hsmom27 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 I have a 10yo DS who is good at math. He's currently about half way through AoPS Intro to Algebra. He's getting everything right and declares the program boring. I think he really means it seems too easy right now. He'll finish a chapter or so a week with ease, but then he balks at doing more because he's bored. I'm going to make him finish the book (he's also doing the Alcumus following along with the book). I don't know what to do at this point. I'm not bad at math, but I just don't know what else I can throw at him. And honestly, I have a lot of smaller kids, some with disabilities, that are keeping me swamped. I feel like there must be more out there in the math world that I don't know about. What can I do with him so that he is progressing, challenged, and independent? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSUBuckeye Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Sounds like he needs a healthy dose of Number Theory - probably the AoPS book, though I haven't seen it. If he's that fast at Algebra, get him learning about the history/culture of Mathematics. Keith Devlin's Language of Mathematics is good (I read it at age 12 and have reread it several times since), the Fermat's Last Theorem documentary (viewable online) and Simon Singh's book on the same subject. These won't slow him down any, they'll just keep him excited at the cool math that lies ahead as he speeds along the normal math track. You can also find Arthur Benjamin's Teaching Company "Joy of Mathematics" used for about $40. It's got number theory, combinatorics, probability, etc and it covers a lot of exciting, in-depth math in a short amount of time (he'll probably need a remote handy to pause every two minutes and try the math himself). I was fortunate to have won a scholarship for a college math theory class while your son's age, but that DVD set is pretty much the same thing for a cool $40 bucks. And Arthur Benjamin is a math hero of mine (he comes at math with enough joy and hyperactivity for five people)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom27 Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 If he's that fast at Algebra, get him learning about the history/culture of Mathematics. Keith Devlin's Language of Mathematics is good (I read it at age 12 and have reread it several times since), the Fermat's Last Theorem documentary (viewable online) and Simon Singh's book on the same subject. These won't slow him down any, they'll just keep him excited at the cool math that lies ahead as he speeds along the normal math track. You can also find Arthur Benjamin's Teaching Company "Joy of Mathematics" used for about $40. It's got number theory, combinatorics, probability, etc and it covers a lot of exciting, in-depth math in a short amount of time (he'll probably need a remote handy to pause every two minutes and try the math himself). I was fortunate to have won a scholarship for a college math theory class while your son's age, but that DVD set is pretty much the same thing for a cool $40 bucks. And Arthur Benjamin is a math hero of mine (he comes at math with enough joy and hyperactivity for five people)... Thanks for this. This is the stuff I know nothing about. I just ordered the books and "Joy of Mathematics" from the library. I'm all ears if anyone has anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bang!Zoom! Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Khan Academy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipitous journey Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Katherine's idea RE AoPS courses is a good one; though I understand that their Statistics/Probability course is higher-interest than the number theory one (for most of the children) so you might want to start there. And if you haven't looked at Khan, do that first! one*mom is right about that. I'm sure you'll be getting lots of responses over the next few days ... I myself would recommend calling/e-mailing the AoPS folks for their suggestions on best using their materials with this particular child. and <hugs> too. ETA: an excellent, but dense, book is this What is Mathematics? by Courant. You could start him on it; maybe the library has a copy? And boardmember mathwonk has made an excellent suggestion for a book to introduce a person to Euclid; if he doesn't post it soon, I will (can't find the reference at the moment, need to go do household stuff right now ...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennynd Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 My 8 yo is on Chapter 10. He certainly had some problems with the last sections in ch6 and ch7. But in most case, he do not find AOPS is hard.(never complaint it is boring or too easy either) I add NEM (singapore math New Elementary Math) as supplement simply beacuse I do not find the excercise is quite enough, However, it does not sound like it is a issue for your son. I also plan to stop after Chapter 12 or 13 (which is considered Algebra 1) and switch to either AOPS probablity or a geometry program (not AOPS for us). I heard many comments on this board that AOPS Geometry is the most difficult book is AOPS introduction series. You might consider give that a try. I do own the book and I can honestly say that my son is not ready for that book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom27 Posted January 29, 2013 Author Share Posted January 29, 2013 OSUbuckeye just wanted to say thank you. I got my DS the books on Fermat's Last Theorem that you recommended. Last night I had to tell him to go to bed at midnight because he was sitting up in his room trying to figure it out. If you have any other math lit suggestions, I'd love to hear them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quark Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 Not OSU Buckeye but do have a look at this thread from late 2011. I compiled a list of books and links (post #19) thanks to other posters' help. Since then, DS has returned to Jurgensen Geometry and AOPS Number Theory and read a couple biographies and also explored misc. other number theory and mathematical logic bunny trails. You could take an especially longer look through this link. There's so much here to explore and learn and have fun with. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom27 Posted January 29, 2013 Author Share Posted January 29, 2013 Not OSU Buckeye but do have a look at this thread from late 2011. I compiled a list of books and links (post #19) thanks to other posters' help. Since then, DS has returned to Jurgensen Geometry and AOPS Number Theory and read a couple biographies and also explored misc. other number theory and mathematical logic bunny trails. You could take an especially longer look through this link. There's so much here to explore and learn and have fun with. Good luck! Thank you so much for this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipitous journey Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 ooh, just was reminded of this thread. I don't think anybody's holding her (or his!) breath waiting for my Euclid followup, but for the sake of thoroughness ... Here's the Euclid info: this post in an old thread is mathwonk's recommendation for Euclid, Hartshorne's Geometry: Euclid and Beyond. The Hartshorne book is expensive, but is mathwonk's highest rec. for introducing Euclid esp. to a younger student (at least, that's my take on his comments). The translation of Euclid's Elements mathwonk recommends is less expensive: this Green Lion version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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