Help with math sequencing for the Key to Math series

[GreenGables]

My DD is half way through 8th grade, we’ve been working on getting her caught up in math. After going all the way back to the basics, I’m finally feeling like we might make it, but it’s a little tricky. 
 

DD is just finishing up with the Key to Fractions unit. I’m not sure if we should skip all the rest of the topical units and begin the key to algebra. 

We have the key to decimals, the key to percents/decimals, measurement, metric measurement and planned to get the key to Geometry and fit it in sometime after algebra.

When will DD need the knowledge base of the other topicals to successfully complete high school level math and also science?

Also, If anyone has gone through the Key to Algebra, did you move into Algebra 1 or Algebra 2 and what curriculum did you use?

[lmrich]

I would look at the Key to Percents one and see if she can work the problems. Not sure if the others are absolutely needed before starting Algebra. 

[frogger]

Key to books are great at making sure a student understands the basics thoroughly and fractions, decimals, and percents are needed for high school math and life but they might be really slow for an 8th grader and she probably wants to move on. 

 

I would test and see what she is missing and only do the books covering topics she doesn't know. If she knows what a decimal place represents and can add and subtract them, skip the first book or two.  If she gets stuck on multiplying and dividing decimals have her start with that particular unit.

The measurement books are almost redundant. If you know decimals and fractions, you should be able to measure well. It really just depends on how much she struggles with math. 

I have never used the Key to Algebra or Geometry books so I can't help you there. 

 

[Farrar]

Seconding all the above. You really need to have mastered the material in fractions, decimals, and percents in order to be successful at algebra. 

The Key to Algebra books are really, really light. If she has mastered the other topics, I'd consider moving back to a traditional program and keeping the key series for remedial practice. Or, I'd consider doing the Key to Algebra books and beefing them up a little. The thing is... she's not behind if she starts algebra by the end of 8th grade! I would only suggest using Key to for an Algebra I program if a student really couldn't be successful at Algebra I without a very light alternative program. And I wouldn't do that for a student until 10th grade or so when it would be clear that other options weren't going to work. I'd aim for a much stronger math foundation first.

[GreenGables]

It’s looking like she will need to do the decimal and percents prior to Algebra.
There are some things within the Decimals unit that she has knowledge of and can be skipped over. I think she could probably move fairly quickly through them.

With measurement…it might be useful for conversions in science and other things in general. I’ll hold off on those for now / until we find a need or room to fit them in. 
 

As far as moving into a traditional algebra program….IDK….more questions. 

[GreenGables]

3 hours ago, Farrar said:

Seconding all the above. You really need to have mastered the material in fractions, decimals, and percents in order to be successful at algebra. 

The Key to Algebra books are really, really light. If she has mastered the other topics, I'd consider moving back to a traditional program and keeping the key series for remedial practice. Or, I'd consider doing the Key to Algebra books and beefing them up a little. The thing is... she's not behind if she starts algebra by the end of 8th grade! I would only suggest using Key to for an Algebra I program if a student really couldn't be successful at Algebra I without a very light alternative program. And I wouldn't do that for a student until 10th grade or so when it would be clear that other options weren't going to work. I'd aim for a much stronger math foundation first.

She wouldn’t have had any pre-algebra besides the key skills needed to move into algebra ( fractions- done / decimals & percents - will be working on )

What is pre-algebra vs algebra 1 ? 
I wouldn’t want to miss anything. 
 

If I needed to beef up the key to Algebra and call it algebra 1, Im going to need an Algebra 1 text book.  I have know idea If that would line up well or be a jumbled mess.  I need ideas for an algebra 1 and 2 curriculum that works similarly to the keys. 
 

DD gets confused easily. The key to series seems to be presented in a way that she can understand, but I’ve only used one series so far.  Because of this confusion, I would like to use the Key to Algebra. 

[MamaSprout]

Some people use Key to Algebra (and Geometry?) and call it PreAlgebra. Do that and then look at Algebra options.

Maybe look at CLE for Algebra 1? with the light units version it might ease the transition? https://christianlight.org/curriculum/by-grade/grade-9/math/se-algebra-1-lightunit-set

Edited January 26, 2022 by MamaSprout

[Farrar]

I'd also suggest CLE as an Algebra I option for a kid who needs a lighter approach. Teaching Textbooks would be another possibility.

I really like the Key to Math books. They're excellent. They're just really deficient if you see them as a complete high school Algebra I program. 

The topics covered in the decimals, percents, and fractions books in Key to Math are basically the core concepts of pre-algebra, along with an introduction to variables. If your daughter struggles with math concepts, I might also try Hands on Equations as part of her "pre-algebra" program. It introduces powerful tools in how to think about variables. Super useful for younger kids as enrichment or for older kids who need more support in moving to variables and algebra.

[GreenGables]

2 hours ago, MamaSprout said:

Some people use Key to Algebra (and Geometry?) and call it PreAlgebra. Do that and then look at Algebra options.

