Shormann Prealgebra Self-Paced eLearning 12 Month Subscription No Sibling Subscription

Written with a biblical and historical foundation that teaches the why of math, along with research-proven teaching methods like Incremental Development and Continual Spiral Review*, Shormann Pre-Algebra is a college prepartory course that builds long-term retention and fluency in the essential skills required for success in Algebra 1. Hosted in a state-of-the-art self-paced eLearning course, that provides expert video instruction, auto-grading, and answers student questions for you!

• Full year, open and go frustration-free learning! Interactive assignments with instant feedback, auto-grading, and video solutions. No teacher prep, grading, or grade recording required. Parents spot check work daily or weekly. 
  
  
• Honors or standard course options. Teaching 21st Century topics like computer math, technology applications, and application-based problem-solving, this course meets or exceeds national standards.
  

• Incremental Video Lessons: Bite-sized lessons that build on previous concepts, creating complex concepts that are easy to understand with less practice. This method allows students to achieve higher levels of math. 
  
  
• *Continual Review: Developed by John Saxon, continual review is a form of spiral review but with more consistent reinforcement, as older topics are never dropped. All previously learned concepts are either reviewed and built on in the new lesson or practiced in the daily work. This method increases recall speed and raises standardized test scores.
  
  
• New concepts are introduced through concise, interactive video lessons with guided practice. A PDF of the textbook with the complete lesson is included.

• Interactive assignments with immediate feedback, auto-grading, and grade recording. Students first solve each question on paper, then enter their answer. There are two help links above each question. One opens a PDF of a similar problem and one opens to a clip of the video lesson that teaches that exact concept. 
  
  
• Daily Facts Practice: These five-minute drills develop fluency in essential skills such as decimal and percent conversions, reducing fractions, factoring, and integer operations, which are crucial for higher-level math concepts. Frequent practice ensures that students can quickly recall these facts without needing to calculate during more complex problems.
   
• Step-by-step video solutions, Solutions Manual with step-by-step solutions, and Q&A Support with Dr. Shormann.

• Standard time for one lesson is no more than one hour per day. Strong math students average 40-45 minutes per lesson. Frustration Free Math
  
  
• A full year course with 100 Lessons, 21 Facts Drills, 28 Weekly Quizzes, 4 Quarterly Exams.
  
  
• Grades are automatically recorded in an online grade book with a running average of all completed lessons. Parents can easily view all coursework and the grade book as well as request grade changes and resets.
  
  
• Built on a biblical and historical foundation, Dr. Shormann teaches math as a language; a tool used to better understand God and His creation and enhance their own God-given creativity.
  
  
• An emphasis math history gives students a clearer picture of the “why” behind the math while shedding light on modern math’s rich Christian heritage.  
  
  
• Builds a firm foundation for Algebra 1 and Shormann Math's other upper level math courses, including AP Calculus AB & BC. All the concepts on the PSAT, SAT, and ACT are taught by the end of Algebra 2. Up to 14 college math credits can be earned in Algebra 2 - Calculus 1 & 2.
  
  
• Written by David Shormann, PhD, who has taught math for more than 30 years to hundreds of thousands of homeschoolers around the world. 

View the Sample Lessons

Instructions for Pre-Algebra Placement Test

Using John Saxon's proven teaching methods and 21st Century topics like computer math, technology applications, and current real-world word problems, Shormann Prealgebra provides excellent preparation for Algebra 1. Teaching all the topics in a one year prealgebra course (including Saxon 8/7) are taught.

State-of-the-Art eLearning System

 Assignments are organized by week and by day.

Expert Video Instruction

Step-by-step video instruction for every lesson. Students work with Dr. Shormann, solving example problems on their notes. 

Researchers have found that teaching incremental math concepts with continual review and the integration of geometry and algebra improves long-term retention, recall speed, and performance on standardized tests. By consistently revisiting previous material while introducing new concepts in small doses, students are more likely to remember and apply mathematical knowledge effectively.

Interactive Homework

A link to a similar example problem and a link to the video lecture makes it easy to re-learn forgotten concepts. 

Results Page

After submitting each assignment, this page shows the correct answer to each problem as well as the grade. PDF and Video Solutions are provided with step-by-step solutions and explanations for each problem. Students use these answers to correct their work.

Step-by-Step Solutions 

Try It Before You Buy It! 

View the Sample Lessons

eLearning Course Contents

• 12 Month Subscription to Shormann Prealgebra

• Weekly Assignment Chart

• Automated grading & grade recording of all assignments 

• Video solutions & PDF solutions for all assignments
  

• Q&A Email Support with Dr. Shormann

• eTextbook with lessons & homework, eSolutions Manual (available upon request), and eTeacher's Guide (printing is not required) 

• Please allow 2 business days to set up your eLearning course(s). To login, follow the steps on your order confirmation email.

