Help with math acceleration

[Spy Car]

Originally Posted by WendyK

I think Calculus for Young People will last us a long time. There is a lot of stuff in it. It is a lot of playing around with math.

I think it is generally fun and interesting (and something different). Sometimes it is a bit disorganized. I'm not sure where the author is going with certain things (but that could just be me).

I've seen it and been curious. But you're the first person I recall using it.

Bill

[abbeyej]

Similar to what others have said. We did two programs (Horizons as our main, and Singapore as our secondary), added in lots of supplements (Singapore supplements, Zaccaro's Challenge Math books, Number Devil, RS card games, Muggins Math, Penrose the Mathematical Cat, Math Olympiad)...

While ds was flying at age 5, I did find that he slowed a little as time went on. We started algebra just before he turned 10. We're finding it tough! But it's a good challenge...

Even doing algebra 1 at this age (we're finishing up chapter 4 of 12, so we're keeping up the pace of the middle / high school syllabus I'm following -- at least so far), there are options out there as we move forward. There are enough Art of Problem Solving books (and classes, thank goodness -- I'm struggling for the first time with math I only vaguely remember how to do, and there's a difference between being able to stumble through and really teaching someone else well) to keep us occupied for many, many years. Other things too...

Don't worry too much about getting ahead now. You'll find things to keep him learning.

[Dinsfamily]

Originally Posted by 2smartones

I've never heard the argument about waiting until 7th for algebra. What's that about? We do whatever our kids are capable of doing no matter what level it is (as long as it's not "too" out there... for example... a grade schooler on a high school reading level would have no interest in books about dating).

I've read several times (on boards, not in books) that kids are usually not developmentally ready for the abstract thinking in algebra until at least 12. I'm being more challenged to let my ds's ability dictate whether he's ready for algebra or not. I guess time will tell. I'm glad there are so many BTDT parents on this board.

[Crimson Wife]

Originally Posted by WendyK

I have added in MEP, games, Calculus for Young People, and a few other odds and ends.

This is one of the programs I've had my eye on as both my DH and I loved, loved, loved calculus.

Right now my oldest is finishing up Right Start C and I haven't decided what we'll do after that. I'm leaning towards Singapore supplemented with the Right Start Activities for the AL Abacus and maybe Life of Fred. Also, I'm waiting on my order of Hands-On Equations Verbal Problems Book. She loved the main HOE program but I didn't realize that the set I originally bought didn't include the word problems book.

[Karin]

When to start Algebra varies. With math or logic gifted dc, it can be quite early, but not necessarily. Most dc aren't. Jann in TX knows a fair bit about it on the hs board (she's a certified math teacher.)

There is also Algebra and then Algebra. I wouldn't put them all in the same boat. For example, Gelfand's as a lot more theory than most and some very, very long problems; some are even tough for math majors. That one most dc ought to wait until 13 or so to do, unless they have a lot of patience. Mine tend to start Algebra at c. 11 so far; they're not highly motivated in math, so that's not to say that my eldest couldn't have started earlier, but she hated math with a passion for a long time.

But as for the readiness of dc to take Algebra, this forum isn't the first place I've heard that most dc aren't ready early. It all depends on when your dc's logic center of the brain is developing. The average age (and this is not directly related to IQ) is around 13. Some are younger; some are older. This same concept also appears in sports with game smarts, knowing where to be on the field, etc. This is why dc who start soccer at 7 and dc who start at 11 usually level out by 14. Perhaps a better illustration is a fielder in baseball. In order to catch a ball, you have to be judging where the ball is going to come down as it's flying through the air at the same time that you're running, etc, etc. This is why younger fielders miss so many balls. Or in Judo. Dd's sensai (she started this year) tried to explain it to me, but I'm not a jock. I may not be explaining this particularly well at the moment, but suffice to say that dc's brains are not completely wired until they are already adults (even gifted dc in some areas), and that there isn't one exact time when everything develops for every child. However, gifted dc often have their brains developing more rapidly in certain areas, which is why you have some dc who are ready for college at 9, 10 or 11. Not all pg kids are, of course, because even pg people aren't always that motivated or predictable .

[Sputterduck]

Originally Posted by Dinsfamily

My ds-5 is racing through math texts. He's already finished Horizons K and Singapore 1A, Horizons 1 isn't challenging at all and he's racing through CWP 1. It's only November of Kindergarten, so I'm a little nervous. I've sort of held him back curriculum-wise because I'm afraid of gaps. He tested into Horizons 2, but I didn't feel comfortable skipping K and 1. However, those gaps (skip counting, time, etc.) I was afraid of have been intuitive for him and he really didn't need any instruction at all. We only do about 20 mins of math a day and he's always asking for more.

How do all of you proceed with mathy kids? Do I just let him go and finish 3 levels of math this year? Do I slow him down so that he doesn't get to algebra too quickly?

TIA,

We're in the same boat over here. I was going to take a month or so to do Singapore 1A but he's going to have finished it in 4 sessions. His resource teacher (charter school for homeschooled kids) suggested just skipping ahead and forgetting about 1A, but it's good review. Also, he is not very good at handwritting and as the books go up in grades, they'll demand more of his writing skills. He's only 5 and writes like a 5 year old even though he's good at math.

[Sputterduck]

Also, we've started algebra on the side and he is fine learning it.

[KAR120C]

Originally Posted by Karin

There is also Algebra and then Algebra. I wouldn't put them all in the same boat. For example, Gelfand's as a lot more theory than most and some very, very long problems; some are even tough for math majors. That one most dc ought to wait until 13 or so to do, unless they have a lot of patience.

I'm just going to follow you around the boards saying "I agree/ me too/ absolutely" LOL

Next comes "There's Statistics and then there's Statistics"... What they stick in most elementary math curricula (mean/median/mode) is the former, and the latter has to wait until you've got some fluency with logarithmic transformations. But that's a whole other soapbox... lol...

[WendyK]

Originally Posted by KAR1200

I'm just going to follow you around the boards saying "I agree/ me too/ absolutely" LOL

Next comes "There's Statistics and then there's Statistics"... What they stick in most elementary math curricula (mean/median/mode) is the former, and the latter has to wait until you've got some fluency with logarithmic transformations. But that's a whole other soapbox... lol...

Now oddly I never was much of a math whiz, but in college I took several statistics courses and loved them. Go figure.

[tofuscramble]

I'm in the same boat. Of my 3, I have one really mathy kid (my 6 year old) and I just let him go at his own pace, if I don't he gets bored and stops learning.