moki4 Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 So far, Dd is very happy with TT Algebra. But, I now have some concerns. For those of you who have used this program, I am wondering why the authors do not use algebraic terms such as monomials, binomials, polynomials, first-second-third degree equations. She is 3/4 through the program, and I am having second thoughts! I have previously written glowing reports and am now very nervous about the lack of very essential information. I discovered this while discussing the distributive property and the "FOIL" method. TT does not use the FOIL method (well they do, but disregard this pneumonic). I am very, very uncertain. Please help with any info, and by the way, is this one of the aurguments against TT Algebra???? Thanks so much! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stansclan89 Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 This is why I sold ours...that and the fact that my dc couldn't do any of the word problems right. We switched to Lial's. They don't enjoy it as much, but know the terms and can do the more complicated word problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moki4 Posted February 22, 2009 Author Share Posted February 22, 2009 stansclan... Did you happen to look over Lials before you bought it?? We will go through the "Key to" series and discuss the language of Algebra (well, actually our plan for Monday) I have read, and re-read all the TT posts and didn't find anyone else who had this problem. Not sure what else to do, except change programs! "sigh" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaof2andtwins Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 They do use the terms first degree, second degree and third degree. My son has used a little of ALEKS and has had exposure to those terms. If terminology is the concern then teach her the terminology. I did well in algebra in high school, and I do not have any recollection of being taught FOIL nor do I know it now. Typically, my son gets the word problems correct, but he just could not get the one on Test 11. I have to take a look at that. I would encourage you to find ways to work with what you have since you are already 3/4 of the way through the material. My undestanding is that the arguments against TT is that it teaches in an order that is not typical for a high school math program. Yet if you complete the program through to the end you will have covered everything. In the Algebra program absolute numbers and the quadratic equation is not taught. However, ALEKS does cover both. We used the 1 month free trial. I will probably by a month after my son finishes TT Algebra 1 just to have him work a little more with the math concepts presented there. Jennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moki4 Posted February 22, 2009 Author Share Posted February 22, 2009 you are correct. The terms are titled "a few technical terms". This explanation is maybe 3 sentences...would this be enough? To me, it isn't! I ask this because she wants to know the language. I have Saxon Algebra, and the Key to series, and they push the terms (I spent lots of time reviewing both programs today)! They are used throughout the lessons. What about TT Algebra 2? Do the authors use the language more easily? I do not want to give this program up, but terminology is the basis for any discipline. I don't want to short change her. She is very bright (11 yrs old) and she is particulary sensitive to this! She is very aware of the exclusion. Thanks again for reading (and posting your replies:)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stansclan89 Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 stansclan...Did you happen to look over Lials before you bought it?? We will go through the "Key to" series and discuss the language of Algebra (well, actually our plan for Monday) I have read, and re-read all the TT posts and didn't find anyone else who had this problem. Not sure what else to do, except change programs! "sigh" I bought an older version of Lial's Beginning Algebra (8th Edition) for under $1 plus shipping before I bought TT, so it was already on my shelf. I found that TT used terminology that I didn't understand well enough to help him with it (the author seems to have made it up). TT costs enough that I felt that I shouldn't have to supplement. If I'm having to help daily, or having to buy other texts to fill in gaps I just don't feel it was worth the price tag. Lial's is dry, but uses terminology that is in most other algebra texts, has examples of every type of problem (that I have seen anyway) that is in the exercises, and has about 100 problems per exercise. I certainly wouldn't assign this many, but it allows me to assign every other odd (25) and still have half of the odds to do if more practice is needed. Since the answers to the odd problems are in the back of the book, I didn't need to order the teachers manual. I did order the solutions manual ($10 I think), but my dc prefer me to explain any missed problems so it hasn't been used much. Lial's certainly isn't perfect, but at least I didn't pay $150 for a program I'm not happy with. And the dc are progressing in Algebra. I just noticed you said that your daughter is 11yo. It wouldn't hurt to finish TT and do another time through Algebra 1 with another text to cement the concepts and get the traditional vocab down if she doesn't pick it all up with the Keys to series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 So far, Dd is very happy with TT Algebra. But, I now have some concerns.For those of you who have used this program, I am wondering why the authors do not use algebraic terms such as monomials, binomials, polynomials, first-second-third degree equations. She is 3/4 through the program, and I am having second thoughts! I have previously written glowing reports and am now very nervous about the lack of very essential information. I discovered this while discussing the distributive property and the "FOIL" method. TT does not use the FOIL method (well they do, but disregard this pneumonic). I am very, very uncertain. Please help with any info, and by the way, is this one of the aurguments against TT Algebra???? Thanks so much! :) My dd is using TT for algebra. They do use the terms monomials, binomials, polynomials, and first-second-third degree equations. There are lessons that specifically teach those terms. The FOIL method is used. No, they do not use the pneumonic, but the concept is taught. My girls have had zero problems learning without the pneumonic. I personally believe it is a totally useless thing. Perhaps because I don't remember learning that term myself, yet I do remember the procedure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 you are correct. The terms are titled "a few technical terms". This explanation is maybe 3 sentences...would this be enough? To me, it isn't! I ask this because she wants to know the language. I have Saxon Algebra, and the Key to series, and they push the terms (I spent lots of time reviewing both programs today)! They are used throughout the lessons. What about TT Algebra 2? Do the authors use the language more easily? I do not want to give this program up, but terminology is the basis for any discipline. I don't want to short change her. She is very bright (11 yrs old) and she is particulary sensitive to this! She is very aware of the exclusion. Thanks again for reading (and posting your replies:)) I just noticed this post. Yes, I have found that that is plenty for my kids. Then again, they were already familiar with the prefixes which allowed them to figure it out pretty much on their own anyway. The terms make sense. They fit what they are. It isn't like trying to learn that "garc" means "a small ferocious mouse". (I just made that up.) I would think that stressing and working on vocabulary for these terms would be overkill. But, you could make notecards for her to study them if this is a problem for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moki4 Posted February 22, 2009 Author Share Posted February 22, 2009 but still wondering if TT Algebra 2 uses correct terminology. Yes, we did make math notes for her bulletin board (correct terminology), but, TT doesn't use it beyond the brief explanation in lesson 73. Please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks again for your replies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 I really don't like teaching FOIL nor using it as a mnemonic. It doesn't generalize well (that is, you can multiply (x+y)(a+b) but when you want to multiply (x+y)(a+b+c) or even (x+y)(a) it doesn't work). It essentially teaches memorization by rote rather than an understanding of when and why to distribute, which is far more important. I would consider not teaching the specific mnemonic as a plus rather than a minus. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moki4 Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 Does TT Algebra 2 use algebra language?? For us, this will either make/break our choice of using TT or not. Thanks is advance:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forty-two Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 You could look at the sample lessons TT has posted on their site. There are ten of them - that might give you a good feel for how the Alg 2 program uses (or doesn't use) the math terms that are important to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 but still wondering if TT Algebra 2 uses correct terminology.Yes, we did make math notes for her bulletin board (correct terminology), but, TT doesn't use it beyond the brief explanation in lesson 73. Please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks again for your replies! Dd has been having the terms used regularly in her lessons. The terms are not quizzed or anything like that. They are simply used in the explanations and problem directions in a very natural manner. (She is about to start chapter 12.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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