Tsutsie Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 My son desperately wants to learn Calculus. I told him he needs to learn Algebra first, off-course. We have mostly finished Singapore 4B, and although I would just like to continue with what works, I feel that he has earned being allowed to follow a whim - for a while at least. I'm not sure if he is ready for ANY pre-algebra program, but maybe there is something easier out there that will satisfy him? Thanks for you help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyeska Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Well, we find Math-U-See Pre-algebra to be easy to understand. The lessons are short and dd is understanding and remembering. : ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 My son desperately wants to learn Calculus. I told him he needs to learn Algebra first, off-course. We have mostly finished Singapore 4B, and although I would just like to continue with what works, I feel that he has earned being allowed to follow a whim - for a while at least. I'm not sure if he is ready for ANY pre-algebra program, but maybe there is something easier out there that will satisfy him? Thanks for you help! Have you looked at Calculus By and For Young People? http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?subject=10&category=2633 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellojwolford Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Have you tried Process Skills in problem solving from singaporemath.com? We are going through level 3 now, and I am amazed by the book. The first time I saw the problems, I didn't know that they could be solved without algebra. The book teaches how to solve the problems with diagrams. On closer inspection, the diagram uses the same processes that a set of algebraic equations would use. After my son solves them, I often show him how it would look with letters instead of diagramed boxes, actual algebra. He loves doing the problems, and I know it has well prepared him for algebra. Btw, thanks Jen for the reminder about Calculus By and For Young People. I have heard good things about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairProspects Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I was thinking Hands on Equations. It introduces some concepts of algebra, but you don't need to have fractions, decimals, and percents down like you do for true pre-algebra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quark Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 You could introduce your son to calculus concurrently while you find a pre-algebra program. I don't see any harm in having him read some books or try to figure it out on his own for fun. Calculus Made Easy (at least the first few chapters) by Silvanus P. Thompson is quite accessible to an interested, enthusiastic younger kid. The link gives you a free pdf download. I found the Key To workbooks great for mastering pre-algebra concepts quickly. We didn't use them as such as I actually consider anything before algebra to be pre-algebra. But they were a good "just in case" step to help my son cement his fractions, decimals and percents skills. The Key To Algebra series is at about a pre-algebra level too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Have you looked at Calculus By and For Young People? http://www.rainbowre...0&category=2633 I second this recommendation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 You also might want to give him some placement tests, and see where he falls. 4B was about the point that my DD said that math was too easy and boring, and that she wanted to do algebra. I didn't believe it, until I gave her the DOMA and she maxed it out, and until she maxed out a couple of different algebra placement tests. We went through Life of Fred Fractions, decimals and percents, and really accelerated through SM 5A/5B, and this year are doing Pre-Algebra with LoF, Key to Algebra, and a lot of other resources. She's slowed down a bit now that she's at a level that challenges her and is really enjoying math. We have "Calculus by and for Young People" and she's worked through some of the activities there, too, but have kind of gotten bogged down on the things that expect students to type in BASIC programs-I keep meaning to pull the old Apple // out of the closet, and haven't yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spetzi Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 No pre-alg but another calc rec is Calculus Without Tears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Algebra is the "dessert" that incentivizes the student to finish his/her "vegetables" (arithmetic) IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avilma Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 If the child wants to learn calculus you could try to teach him some even before he does algebra. There are just 2 major concepts, integrals and derivatives. You can probably introduce both of those concepts before teaching functions. You can have him do some integrals by drawing a line in a coordinate system and have him find the area of the figure between the line and the x-axis by dividing the figure in smaller figures that you can consider rectangles. Of course the line that you draw is a function but you don't need to call it that, at least not at the beginning. I am having a harder time to come with a good example for derivatives that does not involve directly talking about functions. The best example I can think of is of drawing a curve and finding the angle that the curve makes with the x-axis at a few points by calculating deltaY/deltaX. To fully understand this one need to learn about the tangent. But still one might try a few calculations and make the step from having the tangent to getting the angle as a simple lookup in a calculator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.