lisabees Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 (edited) We gave it a good try; dd is taking way too long with AoPS (started last year). I need to replace the last half of the book with something that ideally will go much more quickly for her. I recently bought Jacobs Algebra. It seems very doable, but we would be missing geometry. Ideas? Maybe we should play around with math for a while. Zaccaro or something. Feeling frustrated. Edited October 29, 2016 by lisabees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 (edited) Maybe you can use Inderstanding Geometry from Critical Thinking Co? http://www.criticalthinking.com/understanding-geometry.html Just want to add that you wouldn't need to cover it all, but just pick what's in AoPS topic wise Edited October 27, 2016 by Roadrunner 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 If you are really feeling under time pressure to do algebra 1 this year, it would probably be ok to move on to Jacobs at the halfway point. It might be nice to do the square roots chapter (as a prereq) and probably the statistics chapter (in case these topics aren't taught in whatever you are using down the road). As you know, the geometry chapters (my favorite!) will all be taught again in high school geometry. Additional options might include skipping the challenge problems or just using the videos and alcumus. FWIW, the chapters in the second half are more evenly-paced than the first half and seem to go a lot quicker. Jacobs is a lovely algebra. After a little while, there's a chance she may find it boring compared to AoPS. Consider yourself warned LOL though IMO, there's nothing wrong with switching back and forth whenever she needs a change of pace. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted October 27, 2016 Author Share Posted October 27, 2016 (edited) Ahhh, wapiti. You're making me second guess this. The percents and square roots chapters looks great and not difficult. DD actually likes the book; she doesn't mind spending a long time each day on math. I'm not sure, though, if she truly likes it or just thinks that AoPS is the only - the best - option because her brother loved it. I do fear that she will find Jacobs a bit too easy. Sigh. No decision needs to be permanent, I guess. I think we just need to breathe for a while. Roadrunner - off to check CTC. Thank you! ETA: Recent thoughts have led me to wonder if we should go sideways. She can easily pick up on things. I know she could easily go through a traditional prelagbra book quickly. I think the discovery method just isn't a strength or an interest, like it is for my boys. Should we take a break and do "fun" stuff - problem solving, puzzles, Zacarro. I don't know. Edited October 27, 2016 by lisabees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 Is this the 8th grader? You know more than I do about what lies ahead! But, I don't know that I'd go sideways from the standard sequence to play with math unless it's the summer or just a short "vacation" break or a side elective. If you really think she needs more prealgebra coverage but direct rather than discovery, Dolciani lines up well with the topics in AoPS. Or perhaps parts of MM7. Though honestly, if you pick up percents, square roots and statistics topics, I imagine she'd be ready. For a bright student who might prefer direction instruction, Foerster is more challenging than Jacobs and more direct. I tend to think Foerster is drier than AoPS though that may just be me. Jacobs has a bit of a discovery element hidden within the progression of the exercises. If you do go with Jacobs and it is too slow, the second half of the text is harder (I think - haven't used that part). I'd just speed through the first half, skipping occasional lessons when possible and/or compacting a few of those early chapters. Maybe you need to experiment a little - cover a topic (say, percents or square roots) with direct instruction materials and see how she likes it. Or, just switch back and forth, as long as you stay with an appropriate order. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerforest Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 I started a PM to you earlier today that I haven't finished! We stopped AoPS pre-algebra last year and finished up with Dolciani. You got further than we did in AoPS. We are doing Foerster algebra I this year, and we are both very happy with it. DD loves the silly names of everyone in the word problems. I feel like algebra reviews so much of pre-algebra albeit much faster and deeper, but we have been having a great year with math for a change. I have Jacob's too but I preferred Foerster when I compared them. Losing some of the frustration with discovery math has brought back the love. She is strong in math but doesn't love it enough to use AoPS. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted October 28, 2016 Author Share Posted October 28, 2016 (edited) Thanks to you both. I am pouring over Jacobs and Dolciani prealgebra. DD is working on MEP as I type this. I would love to see an entire section in Foerster's; I can't seem to find one anywhere. Deerforest, I am happy to hear that your daughter likes the silly word problems in Foerster! ;) DD is a big picture thinker. She, too, likes humor. For now, I think we will take percents, square roots and statistics using MEP or Dolciani and move onto Algebra. Thank you so much for your thoughts and guidance. Edited October 28, 2016 by lisabees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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