Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Middle School After T'g Textbooks Pre-Algebra, what AoPS text?

My 7th grade daughter is finishing up Teaching Textbooks PreAlgebra, we are looking to put her in AoPS next year but after viewing the placement tests, there are some things in Pre-Algebra I that she hasn't covered. I thought she'd be in Algebra I.

I'm sure this bothers me more than it will bother her, but should I swallow my pride and put her in pre algebra I to just make sure that she has the foundation she needs to go through AoPS's higher maths. Or would you just work with her when she needs help in Algebra believing that that text will briefly review concepts taught at lower levels?

Thanks,

Cynthia

Try working through the PreAlgebra problems on Alcumus.

When I emailed the AoPS people about what book my son in Algebra II should try, they suggested the Algebra I book to my surprise. It covers a lot of what is in both Algebra I & Algebra II. And for him the number theory book. If you are comfortable with helping her with the work, I might suggest just buy the Pre Alegra book and try working through parts of it in prep for the Algebra I class next year. AoPS approach is a bit different and more about abstract thinking vs. just following a bunch of instructions.

Are you planning to put her in a class, or to use the Introductory Algebra book? If the latter, I'd just dive in and prepare to go slowly where necessary. If a class, I'd be more cautious. I doubt she'll be bored either way. I second 22B re Alcumus. Many problems there count for both prealgebra and algebra anyway, btw.

PS you could compromise and put her in Prealgebra 2; also, might be worth asking about the possibility of swapping her down if the first few weeks do turn out too hard; there are enough prealg classes that they probably have that flexibility.

From what I have heard the on-line classes are very fast so you would want to be well prepared.

I would vote for getting the Pre-Algebra book from AoPS over Alcumus, or rather, the former supplemented by the latter.

My DD tells me that the problems in the book are harder (summary problems at the end of each chapter) than the ones on Alcumus - for her at least. If you want to do the actual class there is one problem a week on the course assigned work that makes her stop and think - the written problem. This has been great because it has forced her to break things down and write them out instead of just solving the whole thing in her head. She lost points one week for not expanding on a exponent question on a point that was blindingly obvious to her instead of expanding on why it was obvious, for instance. It has forced her to be more disciplined and tidy with showing her work.

The thing that sells the AoPS Pre-Algebra course to me is its emphasis on the basics; the properties of the four Arithmetic Operations, Negative Numbers, Number Theory, Exponents and Vulgar Fractions are covered first to ensure that the student fully understands why it makes sense to manipulate the terms (gathering like terms, canceling etc) instead of just blindly following an algorithm. Even better, they focus on solving the problem efficiently instead of mechanically slogging through it as one would by just following an algorithm.

I signed her up for the Algebra I class that starts in October.

This was what I was thinking of doing after finding videos on the AoPS website:

Have DD watch the PreAlgebra free videos for what she hasn't yet studied (negative exponents and an exponent of zero, for example) and then she could go as far as possible in Alcumus (maybe working an hour a day) as a preparation for the Algebra I class in October.

I must confess that I considered getting the PreAlgebra textbook for her to cover what she hadn't had before (to do Aug-Oct), but I was hoping to save $50 bucks or so by using the videos and Alcumus. I see that MadeinUK suggests the book. I wish there were a good outlet for buying it used.

Another question for you, MadeinUK, I watched some of the videos for PreAlgebra and they seemed really good-- do you still feel the book would be superior to the video explanations? It's not too late for me to bite the bullet and order the book.