What should my child know before starting Prealgebra?

Question

Prealgebra is a bridge from basic arithmetic to deeper thinking. Here's what students should review before beginning.

Answer 1

Hello, thank you for taking the time to post your question!

If you’re looking to review key concepts to get ready it really just depends on how much time you have! The main concepts I would prioritize for review are

Order of Operations: understanding how PEMDAS helps correctly simplify expressions

Basic Arithmetic: getting comfortable working with whole numbers, fractions, and integers

Rates and Proportions: both setting them up and simplifying

The Coordinate Plane: knowing how to plot and identify points

I hope that helps get you moving in the right direction! Feel free to reach out if you still have questions beyond that :)

Answer 2

Prealgebra sets the foundation for success in middle and high school math. Before starting, students should feel confident with:

- Whole number operations (add, subtract, multiply, divide)

- Basic understanding of fractions, decimals, and percents

- Using variables to represent unknowns

- Recognizing number patterns and sequences

- Understanding place value and the coordinate plane

I help students connect these foundational skills to the algebraic thinking they'll need next. The goal is to ensure they feel prepared—not overwhelmed—when Prealgebra begins.