Algebra and up, for the Very Easily Confused and Discouraged??

[5sweeties]

My dd will complete Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1 this year. She is doing ok, but gets frustrated and discouraged so easily. I know that TT is suppose to be an "easier" program, and yes, it is better than the more traditional program we used with K12 last year, but Math is still making her crazy. We are still having Math tears. I hate that. To add the the problem, I'm worse in Math than she ever thought of being. I can help her with Alegebra 1, minimally, but we absolutely have to have a cirriculum that is workable with the absolute minimum of teacher involvement. I'm sure that between the difference in scope and sequence of TT, and her lack of understanding, she will need to do Alg. 1, over again next year, with whatever other program we choose...and just count this year as a second pre-alg year. I'm just wondering if there are any Math fairies out there that can make a very solid, and easy to understand program appear before my eyes??

 

Is MUS an option? Is it easy to use, even if a child hasn't used any of the prior, elementary years? MUS rescued one of my other younger children from complete math confusion this year...but that is a 2nd grader. This stuff with Algebra is so different...isn't it??:confused:

 

Oh, and we do have time. She in technically only a 7th grader this year, so we are planning an Algebra repeat for 8th.

[5sweeties]

that MUS doesn't have very complete instructions in the upper levels. That definately will not work for dd. She would freak. We need baby steps. I'm almost wondering if maybe she is just too young-minded to "get" algebra. Maybe just repeating next year, when she's a little older will help?

[Suzanne in ABQ]

Have you looked at Video Text Algebra? It is video/DVD based. The video lessons are short, only about 10 minutes, because the concepts are broken down into very small chunks. All the concepts are presented in print form also. The student works half of the problems (odds or evens). Then, the next day, they do a short quiz to see if they mastered the concept. If they do well on the quiz, they move on to the next lesson. If not, they view the video lesson again and do the other set of problems. If they still need practice or help, there is online assistance and extra practice problems.

 

The first module (A) of the series is considered Pre-Algebra, then the rest cover both Algebra I and Algebra II. They can be done as fast or slowly as needed. They also have a Geometry course. It's kind of pricey, but I saw it at convention, and it's very impressive. It was recommended by Jay Wile (author of Apologia science) at that same convention.

 

http://www.videotext.com

[LinRTX]

My daughter struggled with Algebra in the 7th grade so we slowed it way down. Everything clicked in the 8th grade and she sailed through it. Sometimes I think they just have to "grow into" an algebra way of thinking.

[Hoggirl]

I am a HUGE fan of Chalkdust. It is a DVD program, and Prof. Mosely is an excellent instructor. Also, if you need "help" you can just e-mail him and he will further explain a concept. Truly, I cannot say enough good things about Chalkdust.

Cynthia

[mcconnellboys]

This is what we used for Algebra I and II. We would have continued with it for geometry if my older son had not gone back to school.

 

Regena

[Linda in NM]

I've found, with my 13 yos ("good at math") that he's not quite "there" developmentally for some of the algebraic concepts. I tend to go back to Piaget's stages when I see what causes confusion for him--it's typically the more abstract concepts (formal operations vs. concrete)...we stop and make sure that he understands before we move on. We like VideoText...if there isn't enough repetition there for new concepts, you could always make additional worksheets.

 

What I'm saying, I think, is that your dc just might not be ready, developmentally, for some of the more complicated algebraic concepts, which could be extremely frustrating. I've seen it in my son, who, as I said, is "good at math."

[5sweeties]

Thank you all so much for your input. I will look at Video Text and Chalkdust more indepth and I am thinking that it is time to slow way down, give her a little room to grow, and see if that helps. She also, is/was an excellent math student!