Feeling inadequate... Alg 1 mathwise

[langfam]

DS#2 did Saxon Alg 1/2 last year 7th, he hated it so much. It was torture for both of us.

 

This year 8th, he's been doing Jacob's Elementary Algebra. He's been alot less frustrated but it's been slow-going especially the last couple of chapters. Chapter 10 Factoring, Chapter 11 Algebraic Fractions.

 

He just can't keep straight in his head which processes to use when. We've done all the sets and the tests for those 2 chapters and he's done poorly. Should I just move on or reteach those chapters?

 

I also don't know how much ha has retained from previous chapters.

I feel so inadequate.... I've been expecting that he needs to redo Alg 1 next year. Maybe he just can't learn from me. He's not my mathy kid. Any suggestions as to what I should do for him?

[JFSinIL]

to switch to Videotext? It makes everything so clear that even I could understand algebra!!! Plus the "teacher in a can" never minds repeating one to the short lessons until the kid understands it. Somehow having the lesson on a screen, animated as need be to show how an equation works, is easier to understand than prose and diagrams in a textbook for some of us.

[schmittgirlz]

Another expensive alternative is Chalkdust Algebra. Dana Mosely is a fantastic teacher and I think they have a 30-day return policy if it doesn't work for your son. If cost is a factor, Thinkwell also offers visual instruction, but I have not used this particular course.

 

Good Luck!

 

Clare

[Heather in Savannah]

Aleks is the greatest math site. I used it for my children last summer, just to keep their minds active. It is set up in such a way that it is actually diagnostic. This might be useful in seeing how much Algebra he is retaining, and would then reinforce what he has already learned before moving on to new material.

 

I know how you feel....my 9th grade daughter got half way through Jacob's Elementary Algebra this year and we had to change programs. She is not a mathy kids(neither am I), and because Jacob's only shows the final answer, not the entire solution to every problems, we frequently got stuck. We were both very discouraged, and then began Teaching Textbooks. This program has CDROMS which show/explain the solution to every problem in the book.

 

So, don't be discouraged, there are ways to work around the mental blocks.

[langfam]

Thanks for your replies. I think I'll look at Aleks for the summer. I'm going to just move on with Jacob's and see how far we get in 7 weeks. Still don't know what I'll do for 9th.

[AngieW in Texas]

How do you find online classes for aleks?

 

I know it won't work for my middle dd. She absolutely hated it by the 2nd week of her trial period.

 

My oldest hasn't tried it yet though. She'll be ready for Algebra II in the fall. She's leary of computer-based math programs after trying out Classmate Geometry at the beginning of this school year.

[In The Great White North]

Life of Fred is a much cheaper option. The explanation are simpler. When ds didn't understand Foerster, he turned to Fred. Fred's explanations read like normal speech, not "math talk."

 

He might even like the story!

[Robin in DFW]

maybe he just needs more time...I know some kids (mine included) just do not have the brain maturity to think abstractly. This doesn't mean they aren't intelligent, inquisitive kids. They are. They read w-a-a-y above grade level, write quite well, have an incredible vocabulary, but math is different. It requires a different kind of reasoning skill that I have decided is in a part of the brain that matures slower!!!

 

My dh and I had this discussion last night. He said when he began college (we were already married and had our first child) he had to take a remedial algebra class and a trig class. He said it was amazing how what seemed so difficult in high school was so understandable as an adult. He said he completely got it, enjoyed it so much that he majored in Mechanical Engineering and does this as a profession today.

 

Just give him time.

 

As an aside, the Saxon Algebra 1/2 book is supposed to be the "bad" book from the Saxon line. My dd tried to use it and was practically in tears. We have tried a plethora of Algebra 1 programs only to finally have settled on Saxon...go figure. My ds10 also uses Saxon with great success.

 

good luck, hth,

Robin

[Susan A.]

My dd had a similar experience with Lial's Introductory Algebra last year for 8th grade. It's a great course - just not for her. We did a month of Alek's after 7 chapters of Lial's and she did not even test out of prealgebra! I relied too heavily on the DVT doing the teaching and she does better when she can stop and ask questions as we go. This year we did BJU Algebra 1 (no DVD) and she says she understands it so much better (even though I am not crazy about the book - very time consuming for me). That said, we are doing Math U See next year for geometry. We will both watch the DVD lesson together once a week and stop and go as needed. Maybe we will get it right this time!