2014-15 Homeschool Plan: Math
Monday, August 25, 2014 at 08:14PM I'll start with math. Look here for last year's information. This year, we're returning to having both boys doing the same thing.
The plan is to work through Discovering Math 7B with both boys, review Discovering Math 7A (which we worked through together this past year), and use some of the Key to Algebra books to review and reinforce topics as we go.
Having used both of these programs before, I can say that I like both. The Discovering Math books are very clear and easy to teach from...with plenty of sample problems, problems to assign and workbook reviews. We're still at the point where I work through the lessons with the boys, rather than leaving them to tackle it on their own. (But I can see that just handing these books to students to work through on their own would also work well, if that's what you're looking for.) The Key to Algebra program is excellent for concise summation of topics and quick review. (They'd probably also work as a step before introducing a topic...to lay the groundwork.)
To touch on what worked and didn't last year:
- Art of Problem Solving: Algebra...used this for Noah and definitely like this program. I'll use it again when the younger two get older.
- Teaching Textbooks...used this (Math 7 and then Pre-Algebra) for Asher for the first half of the year but then switched, as he decided it was not challenging and too repetitive. I'm still appreciative of the ease of using this program but apparently it's not a great fit for us.
- Life of Fred...had Asher read through these on his own last year (Decimals and Pre-Algebra 1). I think they were valuable as a supplement.
- Beast Academy...had Micah use these some last year but finally stopped, as we found that bouncing back and forth between material was unnecessarily confusing. I still really enjoy this curriculum and wish that they'd been around sooner.
- Hands on Equations...didn't use this as a curriculum but found the manipulatives and ideas behind this were valuable for setting up the introduction to equations.
So. That's math. ;)
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