Let’s talk about textbooks.
First we don’t want students to have to buy expensive math textbooks to complete these courses. We want to stay as close to “free” as possible!
Second, we also don’t want to risk violating U.S. copyright laws by using existing math textbooks in a way that the publishers and textbook authors do not approve of. In the event that we do find a textbook that is worth reaching out to the publisher or author (whoever holds the copyright) to get permission to use their material for any of our courses, we will do that.
For these two reasons, the math courses in this curriculum will, as a rule, make use of free PDFs of math texts that are in the public domain: no copyright restrictions. (Just like the King James Version–the only Bible translation that anybody can print, publish and sell if they wish, without having to get permission.)
Which Public-Domain Math Textbooks WILL We Be Using?
This took quite a bit of looking into before finding one that met our criteria. For one thing, there aren’t that many math textbooks in existence which have not been published under current copyright laws and sold in hard copy, new or used, online and offline.
For another thing, there aren’t that many math textbooks which are out of copyright and also available in free PDF format for downloading and printing on demand. Add to this the fact that of these, even fewer math texts in the public domain are also well-written and effective at teaching math to students at all grade levels. One proof of this is that the texts were well-received by educators, parents and students during the time they were in use and in print.
Add all of this up and it makes for very slim pickin’s!
Thankfully, the free market has helped us to make our decision. There is only one set of math textbooks out there that meets all of the above criteria. These math texts in their day went through multiple editions across many decades and were widely used across the country in schools, academies and in private homes, by countless numbers of students, teachers and parents.
Which math textbooks am I talking about?
These…
Ray’s Arithmetics
They were the most popular, most widely published textbooks ever produced in U.S. history–on any subject.
In 2014, I started a website dedicated to offering free videos and the free PDFs for Ray’s Arithmetics. Click here to visit that site:
https://raysarithmetic.wordpress.com/
Ray’s Arithmetics were also used as the basis for many of the math courses created for the online K-12 home-school curriculum, the Ron Paul Curriculum. I used Ray’s Primary Arithmetic and Ray’s Intellectual Arithmetic to develop my early math courses for grades 1-4 at the RPC.
You can view these math courses at the Ron Paul Curriculum by clicking here:
https://www.ronpaulcurriculum.com/?affID=42360
By the way, this is one of my affiliate links to the RPC. I would be MOST grateful if you would please use it and share it if you or somebody you know is looking for a rigorous, top-notch online homeschooling program, K-12!
First Things First
In any case, the first math course I am developing for the Free Christian Curriculum is Beginning Algebra. For this course, the text I am using is Ray’s Algebra, Part First.
Click below to view a PDF of Ray’s Algebra, Part First:
Thankfully, all of the Ray’s Arithmetics have come back into print in recent decades. This includes Ray’s Algebra. They are finding a new market among home-schoolers in the 21st century!
You can buy a hard copy, paperback edition of Ray’s Algebra, Part First if you’d like.
Go here for that:
https://www.amazon.com/Rays-Algebra-Part-First-Instruction/dp/1018719075/
Otherwise, just print out the pages yourself from the PDF. (Hint: they are easier to read and will print out larger on your regular 8.5 x 11 in. sheets of paper.)
All of the Ray’s Arithmetic and Ray’s Algebra textbooks lend themselves to self-study at home. That’s how they were designed. Each one serves as both a student’s and a teacher’s edition.
The next thing we will be posting here will be a syllabus for the Beginning Algebra (Algebra 1) course. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, do the “Intellectual Exercises” at the beginning of the book. Read Chapter 1: “Preliminary Definitions and Principles”. This will help to keep you occupied–and mentally prepared–as you get ready for ALGEBRA!
Free Christian Curriculum 