Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I was given a free product and compensated for my time writing this article. All opinions are my own.
As a homeschooling mom of eight with four that are adults, I know the value of learning math and how it will affect their future. To get into college, they have to know Algebra. Many job applications online are now requiring a math speed test to be completed along with the application, even to work a minimum wage job at a popular pet retail store! I have watched on the sidelines as my adult daughter took this test – it required Algebra. This year, we used a self-paced Mr. D Math Preparing for Pre-Algebra online course.
Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you click a link and then make a purchase.
Pre-Algebra Is The Key
In my years of teaching my children, I have found that when the child has a great foundation in Pre-Algebra, then Algebra is not so difficult for them. Yet it is difficult to find an actual “Pre” Algebra that doesn't jump right in to teaching Algebra. How do I find this firm foundation before actual Algebra?
Mr. D Math Preparing for Pre-Algebra Has The Answer
In the past, this has been a problem for me and I would use a curriculum and add in my own steps, which has not been easy as the babies have been added to my household and I would lack sleep. I just could not think as clearly and I do feel like a few of my middle children struggle with Algebra due to my lack of providing this middle math foundational bridge between elementary math and Algebra.
I was given free access to Mr. D Math Preparing for Pre-Algebra to try it out with my middle school daughter, Miranda. What a blessing it has been! This is a curriculum that offers the foundational bridge my children need.
Starts With Advanced Math Basics
One thing I appreciate, is that it starts out with advanced math basics. It's more than multiplication, division and fractions – yet not as hard as having a letter replace a number. The topics before you see the letter replacement are:
- Whole Numbers – which includes order of operations, area, perimeter, etc.
- Decimals – including multiplying and dividing them
- Exponents & Scientific Notation
- Fractions – Here they mention an example of “a” as the numerator and “b” as the denominator, but don't actually use letters for numbers yet
- Integers & Absolute Value
So the students gain a firm foundation using regular numbers in all these ways before replacing numbers with letters. You really need to check this out for yourself, as a homeschool teacher. You will be impressed.
Motivation With Rewards
As of 2025, this course added rewards and gamification. What do I mean by gamification? The students now get points awarded towards different levels of completion. Those points help to determine the badges, awards or certificates your student receives. You will see some animation and static characters in the course. The following video announces it…
To see these new features, you need to be sure that you choose the Mr. D Math GAMIFIED MATH course when you make your purchasing selection. I had a non-gamified course and of course it didn't work, so I needed to contact their customer service. They took care of my needs right away. I highly recommend their customer service.
I was also temporarily given an account in my name so I would not need to show my daughter's scores in screenshots to test this out for the purpose of this review. I took a math test and scored 4/5 correct or 80% and I was awarded 80 points with the following picture that came on the screen.
When I closed that mini screen, I was able to see the following picture that shows I was awarded a badge.
Please note that this does not mean there are animated video games to play. Here in the continental United States, when we see the word “games” in a math program, we think “this is where to go to play a video game about math.” I know that words have different meanings in other places. I think I would have chosen “Achievements,” “Rewards” or “Scores”. On the left of the screen below, you can see the word, “Games” and the word “Gamification” at the top above the word “Levels.” There are not any math games here. This is a screen to track the studen's math achievements.
We Love The Awards Screen
As a part of the gamification feature added in 2025, if you select your name on the top of the screen, then at the left of the screen select, “Awards” you can see all of your badges, certificates, characters, etc.
This is very gratifying to look at and motivational to get the next badge, next character or next certificate to show up on the screen. It makes you want to get to work and do even more math today!
Self-Paced Is Our Preference
I know Mr. D Math provides online courses as well as self-paced, but I chose self-paced, since my children each learn at a different pace. Especially with this portion of Algebra – where we start to replace those numbers with letters and it gets harder, the self-paced structure is amazing!
The next topics that are learned with the letter or words replacing a number are:
- Expressions & Equations
- Inequalities
- Ratios, Rates & Proportions – this section is where Algebra really makes sense for use in real life because instead of letters, “bags of chips” or “packages of blackberries” is used.
- Percents, Statistics & Probability – this is another section where you can see how Algebra is applied in real life, with problems that include things the kids can visualize, like dice, a spinner with an amount of numbers, or a deck of 52 cards, for example.
Miranda's Opinion
“It's nice that the quiz is not timed so I can pause and start when I want. Plus, if I think I really messed up, I can retake the quiz and my best score out of two times is the one they keep.”
Updated opinion in 2025, “I want to mention that even though I am in the self-paced math classes, the teachers offer me contests in my email. It's usually a math question to answer. A lot of kids answer correctly and they randomly choose 100 kids out of the correct answers to receive an award. One time, I won a $5 gift card to Amazon and it was before Christmas, so I used it to get a gift.”
About gamification in 2025, “I was excited when my Mom said they are adding gamification because I thought there would be math video games to play, but then I found out it meant awards and badges. It was kind of a let down, but no big deal. It is nice to see your achievements in a fun way.”
My Opinion
I think the key to understanding Algebra is learning how it can apply to real-life. Mr. D Math has done a great job of bridging the balance and answering the why we would need it. Check out Mr. D Math for your homeschool!
Updated in 2025, I love that Mr. D Math is always improving on their program. You can tell that they really care about kids and trying to make learning fun.
Where To Find Mr. D Math
Website
Read MR. D MATH JUNIOR ECONOMICS REVIEW FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL
Read Product Reviews from NeededInTheHome
Subscribe so you never miss a post.
If you find my tips useful, feel free to buy me a coffee. Thank you in advance!
Want to remember this? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest Board!
Join the newsletter
Subscribe to receive our latest articles and promotional content by email from NeededInTheHome
Leave a Reply