Got Lial's from the library. Dd didn't like it. Back to square one. Jacobs? BJU?

[Robin in Tx]

Unfortunately, the book was visually overwhelming/confusing to her. (It's funny that she thought so, because I thought the same thing, but I didn't say anything because I wanted her genuine reaction. She must be more like me than I knew.) Since the pages are split vertically and are two toned, with print in both columns, and more than one color font, she had trouble focusing on the text. Her exact words were, "I don't like the way this looks. I'm having trouble reading it." The explanations are good, but she said she'd much rather stay in Saxon 8/7. Then she said she wished there was a math program that was interesting somehow and kept her attention... maybe one that had cartoons.

 

So, now I'm thinking we need to go with either Jacobs or Bob Jones (BJU has funny illustrations, and we've used it successfully in a previous grade - went back to Saxon when I felt she wasn't getting enough drill to memorize her facts). I like the page layout on the sample pages of BJU I've seen. I can't find Jacobs to preview.

 

So, can anyone compare Jacobs to BJU Algebra?

 

You have all helped me so much and I thank you again. I'm sorry we're being such a difficult case.

 

Robin

[LisaNY]

Robin, did you look at a hardback version? I have a hardback of Lial's Intermediate Algebra, and it is way different from the pb version. I had the same reaction to it as your dd did.

 

If your dd is put off by too much on a page, and likes cartoons, I think she would take to Jacob's quite nicely. Can you ILL it? I don't know of anywhere on the internet where you can see samples. I have it on my shelf - I just purchased it used a little while ago. My dd did not like it, because she felt it was too wordy. I have seen, more often than not, that most *like* that feature of Jacob's. I have seen an errant post or two from people who did not care for it. Jacob's is also a great choice for students heading into Algebra at a young age. (Like your dd.)

 

I just thought of something - PM me.

[genie]

 

I can't find Jacobs to preview.

 

Robin

 

Here is the only sample of Jacobs that I have come across. It's not much, but it's something. :-)

[momee]

Hate to say it but TT makes my son laugh quite often. The word problems are such that he actually is interested in the answer.

Don't know how you feel about it but it changed our school world.