Where to go after NEM1?

[naturalmom]

Ds has finished all the algebra portion of NEM, and we're going to switch to another program. Would he need Algebra I still, or could he get away with Algebra II since there is review at the beginning?

We do have the Intermediate Algebra CD's from Thinkwell that he has started, and he'll continue to use those as a resource, but we want a different text. I've heard good things about Lial's - and older editions look fairly cheap (which is a necessity right now). Which Lial's would you advise at this point?

[Kendall]

If he has only done the algebra portion of NEM 1 you would need an Algebra 1 program. You would need to do the algebra portion of NEM 2 in order to cover Algebra 1 material(and there may be 1 topic in NEM3-I'm not sure about that)

HTH,
Kendall

[naturalmom]

Ds hasn't really made any math progress in the last year and a half! He's worked really hard on NEM, with very challenging problems, and now he gets to start right where he would have last year without having done NEM?

It's always hardest for the oldest, isn't it?

[Myrtle]

, and now he gets to start right where he would have last year without having done NEM?


It's not that bad! :-)

A student who has finished NEM I already knows how to: Evaluate and simplify algebraic expressions and use the distributive property, represent the general term of a sequence by algebraic expressions, factorize algebraic expressions of the form ax + ay and ax + bx + kay + kby, solve linear equations with whole number, fractional, and decimal coefficients, solve algebraic word problems involving linear equations.

That's a big chunk of an American algebra I book!

Here's an idea. When you choose your algebra book, go through the end of chapter or end of unit reviews until he gets to a review that he can't do and then pick up from that section and move forward.
Use this scope and sequence of NEM (http://www.singaporemath.com/Scope_and_Sequence_Secondary_Math_s/123.htm) figure out what he still needs to learn. When he gets to geometry the following year there will probably also be several sections you can skip over.

[MaryM]

Myrtle's advice is excellent!

This approach works too. Conceptually, that NEM experience will be invaluable. Good luck.

Mary