Your favorite text for Algebral 1?

[SS in MD]

My dd is finishing up Singapore 6B this year. Next year in 7th grade, I wanted her to start Algebra1, then onto Geometry, Algebra 2, Pre-Calcl & Calc. Her desire right now is to go into a science or medical field. So, I'd really like math courses to prepare her for college.

 

I was leaning towards TT, but have heard it isn't rigorous enough (true? untrue? - sorry if this topic has been beaten to death!). I'd love to hear from those that have already taken my road of higher maths as to what their favorite Algebra 1 (and beyond) texts are. I really need something that has good explainations, solutions worked out (not just answers), something my dd can do pretty much independently, and of course thorough.

 

Thanks so much for responding!:)

[Heather in VA]

We are using and loving VideoText Algebra - but you will then do Algebra 1 and Algebra II followed by Geometry, trig and pre-calc. The Algebra program incorporates both Algebras in one and the Geometry has the other 3.

 

I am very happy with the way it presents the material and the progress and understanding my dd has for the material.

[SS in MD]

I've heard of VT. But a friend told me it requires the parent to frequently teach the material if the child didn't understand the lesson? Perhaps I didn't understand her properly. But, it believe she said it required a lot of parental involvment and time? Do you find this? I'll be there to help dd if she gets stuck, but I am homeschooling 3 others, so I just want to make sure it's not too mommy intensive.

 

Thanks so much for your help!

[Heather in VA]

I've heard of VT. But a friend told me it requires the parent to frequently teach the material if the child didn't understand the lesson? Perhaps I didn't understand her properly. But, it believe she said it required a lot of parental involvment and time? Do you find this? I'll be there to help dd if she gets stuck, but I am homeschooling 3 others, so I just want to make sure it's not too mommy intensive.

 

Thanks so much for your help!

 

Not at all!! If she has trouble or is unclear on something I certainly help her but honestly it's not that often. The video lessons are very clear. What we do is after she watches the video she does the odd problems for the lesson. Of course if she knows she is confused she asks me right then but that's only happened a handful of times. That night I correct the odd problems. If she has a problem with those, then the next day I go over her mistakes and she does the evens. If she did fine then she moves on to the next lesson. Usually she either does fine or it's very clear what she misunderstood and we take a few minutes to go over that. VT's philosophy is that you don't need to do tons of problems, just do concepts in small enough chunks to understand why you are doing what you are doing. There are plenty of problems too. If you run out of problems between the Worktext and the "quiz" book which has 2 versions of a quiz for each lesson, you can download even more problems. We've only had to download twice in the last year.

 

I'd say on days that I do have to "teach" her, I spend 10 - 15 minutes max and it's not that often.

[AngieW in Texas]

If you're looking for something that's more independent, then Kinetic Books Algebra might work for you. They don't have another math course to follow it up. They just finished their algebra program this summer.

http://www.kineticbooks.com

 

Another option is Foerster's Algebra with videos from Math without Borders.

http://www.mathwithoutborders.com/index.html

 

I've used Kinetic Books and like it. I don't know anything about Math without Borders videos except that they exist.

[kortney in AL]

My two oldest (now 10th and 11th graders) used VideoText for Algebra 1 and 2. They're both smart, but still had trouble understanding alot of the lessons. I switched to Teaching Textbooks for Geometry, Pre-Calculus, and Pre-Algebra. We love it, and have found it much easier for us to use. I've been so happy with those courses, I'm buying the TT Algebra 1 for this fall for my third child. I got rid of VideoText.

Kortney

[Sharon in MD]

I like Jacobs Al, followed by his Geometry, then Foerster for Al II and beyond.

 

:D

[SS in MD]

Where can I look at online samples on Jacobs? Also, what do you like about Jacobs Algebra & Geometry? Is it pretty much self-taught? Are the explainations thorough?

 

Thanks for responding!

[Michelle in MO]

We've used it with both of our older girls, and it's worked just fine. There are DVT's for the lessons, which I have them watch and then read through the lesson. We usually spread the lessons over 2-3 days, and the book is extremely thorough. The student solutions manual is also extremely thorough.

[Nissi]

My 7nth grader has done Foerster's Algebra 1 with very little help from me. It has very clear and thorough explanations and a solutions manual.

Nissi

[Sharon in MD]

interlibrary loan or something like that.

 

Nissi's suggestion of Foerster is also a good one imo. I compared both Jacobs and Foerster side by side for Al I in making my decision and felt that they were nearly identical in terms of the presentation of the material, types of problems and so on. The Foerster has a few more difficult problems in it than Jacobs and has one or two additional topics. It is a little tougher I think. But, I really think that Jacobs is a little be friendlier in that he has old cartoons at the start of each new chapter and a bit of humor woven in.

 

I don't know how the solotuions manual for Foerster is for the Al I course, but I do think that it is terrific for the Al II and beyond courses of his that I've used.

