JaniceO Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 I haven't posted here for several years. My children were homeschooled for a few years starting when we lived in Italy. Then we moved to Washington and I homeschooled for a year before putting them back in public school, at their request. We now live in Guam and the DODEA school they attend is just as bad as the one in Italy. I am planning on pulling my youngest two out next year and homeschooling. They will be in 8th grade and 5th grade. I have narrowed down math programs for my daughter going into 5th grade. I just ordered the first Beast Academy book and we will start going through that program as soon as we get it. We will probably use it and something like Singapore or Math Mammoth for next year. I have no clue what to get for my 8th grader. He really likes math, but is just an average student. He hates school and therefore doesn't put forth any effort. In 6th grade he used a standard 6th grade public school math text, aligned to Common Core. This year, I don't think they are using a math text (this school hasn't adopted Common Core). His teacher puts a problem down on paper, teaches how to solve it, and they do more problems in that manner. He also assigns a lot of Khan Academy. I think he had them go through Khan Academy starting at a really low level. My son says he has asked to do something else because what the teacher is putting down on his paper, is stuff he knows from last year. Right now, my goal for 8th grade is to make sure he is ready for high school. As of now, I am not prepared to homeschool for high school so the plan is to put him back into the high school here (which is just as bad as the elementary/middle school, so I am definitely researching high school information). He needs a Pre algebra program to prepare him for Algebra 1 in 9th grade. I'm afraid Saxon will make him hate math. I'm worried Teaching Textbooks will be too light. I loved CLE when we used it before, but my husband did not like the religion in it, as we are secular. I love the looks of AOPS, but I don't know if I could teach it and I'm not sure his brain could handle it, lol. Any suggestions? Sorry this is long, but I wanted to give the background information in case it helps get better recommendations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheApprentice Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 Another option would be Derek Owens. His programs are distant learning, but Pre-Algebra is actually one you can purchase. I think it would prepare your son well for Algebra. We have enrolled in a few of his courses with great success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My3girls Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 We are using AoPS/Alcumus, but Derek Owens is my second choice if we get in over heads with AoPS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaniceO Posted March 11, 2015 Author Share Posted March 11, 2015 Thank you! That looks like it might be good. Especially since there are free videos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homeschoolmom3 Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 We did Saxon for Pre-Algebra but have used Derek Owens for Geometry, Alg. 2 and have been pleased! He is great to work with! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Have you looked at Jousting Armadillos. There are some good threads on it. I would post and hang out on the logic board. There is so much Math discussion there. :) http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/536973-concept-heavy-but-not-discovery-based-pre-algebra-and-beyond http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/536672-aops-pre-algebra-detailed-review 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Welcome back, Janice. [i'm amused (well, not really) at the fact that the schools in Guam have not changed for the better since I lived there in the seventies. The public schools had a terrible reputation at the time, and I ended up attending the local Catholic schools.] My daughter used Margaret Lial's Algebra books for Algebra I and 2. There is also a Lial's Pre-Algebra book. We didn't use it with my daughter, but my husband (who tutors) uses it frequently with his students. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerryAtHope Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 If you like the idea of using video, check out Math-U-See. I started my kids in that with Prealgebra, and it has worked well here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaniceO Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 Thank you for all of the suggestions! I am looking at all of them and trying to decide. Jousting Armadillos looks interesting, but again, I'm not sure he could handle it. I don't know if he made any forward progress at all in math this year, so I need to give him a placement test or two and see what he is capable of. Kareni, the Guam public schools are even worse than the DODEA school. Had that been my only option, I would have homeschooled them as soon as we got here. I had such high hopes for the DODEA school though. I shouldn't have, after our experience in Italy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Kareni, the Guam public schools are even worse than the DODEA school. Had that been my only option, I would have homeschooled them as soon as we got here. I had such high hopes for the DODEA school though. I shouldn't have, after our experience in Italy. That's a sad commentary, Janice. You mentioned placement tests ~ I compiled this list of placement tests some time ago; some are for algebra, some are for pre-algebra. I haven't checked to see if the links are all still active. MATH 500-800 Diagnostic Test http://www.clp.org/d...sts_500-800.pdf Answer key http://www.clp.org/d...er_s_Manual.pdf These are the placement tests for Singapore Math. If a child scores over 80% then they are able to move on to the next level. The sixth grade curriculum is broken into two books. The next level after sixth grade is an integrated math that includes algebra, geometry, etc. Singapore Primary Math 6A (U.S. Ed.) Singapore Primary Math 6B (U.S. Ed.) Calvert Algebra Placement Test (pdf with no answers) http://homeschool.ca...acementTest.pdf These are K12 placement tests. Answers included. Pre-Algebra A Semester 1 Assessment 13 (505 KB) Semester 2 Assessment 14 (549 KB) Pre-Algebra B Semester 1 Assessment 15 (124 KB) Semester 2 Assessment 16 (659 KB) Math-U-See Placement tests. Answers included. Pre-Algebra Placement Test Algebra 1 Placement Test Thinkwell Placement test: Test 4 Algebra 1 Placement Test Answer Key Perhaps something here will be of help. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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