Chalkdust basic math or pre-algebra?

[NeverADullMoment]

We have using Abeka arithmetic since Kindergarten and we are now on book 5. I am not impressed by it at all this year. I think I am going to change to Chalkdust. I am just not sure which one... Basic Math or Pre-algebra. My ds is 10 and extremely bright. It seems like we have covered just about everything in Basic Math. But is pre-algebra too much for him?
Thanks for your help,
Nath

[NeverADullMoment]

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[jacqui in mo]

I think Teaching Textbooks has a screening test that will help you tell if your ds is ready for Pre-Algebra. I don't recall if Chalkdust has a screening test like that.


Forgot to add that I currently use Chalkdust Pre-algebra with my 7th grade dd & used the TT screening test to help know if we were ready for it.

[Sparrows-Song]

Chalk Dust does have a placement test. Actually, it is only a test to see if your child is ready for a given grade in their curriculum. It costs $16 to administer, but IMHO, is worth it, as CD was more advanced than I'd thought.

[Kathy in MD]

Basic Math does go into more depth than the typical grade school math program. One chapter alone is devoted to real life math. The student is introduced to making purchasing decisions based on unit pricing, simple and compound interest, wages, salaries commissions, down payments, buying and maintaining a car and other daily applied math. So your dc will probably be learning new things. Plus he will probably be introduced into looking at basic math from a different angle. I feel that studying something from a different angle often leads to a greater understanding.

Also I'm all for making sure students are rock solid in arithmetic before they start into pre-algebra and algebra. If they know their basic math forwards and backwards and inside out, they won't be wondering about some basic math step instead of focusing on the new math material being introduced in the lesson. An extra year of review won't hurt.

Finally your ds is only 10 now. If you do Basic Math followed by Pre-algebra, he'll be 12 when he starts Algebra. His brain will be more mature and better able to handle the higher reasoning required by Algebra.

[Beth in SW WA]

Loving CD Pre-Alg here. Perfect for ds 12 (following TT7). He's appropriately challenged which is just what I wanted.