Lial Math, order and grade level match up, Jann??

[Maureen]

I have been using Saxon math for my 4dc. We currently use Algebra 1/2 and 7/6. One daughter struggles in math and I'm thinking about looking into Lial. Just wondering what people think about making the switch at this point and if I go from 7/6 to BCM. If so, does it take 2 years? Do I then go to Beginning Algebra? What do people think about their geometry text. Are the texts user friendly or will I have to do a lot of the teaching.

 

I personally like the mixed review of Saxon, but it doesn't seem to work well for a couple of my kids, who can't grasp the concepts when they jump around from lesson to lesson.

 

Any thoughts, advice??:confused:

Thanks in advance.

[Jann in TX]

7/6 leads right into BCM...BCM can take as long as you need--often just 1 year... for a younger student 2 years is fine too.

 

Each lesson was designed to be worked over 2 days--just the odds.. In BCM I would sometimes adjust the number of problems per day--depending on problem type and student ability... some lessons I would assign FEWER problems and some lessons I would assign more...be flexible and use the text as a tool. Most of the time the student will do 20-30 problems per day. The 'even' problems are the ones I use for example/teaching purposes--if the student has trouble on problem #17 I will often work problem #18 with them...

 

 

Margaret Lial has 2 different series both published by Pearson/Addison Wesley. I prefer the 'paperback' developmental series--I like the font size and layout--and the practice problems in the side bar.

 

Introductory Algebra is Algebra 1

Intermediate Algebra is Algebra 2.

 

Margaret Lial has a Geometry program--since most community colleges do not offer this course there are not many used texts available... for the same price there are other more home-school friendly Geometry programs--but the Lial one is complete. I chose to use Holt Geometry 2007 edition with my online classes... I used Jacobs 3e this year (it worked well for SOME of my students--but others needed a more traditional text).

 

After Intermediate Algebra the student would move into college level maths--usually College Algebra or Pre-Calculus (which is College Algebra and Trig combined).

 

I have and use the 7th or 8th editions of the Lial texts... the 8th is very easy to find used right now...

 

Lial has a cumulative review after every chapter test. I do allow these to be taken as open book /open note. The concepts are arranged so they build on each other as much as possible...the students should not have time to 'forget'... as they will keep using their skills.

 

The Lial texts were designed for INDEPENDENT learning... my own dds needed very little help from me... video lessons are available but we did not use them. The texts have very clear step-by-step examples with practice problems to work as you progress through the lesson... each example shows the WHY (reason/proof) for each step.

 

If the lesson seems too long for your student then it is easy to divide the lesson by examples as the homework problems are divided that way too.

 

Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

Jann

[Maureen]

Thanks so much Jann for all of your advice.