Beast Academy for 1st grader

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beast Academy multi-year parent-user here.

OP: As you are probably aware, Beast Academy is not a game. It is is a cute name for AoPS (Art of Problem Solving) math curriculum for ES students - one of the most comprehensive math curriculums that are available for ES age kids.

The program and courses are tough, engaging and thorough and, as things progress, extremely challenging. Kids who enjoy this type of rigor go to International Math Competitions and are “best of the best”. I am not saying all this to scare you, just to make sure you are aware that this is not a math-game or math-review type of curriculum. If you want to do it properly, it requires lots of commitment. However, if your child loves math, there is no stronger and more fun math program that I have found. Earlier you start, the better. If you are getting the books, definitely get the online subscription as well. It is well worth it. They also offer online group classes and in-person classes (Vienna only near us).

Let me know if you have any specific questions, I would be happy to answer. I kept looking for the “right” math curriculum for my kids and started Beast Academy at the end of the second grade. I wish I started earlier.

I started my kid at the beginning of 4th grade and I too wish I’d done it earlier.

[Anonymous]

I had by 4th grade daughter in RSM this year and at the same time started my KG son with BA1, I found that RSM was less responsive and willing to work with me when my daughter was getting bored at the level she started RSM and when I introduced her to BA4 online to supplement RSM she was better challenged and she wanted to switch to BA5 live in place of RSM next year.

[Anonymous]

I have a kid in 2nd grade who is obsessed with BA online. What I like about it vs live classes is that it's self-paced, he can move as quickly as he wants or slow down when needed.

[Anonymous]

NP and BA user in the summer to keep DC lightly engaged with math to prevent learning loss and prep for the next school year. We do one lesson a day together M-F. DC is fine at math (definitely not genius level) and about a year ahead. I do this to be sure he isn’t getting moved along without mastery. The school is rigorous and likely would not do this, but I want complete confidence in DC’s grasp of concepts.

[Anonymous]

“For 5 year olds who enjoy the rigor of international math.” Ooookkk some of you are nuts.

[Anonymous]

Everyone's right the earlier you start beast academy the better. Then you can go into AOPS(which is 100% free). I think kids tend to like Beast academy better than RSM and personally I do too. One tip I learned is to not stress your kids out about math they should do it because they love it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think the online program is good for this age or are books better? We don’t do much screen time at home. No tablet or computer, just a bit of tv occasionally. They do iPads at school.

Yes, go as far as your kid can with beast academy. It’s good for map testing and g& t program tests and anything where you need to know higher level sciences than the teach-to-the-average math that happens in class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think the online program is good for this age or are books better? We don’t do much screen time at home. No tablet or computer, just a bit of tv occasionally. They do iPads at school.

The books are better for us. If you sit down and do the problems with your child you can also practice reading by having them read each problem to you, and you can practice handwriting by having them write the answers out neatly. I suppose content-wise the two modes are basically the same, but it's harder for some kids to read out loud from a screen, and of course you can't practice writing with the online version.

[Anonymous]

NP. But I have a rising 2nd grader and looking into BA. I’m a little confused about what level to start in. I was looking through the level 2 examples. She already knows how to add and subtract and regroup/borrow with larger numbers but she learned the “old” method. Will this matter? I’m thinking I will move her on to level 3 vs trying to reteach addition/subtraction which I think will be very confusing since she already mastered it through a different method. I can see how the new method is helpful if that is how you learn from the beginning and eventually I think should would pick it up anyhow