Pre Algebra Resources We’re Using

This is just a quick post to update you on LD’s Pre Algebra work.  We are really very happy with the Art of Problem Solving: Pre Algebra. We set the timer for twenty minutes each day and LD and I read/go over the book together. I am really impressed with how clearly it explains (and proves) why various math properties work.  I suspect it will take us two years to go through the book, but the way it is written and laid out is really terrific. There is a solutions manual that goes along with this book.

LD really, really likes this book. Although he’s pretty good at math, he’s never been passionate about it like some kids are.  But this book is well written, packs in a lot of good information and is easy to follow.  He really enjoys sitting down to read/work on it.  That’s the most important endorsement, right? Straight from the kid’s mouths!

After our session together, LD has been using Khan Academy’s PreAlgebra videos.  LD really likes these lessons too.

So far, LD said the videos are really easy to follow, the problems are good and he likes that there are avatars to unlock as you go.

I know a lot of people use agmath.com Algebra packets to go along with the Art of Problem Solving-PreAlgebra. I’ve opened these (free) worksheet packets and they really look useful. We may use them in the future.

So those two resources along with Math Reasoning (Level G) make for a really full math curriculum. (He’s in Grade 6.)  At the end of last year LD did the first few dozen pages of the Kelley-Wingate Pre-Algebra. The first dozen pages or so focus mainly on fractions and decimals. These are followed by problems with integers, etc.  Pretty soon, I’ll have him work through some of these problems as well (adding and subtracting integers and so forth).  There’s nothing fancy about the problems and little explanation for what you’re doing, but as a workbook I find it really useful for the 5th-7th grade level of math.