choirfarm Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 How and when should they know how to use them?? My 8th grader did TT Algebra I and about 2/3 of TT Algebra II this year. I plan to count it as Algebra I. It was never mentioned. He has it, but neither of us know what to do with it. He did graphing, but not on the calculator. He will do Chalkdust Geometry next year in 9th and then Chalkdust Algebra II in 10th. Does Chalkdust explain how to use them?? A friend of mine had a child in honors 8th grade and she did tons of stuff on it. On one hand, I'm thinking if you can do it by hand, isn't that better?? I had to laugh for his STanford standardized testing this year as I didn't realize he could use a calculator for it, so he was the only one in the room without it and he still scored in the 96 percentile.. Christine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynde Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Our dc began using the graphing calculator in precalculus. I was of your mind - better to do as much as possible with the brain versus machine. :001_smile: Our dc used Video Text for Algebra I and II. We then switched to Chalkdust for Geometry, Precalculus, and Calculus. Students do not use a graphing calculator for Geometry but do for precal and cal. At first, dc struggled a bit with the graphing calculator but quickly learned. I seem to recall Mr. Mosley saying that with Chalkdust Algebra II students are introduced to a graphing calculator (hope I'm remembering that correctly - you may want to email and ask). Hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynde Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 (edited) Forgot the "how" part of your question. The Chalkdust precalculus video showed some of the how but not a lot. I think this is where the introduction in Chalkdust's Algebra II may be helpful for your student. Ds learned mostly by using the Texas Instruments manual and by trial and error. I know there must be an easier way - maybe someone will have a better suggestion. I think I've heard some mention using a "dummy" book. I bet a good library would have that. The easier method for our dd was to have ds show her - she had it easy. With CD, you do use a calculator with Geometry, but a standard TI-30 type with sin, cos, tan, log was just fine. Good luck! Edited June 5, 2009 by Cynde typo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Our plan is for our dd to learn it in time for the PSAT if she needs it for that. Otherwise the SAT. The only thing I've ever let her use a calculator for was for finding the square roots of numbers with irrational square roots. She prefers doing it herself because she's convinced she does it better albeit slower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie in CA Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 In Chalkdust Algebra I, Mr. Mosely explains how to use the graphing calculator. I was able to figure it out in the lessons after his instruction. There are way too many functions and buttons for me to figure it out on my own. (I have zero patience for that kind of thing) I took notes and put them in plastic just in case I forgot what to do. It wouldn't hurt to call and find out what is done in Algebra 2. I'm guessing calculator instruction will be in Ch. 1 and 2 of Algebra 2 because those chapters cover linear equations, inequalities and graphs of functions. Those chapters (4 and 6) in Algebra 1 were where calculator instructions were given on the dvd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 (edited) My teen took College Algebra as her first math class at the local community college. A graphing calculator was required. In fact, the previous Algebra class there also required the use of a graphing calculator. (That would have been equivalent to Algebra 2.) There was some minimal instruction in the use of the calculator in class, and she was also required to watch a few videos in the math learning lab at the campus. At this particular community college, members of the community are also welcome to use the math learning lab and its resources free of charge. Perhaps there is a community college near you which might have the same policy. ETA: We also obtained the following book as a resource from the library: TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator For Dummies. There are some similar books for the TI-84 and TI-89. Regards, Kareni Edited June 7, 2009 by Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 ETA: We also obtained the following book as a resource from the library: TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator For Dummies. There are some similar books for the TI-84 and TI-89. Regards, Kareni So, using an instruction manual isn't enough? Which TI does one need to do all of high school math including Calculus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan C. Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 Forgot the "how" part of your question. The Chalkdust precalculus video showed some of the how but not a lot. I think this is where the introduction in Chalkdust's Algebra II may be helpful for your student. Ds learned mostly by using the Texas Instruments manual and by trial and error. I know there must be an easier way - maybe someone will have a better suggestion. I think I've heard some mention using a "dummy" book. I bet a good library would have that. The easier method for our dd was to have ds show her - she had it easy. With CD, you do use a calculator with Geometry, but a standard TI-30 type with sin, cos, tan, log was just fine. Good luck! That is one of the problems I have with Chalkdust (not much calculator instruction), Video Text (no instruction), TT (not til precalc)...... BJU Algebra 2 dvds have excellent calculator instruction, that is how my son learned how to use the calculator, and also there is a lot of instruction in BJU Precalc. as well. Other things we didn't like about precalc, but we lived through it and he went to college able to use the calculator! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 So, using an instruction manual isn't enough? Which TI does one need to do all of high school math including Calculus? My daughter did most of her learning to use the calculator by playing around with it; however, the Dummies book was good for the occasional question. I can't address the Calculus aspect of your question; however, my daughter has a TI-83 and has found it fine for College Algebra, Trigonometry, and Statistics. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 My daughter did most of her learning to use the calculator by playing around with it; however, the Dummies book was good for the occasional question. I can't address the Calculus aspect of your question; however, my daughter has a TI-83 and has found it fine for College Algebra, Trigonometry, and Statistics. Regards, Kareni Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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