Textbook:  Glencoe Mathematics Pre-Algebra published by Glencoe McGraw Hill, 2005

ISBN 0-0786-5108-5 (many used copies are available online for under $40.00)
Prerequisite: successful completion of Pre-Algebra readiness test Click here for test

This course is a stepping stone to the rest of high school math for students who aren’t quite ready for the rigors of Algebra 1.  In it we plan to briefly review operations with natural numbers and fractions (including decimals and percents). Then we will move on to working with integers and rational numbers, writing expressions, and solving equations. As the students grow in their understanding, we will graph linear equations, explore geometry of measurement (length, area, and volume), and gain beginning concepts of probability.
In addition to active participation in the 90 minute class period, students will need to devote 4-5 hours a week outside the classroom to do the homework and read the next lesson.  Parents will use the answer key in the back of the textbook to check selected problems. The syllabus is flexible; the textbook is our tool, not our master. We will adjust the course to meet the needs of the students, so parental input is crucial.