKinVA Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 (edited) If you are interested in Teaching Textbooks, you might also want to look at Kinetic Books, this gets pretty good reviews at the math blog run by the Math Mammoth people. Teaching Textbooks is a great course for younger kids who aren't ready for "more", kids who might struggle a bit with math, kids who really do well with the computer aided program (you will still have to check work, no on-line grade book like younger levels). It is also good for mathy kids, but some mathy kids may want more depth to the program. TT, is generally not considered a course for children who want to go into math-based fields, is considered pretty much surface-math. I have heard of people who used TT, aced SAT's and went into engineering fields of study -- so those "negatives" are generalizations. But, please, put me firmly into the best math to use is the math that works for your child. None of my children can use Saxon -- there is nothing wrong with Saxon as a program (generally speaking), but it is a horrible, horrible fit for my children. FTR, my youngest DS will be using Teaching Textbooks 7/Pre-Algebra, plus LoF next year... while my older DD will be using LoF and some other textbook I have yet to select, because she does NOT want to use the computer. I may just have her do LoF through Algebra I, and then see how she does with Foerster's... or Chalk Dust Algebra I Edited December 16, 2010 by LisaK in VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 How about Lial's, either Basic College Math or Prealgebra? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethben Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Which is a better option - Lials prealgebra or Saxon - I'm finding ds has similar issues to the original poster. He's fairly good at math - he just needs a bit more practice/review as he's approaching these upper levels. Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyGrace Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Until Matryoska mentioned it in a thread below, I always thought BCM was *the* recommendation for Lial's for pre-algebra; I didn't even know Lial's had a pre-algebra! I don't know much about upper level math, but I do have BCM here and thought it looked like quite a bit of review. So which one is generally the better choice? (More specifically, for a non-mathy dc, but one who I do want to have prepared well!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethben Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 I found a place where you can take a brief look at some of Lial's books and the table of contents. http://instructors.coursesmart.com/prealgebra-fourth-edition/margaret-l-lial-diana-l-hestwood/dp/9780321614469 Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyGrace Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Until Matryoska mentioned it in a thread below, I always thought BCM was *the* recommendation for Lial's for pre-algebra; I didn't even know Lial's had a pre-algebra! I don't know much about upper level math, but I do have BCM here and thought it looked like quite a bit of review. So which one is generally the better choice? (More specifically, for a non-mathy dc, but one who I do want to have prepared well!) ETA: OOOPS! Meant to make this a S/O thread. I will do that now, sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 (edited) moved reply to s/o thread. Edited December 16, 2010 by matroyshka Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3byzaz Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 We tried VT, Lial's and are now having good success with Kinetic Books. My son is really into computers though. I think it is great for him. Seems very solid, but fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohdanigirl Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Lial's texts have very clear explanations and lots of review. We tried BCM and it had too much review of old topics. We're going to try Pre-Algebra next which should have just as much review, but more new topics. I'd been led to believe that they were fairly similar but BCM just had a bit more practice, but the TOCs are almost entirely different. Depending on where they're at, either might work. Is there an edition/isbn that is best to look for? Or are they all pretty similar? Danielle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Is there an edition/isbn that is best to look for? Or are they all pretty similar? Jann has said all the editions are pretty similar. I have the 7th ed. BCM and ordered the 3rd edition of Pre-Algebra, but it hasn't gotten here yet. :glare: Neither of those are the most current edition. I posted the TOCs of both in the s/o thread. (the TOC there is of the 4th ed. of the PreAlg; I can't find the 3rd ed. TOC online. I can tell everyone when I get the book if there are any big differences). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in CA Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 I will throw another option into the mix... CLE My ds is doing well with CLE's 800 level which is considered pre-alg. It's somewhat like Saxon, but not nearly as incrementally frustrating (we are not Saxon lovers here). There is plenty of review in CLE, as it is spiral, so you get lots of review of various concepts in each lesson which keeps everything fresh. I love that it also contains quite a bit of geometry. It's also inexpensive. We started the year off using both BJU pre-Alg and CLE. But now we just use CLE, and I only pull BJU out periodically. My ds finds CLE challenging, but he never complains about doing math...which is VERY refreshing. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted December 20, 2010 Author Share Posted December 20, 2010 Thank you all very much for your feedback. I'll be sharing this information with my friend. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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