• 100 Lessons with one video lecture and homework set each

•  32 Weekly Quizzes and 4 Quarterly Exams

Prerequisite

1. Students who have memorized multiplication tables to 9

  - AND earned an 80+ on any of the following texts*:

• Saxon 7/6, 3rd or 4th Edition
• Saxon Course 1
• Abeka 8th Grade Math
• Bob Jones 7th Grade Math
• Singapore 6A & 6B
• MathUSee Zeta
• Horizons Grade 6 Math
• Christian Light 7th Grade Math
• Any publisher's math course that comes before pre-algebra in that curricula's recommended sequence.

*If your student earned less than an 80, see the information at the bottom of this article: Is My Child Ready for Pre-Algebra?

Need Help Placing your Student? Contact a Math Consultant

Important: Student Placement Info & Tests

Why did Dr. Shormann publish a new math curriculum? 

Teaching Saxon Math to hundreds of thousands of students for more than twenty years, Dr. Shormann knew John Saxon's unique teaching methods worked. However, after the College Board redesigned the PSAT and SAT (2015), Saxon Math no longer taught all the concepts on these exams. Houghton Mifflin, who purchased Saxon after John's death, stripped many of John's original methods in their new editions. Dr. Shormann decided to write a new curriculum to continue John Saxon's methodology while teaching all the concepts on the redesigned PSAT & SAT.  

A 21st Century Math Curriculum with a Biblical Foundation

 Standing on the shoulders of John Saxon, Leonard Euler, Euclid, Newton, and many others, Dr. Shormann published a complete math curriculum that teaches every concept on the ACT and redesigned PSAT & SAT.  Like Saxon, he teaches math like a language with incremental, bite-sized lessons and continual practice of all previously learned skills which build mastery, increase recall speed (fluency), and raise college entrance exam scores. With 21st Century topics like technology applications, computer math, and current real-world word problems, Shormann Math courses are hosted in a state-of-the art eLearning campus that makes learning more efficient and effective. 

A Historical Foundation

Teaching math as the language of science and an important tool for understanding God and the world He created, Dr. Shormann inspires students to excel. An emphasis on math history teaches the story of math, giving students a clearer picture of the "why" behind the math they are learning, while shedding light on modern math's rich Christian heritage.

          IDEAL COURSE SEQUENCE & CREDITS

 *If Saxon Algebra 1, 3rd Edition (1/3 credit of Geometry) was taken, completion of Shormann Algebra 2 earns 1 full credit of Geometry and 1 full credit of Algebra 2. Learn More

**If Saxon Algebra 2, 2nd or 3rd Edition (1/2 credit of Geometry) was taken, 1/2 credit of Geometry and 1 full credit of Precalculus is earned in Shormann Precalculus. Learn More

TruePractice

While every problem is first solved on paper, the eLearning course features a system we call TruePractice^TM that builds long-term mastery more efficiently than traditional approaches. What is TruePractice? Well, think about how you learn a sport. During practice, if you make a mistake, the mistake is discussed and, if you have a good coach, you immediately regroup and try again. That’s how the online homework is designed in Shormann Math. When a homework problem is attempted, immediate right/wrong feedback is provided. If the answer is wrong, a small penalty is assesed, and the student can re-learn using the links above each homework question, then solve the problem correctly! Rather than “spoiling” them with an answer, TruePractice™ encourages students to stay engaged and re-learn the concept, which is the best way to achieve long-term retention and fluency.

12 Month eCourse Subscription

- Setup on a 36 week schedule

- 12 Month access to the eCourse for one student

- Self-paced; no due dates, parents can change grades and reset assignments

- A printable eTextbook, eSolutions Manual, & eTeacher’s Guide but it is not necessary to print or use these eBooks

- Most assignments can be completed offline 

- Use as an honors, standard, or remedial course. For details, see the Teacher's Guide.

Please Note: This course does not have the discounted sibling subscription option. Instead, it has a much lower cost. This means you must purchase the course at regular price for each student. But overall you will pay the same amount and you don't have to invest so much up front. 

Integrated Geometry and Continual Review

- Based on John Saxon’s teaching methods of incremental bite-sized lessons, continual review, and cumulative assessments

- Updated with 21st Century technology applications, real world word problems, and computer math

Comprehensive Video Instruction for Every Lesson

- 100 Daily lessons with 1 video lecture each (avg 20 min)

- Students take notes and work example problems

- Video lectures can be accessed offline

Interactive Homework with Automated Grading

- 20 homework questions per lesson

- Work problems on paper first, then enter the answer for instant feedback

- Links to a similar practice problem and to the related video lecture make re-learning quick and easy

- Automated grading provides instant feedback

- Homework can also be completed offline using the eText, then enter answers into the eLearning system for grading or grade using the eSolutions Manual

Video Solutions Ensure Understanding

- Step-by-step explanation for each homework question

- Access is restricted until homework is completed and score is recorded

- eSolutions Manual is also available to parents

Interactive Quizzes and Exams with Automated Grading

- 30 weekly online quizzes and 4 online quarterly exams

- Automated grading and grade recording

- Parents can reset assignments and change grades

Q&A Email Support with Dr. Shormann

- Q&A email support with Dr. Shormann

- eTeacher’s Guide and eSolution’s Manual 

Earn 14 College Credits via CLEP and AP Exams

- CLEP Professor for College Algebra is included with Shormann Algebra 2

- CLEP College Algebra earns 3 college credit

- Passing scores also validates high school transcripts

System Requirements

- Browser based eLearning system- like a website

- Access from any computer or device with a browser (Chrome or Safari) and internet access

- Speakers or headphones 

Samples for Lesson 1

Each lesson is made of three components, Rules and Definitions, Video Lecture, and the Practice Set (homework). Following is a sample of each of these components in the order the student would complete. 