The Solution for Jacobs is not worked out step by step for you, but because it is Al I, that was never a problem for us. The examples in the text were so clear that we never had a problem going back and seeing when ds went wrong.

 

Hope this has helped a little, but I think I might have just muddied the water a bit.

[Cathy in TX]

I second Lial's. It is full of example problems...and there is a solutions manual that works out the problems step-by-step.

[Blue Hen]

Why not stay with what is working for you? That being Singapore. I too have a son who is going into the sciences' and we went from Singapore 6B into their New Elementary Mathematics. Here's what we did:

 

7th grade --- Key to Algebra bks 1-4, followed with New Elementary Mathematics 1. KTA really helped lay the groundwork so that NEM 1 was easier for DS. Since NEM 1 was completed by February DS did the story problems from Dolciani Algebra 1. It was a nice material review and DS got a taste for how easy USA math program word problems are.

 

8th grade --- Key to Algebra bks 5-8, followed by NEM 2 and half of NEM 3.

 

9th grade --- Finished up NEM 3, moved into Dolciani Algebra 2 with Trig

 

10th grade --- Foerster's Pre-Calc He is finding that this is a total review of the Dolciani Algebra 2 with Trig however some of the material is a bit more in-depth or taught from a slightly different angle so he is having FUN with this course.

 

our plan for 11th grade --- Foerster's Calc with the plan to have him take the AP Calc AB test. He'll also take a Statistics course from me with the intention to take the AP Statistics test.

 

12th grade --- finish up Foerster's Calc with the plan to take the AP Calc BC test

 

I did look over Jacob's and decided that the geometry covered in NEM was quite similar to a geometry course content with the exception of proofs. NEM doesn't have proofs however my DS had proofs in his logic course, and in the Dolciani Alg 2 w/trig book.

[Hoggirl]

We plan to continue on with Chalkdust all the way through. It is a DVD-based program with excellent teaching. Instructor support is available when you buy the program new. We have not had to correspond much, but always receive replies on the same day that we ask a question. Solutions manual is excellent.

HTH

[Jill- OK]

...Foerster's. And my kids have done well, too. (Two in alg. this year).

 

Clear, *logical* explanations (I've never seen an algebra text make so much sense), and giving kids a map for thinking through the problem ("Think These Steps") are two of my big reasons for liking it.

 

I tried MUS and an older Dolciani text before trying Foerster's.

[Jan P.]

I like Foerster's Algebra 1 the best. However, with my math challenged child I'm using Math Relief.

[Julie in GA]

Ditto!

[yinne]

We've had success with Foerster's this year. Math subjects are not my favorite, but it has gone well this year.

 

Yvonne in NE

[SS in MD]

Thank you all! Where can I look at samples of Foerster's? So, I'm assuming it comes with a TM & Student text? Is there a seperate answers text too?

 

Thanks again for sharing!

[SS in MD]

Sorry I'm confused which one is your favorite??

 

:001_smile:

[Sharon in MD]

We are in the metro dc/baltimore area....are you guys around here?

[SS in MD]

We are up in Frederick County, about an hour from D.C

 

So, you used Jacobs for Algebra 1. I'm a little nervous that the answers are just that (not step by step). What if dc runs into problems? But, I'll definately try to find it at the local homeschool fair. Also, where can I see samples on line of Foerster's? Can you tell me who the publisher is?

 

Thanks!

[Sharon in MD]

http://http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ15d&PMDbSiteId=2781&PMDbSolutionId=6724&PMDbSubSolutionId=6732&PMDbCategoryId=806&PMDbProgramId=21022&level=4

 

I have to dash....my son has classes today at Cedar Brook....I'll write more later this

 

Here is the full address....I tried the link and it didn't work

 

http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ15d&PMDbSiteId=2781&PMDbSolutionId=6724&PMDbSubSolutionId=6732&PMDbCategoryId=806&PMDbProgramId=21022&level=4

[Sharon in MD]

If you go to the MACHE fair, there are likely to be used copies of Jacobs and maybe Foerster around. As far as being concerned about the lack of a true solutions guide for Jacobs, I would encourage you that it really won't be a problem. I too had the same concern....I was scared I would need a real, step by step guide, but I found that was not the case. The example problems in Jacobs are so well done that I was almost always able to easily figure out where our ds had gone wrong. Also, for the rare occasion when I could not figure out where he'd gone wrong there are excellent sources on the internet for Algebra homework help....the forum at mathforum.org is great (this is the Dr Math website) and there are others. Plus you have the Math Mavens on this board to call on if you are stumped with something. I've seen lots of people post if they have a problem and they always get genial help.

 

Now, I will say that I do need the step by step guides for Al II and beyond. But, if you decide to go with Foerster for those, you should be in good shape.

 

Hope this helps....maybe I'll see you at Mache! Look for the Teelin School of Irish Dance...we will have a booth in one of the secondary buildings. Drop by and say hi!

 

:party: