annabanana1992 Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I have been asked by a friend to tutor her daughter in Algebra I. This is a wierd situation in which she has already taken Geometry, Alg II, and is taking Chicago Math's Functions, Statisitcs and Trig now. (She is in a private school.) She never actually passed Algebra I and has skimmed by in the other classes. She needs to get the F off the transcript and get better prepared for the SAT. I am familiar with Jacob's and Foerster, but we sort of just need to "get her through," ( i.e. we need to be expedient at the cost of more lofty educational goals) so I feel they are overkill. She is not math oriented at all. Soooo.. what would you suggest that I try with her? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Not sure how anyone could make it through Algebra II without a basic knowledge of Algebra I. What does she need to do to erase the 'F' off the transcript? Take an exam? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth in Canada Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Would Aleks work? It would skip over anything she already knew and focus only on gaps she might have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annabanana1992 Posted February 6, 2009 Author Share Posted February 6, 2009 Not sure how anyone could make it through Algebra II without a basic knowledge of Algebra I. What does she need to do to erase the 'F' off the transcript? Take an exam? The mother is checking with the administration to see what she needs to do. Technically it is an 8th grade class so they might overlook - we'll see... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyThreeSons Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 She could take each booklet's pretest, then it will guide her to the pages she needs to do. She would take spot quizzes along the way to check her progress. She could do much on her own, and you could check her progress online. The set of booklets is only about $40, and the online service is something like $6 per student per year, I think. You can preview it at www.keypress.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I'm surprised a school would let her continue on in the math sequence without passing ALgebra I. If it were me, I would do a full remediation so she has the skills she'll need in college and beyond, so she can be confident. I would be less worried about the 8th grade Algebra I grade and more concerned about the education itself. She can probably complete the Algebra A, B, C, and D (equiv of Algebra I and II) of Systematic Mathematics (http://www.systemath.com) in one school year. So that is what I would do but it is VERY likely this child, though just barely getting by in advanced maths, would be able to test decently on an Algebra I test. She uses those skills regularly in math as it is (and probably in science also). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annabanana1992 Posted February 6, 2009 Author Share Posted February 6, 2009 The parents will not really be able to buy curriculum and they don't have a year to devote to this. Yes, I know, this is not ideal. But as I stated, lofty educational goals are not what they are looking for. They just want to get her up to speed on the most basic of Algebra skills so she can take the SAT and perhaps do something on the transcript.... I know this all seems rather strange (it is to me too!), but I am trying to work with what the parents have presented.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilary in MI Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Another option is Thinkwell Beginning Algebra, along with the student workbook ($25). You could go right to the topics she needs to review. Lectures are short, clear, and to the point, as are the workbook practice problems. You can check out the table of contents on the Thinkwell site: http://www.thinkwell.com/student/product/beginningalgebra You may be able to get the DVD's used for a reasonable price. Homeschool Buyers Coop also often has group deals on online subscriptions, usually around half off, if I remember correctly. (I just bought the Thinkwell Chemistry DVD's used on Amazon for less then $5; they were made before the online subscription option, introduced in the last year or so, so they work on my computer as stand-alone lectures. I downloaded the (free) software necesary to play them from the Thinkwell site, and instead of logging in, click on the "default table of contents" at the log-in screen.). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilary in MI Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I must have crossed posts with your latest. It’ll take you a lot more time to chase down materials, but you could use library and on-line resources. Hopefully, you can find diagnostic materials online or at the library (placement tests, ACT/SAT prep materials) to figure out what she knows and where to begin. The National Registry of Online Courses has a very complete and well-organized algebra course (free). The text is Algebra Structure and Method, Book 1 (Brown, Dolciani et al.), which you could probably pick up used (ISBN: 0395977223). http://www.montereyinstitute.org/nroc/nrocdemos.html Our public library has a many algebra materials, including textbooks, other books, and even video lectures from the Teaching Company. Perhaps yours does, too. Math TV, free, has many video lectures/explanations, organized by topic, as well as online textbooks (levels: basic math, algebra, trigonometry, calculus). You could probably use it in the same way as I’d suggested using Thinkwell. It’s not nearly as complete, but it could get you started: http://www.mathtv.com/ If you want to introduce concepts using manipulatives, you can make algebra tiles (just google for examples). You can check out Virtual Manipulatives (for algebra tiles, scroll down or search the page the “algebra tiles†using control-f): http://www.ct4me.net/math_manipulatives.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moni Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 She needs to get the F off the transcript and get better prepared for the SAT How exactly are you to get an F off a transcript? Or are you just asking about SAT prep? I would think any SAT prep would prep/review anything in the Algebra-1 course. Not sure what you are asking......:confused: :seeya: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelli in TN Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 When I was in a tutoring situation with a young lady who we needed to "just get through it" I used a combo of Aleks and PASS to get the basics done. Truthfully, of the two Aleks worked the best. I hope you are richly blessed for sacrificing your time for this young lady. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annabanana1992 Posted February 7, 2009 Author Share Posted February 7, 2009 Thank you so much for your help - I definitely think my work is cut out for me. I am still awaiting clarification from parents on what the school is expecting. The parents have mentioned SAT Prep and Transcript "fixing" as needs. We don't have time to complete an entire Algebra I course so an assessment tool to uncover the gaps will be necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.