Math--Do your children's SAT scores reflect good preparation?

[lovemywhirlygirls]

For those of you whose children have taken the SATs and have done well on the math portion....would you please tell me a) if you consider your child a "mathy" child (do they LOVE math or does math click easily for them?) or not and b) which math program did you use for high school?

 

I currently use MUS and will likely switch programs after Zeta. I'm trying to decide which programs to add to my short list.

 

Thanks!

[creekland]

My two oldest boys are both fairly mathy and both did very well on the SAT and/or ACT (top 97% and 99% respectively). We've used TT and Barron's SAT/ACT prep along with 2 or 3 actual practice tests (for my middle son, my oldest had them, but barely cracked them open - my middle son used them).

 

I don't regret using TT at all as long as it has been a good fit for my boys. I think it does a superb job in grounding a student in the basics. My middle son would likely have done well with ANY math program as he truly works to understand whatever it is he's doing. My oldest and youngest (entering 9th grade, so no testing yet) have definitely done better with TT than they would have with a more rigorous program. My oldest "caught" TT easily and wouldn't have put the work in to truly understanding a more rigorous program (he's kind of lazy). Now that he knows the basics well, even stepping up to do the WORK involved with some aspects of Calc was no problem. He did Calc with Chalkdust this past year, but TT up till then. He tested out of needing math in college.

 

My youngest is not mathy, but has been catching on well using TT (Alg 1 this year) at his pace. I think if he were to stay home and continue with TT at his own pace he would score in the upper 80% when he takes the ACT/SAT. However, he's insisting on returning to ps for high school... I truly fear his math will SUFFER as our school uses a horrible program to begin with (CPM math) and he will have to fly through on their schedule. I plan to afterschool with TT and we'll see what happens. His forte is English. He already could score in the upper 90% in English, so that ought to help him in the long run.

 

All that said, the best math program for any student is one they can truly learn from. It's not always TT even though that worked extremely well for my boys and some friends of ours. Different students have different preferences and I'd pick a curricula that suited the student.

[memphispeg]

The SAT College Board Blue Book had lots of math study questions and examples. Have the dc work through that and the SAT question of the day. My dd did v. well. But, she was definitely "mathy", (is now a phil. major in college). The important thing is that they do math problems every day.

For the ACT, there has been lots of geometry on that test. Make sure they practice that. Sometimes, by the time they are taking the test, it has been a while since they did geometry....so you may want to dig out an old text and have them do some review probs.

[lovemywhirlygirls]

Thanks for replies!

 

Anyone else have suggestions? I'm headed to a curriculum fair in a couple of weeks and plan to check out some options.

[OLG]

Pick a program that will engage your dd first and then prep for the SAT math with prep books, 'question of the day" and those math prep books that tell you how to do the SAT math because it is a different breed. A well prepared student with any program who has learned a few of the tricks will do fine. Ds learned how to work the SAT tests! Our strategy was to know the math first and then learn how to shortcut for the SAT... Books like Rocket Revolution, SAT Math for the Clueless, Up Your Score all have great pointers! BUt select an overall program because it works for your daughter! Then just practice, practice, practice those SAT questions.

 

Mary

[Lori D.]

Older DS has also "clicked" with math (though, he isn't interested in going into a math or science field). He's always had low A's and high B's in math, using Singapore Primary, Jacobs Algebra, Jacobs Geometry, Foerster Algebra II. All but the Foerster's really worked well for him.

 

Alas, we obviously did NOT do enough test prep, as he scored 92% in math on the PSAT, but a disappointing 85% in math on the SAT. So, I agree with the other posters -- use math programs that click for your student, but also do a LOT of test prep -- the daily questions as a "warm up" is a great idea.

 

BEST of luck in your math journey! Warmly, Lori D.