1. Read the Rules and Definitions using the Digital Flashcards. 

2. Watch the video lecture, taking notes and working example problems with Dr. Shormann.

Most lectures average about twenty minutes. However, depending on the new concept, some lectures are longer. Again, use the timed method described under Schedule above to avoid frustrating or overwhelming the student.

3. Complete the Lesson Practice (homework). 

Work every problem on paper, then enter the answer and select Submit for instant feedback. There are two links above each question (see graphic below). One is a link to a similar example problem and one is a link to the video lecture that teaches that concept. If your answer is wrong, or you don't know how to do a problem, use these links to quickly re-learn and try to solve the problem again. Because the homework is practice, up to four attempts are allowed for each problem. Points are deducted for each wrong attempt which keeps the student from guessing. 

4. After completing all the homework, click Submit All and Finish at the bottom of the page. The system will calculate the score and store it in the online gradebook. Parents can request grade changes and assignment resets at any time.

5. The results page will appear with the correct answer and video solutions to every problem. Re-learn and correct missed problems by looking at the correct answer and watching the video solutions for each missed problem. Then re-work each missed problem on your Homework Notes.

Quizzes

Every fourth lesson there is a four question quiz over the past four new concepts. Notes can be used during the quiz. There is a time limit of twenty minutes. which is about twice as much as most students need. See the FAQs for a work around, if more time is needed.  

Quarterly Exams

Every twenty five lessons a quarterly exam is administered. This is a cumulative test covering all the material the student should have mastered to that point. Two practice exams are provided to prepare for the exam. Quarterly exams prepare students for college math exams that cover a large body of material. 

Overview of Shormann Math

Standing on the shoulders of math giants like Euclid, Euler, Newton, together with John Saxon’s common sense teaching methods, we are pleased to present Shormann Math! Taught from a Christian foundation, this new curriculum by David Shormann builds on a firm foundation of time tested, proven methods, enhanced with 21st Century content delivery.

Because scholars consider mathematics to be “the language of science,” these courses teach math like a language. In a foreign language course, you don’t learn nouns for a year, verbs for another year, etc. You learn a little of each concept, combined with lots of practice and review, Then you combine the different concepts together to create more complex concepts. Fluency is achieved through patient practice and repetition.

While Algebra 1-level concepts will be the focus of our first course, our primary goal is to teach mathematics, not just algebra. For example, Algebra 1 and 2 will contain a full credit of geometry, including plenty of proofs, even some straight out of Euclid’s famous book, The Elements. But we’ll also introduce non-Euclidean geometry, and show students how the concept of proof applies to all of mathematics, not just geometry. In fact, all the algebra, geometry, trigonometry, etc. that a student will find on the SAT (including the new SAT) or ACT will be covered in Algebra 1 and Algebra 2. 

Most modern mathematics curricula ignore math history. But ideas have consequences, and studying history often reveals which ideas are worth repeating and which ones aren’t. There is a rich Christian heritage in math. Whether or not you are using a classical, trivium/quadrivium approach to your child’s education, understanding mathematics within a biblical, historical framework will help students make more sense out of what they are learning and why they are learning it.

“If I have seen a little further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”
-Isaac Newton

Sequence Modifications

3 Semester Option

Since Shormann Algebra 1 & 2 earn 3 semesters of math credits each (see above). these two courses can be spread out over 3 years (3 semesters each). 

AP Calculus BC in 11th Grade

According the College Board, a passing score on an AP Calculus exam, not only earns up to 8 college credits, it is the number one indicator of college success, significantly boosting admissions and scholarship applications in the selection process. To submit AP exam scores along with applications, they must be taken no later than 11th grade.

AP exams taken in 12th grade are still eligible for college credit, but the scores are not received until after most application deadlines have passed.

While a passing score on the AP Calculus AB exam is usually enough to earn the desired admission and scholarships, strong math students who plan to take the BC exam should either take Algebra 1 in 7th grade (pre-algebra is required) or work on math year- around. Learn More about AP Exams

Caution: I do not recommend "pushing" a student beyond his God-given ability to reach these high levels of math achievement. Often, this has a detrimental affect on fluency and, in the end, requires more time to complete the course. Instead, I recommend a self-paced timed method (described in the Teacher Guide and under scheduling above) that ensures mastery and fluency are developed, making math faster and easier. 

Author: David Shormann, Ph.D.   ISBN: 978-0-989010-4-6   Edition: 1st Edition

STUDENT EMAIL: List an email address in the “Student Email” field that is not used by ANY other student in the eLearning campus. Don't have one? Learn More

System Requirements: Any computer or device with a browser (Chrome or Safari) and internet access. 

Student Placement: Placement Info & Tests