Much to the horror of my eldest daughter, I came home with the Beginning Algebra book and presented it to her as her next math book. "You mean I have to do algebra over again?" she asked. "Yes," I replied, "but this time you'll actually learn it.
After I explained the concept of Fred to the kids, they all wanted to get their hands on the book to read the story and see what it was all about. My daughter dove into the book and finished it before the end of the school year. Ever since then this has been our "go-to" algebra book.
Beginning Algebra is the first book to come with a Home Companion. This is definitely worth getting as it breaks down the main book into 188 lessons. Not only does it give the day-to-day break down, it also gives additional problems for the student to work on.
Life of Fred Beginning Algebra covers:
numbers and sets, integers, equations, solving for unknowns, exponents, motion and mixture, factoring (everyone's favorite!), fractions, square roots, quadratic equations, functions and slope and inequalities and absolute value.
All of this is covered in a day in the life of Fred, a five year old math professor at KITTENS University in Kansas. His tone is very conversational, which makes learning the math a lot more enjoyable. For example we learn about linear equations in the context of Fred helping a chaplain write a sermon about ten young girls waiting at night to meet an important dignitary :)
I have been very please with this set of algebra books as I believe it to be a very thorough coverage of beginning algebra. If you would like to read more about Fred or to order any of the Fred books, you can go to my website.
there was one review on Amazon that talks about some of this material not being appropriate. Have you found this and I think this was in the geometry book.
ReplyDeleteWhat age do you suggest this book for?
Bern... I looked into what you were talking about and then talked to my 16 year old daughter who finished the geometry book in May. She said that Fred has a crush on a little girl his age and then later finds out it is his sister (long story :) Anyhow, she said it was totally innocent and besides, when you're old enough to be doing geometry, that little bit of the story is totally understandable and not a big deal. Other than that possibility, we have not had ANY issues at all with any of the books. Hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I forgot the second part of your comment. I think beginning algebra would be good for an advanced 7th grader on up.
ReplyDelete