Algebra 2- which would you do?

[MamaSprout]

For various reasons, the scale has tipped to algebra 2 this year over geometry for this year. Dd has done some geometry, and will finish it the next year.

 

She did well with Foerster Algebra 1, and we hope to do Derek Owens Precalculus after geometry. My two thoughts:

 

Foerster Algebra 2, Kolbe honors. Dd wants to be more familiar with her TI84 she got from an older sib, and this is scheduled. She did well with Foerster Algebra 1, and I really like the solutions videos from MWB. I like the idea of the Kolbe syllabus because I want her to cover algebra 2 before she takes the SAT next year, rather than the 12 school months a lot of students need to do the whole book. Since she won't need a whole year for geometry, we may go back and pick up some of the parts Kolbe skips before starting precalc.

 

Derek Owens Honors self grading. This seems like the obvious choice because we plan to use his Precalculus. She did well with his prealgebra and physical science a few years ago, but we have run into problems when she has too many screen-based classes, and she does have a couple already this year. I also sent an inquiry if the self-grading option was still available several days ago, but haven't heard back. I assume this is as easy as contacting the bookkeeper, though, right? A con for this is no solutions videos, which does keep us from butting heads sometimes.

 

Other options we should consider? I like the Chalkdust videos, but they are very long and I'm not sure dd would go for it. I'd be watching and teaching them if she didn't get it from the book. MWB is kind of like that for us, but the videos are shorter and she usually gets what she needs from the book. And the videos are much less expensive, even compared with the Cool Math Guy version. I do have her do the examples on the board with me.

[gstharr]

I hate to express this concern about D.O. because I really like the program.  The 7th grader did pre-alg, alg 1, and geometry with Thinkwell.  Started TW alg 2, but a couple of chapters into it we switched to DO because I thought TW did not have enough practice problems.  Turns out DO and TW have about the problems, and, in ways,  TW's are more rigorous.  We are  wrapping up the last three 3 chapters (trig) of DO. I don't mind paying the higher cost for DO.  i like DO hand grading..  However, I am having too much difficulty keeping the kid on pace.  There is no way to daily and remotely  monitor progress with DO.  Also, there have been long lags in getting graded work back, The lag forces me to decide whether to move forward without whether the kid mastered the material, or wait a few days.  .  With TW, , there is checkoff page showing progress, practice  questions at the end of every lesson and immediate grading.  I am seriously considering returning to TW for pre-calc, or try the one at EDX for free. 

[MamaSprout]

I think we would use the self grading option this year for DO... but that makes me wonder about precalculus, because that was my plan for that class, as I really don't like Foerster's precalc. Maybe I'll look at Thinkwell again. The demo didn't work on dd's old computer, but we can try it on our desktop.

[MarkT]

I like the Foerster texts - we have no experience with the others except the Thinkwell which we have seen some of Dr Burger's videos which are available with Holt (used at DS' B&M charter).

I think Dr Burger is a good presenter but some folks feel otherwise.  All above should have sample videos on Youtube.

 

 

[We after-schooled supplemented with Foerster for Alg 2 and Precalc.]