Lial's Intermediate Algebra Scheduling ?

[Tiramisu]

Okay, I just got a copy of Lial's Intermediate Algebra from my library. I thought I remember Jann in TX posting about the best way to schedule Lial's and I want to check about that since I can't find it in searching the old posts. Perhaps Jann or someone else can answer.

 

If I schedule each lesson over two days, can we still cover the entire book in a year?

 

Do I spend one day each on the chapter reviews, tests, and cumulative reviews?

 

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

[Jann in TX]

Most lessons will need to be spread out over 2 days... this leaves 20-30 problems per day (depending on problem type).

 

I assign the odds (often skipping the very first set in the homework). I also skip the 'relating concepts' problems--and sometimes the last word problem (depending on student). The text teaches above the test...

 

One of the 'best' ways I've found to work with the 'block' scheduling of the text is to read through the first half of the examples (working practice problems as needed) then assign the related homework problems. The next day complete the lesson and homework.

 

I usually assign the odds of the mid-chapter summarys (unless the student needs more practice)... this will be 1 day or 2 if they do the evens too.

 

I assign ALL of the chapter review problems (up to the mixed review--I reserve those for extra practice if needed before test). I allow 2 days on average (occasionally 3--again it depends on problem type/length.

 

1 day for tests.

 

I don't assign all of the cumulative reviews--it depends on my student... if you want to use them then they get 1 day.

 

I figured it out once before--it came to somewhere around 160-170 days

 

I've never had trouble finishing the text--I have current students who started in mid-September and they will easily finish sometime in May.

[Tiramisu]

Thanks, Jann.

 

The text from the library is not the one you recommend, at least I don't think so. It's hardcover.

 

170-180 lessons seems like a lot. We tend to lose a math day here and there, and sometimes need more than the allotted time for rough spots or pre-test reviews. And I think dd will definitely need those cumulative reviews, too. She's known for telling me, "I've never seen a problem like that before." So I have to take out a notebook and say, "Yes, you have, and here is your work to prove it." That's the draw of TT for me: the continual review.

 

If we don't finish the entire text, will she be in trouble for pre-calc?

 

Thanks!

 

Kelli

[elegantlion]

Thanks, Jann, I have this text and plan to use it for my self-ed and ds in the future!

[Jann in TX]

TT's Algebra 2 will cover less than half of what Intermediate Algebra covers

 

Some lessons will take less than 2 days to work through...and most students start in chapter 2 (maybe working only the chapter review in the first chapter if there has been a long break since Algebra 1). Chapter 2 reviews word problems (and shows their chart method taught in Algebra 1)... the real MEAT of the text begins in chapter 3.

 

This program is 'tried and true'... each lesson builds on the previous material--so students do not 'forget' concepts--they USE them in the next chapters!

 

The paperback series differes a bit in layout from the hardback. Each page has a wide margin that contains practice problems relating to the examples in the lesson. While reading the lesson the student will see something like "Work practice problem 3a before continuing on".... so you stop and work at least one of the practice problems making sure you UNDERSTAND that part of the lesson before moving on.

 

The font is a bit larger too!

 

The overall teaching/concepts are very very similar.

 

The last few chapters are a great introduction to Pre-Calculus.. I would not skip them as this introduction is much more gentle that what will be found in Pre-Calc!

[Jann in TX]

There is a trade off with programs that contain 'lots of review' --or are more 'spiral' in nature.

These programs offer limited practice with the new concept...care needs to be taken to evaluate the PROBLEM TYPES missed--or the material can snowball... a student can 'only miss' 1-3 on every assignment and while making a good daily grade---they end up doing poorly on the tests... or (especially in the case of Saxon) they hit a wall about 1/3 into the text where the cumulative lessons start merging--and the concepts not mastered snowball.

Edited April 6, 2010 by Jann in TX

[Lolly]

Okay, I just got a copy of Lial's Intermediate Algebra from my library. I thought I remember Jann in TX posting about the best way to schedule Lial's and I want to check about that since I can't find it in searching the old posts. Perhaps Jann or someone else can answer.

 

If I schedule each lesson over two days, can we still cover the entire book in a year?

 

Do I spend one day each on the chapter reviews, tests, and cumulative reviews?

 

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

 

My advice to my dd for using Lial's has been to work for at least an hour a day and cover at least half a lesson a day. If she can get a whole lesson finished in an hour, then do that. (Some lessons are very easy.) If it takes her two days to finish a lesson, then do that. (Some lessons are pretty long and tedious.) I have her only do odds. She does the reviews. Tests are to be completed in one day.

[FaithManor]

I schedule Lial's the same way Jann does. We've been very successful with mastery of material using this approach.

 

Faith

[Tiramisu]

There is a trade off with programs that contain 'lots of review' --or are more 'spiral' in nature.

These programs offer limited practice with the new concept...care needs to be taken to evaluate the PROBLEM TYPES missed--or the material can snowball... a student can 'only miss' 1-3 on every assignment and while making a good daily grade---they end up doing poorly on the tests... or (especially in the case of Saxon) they hit a wall about 1/3 into the text where the cumulative lessons start merging--and the concepts not mastered snowball.

 

One thing about the spiral method with this dd. Saxon and TT have both taken her forever to work through problem sets. She breezed through MUS, and her time using Foerster's Algebra 1 was reasonable. I would think that she's more lkely to remember concepts with spiral but her brain has a very hard time switching between different types of problems, it.really.slows.her.down.

 

Thank you Lolly and FaithManor for the helpful feedback about Lial's and scheduling.

Also, the illogical (just MHO) progression of Saxon isn't good for her either I think. I loved the progression of Foerster's with one topic building on another. I'm glad to hear Lial's is similar. Thank you!!!

Edited April 6, 2010 by NJKelli
adding

[Murphy101]

All I can say is Jane saved my sanity with her rec for Lials. It's awesome. No muss, no fuss, just clearly presented math with plenty of opportunity to practice.

 

We're almost done with BCM right now and the only complaint ds has is that it is "boring". Not hard, just time consuming and and easy. He is doing great with it.:D

 

Can't wait to get to intermediate, which is on my shelf ready to be used in about a month.