Jousting Armadillos

Jousting Armadillos is the first volume in a three-book pre-algebra and early-algebra sequence published by the Arbor Center for Teaching. It is quirky, narrative-driven, conceptually oriented, and built on the premise that math is a thinking subject rather than a procedural one.

Last updated: 2026-10-03 · Every Homeschool Editorial Team

At a glance

Method	Subject specialist; problem-posing, conceptual
Worldview	Secular
Grades	6-8 (typically 6th or 7th grade for pre-algebra start)
Formats	Print worktext, companion answer book and tests
Cost tier	Budget
Parent intensity	3 (student-directed worktext; parent checks work)
ESA-common	No
Accredited	No
Website	arborcenterforteaching.org

Our scoreboard (1-5)

Criterion	Score	One-line reason
Academic rigor	4	Conceptual depth, not procedural speed
Ease of teaching	4	The worktext largely teaches itself; parent checks and supports
Content quality	5	Cleverly written
Flexibility	5	Slots easily into any pre-algebra slot in any curriculum
Value for money	5	Budget pricing for a substantive worktext series
Worldview scope	5	Secular and widely usable across worldviews
Visual/design	3	Pen-and-ink illustration style; charming rather than slick
Support resources	3	Separate answer book and tests; modest online presence

Who the publisher is

Arbor Center for Teaching publishes the Jousting Armadillos series. The Jousting Armadillos publications shop describes the series as a three-volume progression: Jousting Armadillos (pre-algebra), Crocodiles & Coconuts (early algebra), and Chuckles the Rocket Dog (continuing through Algebra I topics). The books remain in print through the Arbor site and major retailers.

The series is built on the idea that students learn mathematics by asking and working through substantive problems rather than by drilling procedures. The framing, embedded in the worktexts themselves, treats the student as a thinking partner rather than a procedure-executor; problems often arrive accompanied by short narratives, stray observations, and the occasional dry joke.

The core pedagogy

The Jousting Armadillos worktext is a genuinely distinctive artifact. Rather than the standard textbook layout of exposition → example → problem set, the book runs as a continuous conversation between author and student. Concepts are introduced with short explanations and narrative framing. Problems often arrive in clusters of three or four, one straightforward, one variant, one that pushes the concept further, with space for the student to work directly in the book. The prose is colloquial, occasionally whimsical, and consistently treats the reader as capable of genuine thinking.

The pre-algebra scope covered in Jousting Armadillos includes negative numbers and the integer operations, rational numbers and decimal-fraction-percent conversions, properties of operations and the basic laws of arithmetic (commutative, associative, distributive), introduction to variables and simple algebraic expressions, solving linear equations in one variable, and the beginnings of coordinate graphing. Crocodiles & Coconuts picks up with more demanding equation-solving, systems, inequalities, polynomials, and factoring. Chuckles the Rocket Dog rounds out Algebra I territory with quadratic equations, functions, radicals, and related topics. Together the three volumes cover approximately the same ground as a standard pre-algebra plus Algebra I sequence, at a pacing that varies by student.

Signature mechanics: (1) Problem-posing rather than drill. Students are asked to think about why rules work rather than memorize them; counting exercises emphasize pattern-recognition over rote. (2) Conversational worktext. The student writes directly in the book; explanations are embedded alongside problems rather than walled off in a separate teacher resource. (3) Gentle pacing. A student genuinely learning the material can move at a comfortable clip; the course does not penalize a student who needs an extra day on a concept. (4) Separate answer-and-test book. The worktext contains answers for most exercises in the back; a separate answer book and tests volume is available for families who want formal assessments and a withheld answer key.

What they do exceptionally well

Student-friendly tone. In our assessment, the writing treats the reader as a thinking person rather than as a drill subject, and the narrative asides (the titular jousting armadillos among them) provide just enough texture to make the book feel alive.

Conceptual depth without complication. The book consistently explains why rather than merely how. When the distributive property appears, students see it derived from the meaning of multiplication rather than presented as a memorized rule. When negative-number multiplication is introduced, students work through a pattern-based derivation rather than being told to remember that two negatives make a positive. In our assessment, the result is a student who, at the end of the book, understands the material rather than merely having performed it.

