EPGY and AOPS are the the top two programs I'm considering for Sam's next math course.

For EPGY, can someone tell me how generous their financial aid policy is? If you don't want to post here, can you email me and give me an idea of their income guidelines and how much aid they give? I'm sort of choking on the idea of paying over $700 for Algebra II materials, when I paid $120 for Algebra I materials. [And the reality is that I likely won't be able to afford EPGY prices with Rob and I splitting up.]

Also, what have you heard about their high school math courses? I'm interested in the Alg II and Geometry courses. (Don't know if you need to take one before the other.) High quality? Worth the extra money? Great explanations?

Thanks in advance!
Tara

I don't know anything about the high school programs. Would love to know what you find out.

Edit away, Heather. Thanks for being so candid, it helps to know where they are coming from and what they consider to be worth needing aid.

Tara

Have you considered looking into local Jr. Colleges for math instead of EPGY? I know that in the state of CA, H.S. (and younger) kids can go for FREE! It's specifically for dual-enrollment and H.S. students who wish to graduate early.

That's what I think I'm going to do for Airon. The only downside if that they can enter the class only if there is room. They don't get to enroll early or get seniority at any time for enrollment until they become FT college students.

I plan on going with Airon. This might be a really good alternative for you and Sam. Since you are going to remain a SAHM and have one child, you might be able to work this into your schedule.

In addition, he'd get college credit he could possibly transfer at some point.

Stacy, that is a good idea (in theory) but our state isn't as, um, progressive as yours is. ;) The only program like that that we have is for kids who are at least 16, and there is the requisite three pounds of red tape to process.

Our local district won't do part-time enrollment, either. *sigh* I was thinking that could be a good option for high school classes, but it's all or nothing.

There is a program (http://www.drexel.edu/honors/special/visiting_scholars.shtml) that I think I will pursue once Sam is ready for college math. Even with that I may need to jump through a flaming hoop or two to get him in (the draw would be credit from a school that's well known in the math/science world).

I like AoPS and EPGY because they seem designed for mathy kids who like to move quickly and delve deeper. I'm not sure that a community college math class would offer the depth and pace that I would like for Sam to have.

Tara, the pickiest homeschooling parent in the universe!

Edit away, Heather. Thanks for being so candid, it helps to know where they are coming from and what they consider to be worth needing aid.

Tara

edited because you read it

Stacy, that is a good idea (in theory) but our state isn't as, um, progressive as yours is. ;) The only program like that that we have is for kids who are at least 16, and there is the requisite three pounds of red tape to process.

Our local district won't do part-time enrollment, either. *sigh* I was thinking that could be a good option for high school classes, but it's all or nothing.

There is a program (http://www.drexel.edu/honors/special/visiting_scholars.shtml) that I think I will pursue once Sam is ready for college math. Even with that I may need to jump through a flaming hoop or two to get him in (the draw would be credit from a school that's well known in the math/science world).

I like AoPS and EPGY because they seem designed for mathy kids who like to move quickly and delve deeper. I'm not sure that a community college math class would offer the depth and pace that I would like for Sam to have.

Tara, the pickiest homeschooling parent in the universe!

I think you hit on something. It would be fine and dandy to get into a college math class, but I think these kids need differentiated education. They think differently than mot 'regular' people. And EPGY teaches to the gifted mind, not just an excellerated (omg, I cannot spell right now!) program introducing higher level concepts. kwim?

Yup, yup. Pacing is a big issue here. Sometimes he just gets it very quickly and doesn't need to dwell on a concept for many days/classes. So, self-paced stuff is ideal for him at this point.

The scales are actually tipping away from EPGY right now, toward AoPS. Their approach seriously blows my mind. Have you guys checked them out? Their method is completely different than any other standard US math curriculum I've researched.

If we went with them, we'd have Sam go with their "Beginning Algebra" class (the course title is extremely misleading - it's actually a push-you-over-the-edge-difficult book) and spend time going much deeper into Algebra there before moving on. I really, really like the idea of him working on the concepts from an independent problem solving point of view. It may be just the ticket for where he is right now.

Tara

nak

link? :)

nak

link? :)
what she said. link please!

I found it, I think. It's Art of Problem Solving, right, Tara?

I'm thinking I might go ahead and order the math book. can't hurt ot get one more, right? lol

Yes, AoPS is Art of Problem Solving. I'm sorry I used the acronym, I thought we had already discussed it here.

It's totally outside our US math education paradigm. You get a problem, and try to solve it. No instruction. Share with others, learn how others solved the problem, move on. You learn how to solve problems. Apparently this is the Russian system. Their books SCARE me. They are hardcore. I cannot do these problems. The only way we can use AoPS is if Rob is on board with helping Sam 4-5 times a week with problem-solving. (Rob is super mathy and thinks nothing of stuff like multi-dimensional scaling or regression or whatever. I guess that is where Sam gets it.)

Folks in the know have told me that mathy types (professors) at top universities revere AoPS. When kids are applying and say that that was how they learned math, they are all "oooooo, ahhhhh." So, it is a known and respected program in the inner sanctum of the math world. No official credit like EPGY, though. However, it's much cheaper, especially if you don't do the classes and just buy the books.

Tara

Thank you, Tara. I will totally look into it. I love Erik to pursue problem solving, but it will definitely turn into Carl helping with math. He's got quite that mind for it, but not me.

Yes, AoPS is Art of Problem Solving. I'm sorry I used the acronym, I thought we had already discussed it here.

It's totally outside our US math education paradigm. You get a problem, and try to solve it. No instruction. Share with others, learn how others solved the problem, move on. You learn how to solve problems. Apparently this is the Russian system. Their books SCARE me. They are hardcore. I cannot do these problems. The only way we can use AoPS is if Rob is on board with helping Sam 4-5 times a week with problem-solving. (Rob is super mathy and thinks nothing of stuff like multi-dimensional scaling or regression or whatever. I guess that is where Sam gets it.)

Folks in the know have told me that mathy types (professors) at top universities revere AoPS. When kids are applying and say that that was how they learned math, they are all "oooooo, ahhhhh." So, it is a known and respected program in the inner sanctum of the math world. No official credit like EPGY, though. However, it's much cheaper, especially if you don't do the classes and just buy the books.

Tara

interesting. I am going to talk to our charter school teacher. The charter school has a math tutor on staff - and the head of our school is a big time math/science/robotics guy. I wonder if he would take a couple of hours a week working one on one with Nate? hmmmm Off to look again. If I had more TIME, I think I could help him - but time is NOT on my side right now. maybe once dh gets back in the spring I could devote some time to just this. Right now I just have way too much on my plate to make that time committment.