Homeschool High School Math with Life of Fred
Secondary Math Curriculum for Home Schoolers
Teaching upper-level math can be difficult for many homeschooling parents, especially if math was not their strongest subject. It can also be hard for many otherwise self-motivated students to wade through, since the texts are often geared for classroom use. Some texts offer seemingly disconnected lessons, and no explanations of why the rules work. The long strings of equation after equation can be daunting as well as boring.
Polka Dot Publishing's Life of Fred series [Polka Dot Publishing, 2002-2007] breaks those molds entirely. The seven-volume series is a story about a child-professor named Fred Gauss. By the time the student has followed Fred from early childhood prodigy to late childhood genius, he or she will have been prepared to shine on the SAT math test.
Fun with Mathematics
The text is simple, with black and white drawings used to illustrate points. Each chapter has several Fred stories, frequently broken up by "Your Turn to Play", which give the student a chance to practice the concepts presented. Unlike the usual textbook, though, most of the exercises are puzzles. At the end of each chapter are several groups of puzzles and problems which can be used to prove mastery of the new ideas and tools. Answers and detailed explanations are provided, except for the end-of chapter problems. An explanatory answer key is available for these also.
The tone of the books is friendly and cheerful. There are a few minor cultural religious references, but the series can be used by persons of any (or no) religious background without problems. The books are also relatively inexpensive , and the come autographed if you order them from the publisher.
Easy Algebra for Homeschoolers
The books start with Fractions and move through Decimals and Percents.They then cruise through Algebra, Advanced Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus and Statistics. Also available is the Fred's Home Companion series [Polka Dot Publishing, 2006-2007], which breaks the assignments up into daily lessons and additional problems. With this book, kids may be able to do Algebra 1 in a single season!
Life of Fred may be less successful with children who are very literal thinkers or who prefer memorization to solving puzzles. They are not colorful, which may be a drawback or a plus, depending on the person.
A Self-Teaching Math Text
The texts are self explanatory, and most young people will need very little assistance. More importantly, these are books that may lure some kids into really enjoying and doing well in middle and high school mathematics. They are also the only math series which may cause the reader to laugh out loud and call younger sisters and brothers to hear a Fred story!
For more information on Life of Fred, visit the Stanley Schmidt website.
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