Cross post - math curriculum question

[lewber]

DS will be going into 8th grade in the fall. He has had his school's version of Algebra 1. He has a math tutor this summer who is going through the AOPS Intro to Algebra with him through Chapter 10 to make sure he has a solid foundation. ( his algebra grades were great, BUT it was a young teacher's first year teaching it and I'm not sure if he got what he needed) the summer has been going well but there are many new concepts in AOPS he did not see this year n school.  He is naturally mathy and catches on easily, but of all math I think Algebra is the least natural for him. Geometry will be his strong suit. He is very interested in logic and probability.and statistics.

 

I would like him to continue with AOPS, but I'm not sure how much he can handle during the school year - or what would be most beneficial to him. He doesn't have any real plan yet, but given his past interests I want to make certain he is prepared for college level engineering and/or architecture math. To do that in our HS system is possible, but takes some extra outside work.

 

In addition, our county is changing back from the spiral type Math 1, Math 2, to the more traditional Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Pre Cal, Calc. But in 8th grade, this hasn't changed yet and he will taking HS Math 1. And I'm not exactly sure what that includes at this point.

 

I was thinking of having him try the Intro to Counting this fall, and then Number Theory in the spring. But then wondered if I should just try the second Algebra and let him get what he could out of it in preparation for having it in public school? Or maybe he should just re-do Intro to Algebra 1?

 

Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

ETA - he likes the Khan Academy videos - is the online Khan Academy Algebra 1 program any good?

[gardenmom5]

1ds  had similar issues with changing math curriculum.

 

he got onto khan academy - it's free.  it took him through math, starting at what level he demonstrated mastery, then moved him along.  he took algebra and geometry in school - but struggled.  he had to show proficiency in introductory calculus.  it took him several months, but it really really helped him, to where he could understand his mistakes and why they were mistakes and not make them again.

[lewber]

Thank you. It's good to know your son had luck with khan academy. My DS likes the way it works and that's half the battle!

 

1ds had similar issues with changing math curriculum.

 

he got onto khan academy - it's free. it took him through math, starting at what level he demonstrated mastery, then moved him along. he took algebra and geometry in school - but struggled. he had to show proficiency in introductory calculus. it took him several months, but it really really helped him, to where he could understand his mistakes and why they were mistakes and not make them again.

[wapiti]

It sounds like a bit of a tricky situation.  How wonderful that you had a tutor go through Intro to Alg to ch 10!

 

If he's going to afterschool math over 8th grade, I would probably rather do AoPS Geometry since geometry is his thing.  It's so much more fun than most school geometry courses and so much deeper.  Then if he has the time and inclination over the summers, he could do the Intro to C&P or NT courses.  I'd have him start the geometry now, as he may not have as much time as you hope during the school year.  Then, with a little luck, he'll have finished it before high school starts.  (If he does end up needing to take a geometry placement test, I'd add a little bit about two-column proofs, but that's another discussion.)

 

I'm not a fan of the Khan instruction as it's rather piecemeal and procedure-focused.  (e.g. when ds's alg 1 teacher was absent, she assigned some videos *that I never figured out* because it was a weird procedural trick.  I kept returning to AoPS concept instruction to teach ds.  While he preferred just to know the trick to get it done, I'm sure if he faced such a problem now he would not remember the trick.)  I can't imagine your ds needs much more algebra 1 work at this point, but why not have him use the AoPS videos and Alcumus?  I think they go thru ch 13.

 

If the high school will be back to the standard sequence by the time he starts 9th, I would inquire about placement determination.  Most high schools place by test.

Edited June 21, 2016 by wapiti

[lewber]

It sounds like a bit of a tricky situation.  How wonderful that you had a tutor go through Intro to Alg to ch 10!

 

If he's going to afterschool math over 8th grade, I would probably rather do AoPS Geometry since geometry is his thing.  It's so much more fun than most school geometry courses and so much deeper.  Then if he has the time and inclination over the summers, he could do the Intro to C&P or NT courses.  I'd have him start the geometry now, as he may not have as much time as you hope during the school year.  Then, with a little luck, he'll have finished it before high school starts.  (If he does end up needing to take a geometry placement test, I'd add a little bit about two-column proofs, but that's another discussion.)

 

I'm not a fan of the Khan instruction as it's rather piecemeal and procedure-focused.  (e.g. when ds's alg 1 teacher was absent, she assigned some videos *that I never figured out* because it was a weird procedural trick.  I kept returning to AoPS concept instruction to teach ds.  While he preferred just to know the trick to get it done, I'm sure if he faced such a problem now he would not remember the trick.)  I can't imagine your ds needs much more algebra 1 work at this point, but why not have him use the AoPS videos and Alcumus?  I think they go thru ch 13.

 

If the high school will be back to the standard sequence by the time he starts 9th, I would inquire about placement determination.  Most high schools place by test.

 

I skipped over the possibility of Geometry because the AOPS website recommended students finish Intro to Algebra A and B before going on to Geometry?

[wapiti]

I skipped over the possibility of Geometry because the AOPS website recommended students finish Intro to Algebra A and B before going on to Geometry?

 

As long as he can solve quadratic equations (by factoring and by the quadratic formula when necessary) that is all that is needed.  He should have learned that in algebra 1 at school.