Curriculum

The course uses the Desmos Middle School curriculum for our lessons. Each activity comes with a video lesson. Some days we will have a paper-based lesson, but most days, the student will need a computer to access their classwork activities.

In this course, we will cover four main topics:

Unit 1: Rigid Transformations and Congruence

Unit 2: Scale Drawings, Dilations, and Similarity

Unit 3: Writing and Solving Equations and Inequalities

Unit 4: Linear Relationships and Systems of Equations

Semester 2 of Pre-Algebra covers the following topics:

Unit 5: Functions

Unit 6: Associations in Data

Unit 7: Volume and Surface Area

Unit 8: Exponents and Scientific Notation

Unit 9: Pythagorean Theorem and Irrational Numbers

You can view the full year syllabus.

FAQ

Is there a live component to the course?

No. The course is self-paced.

Why is the full year math course broken up into two semester-long courses?

• We want to include families that can't financially commit to a full year initially.
• We want to provide a point of entry for families to join the class at the halfway point if that is best for their learning.

Is my child ready for Pre-Algebra?

Placement tests are notoriously bad at placing students, but we prepared a readiness test and answer key anyway to give you an idea of your child's level of preparation. You can use this checklist of skills from our Grade 6 Math course to hone in on specific skills.

What can I do to help my child get ready for this course?

• Review multiplication and division facts, including long division. Also, do calculations using fractions and decimals to keep sharp. You'll get rusty if you don't review them from time to time.
• Go over this checklist of skills and spend time investigating the skills where your child's knowledge is weakest.
• Have a great attitude about math, yourself. Your attitude will shape your child's perspective on math.

How is this course different than your science courses?

• The format will be different. Your child will need to have an activity open in one browser and a video feed open in another. They'll bounce back and forth between them as we work through the concepts together.
• Most of the class time will be spent with your child actively working on problems.
• The course is longer (63 lessons with a recommended pace of 4 lessons per week).
• The course registration is for individuals instead of families (because of the curriculum license).
  

What if we need help outside of class?

Our class will have a moderated discord community where you can post and answer questions.

What platforms will we use?

The student will need access to a web browser for the YouTube video feed and a web browser for the Desmos activities. If you have a second device or a second monitor, then they won't have to switch back and forth between the lesson video and the activity.

A tiny screen could make it challenging to interact with some Desmos activities. A touch tablet could work, though the interactions will go much more smoothly with a keyboard. We strongly recommend the student use a computer during class.

What if we have multiple children who want to take the course? Does this registration allow them all to participate?

No. While multiple people could, in theory, share an activity screen and work through the challenges together, the student who is completing the work will be the one who learns the most. We are paying for individual student licenses from the curriculum creators (Desmos) so each student will need their own license for the activities. You can contact us about a discount for a second or third license if you have additional children who want to participate.

What is the expectation of parents?

Ask your child to teach you the topic of the day and to show you their work. They'll be completing some pretty cool tasks, so this is your chance to cheer them on.

How much homework will there be?

Most lessons will have practice problems to complete (less than 30 minutes on average). If you feel like your child doesn't need the additional practice, then you can be the hero parent who tells them they can skip the problems.

What is the next course?

This course covers all the 8th-grade common core standards as well as some 7th-grade standards across both semesters 1 and 2.

After completing both semesters of Pre-Algebra, a student is ready for Algebra 1.

Can I pay for the entire year at once?

Yes. Purchase the Pre-Algebra Bundle to buy the curriculum for the entire year.