WahM Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 I’m looking for some suggestions for a site with algebra practice to use as a supplement. We’ve been using alcumus for a long time as our supplement, but my daughter needs a break from it and would like to use something else. I’m not sure what else is out there that would fit this need. The other sites I’ve come across seem to be full algebra programs/curriculums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristin0713 Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 Dragonbox maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WahM Posted September 26, 2020 Author Share Posted September 26, 2020 14 hours ago, kristin0713 said: Dragonbox maybe? This looks like a fun supplement. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 (edited) 14 hours ago, kristin0713 said: Dragonbox maybe? I've actually worked through the entire Dragonbox algebra thing, and I have to say that it's weird. It uses an entirely different part of the brain to do the problems. I wouldn't be surprised if the skills learned in the Dragonbox setting didn't transfer well to a student's math achievement, and for this reason, I decided not to use it with my bonus algebra students. Of course I could be wrong. Edited September 26, 2020 by EKS 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendyroo Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 19 minutes ago, EKS said: I've actually worked through the entire Dragonbox algebra thing, and I have to say that it's weird. It uses an entirely different part of the brain to do the problems. I wouldn't be surprised if the skills learned in the Dragonbox setting didn't transfer well to a student's math achievement, and for this reason, I decided not to use it with my bonus algebra students. Of course I could be wrong. This somewhat matches my experience. I've also gone through all the Dragonbox apps. Even though I have a very thorough understanding of algebra, sometimes I still had to think a bit to figure out what concept they were modeling in various levels. All of my boys have also gone through all the Dragonbox apps, and the skills they learn don't seem to directly translate into algebraic understanding. My 9 year old has spent the last year going through Hands on Equations, and only last week did he have the Eureka moment of figuring out that Dragonbox algebra was allowing him to preform the same operations that he can now use on the HOE balance. Like you said, the learning does seem to take place in a different part of the brain. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 Well, if not Dragonbox, have you looked at Khan Academy? I think it has some quests similar to Alcumus' style. I don't know if you have to watch their videos to progress or if you can just do practice problems. It is a far second to Alcumus', but for the price I haven't heard of anything else even in the ballpark of those two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not_a_Number Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 40 minutes ago, EKS said: I've actually worked through the entire Dragonbox algebra thing, and I have to say that it's weird. It uses an entirely different part of the brain to do the problems. I wouldn't be surprised if the skills learned in the Dragonbox setting didn't transfer well to a student's math achievement, and for this reason, I decided not to use it with my bonus algebra students. Of course I could be wrong. That was my impression from the reviews I read and what I'd seen. But I hadn't actually worked through it, so it's good to hear it confirmed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WahM Posted September 26, 2020 Author Share Posted September 26, 2020 Thanks for all the dragonbox reviews. It’s disappointing to hear they’re are not favorable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WahM Posted September 26, 2020 Author Share Posted September 26, 2020 5 hours ago, SusanC said: Well, if not Dragonbox, have you looked at Khan Academy? I think it has some quests similar to Alcumus' style. I don't know if you have to watch their videos to progress or if you can just do practice problems. It is a far second to Alcumus', but for the price I haven't heard of anything else even in the ballpark of those two. I’ve never looked at Khan. Thank you for the suggestion I’ll look into it more. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternallytired Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 On 9/26/2020 at 12:03 PM, Not_a_Number said: That was my impression from the reviews I read and what I'd seen. But I hadn't actually worked through it, so it's good to hear it confirmed. On 9/26/2020 at 11:47 AM, wendyroo said: This somewhat matches my experience. I've also gone through all the Dragonbox apps. Even though I have a very thorough understanding of algebra, sometimes I still had to think a bit to figure out what concept they were modeling in various levels. All of my boys have also gone through all the Dragonbox apps, and the skills they learn don't seem to directly translate into algebraic understanding. My 9 year old has spent the last year going through Hands on Equations, and only last week did he have the Eureka moment of figuring out that Dragonbox algebra was allowing him to preform the same operations that he can now use on the HOE balance. Like you said, the learning does seem to take place in a different part of the brain. I find this interesting. My son is working through AoPS Intro to Alg right now, and he'll periodically say, "Oh, this is just like that Dragonbox game! I'm so glad I played that because this makes complete sense to me!" Then again, I just got done writing a post about how I have no idea what to do now for math because I have no idea how to teach this kid (and am not bright enough to do AoPS myself), so maybe it only works for certain types of brains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not_a_Number Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 7 hours ago, eternallytired said: I find this interesting. My son is working through AoPS Intro to Alg right now, and he'll periodically say, "Oh, this is just like that Dragonbox game! I'm so glad I played that because this makes complete sense to me!" Then again, I just got done writing a post about how I have no idea what to do now for math because I have no idea how to teach this kid (and am not bright enough to do AoPS myself), so maybe it only works for certain types of brains. Interesting! Yeah, different people are differently in how they interact with patterns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Key to Algebra worked well for us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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