My 7th grader just switched to TT Pre Alg from Horizon's pre-alg and life is good! Math is first thing she does everyday by herself. We are both happy!

We liked Jump In and Wordsmith Apprentice...and Spectrum workbook

My 7th grader just changed back to TT pre alg from Horizon's pre alg and is so much happier - she can do it on her own! My 9th grader used TT Alg1 last year and tutored her friend using Saxon Alg 1 with no problem. She switched to Life of Fred Advanced algebra this year. She likes it but I had to hire a tutor because there are not enough explanations in the book for her to really understand the topics. She doing well now but will go back to TT for geometry next year then we are not sure what to do for pre-calc...

Life of Fred? TT? My girls will not use Saxon either... My 7th grader (also 12) just changed back to TT pre alg from Horizon's pre alg. She prefers to do math on her own. Life is much better now! She's doing 2 lessons a day to catch up (it's all review right now anyway...) and is still done in about a half hour. We are happy! She consistantly scores in the upper 90's on standardized tests in math so I think she's on target. Looking through the Horizons and TT pre alg - they both cover mostly the same stuff. IMO Horizon's jumps around a lot and makes some large leaps in concepts...while TT moves too slowly at times! My 9th grader is using LOF advanced algebra. I ended up getting her a tutor recently- but all is going well there now too...She used LOF beginning alg and TT Alg 1 last year. Her tutor feels she has a very solid math foundation (she did get a perfect test score in math last year) and is just helping her through some of the stuff that is not explained very well in LOF. Not sure what we will do next year - she needs to do geometry so maybe back to TT for that then rethink everything for pre calc... No magic solution that fits every child that's for sure!

most likely once you open it it will no longer be sterile and will grow stuff...

My daughter attended the bio lab in September. She loved it. We have registered for the chem one next September (can't beat it for $140!!). She really did not want to go at all but ended up enjoying it enough that is has renewed her interest in science! I would recommend it - especially if you can get the discounted rate!

Yes we are considering staying with LOF for geometry. She likes it. It's just that I can get Saxon free and with support with our enrollment... so I was thinking that I have one year when I can use their math and that would be for geometry... LOF (advanced Algebra) is going well, she has just needed some extra help with some of the concepts this year so I've had to hire a tutor and he is expensive (but worth it). I really don't want to keep going that way for next year with geometry if LOF doesn't have enough explanations... She's going to finish up alg 2 probably some time in Feb and I'm trying to decide what to do... I will say it has been a huge relief to have her dealing with someone else (not me!!!) for math! I like math - she doesn't...

The reason why we don't use saxon is all the review and repititive questions for each lesson and it moves so slowly. My daughter just gets math and doesn't need to keep doing the same thing over and over. I guess I'll have to try to find someone local that has the book so I can look at it... If it's really important not to skip any problems then this is definitely not the math for us!

She is using LOF for Alg 2 now along with a tutor who is filling in some of the gaps that we see with LOF. She will go on to college but not sure what she wants to pursue yet so I want to keep her on a decent math track. She is in 9th grade. I am wondering about the saxon because we are using Seton this year and that is the math they use. Using the same course that is offered by seton would save me some $$ that's why I would consider it for geometry only. She would be able to get their support for the course and the materials are included in our enrollment cost. Just trying to decide if it would be worth it. Of course just the mention of saxon to her sends her off and running away! Ugh high school math and science are enough to send me running away!!!

My daughter is finishing up Alg 2. She does not like Saxon and we have not used it since elemetary school. Is the new Saxon geometry ok to use without the other saxon math books? Any opinions on it?

We ahd the same issue here. My daughter would just tune out the TT lectures. We are doing Horizon's pre-algebra this year and it seems to be a much better fit. She also just likes to get it done and doesn't need the lecture. My older daughter ahs switched from TT to LOF advanced algebra and loves it!

We just started Horizon's pre-algebra after TT7 as well. I had to use Khan academy for the positive and negative integers because my daughter did not remember doing them in TT7. My daughter would just tune out the TT lecture as well - probably why she doesn't remember the +-! I agree with your very thorough review. This is out first time using Horizons and so for we like it!

We are using Horizon's pre-algebra here this year and so far we really like it. My daughter was using teaching textbooks but wanted to try something different then TT. I plan on using the Horizon's algebra 1 next year. If it worked for you before maybe you want to go back to it? My other daughter is using Life of Fred for Alg 2. She loves it. Have you looked into that series? It's not for everyone (my younger daughter hated it) but for those that like it - it works!

When my girls switched from a private Christian school to public school all the tests became open book and sometimes they got to "look over" the test the day before - there were always extra credit options - some as easy as remembering to bring your book to class (really). Needless to say one year of public school was enough for us and the girls have been home since!

I'm probably not much help, but we used K12 through a cyber school here in PA 3 years ago. It was for grades 4 and 6. I liked the K12 curriculum and thought it was challenging enough (I have one "gifted" and one average student). My oldest worked ahead quite a bit grade level wise. We were attached to the cyber school so there were quite a few strings attached for us. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate already. The things I liked most about K12: everything was provided for you and all the lessons were laid out so my girls knew exactly what they needed to do each day. I think that will be a huge benefit for you. You can always back out if it isn't working. Good luck!

We are changing from Teaching Textbooks this year. My 7th grader is going to use Horizon's Pre-Algebra. I have it but we have not started it yet. Looks like it will be a good fit for her - looks challenging. (Horizon is coming out with Alg 1 next year I think) For my 9th grader - she has opted to use Life of Fred so she is doing Advanced Algebra and using the home companion with it. She is reviewing LOF Beginning Algebra this summer so she will be on the same page to start Alg 2 in the fall. Good luck! I liked TT but my girls were ready for a change I guess...

Our co-op is using Apologia biology next year as well and we are not Apologia fans. I plan on having my daughter only take the lab portion - they are separate classes at our co-op. Is that possible for you?

Thanks - you adressed many of my fears of going there - especially since I have two daughters and the three of us are very independent! I will pm you... Heidi

Can you ship it separately? I see you are in Arabia. My husband is considering a job opportunity in Jeddah - Saudi Arabia. We have two girls 12 and 13 and were wondering how they would adjust... How do you like it?

Have you checked Critical Thinking Co? http://www.criticalthinking.com/searchByNeed.do?code=c&catalog=c&catalog2=c&categories=b&subjects=m&gradeLevel=9&code2=c&catalog3=c&x=22&y=11 We use quite a few of their books for math and reading...

I just received Horizon's pre-algebra. I think it looks very thorough and I would not really consider it gentle. This will be our first time using Horizons. I looks like it gets into quite a bit more "algebra" than other pre algebra courses I looked at...I am looking forward to using it with my daughter.

It looks like she will have no problems with using Horizons Pre-Alg from TT7...

We are going to use pre algebra next year - our first time using Horizons. My daughter did not want to continue with teaching textbooks...

I think Janet summed it up pretty good. If your son liked the format in LOF fractions then he will probably like the pre-algebra. I have one daughter using LOF Algebra and LOVES it but it would never work for my younger daughter - too much reading. She likes to just "get it done" - even though math comes very easily to her she just doesn't want to spend any more time then necessary! I would say try it...

:bigear: We are cinsidering it for next year as well...