Maybe look at CLE for Algebra 1? with the light units version it might ease the transition? https://christianlight.org/curriculum/by-grade/grade-9/math/se-algebra-1-lightunit-set

Yes, I might do that. Not sure if there is time to add geometry into the mix. I just looked over CLE algebra 1 and the 8th grade level - it looks like she needs to know quite a bit, measurement/ metric measurement, volume, some geometry. Yikes. This has me thinking that she needs to do all the topical units from the keys to be successful in Algebra 1. 

[mlktwins]

I have the Key to Algebra and Key to Geometry sets (workbooks and answers) if you are interested.  Price would be a lot less than a new set.  I got them at a used curriculum sale (they are unmarked), but never used them.

[frogger]

16 hours ago, GreenGables said:

Yes, I might do that. Not sure if there is time to add geometry into the mix. I just looked over CLE algebra 1 and the 8th grade level - it looks like she needs to know quite a bit, measurement/ metric measurement, volume, some geometry. Yikes. This has me thinking that she needs to do all the topical units from the keys to be successful in Algebra 1. 

I don't know much about CLE so this is just a question to clarify.

 

Do you see a lot of the measurement and such in the book? That would mean they do cover it so she would learn it while doing the CLE which would make me less likely to do the extra books. 

Or are you seeing places where she must already have it down? 

 

[Dmmetler]

I used Key to Algebra and Geometryfor S as Algebra and Geometry at 16-17. S. has Dyscalculia and simply needed an algebra credit to meet graduation requirements. For her it was good because she could learn how to work through a type of problem and get fairly accurate. Now,knowing S she probably wouldn't have remembered it even a week later without being reminded (and, indeed, she had to do a similar level of math as a leveling course starting with college math). It was definitely a "Get it done". 

 

For L, I used it when L wanted algebra, but wasn't ready to write the amount needed for a regular algebra book yet. It worked well as being a bridge from Hands on Equations to written AoPS-type math. 

 

M started it as part of pre-algebra, with the plan of going into Algebra 1, but COVID...

 

I would have started it with C this year had he not gone to school for similar reasons-he's good at math, but struggles with writing things down..

 

I wouldn't use it as a math credit except for situations like S's. 

[GreenGables]

3 hours ago, frogger said:

I don't know much about CLE so this is just a question to clarify.

 

Do you see a lot of the measurement and such in the book? That would mean they do cover it so she would learn it while doing the CLE which would make me less likely to do the extra books. 

Or are you seeing places where she must already have it down? 

 

I think CLE 8th grade has measurement-assuming the student already has an understanding of the basics with like how many inches are in a yard. 
It’s difficult to look at little samples on my phone and try to compare to the keys. But, Looking at CLE at the 8th grade level would be all the things that the keys has. Fractions, decimals, decimals/percents, metric conversions ( conversions I don’t think are super in depth with the keys) volume/measurement, geometry, and algebra. CLE starts out learning algebra in book 1.  The 8th grade level is preparing for all math needed to complete high school course work. This is what I think the keys would also do. 

As far as comparing the keys to Algebra and the CLE algebra I’m not sure how it compares, it’s hard to tell. I really need to comb through them side by side. I’m curious to know what’s missing from the keys algebra and if it’s possible to add to the keys to get the full algebra 1 depth.

One suggestion was to not do the keys to algebra and just move into an algebra 1 curriculum.

CLE is suppose to be lighter, but given that she would not have done any algebra and they introduce it in the 8th grade, it makes me think that she would also need that introduction before algebra 1.  Now if CLE is very comparable to the keys maybe it’s possible.

There is a difference in maybe how info is presented and they are spiral which hasn’t been a good fit for DD in the past.  I need to learn more about it  

 

 

[GreenGables]

1 hour ago, Dmmetler said:

I used Key to Algebra and Geometryfor S as Algebra and Geometry at 16-17. S. has Dyscalculia and simply needed an algebra credit to meet graduation requirements. For her it was good because she could learn how to work through a type of problem and get fairly accurate. Now,knowing S she probably wouldn't have remembered it even a week later without being reminded (and, indeed, she had to do a similar level of math as a leveling course starting with college math). It was definitely a "Get it done". 

 

For L, I used it when L wanted algebra, but wasn't ready to write the amount needed for a regular algebra book yet. It worked well as being a bridge from Hands on Equations to written AoPS-type math. 

 

M started it as part of pre-algebra, with the plan of going into Algebra 1, but COVID...

 

I would have started it with C this year had he not gone to school for similar reasons-he's good at math, but struggles with writing things down..

 

I wouldn't use it as a math credit except for situations like S's. 

DD has learning challenges and also specific to math. She could not remember her multiplication facts no matter what we did and she didn’t believe she could. But it happened and we started over in math, because she didn’t retain most of what was taught during her public school years. Everything we’ve done though has not been an entirely new concept. The thing that will be new is Algebra.  When we get into it we’re really going to find out what direction things will go in. I’m hopeful at the moment though. 

[GreenGables]

On 1/26/2022 at 10:13 AM, mlktwins said:

I have the Key to Algebra and Key to Geometry sets (workbooks and answers) if you are interested.  Price would be a lot less than a new set.  I got them at a used curriculum sale (they are unmarked), but never used them.

That’s a lucky find.  Well, I already have the algebra one and I’m undecided about using the geometry unit. I’ll have to pass on it for now.