Math Placement Tests

We're entering a new era of our homeschool, as Timothy finds is way into Middle School, Junior High, 7th Grade, whatever you want to call that period between the first 6 years and the final four years of school.  That lovely transition time between "general education," aka, "Elementary School" in the US, and "High School." The time when he bridges into more and more independent study, and into those things like Harder Maths.

We've reached the end of the road with the math we are currently using -- we have used Singapore from the beginning, and are now at the end of what is offered. Next step: Pre-Algebra. As I looked at our options, I found Teaching Textbooks.  For starters, Sonlight recommends this program so highly that it is the only program they carry in their print catalog for those grade levels.

That spoke volumes to me, and I read up on it.  Went on-line and found samples -- Timmy was able to do a sample lesson, complete with instruction, exercises, examples, and practice problems. He liked it. He kept doing it after I said, "Cool; that's good, you can quit now...." Nope, he kept going.  This from the boy who demonstrates great wailing and gnashing of teeth whenever I open a math book. Hmmm.

The next step was to find the Placement Tests so we can determine if he's ready to jump straight into Pre-Algebra (normally done in 8th grade, not 7th) or if he needs the 7th Grade Math instead. He is jumping in from Singapore 5B, so I wasn't sure.  We printed the test, and I'll administer it today.

While Quentin was downloading it and getting ready to print, he started looking at the problems. "I can't do this!" he said. "Timmy can do all of this? These are hard problems!"  So he and I worked through it.  More than once Quentin asked for a calculator, but the directions clearly say not to use one. Quentin himself has told me the boys are not to use calculators for school until Algebra at least. So I told him No as well and we pressed on. When we finished, we compared our answers with the answer key.  We each missed four, mostly due to speed errors; working too quickly and making silly mistakes.  Oops. Forunately that is still in the range that says we're okay to take Pre-Algebra. Whew.

The good news? I don't have to teach Pre-Algebra. Not with this program.  Teaching Textbooks is just that -- a textbook and CD-Rom program that will teach my child math for me. The student will hear a teacher giving him instruction, see examples worked in front of him, have sample problems to work with the teacher, and then "homework" problems with instant feedback to work then and there. If he misses the problem, he can see it worked out correctly so that he gets the next problem right.  I am stoked. This is going to be awesome.

It's not a cheap program, but it is a good one. A great one.  We're thinking of switching Caleb over, too, since Math is the one area that takes the most of my time, and causes the most frustration.  Quentin is not keen on Singapore (though I love it), and with us adding Zach into the mix, less time on Big Kid Math is a good thing for me. A great thing for Zach.  So we printed his Placement Test as well, and we'll have the boys take those today.

Hopefully they'll do well. I'll let you know.