CD vs. Lial's for upper math - weigh in, folks!

[1bassoon]

OK, Ladies -

 

What say you? Chalkdust or Lial's for math at the high school level, and why? (Please include the why - I think it may tell me more than I realize).

 

Thanks!

[Melabella]

:lurk5:

[Corraleno]

I would also like to know if it might be possible to combine Lial & CD. I think someone in another thread said they were using CD with an algebra text other than Larson's, and I was wondering if Lial & CD Algebra I & II might correlate well enough to be used together?

 

Jackie

[Jann in TX]

Both programs teach the same basic concepts.

 

The Larson text uses daily lesson.

The Lial text uses block scheduling--but it is easy to translate to a daily format.

 

The Larson text has some examples--but the teacher--and in this case Chalkdust (or Dr. Mosely's videos) will give the majority of the teaching.

The Lial text contains the complete lesson with detailed examples. The optional video lessons (DVTs) reinforce the lessons.

 

Cost is a big issue.

 

The Larson text is more expensive--even used. The videos with Dr Mosley purchased outside of Chalkdust will run around $30 but through Chalkdust (which includes personal assistance from Dr Mosley--a $75 dollar value) will cost several hundred dollars.

 

The Lial program can be purchased with student text, student solutions, and DVTs easily for under $75 for the 7th edition--8th edition prices are starting to drop to similar levels in the past few weeks. (I teach from both the 7th and 8th editions which are 95% identical).

 

I'm not sure how combining them would work on a daily basis--in fact I would probably NOT recommend doing that. Either program would be just fine alone. For upper high school levels I like the idea of having a 'reference text' or 'reference videos' around in case the student needs to have a concept reinforced from a slightly different prospective--not on a daily basis but for occasional use.

 

Most of my Lial students do not use the videos--or only do a few times during the year...of course they also have a one-hour weekly tutoring session...

 

For what it is worth, my middle dd will be using the 7th edition Larson Pre-Calc text with Dr Mosley videos (I think I managed to pay around $150 for my set (student text, TE, videos, student solutions) purchased separately. I'm trying to move her away from 'mommy lessons' in Math--plus she is a DIFFICULT child to teach (from a parents prospective)--she does great with outside instruction. She used Lial's Intermediate Algebra for Algebra 2 this past year at home.

[Alyce]

When I was looking for Alg 2 suggestions these two came up (Jann in TX recommend these). The CD is expensive and when ds looked at it at our HS convention he was overwhelmed. I liked the idea of Lial's being so expensive and had all the explanation in the text. We had used MUS for Alg 1 so was somewhat concerned. My son loves it and wants to do their Pre-Calculus program next year. He like the way the lessons were laid out and had practice problems as well as the regular problems. I like that everything including the answers had been worked out. I think I paid $40 for the 8th edition student text and student solutions manual. This was also good for us because ds doesn't like me to teach math to him. He wants to figure it out for himself. He tells me that this book explanations are very easy to understand. By the way, we did not have any trouble going from MUS to Lial's as Lial's had sufficient review.

[1bassoon]

Thanks so very, very much Jann - your help is really invaluable. I don't think I can say that enough.

 

I'm pretty sure I have my choices narrowed down to the two I posted about. As I've been reflecting, I think one reason I've been "scared" of CD is that my dd16 had a rough go of it - time-wise, not in terms of comprehension. And, in retrospect, I'm sure it was due to A) she went from Math-U-See Geometry (which took her a whopping 20 minutes a day) to CD Alg. 2 and B) Mom fell down on the supervising job. So guess who's going to be doing CD Alg. 2 all summer ;) ?

 

My attraction to CD is shallow, and probably based on peer pressure. EVERYONE down here (Alabama) is a big fan of it. I don't know if that's regional or not, but I suspect in part it is. Among my h'schooling friends in CT, CD is very unknown.

 

Three questions:

 

First: I have a fairly strong background in math (completed Calculus) and am not exactly "afraid" of math at all. I've really enjoyed teaching Singapore. My time is just, well, at a premium. Would the Lial's plus the DVT give me the support I need? And am I right that Lial doesn't have geometry?

 

Second: I may be able to obtain CD Algebra I through a barter with a friend. (I teach her dd piano, she gives me her Alg. I. Deal, eh?) In watching and reviewing the first few lessons, I feel my ds has a solid background and can go into the text with not too much trouble. Any reason, then, to do the placement test? He's completed Singapore Math through 6B, LOF Fractions, Decimals, and about 1/5 of LoF Beginning Algebra.

 

Third: Lovely dd16. She's going to finish Alg. 2 this summer. She's not a math/science major type, but she's academic enough to do well on PSAT/SAT/ACTs. I'm wondering if I can do CD's SAT math review once she's done with Alg. 2? How does that work? Is it a credit-worthy course? Or would we be better off to just move into CD trig, plan on taking 2 years to do it, and use Barron's or another text to prep for SAT?

 

Sorry. This is pretty specific. I do feel like I need to get off the fence, and either invest the $$ in Chalkdust or go the Lial's route. It feels weird to have my eldest in CD and next in Lial's. But then again, maybe I could borrow Trig from the friend who loaned us Alg. 2. . . . .

[Kareni]

Just addressing a couple of your questions.

 

Yes, there is a Lial's Geometry. See here.

 

The Chalkdust SAT Math Review is a great program; however, it is not worth one credit. As I recall, the DVDs run about 14 hours in length. My teen used it to review for a few weeks before taking the SAT exam (while also doing Precalculus at the community college).

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Kathy in MD]

I think the big issue between the two programs is can your dc learn math best from books or lectures. If it's books, I'd go with Lial's. Lectures I'd go with CD.

 

I've seen a sample of Lial's DVD's and too many steps were skipped for the student with brain blips or a basic weakness in math. Dana Mosely is the far better teacher.

[Jean in Wisc]

I've decided that math programs need to be set up to parallel a child's way of thinking. My daughter loved Lial's books. She could work her way through them by herself because they made sense to her. My 2nd child struggled and struggled with the explanations in Lial's books. He was always a math-struggler, so I assumed that was the way it had to be. Then we tried Chalkdust and to my amazement, math is now my son's great love. Mozer thinks like he thinks and it is suddenly fascinating!

 

So I put my 3rd child, mildly dyslexic, into CD as well, thinking that is would be the best thing for him, too. But why or why would a mildly dyslexic mind be expected to work like a mathematician??? Um....no. We have finally decided to give TT a try. So far, the reasoning process of TT seems to make perfect sense for #3. Time will tell.

 

So...both Lial's and CD both seem great in my opinion. I was able to pick up the older editions of Lial on Amazon for almost nothing--$2 plus shipping. IMO, if I were you, I'd start with the Lial's books. If they click with your child, I'd stay with them. If it is a struggle, then I'd foot the bill for CD. Thankfully, I hear that CD has a great resale value.

 

FWIW,

Jean

[Miss Marple]

I agree. I have 4 boys and am using 4 different programs (well I did when ds#1 was still at home). They definitely learn differently but all are learning well. Lial's is a cheap option. I'd try it first. It has worked very well with ds#2.