In the fall of 2014, we
switched my high school son’s math program. As we were finishing up the school
year, he told me that he was struggling with math. My son who had previously
received A type grades in math had not only dropped his grade by two levels, but
his confidence in his math skills as well.
Since I had experience using
Volume I of the Learn Math Fast System curriculum with my youngest (you can
read my review about it here), and having been really impressed with it, I decided to try it with my
oldest. Because my son hopes to get into the mechanical engineering field
someday, I wanted a math program that would help him understand math, in this case Algebra.
This summer I had him begin the Learn Math Fast System Volume III, Pre-Algebra book as a refresher and to get him used to J.K. Mergens’ (the book's author) method of teaching. In addition, I wanted to make sure that we covered any gaps he may have had from using his previous math programs.
Volume III includes 25
lessons covering topics such as, “solving for x, ratios, proportions,
exponents, square roots, terms, expressions, like terms, order of operations,
distributive property of multiplication, graphs, linear equations, the
y-intercept, and the slope formula.” All of the solutions to the problems are found at the end of the book.
My son had difficulty understanding how to do the slope formula problems with his old math program, but
after using the Learn Math Fast System book he was able to do these types of
problems without any difficulties. Also, since the lessons were short, he was able
to finish the book within about a four week period (doing two lessons a day).
Next week my son will be completing
Volume V of the Learn Math Fast System book which covers “Algebra I with a special focus on
quadratic equations and formulas.” It includes 36 lessons, 7
chapter review tests, and a final test. Topics in this book include: “terminology, absolute value, terms with
exponents, simplifying expressions, multiplying and dividing terms with
exponents, square roots, cube roots, Laws of Algebra, multiplying polynomials,
factoring polynomials, factoring out a common factor, prime factorization,
quadratic equations, a perfect square, completing the square, quadratic
formula, and intro to functions.”
Most
of the lessons could be completed in less than an hour, which allowed him to go
through two lessons a day. If the lesson was long, he would only do one lesson.
Some of the review tests I would have him complete in one day, others I would
allow him to take two days to complete.
According
to the information on the curriculum's website, this book can be completed within a three to
four month period. I would estimate that it has taken my son about three months to
finish this book. (His last few lessons will be completed next week.)
I
am happy to report that not only did his grade increase to an A, but his
confidence in math is back again!
The
Learn Math Fast System books have by far been my favorite math curriculum for
the following reasons:
·
It provides
step-by-step instructions on how to do the problems and includes a good amount
of examples.
·
It is written in
an easy-to-understand manner.
·
There aren’t
hundreds of problems needing to be completed.
·
I can email (or
call) J.K., the author, with any questions and receive a response within 24
hours.
·
The subject can
be learned in half the time it would take with other math programs.
· The high school student can complete this curriculum independently.
My son will be moving on to
Volume VI, Algebra 2, as I prefer to have him continue with Algebra while it’s
still fresh in his mind and then he will move on to Pre-Geometry (Volume IV)
and Geometry (Volume VII).
If you are looking for a
math curriculum for your student written in an easy-to-understand manner, then
I highly recommend you try any of the Learn Math Fast System books.
By the way, if you’d like to
try this curriculum use the code SLICE to get $5.00 off your order (expires
12/31/15).
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We are also using LMF, and it has been a great fit for us. Did you have your son do a precalculus or Algebra III/ Trig course? I'm trying to decide what to use after LMF.
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