8filltheheart Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 My 6th grade son is very bright in math (totally average in every other subject, and a very slow reader) He is currently doing Foerster alg 1 and has a solid A. He is doing alg with his 8th grade sister (and doing better than her, btw). Next yr I am planning on my doing her classes online and the geometry class they offer is not my traditional route (Jacobs or Chalkdust) They are using Euclidean Geometry: A First Course, Edition: 4TH 06 • SOLOMONOVICH. The course description states: In 1980's the National Association of Math Teachers decided to deemphasize formal axiomatic proof in high school geometry standards. Thus nearly all, if not all Geometry books currently in print, (even popular home-school titles) are woefully if not totally deficient in teaching the classic two column axiomatic proof. Some texts based on incremental-review pedagogy merely prepare students for passage of SAT/ACT geometry problems and completely ignore the geometry's traditional role in introducing students to deductive logic. However, the geometric proofs and their accompanying axioms and the skill for writing and understanding formal proof transcends all mathematics courses. Logical arguments/proofs are at the heart of classical philosophy, rhetoric and debate. At the center of the scientific method is the ver idea of proof. The value of teaching students the fundamentals of mathematical proof cannot be denied. This is especially true for students who will study proofs in advanced algebra and calculus, physics and chemistry. Anything less is mere imitation or memorization of problem solving. This course will aim to resurrect classical training while simultaneously developing skills in applied geometrical problem solving as found on SAT/ACT tests. After reading the above, I think it will be a struggle for my dd, but hopefully she will be able to manage it. My real concern is with my ds. Those of you who know the text, how would an average 12 yo boy who is barely out of the concrete thinking mode do with this approach? Quite honestly, I am not sure how to deal with him. He just seems to absorb math logic and explains concepts to his sister totally differently than they were explained to him. But......I am totally unsure about this text. If I had him join in this class, would I be setting him up for frustration and failure? Should he do a more traditional route for 7th grade and then perhaps take this course in 8th? Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 Idea: why not email Solomonovich and explain the situation. See what he says. Your 12 year old is exceptional so he would most likely adore this course. The slow reading, however, may bog him down. Have you examined the sample pages on Solomonovich's website? I would have your 12 year old read these as well: http://www.solomonovich.com/geometry/samples.html Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8filltheheart Posted March 11, 2008 Author Share Posted March 11, 2008 Thanks Jane for the advice. I called yesterday and spoke to his wife. He is out of the country so she kindly gave me an email address so I could contact him. He emailed me back this morning and he basically stated exactly what you did!!! He said the most difficult part of the course is grasping new concepts. well, that is definitely not a problem for J. He stated that he is also using the text with his 7th grade son. I am glad you suggested making the contact. It will certainly make my life simpler if I keep the 2 of them together for math next yr. :) Ok.....I have officially made a decision for next school yr. WOW!!! Considering how pathetic our school yr has been since Christmas, that is a major event!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda in MA Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 It looks like something I might be interested in in a couple of years for my younger ds. TIA, Brenda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8filltheheart Posted March 11, 2008 Author Share Posted March 11, 2008 Regina Coeli. I am only going to have my rising 9th grader officially enroll in the class b/c it is lumped with biology. My ds would love to think he is smart enough to earn high school biology credit in 7th grade ;) but that is a no go!! I will have him listen with dd during the geo portions of the class. http://reginacoeli.org/mathsciyear2.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Hopefully Charon or Myrtle will get to this thread. I think Charon may have reviewed this book on his website; I know he has mentioned it before because it's in my mysteriously lost notebook of math suggestions from the first time period I remember him going to the old AL board. If you go to a post by Myrtle or Charon at least one of them has a link to their blog(s) in their signature(s)--I can't even remember if there's one or two because I usually go there for answers to Gelfand's (hey, I'm honest!) or to check for books. Or if someone references a particular post. I just don't read blogs often as by the time I'm done here, my screen time is used up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina in Ouray Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 I am familiar with Solomonovich's text. It is challenging in a wonderful sort of way. It sounds to me like your son would be a perfect candidate for this book. If, as you describe, he “absorbs math logic,†he may find himself frustrated by a less rigorous and axiomatic approach. My only suggestion to you is that you do this course along with your daughter and son. If you're all in it together, you should be able to offer each other a lot of help along the way. I think this is geometry done right! Tina in Ouray, CO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dehuaz Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 Idea: why not email Solomonovich and explain the situation. See what he says. Your 12 year old is exceptional so he would most likely adore this course. The slow reading, however, may bog him down. Have you examined the sample pages on Solomonovich's website? I would have your 12 year old read these as well: http://www.solomonovich.com/geometry/samples.html Jane The above website is not accessible now. Does anyone know other resources to get this book? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 The above website is not accessible now. Does anyone know other resources to get this book? Thanks! I think that was the only place to get it. It looks like the website may have shut down. Perhaps you could buy it used somewhere or something; as far as I know that was the only place to get it, although we didn't pursue it due to the lack of a TM & solutions manual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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