AOPS pre-algebra without Beast Academy?

[Ting Tang]

We’re doing more traditional math. I feel like the assessment for AOPS pre-algebra might be easier than the one for Beast level 5! Should we not consider AOPS without doing some of Beast? He’s doing grade level 6 math now and should be ready for AOPS after, per the assessment for that. But I’m considering WTM academy for AOPS pre-algebra. Does AOPS also offer enough drill/practice? Trying to decide from samples if it’s right for us. 

Edited February 15, 2022 by Ting Tang

[Miss Tick]

Well, the prealgebra book existed long before BA came around, so BA is definitely not required before hand. The two programs are very different in their approach - colorful, fun cartoons teaching vs text-based discovery approach.

AOPS should have enough practice problems available. If you need more than are in the book there is always the free AOPS Alcumus online problems. You can also find the popular AOPS PreA videos there.

Edited February 15, 2022 by SusanC
post is now nut free!

[Ting Tang]

40 minutes ago, SusanC said:

Well, the prealgebra book existed long before BA came almond, so BA is definitely not required before hand. The two programs are very different in their approach - colorful, fun cartoons teaching vs text-based discovery approach.

AOPS should have enough practice problems available. If you need more than are in the book there is always the free AOPS Alcumus online problems. You can also find the popular AOPS PreA videos there.

Thanks so much! I haven’t been able to get a good grasp of it to see if it will work well for him. Since he is young, repetition is helpful for him to remember little details. I’m wondering if there are enough of each kind of problem. I saw a sample from chapter 5, and one of the questions had me scratching my head.  But it is helpful to know there are more problems. 

Edited February 15, 2022 by Ting Tang

[Clemsondana]

We went from Singapore to AoPS.  It was fine, but a bit rocky because pre-A has some really tedious problems and kid didn't have the attention to detail that was needed so there were lots of careless mistakes.  That is mostly whey we moved slowly - they grasped the concepts, but couldn't focus long enough to work a lot of problems with lots of places to make mistakes.  I think it was with the algebra book, but maybe pre-A, that we took a break for while because they had quit liking math.  We used Life of Fred, which people either love or hate (I didn't care as long as kid liked it, which they did), and settled on doing it on any busy days which relieved the stress of working through a time-consuming math program.  Kid liked seeing everything presented in a different way - they felt that it reinforced things.  They've used both programs together for algebra, geometry, and algebra 2.  This year they are in pre-cal and doing exclusively AoPs...which they will be finishing in February, strangely enough.  So, they'll probably play around withe Life of Fred a bit for the rest of the year, although they may choose to start the second AoPS probability book.  

[SoCal_Bear]

One thing that you should be aware of  about AOPS. There is no repetition in the problem sets. Every problem builds off the previous ones and whatever conceptual leap you were supposed to make. If you need more practice, you do that by going on Alcumus. The curriculum is really designed for students who grasp math concepts quickly and do not need repetition before going very deeply into the topic. Drill and practice are not AOPS. If you want/need a curriculum to have drill and practice, then AOPS is probably not be a good fit.

My son very rarely uses Alcumus. 

Edited February 19, 2022 by calbear

[Ting Tang]

On 2/16/2022 at 6:56 AM, Clemsondana said:

We went from Singapore to AoPS.  It was fine, but a bit rocky because pre-A has some really tedious problems and kid didn't have the attention to detail that was needed so there were lots of careless mistakes.  That is mostly whey we moved slowly - they grasped the concepts, but couldn't focus long enough to work a lot of problems with lots of places to make mistakes.  I think it was with the algebra book, but maybe pre-A, that we took a break for while because they had quit liking math.  We used Life of Fred, which people either love or hate (I didn't care as long as kid liked it, which they did), and settled on doing it on any busy days which relieved the stress of working through a time-consuming math program.  Kid liked seeing everything presented in a different way - they felt that it reinforced things.  They've used both programs together for algebra, geometry, and algebra 2.  This year they are in pre-cal and doing exclusively AoPs...which they will be finishing in February, strangely enough.  So, they'll probably play around withe Life of Fred a bit for the rest of the year, although they may choose to start the second AoPS probability book.  

 

9 hours ago, calbear said:

One thing that you should be aware of  about AOPS. There is no repetition in the problem sets. Every problem builds off the previous ones and whatever conceptual leap you were supposed to make. If you need more practice, you do that by going on Alcumus. The curriculum is really designed for students who grasp math concepts quickly and do not need repetition before going very deeply into the topic. Drill and practice are not AOPS. If you want/need a curriculum to have drill and practice, then AOPS is probably not be a good fit.

My son very rarely uses Alcumus. 

Well, I’m guessing AOPS would not be for my son just yet, but I’d love to find a way to incorporate it as a supplement perhaps! I think he will just need something more direct as a foundation. I really like Matt Mammoth the more I look at it, but I hesitate because I prefer a separate teacher manual for some guidance on what I can say. Abeka has that, but then I read it’s eventual class in Algebra is “weak” somewhere here. Sigh. 😔 I have liked the lower grades except it is a bit heavy on work— 

[daijobu]

BA had not been published when we started homeschooling, so we started off with Singapore for elementary math.  We did Singapore 4 days a week, and on Wednesdays I had my students complete a MOEMS contest at home.  Since the AoPS problem sets often contain contest problems, this was a good way to prepare in elementary.  

[SoCal_Bear]

I would say get the AOPS content math books. Look on this page and scroll down. https://artofproblemsolving.com/store/list/all-products

This would be the way I would suggest to incorporate some of this with full solution manual or you can just use the free videos for PA and algebra and Alcumus problems.

I really think Dimensions with the videos or if you do not want to teach it yourself. Do Amelia Chan's classes which uses Dimensions. https://www.mathamelia.com/classes It seems like you are attracted to conceptual math programs, but teaching it yourself is overwhelming. These are honors level math courses.
 

Edited February 19, 2022 by calbear

[Ting Tang]

1 hour ago, calbear said:

I would say get the AOPS content math books. Look on this page and scroll down. https://artofproblemsolving.com/store/list/all-products

This would be the way I would suggest to incorporate some of this with full solution manual or you can just use the free videos for PA and algebra and Alcumus problems.

I really think Dimensions with the videos or if you do not want to teach it yourself. Do Amelia Chan's classes which uses Dimensions. https://www.mathamelia.com/classes It seems like you are attracted to conceptual math programs, but teaching it yourself is overwhelming. These are honors level math courses.
 

Thank you so much! I like the traditional programs, too, but I also feel like we should try to dive a bit deeper since we have the opportunity at home. I will check out the these classes, too!