2013-14 Homeschool plan: Math

Let's start with math. Look here and here for last year's information. This coming year will be the first time I've had all three boys doing something different, curriculum-wise. It was time. ;) (Need to recognize the different aptitudes and approaches.) Here's our plan:

NOAH: We're going to use Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) for Algebra and will introduce AoPS Counting & Probability and AoPS Intro to Number Theory half way through the year. This program seems to be a good fit for Noah, as it challenges him, explains things well and doesn't offer unnecessary repetition. (The program is targeted at more math-centric students and those likely to go on to pursue study/work in math and engineering fields.)

At this point, we're able to have this be a mostly independent study for Noah...wherein I assign the work and grade it but he reads the text and does the problems on his own, though I'm always available to help if needed.

ASHER: For Asher, we're going to stick with Teaching Textbooks and will have him do Math 7. He was able to breeze through Math 6 fairly well on his own (on the computer) but, since math doesn't come as naturally to him as to his brothers, we're not in any hurry and feel that more review in Math 7 is the right route for him. I really think being able to do this on the computer has helped his confidence in math this past year...not having to worry about getting things wrong in front of me or his brothers. 

We may or may not have Asher read Life of Fred Decimals on his own. These books approach math in a story fashion. I've found over the years that these books don't work for us as a stand-alone curriculum but I figure that more coverage of a topic (and in a different way) can't hurt. I think Asher, in particular, might benefit from reading about math as a story...to help reinforce ideas and principles that aren't always clear to him initially.

MICAH: Micah's decided that he doesn't like listening to the Teaching Textbooks lectures. He thinks they're annoying and too long, lol. Like Asher, he breezed through Math 6 (though he actually scored slightly lower than Asher simply because he rushed things and refused to check his work before hitting "enter" lol). 

Instead, then, I think I'm going to work through Singapore Math's Discovering Math 7 with him. I'm not sure if it's the best fit yet, but I have this on hand and, thus, don't have to buy anything. ;) So. We'll start there. I'm fairly sure that if he's working through it with me, this will work for Micah. Yes, this is the same book I started with Noah earlier this year when we switched him from Teaching Textbooks Pre-Algebra (and then eventually to AoPS Pre-Algebra). No, I don't think the fact that they're five years apart in age will matter. It was review for Noah and will hopefully challenge Micah.

Beyond Discovering Math, I'm going to continue with Beast Academy for Micah. (It's by the Art of Problem Solving people, and we've already worked through 3A and most of 3B in the last few months.) My reasoning is similar to why I'll have Asher read Life of Fred...it offers another way to look at things. In Micah's case, more problems makes more of an impact than a story. :)

ALL: I just remembered that I have these cool Mathematicians Are People, Too books. I'm curious, myself, so plan to read a chapter a week to the boys...just for fun. ;)

Additionally, I'm going to try a new curriculum called Hands on Equations with both Asher and Micah. It's an introduction to algebraic thought processes and I'll use it as a supplement to hopefully make the transition to algebra in a few years smoother. 

So. That's what we're doing for math next year. ;)