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Our school dist. is currently using EPGY math for our DS9. Our public school is switching to Larson math on-line course because of costs constraints. Does anyone have any experience with this program? Is it geared toward the gifted learner?

My dd used Larson's Math in early elementary. It is a decent math program but not to be compared with EPGY. Larson's Math is good for the visual learner and has an easy interface. I wouldn't say that it is geared for the gifted learner though if I remember correctly the student can progress at his/her own pace. Also, it only goes through pre-algebra. My dd9 enjoyed Larson's Math when she was younger, but she likes ALEKS better. ALEKS is another low-cost option.

Thanks for the info. My DS is a visual spatial learner but is ready to take pre-algebra. Is ALEKS also an on-line course? I will see if I can find it.

http://www.aleks.com/

ALEKS is not as pretty as Larson's Math, but it gives the student more flexibility to decide what he/she wants to study. It also goes through calculus.

The nice thing about ALEKS is that it is very affordable for schools to purchase. The cost is around $40/year per student, even for just one student. They also have a free trial if you want to see if your ds would like it.

You can also suggest Destination Math, currently owned by Harcourt Mifflin.

They have an "advanced" grade 6-8 and algebra grade 6-8.

The content is really good and great fun, animated graphics, engaging.
However, my whole family agrees (and the neighbor's daughter!) that the pace is a little too slow.

It's also inexpensive and what Johns Hopkins distance learning program used to/or still does use from what I understand. Although that info could be out of date.

DD8 loves Aleks, but we have to switch back and forth between different learning tools because she loses interest in the format. Currently using Singapore Math and supplementing with Aleks.

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That really chaps my hide. We have to pay $99 every six months! Why do they give one student at the school an 80 percent discount!

The school won't let DD do it in class because they "don't individualize curriculum".

They could purchase it for $40, and then I could re-imburse them even.

I might have to drop Aleks on principle.

They offer the schools a lower price so that they can get their foot in the door at the schools. They have an opportunity to sell lots of subscriptions if they can get into the schools. I approached the school about buying my dd's subscription and letting me reimburse them, but in the end I convinced our GT coordinator to buy some licenses for the district.

I have talked to the people at ALEKS about giving our GT group a discount, but the rep said it had to be a school. Maybe a homeschool group could get a discount. Even at the individual rate it is less expensive than EPGY and Larson's Math no longer sells to individuals. My dd is also using a program called First in Math at school. It is a great program geared to higher level thinking, but you cannot buy it as an individual. We need to somehow combine our buying power.

One of my kids used Larson when it was available for individual purchase. He did the grade 3-6 curriculum when he was age 7-8 and seemed to enjoy the user friendly interface and having things checked off as he progressed. I think it's a decent program.