Opinions: Pre-Algebra or Algebra 1 next year?

[amtmcm]

DD12 is using BJU Math 7 this year. We're just getting into the chapter on Equations and she loves it! She's actually excited to be learning something new instead more fractions and decimals.

 

This child is mathy, but she's not a motivated student.

 

She understands fractions, decimals, exponents & negative numbers, but sometimes forgets and needs reminding. For instance, when faced with a fraction division problem, I might have to say "multiply by the reciprocal" and she says "oh ya" and does it with no problem.

 

Here's my dilemma. Pre-Algebra will give her the additional practice she needs, but she's getting totally bored with these fundamentals. She's happy when she's introduced to something new like Equations or Geometry.

 

Should we trudge through another year of fundamentals with Pre-Algebra for the extra practice? Or should we start Algebra and take it slow? She'll be in 7th grade so I don't mind spending two years on Algebra, but I don't want to get half-way through the year and realize she's lost because she doesn't have a strong enough foundation.

 

Please share your experience or opinion. Thanks!

[Teachin'Mine]

What do you plan to use for algebra? If it's a different program, then doing that publisher's pre-algebra might be different enough from what she's used that it will seem new. Saxon's pre-algebra, 8/7, incorporates a lot of geometry and even goes into slope-intercept and other concepts which should be new to her. Has she done any scientific notation? I think that was also in 8/7, but I don't have my copy of that available. I'm using Saxon as an example, but it may well be true for other publishers as well. To me, a really solid foundation is the key to success in algebra. Personally, I'd want the student to be able to look at a fraction division problem and know on their own what to do. It's probably just a matter of more practice to get it solid. That might not take a full year to do either. You may find that between now and September that she can get enough work in, knowing the goal is to be algebra ready, and that will be enough. With algebra as the goal, that may be incentive enough for her.

 

ETA: Is BJU 7 considered to be pre-algebra? If it's not, I'd definitely go with a pre-algebra program. I'm remembering more things that would have been done like metric measurements and conversions of all kinds of measurements.

 

Here's a link where you can see the table of contents for 8/7. If you click on "Additional Views" under the pic of the book set, you can go through the table of contents and see what's included. It may give you an idea of whether she's already had pre-algebra or could use a pre-algebra course.

 

http://www.christianbook.com/saxon-homeschool-teacher-roms-third-edition/pd/773697#curr

 

HTH

Edited February 26, 2012 by Teachin'Mine

[amtmcm]

If we do Pre-Algebra we'll use Life of Fred to make it more interesting. If we do Algebra 1 we'll be sticking with Bob Jones.

 

BJU Math 7 (aka Fundamentals of Math) is probably considered a pre-algebra text and includes all of the topics you mention - scientific notation, measurements, etc...

 

LOF can be completed in a semester, so maybe we'll use that in the fall and see where we stand. We could start Algebra 1 in the spring and take 1+ years to complete.

 

My goal is to get her interested. She's interested in the basic algebra she's learning now and she's sleep walking through the other mundane subjects because she's seen them all before. She won't really retain anything unless it piques her interest and she applies her brain to actually think about it.

[mumto2]

LOF has made a big difference to my son. He knows a lot about higher math because he watches what his big sister is doing intently but doesn't know the finer rules. LOF allowed him to go back and get the rules without the boredom. I let him skip pre algebra in a traditional text tried a beka algebra -- he never seemed to finish the assignments. Now he is doing the NEM (Singapore) quite happily combined with Fred.

 

Not sure if this helps but if one thing is making everyone stressed move on! Sometimes a different brand that they pick means a lot.

 

NEM has a combination of pre algebra, algebra, and geometry all rolled into one. My dd likes it but has always done other curricula too.

[Teachin'Mine]

From your post, I was curious about how BJU sets up their math courses. It lists Math 7 as fundamentals in math and Math 8 as pre-algebra.

 

http://www.bjupress.com/category/Math+for+Homeschool+HS?path=1060

 

I understand how it's important to have something which interests the student, but I wouldn't want to skip anything. Could she do BJU 8 and do two lessons a day so she's finished in half a year and onto algebra? From what I hear here, LoF is less advanced than other texts, so she may have enough of the math required to begin their algebra. Hopefully someone who is familiar with the two programs can advise you better. :)

[Susan C.]

Dd used BJU math from 3rd grade through Algebra 2. The prealgebra seems like a repeat, but really isn't. It really solidifies their skills. It wasn't the hardest year of math she has had, but necessary. And hormones were kicking in, so a holding pattern was in order! We didn't use dvds for prealgebra and before, but did from Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2. Great teachers!

[amtmcm]

Thanks for the responses! You've given me good food for thought.

[SailorMom]

She sounds ready for algebra 1 to me. Most algebra books have a chapter or so of review at the beginning, and then basic review of skills at the beginning of each chapter. If you start a book, and she is really struggling right of the bat - go back to pre-algebra. If not - she'd good to go.

I highly recommend Foerster Algebra 1. I know it isn't what you have planned..... but you may want to look in to it.

[Mom22ns]

My kids thought LoF Pre-Algebra was fun, but light, not challenging.

 

I would be afraid to skip BJU Pre-Algebra, but you could take a look through it or call them and see what topics would be new or at a new level and how much she would be behind if she skipped it. You could pick and choose chapters, do the whole thing at a faster pace or if you really don't see anything she isn't ok to skip, move on.

[CaffeineDiary]

If your kid likes the math, I'd suggest using Khan Academy to supplement whatever else you're doing - to allow him or her to progress at their own pace.

[barybar]

Hi, we are in the same boat at the same time it seems! I am considering the Forester's Algebra 1, she is looking forward to it...and is getting tired of the pre- and the repetitiousness of the others, we looked at Prentice-Hall, Saxon, TT, and now Forester's...If, I find out we are going to try something else, I will let you know. :iagree:

 

Char

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soon to be 15 yr old daughter-9th grade

[TammyS]

Under no circumstances would I allow her to progress to Algebra until she has those math operations down COLD. She might seem to do ok in the beginning while she is in the review section of the book, but as she gets into longer and longer processes, she it's going to take her an excruciatingly long amount of time to complete them because she is going to have to think about steps that should come automatically to her. The primary cause of Algebra failure isn't lack of intelligence or even lack of discipline, it's lack of fundamentals.

 

That said, I don't think that is absolutely necessary to put her through an entire pre-algebra course if she *almost* has those fundamentals. Instead, I would talk to her about it and together create a pre-algebra summer intensive. Some of this will include simply doing practice problems. But I would also do other things like, have her write instructions for how to multiply fractions, as if she were writing a letter to a friend. Having to think out the description that way will do a lot to help her memory of those processes. I might have her design and make a post of some of the processes that she is still a little shaky on. Come up with different ways for her to look at and engage with the material. It sounds like her biggest problem is that she just hasn't done enough yet to create permanent memory of the procedures.

 

Again, I would talk to her about it and try to get some buy-in to the concept. Let her know that you *want* to move her on to Algebra, but you want to set her up to succeed first.

 

Good luck!