Help with math acceleration

[Karin]

Originally Posted by Spy Car

Agreeing, but a question. Let's assume a younger child isn't sufficiently "mature" for Algebra. Does the child never-the-less benefit from being exposed to Algebra?

It seems some early math programs introduce "algebraic" methods easy (solving for the unknown variable, substituting "letters" or other symbols for numerical values, and the like). Then there are "manipulative-based" programs like "Hands-On-Equations" (something I haven't used yet, but it intrigues me) that introduce Algebra (rather than Algebra) during the grammar stage.

So what about it? If one is going to one day encounter proof and theory in Gelfand's, is it better to have had some "exposure" to simpler forms of Algebraic thinking and notation earlier in life?

Bill

I think so, and, in fact, that's exactly what we do. My dc do Algebra early, and then redo it with Algebra. Okay, only one has done that so far, but I'm planning on doing the same thing for the other two In fact, I think it helps greatly to have some of that out of the way so that dc can learn the theory, etc, more easily.

We're approaching Chemistry & Physics similarly in that my dd is doing conceptual courses in them with labs first, and then will do the hard, mathy advanced courses later, since there are dc who get A's in Chem, can do the math well, but don't understand what they're getting A's in.