Bridge between informal and formal mathematics. The book handles the transition from arithmetic to algebra gently. Variables appear as natural extensions of numerical reasoning rather than as sudden new abstract entities.

What they do poorly

Not procedural-practice-heavy. Students who need hundreds of drilled problems to build computational speed will not find them here. The problem sets are curated rather than exhaustive. Families who want a high volume of practice problems will need to supplement (IXL, Khan Academy, or additional worksheet material) to build fluency alongside Jousting Armadillos' conceptual work.

Idiosyncratic style not for everyone. The conversational prose and whimsical narrative asides are a misfit for learners who prefer a straightforward just-the-math presentation. Some students find the style distracting; others find it patronizing depending on temperament. Families with a formal-preferring student should sample a few pages before committing.

Limited ancillary infrastructure. Arbor Center for Teaching offers no video course, online student community, or substantial teacher resources beyond the answer and tests book. Families needing video instruction will not find it here; families needing a solution manual with worked-through solutions rather than just final answers will find the companion book adequate but not exhaustive.

Who it fits / who it doesn't

• Pick Jousting Armadillos if: your student is a conceptual thinker who has struggled with drill-heavy math curricula; you want a pre-algebra course that genuinely builds understanding rather than procedural speed; your student reads well independently; you appreciate quirky, personable prose; you are comfortable supplementing with practice problems when needed; your budget prefers inexpensive printed books over subscription platforms.

• Skip Jousting Armadillos if: your student needs high-volume procedural practice and would not supplement willingly; you prefer a math curriculum with video instruction or strong online support; your student is resistant to narrative-and-humor prose in math; you want a completely linear, traditional textbook format; you need a program with built-in assessments, progress dashboards, or formal grade-book infrastructure.

Cost honest assessment

The Jousting Armadillos worktext is listed from $25.00 at the Arbor Center for Teaching publications shop (retrieved October 2026) and is also available through retailers including Amazon, Rainbow Resource, and AbeBooks. The companion Answer Book & Tests runs in the roughly $20-$25 range as of April 2026. Combined, the materials for one year of pre-algebra start at roughly $45. The subsequent volumes Crocodiles & Coconuts and Chuckles the Rocket Dog complete the three-book sequence.

Compared to Saxon pre-algebra (around $120-$150 for the textbook, solutions manual, and test booklet), Art of Problem Solving pre-algebra (approximately $60-$70 for the text and a separate solutions manual), or Math-U-See Pre-Algebra (roughly $40 for the student workbook and tests, more with the video), Jousting Armadillos is at the low end of the pre-algebra pricing spectrum. A realistic all-in for one student: $50-$65 for the first year, with further savings if the worktext is photocopied for subsequent siblings (though the student is intended to write in the book, so fresh copies are typical).

ESA eligibility notes

Jousting Armadillos as a physical book purchase is ESA-eligible on most state marketplaces that approve printed curriculum materials, including Arizona's ClassWallet, Florida's Step Up For Students and MyScholarShop, Utah's Utah Fits All, West Virginia's Hope Scholarship, and Arkansas's LEARNS Act marketplace. Because the book is secular, the religious-content restrictions in some state programs do not apply. Families should verify the specific vendor pathway (direct from Arbor Center for Teaching, via Amazon, via Rainbow Resource, or similar) matches their state's approved-retailer list.

Alternatives

• Art of Problem Solving Pre-Algebra, a family with a mathematically advanced student would choose AoPS over Jousting Armadillos when they want more demanding problems and a sharper competition-math orientation, accepting a stiffer prose style.
• Math Mammoth Grade 7 (Pre-Algebra), a family would choose Math Mammoth when they want a traditional scope-and-sequence with extensive practice problems, digital-PDF flexibility, and substantially lower per-student cost for consumable worksheets.
• Beast Academy pre-algebra (when available), a family already in the Beast Academy ecosystem for elementary math might continue with Beast's pre-algebra materials when they are released, maintaining continuity of pedagogical style into middle school.

How we verified this

Our editorial team reviewed the Arbor Center for Teaching publications page for Jousting Armadillos, the publisher's description of the broader three-volume series, and the Walmart and AbeBooks retail listings for current pricing. We cross-referenced against Cathy Duffy Reviews for independent assessment of the pre-algebra and algebra series. Prices and program details verified April 2026.