Thank you for the link, Arcadia. We are in NJ, and Rutgers has a great atmospheric science program. We went to an open house, and we were told the math goes up to Calc 4 for this program. Yes, it also went by another name, but I can't recall what they said it was, just that some people consider it Calc 4. No, he definitely does not need that in high school...God forbid! Again, thanks for the links. It will be nice for him to look them over. NOAA is his goal....and it keeps him motivated to work hard at everything. The encouragement quote is also helpful. He felt so discouraged yesterday and I felt horrible for him. I know we can get him back on the right track.

I appreciate ALL the comments. I absolutely agree that it is more a problem with the curriculum/teaching method than with my son's abilities. While he certainly isn't a genius, he is very bright and very determined and as such I have no other explanation than he didn't "master" the material through LOF. I do, however, blame myself for that .....try as I might I can't seem to do things right sometimes! Anyway, we have a lot of options here and I will work my way through them one at a time to see which will be the best option for him. He has a definite mastery of Algebra 1, but I believe the holes are within Algebra 2, so I will get a tutor to analyze where to begin and how to fill in those gaps so that he can be successful in the higher levels of math no matter when he is ready for them. Oh, and by the way, for whatever it is worth, he wants to study atmospheric science. He would need to go up to Calc 4. Yikes!!!!

I thought that the Math Without Borders flash drive would be similar to having a tutor/teacher and I wouldn't be expecting him to teach it all to himself. In addition, how do I KNOW if he is capable? He is bright, but I hear so many stories of these STEM kids that take to math like a duck to water, and are doing advanced algebra in 9th grade, and are loving it, or at the very least REALLY understanding it enough to get through it. I don't want to sell him short, either, but are there people that just cannot grasp this level of math? Or will perseverance be enough for someone without any learning disability that works hard enough?

My 11th grader is really struggling. He hates math. Wants to go into a science field, but can't seem to excel in math that would be necessary. I feel like we wasted years in math with Life of Fred (he did their Pre Algebra, Beginning Algebra, Advanced Algebra and half of their Geometry. He did great with all of those books, but felt he wasn't learning much as there is so little practice in each lesson, and SO MUCH FLUFF. (He hated the silly story stuff and felt it was very distracting) When he asked me to get something more challenging for this year, we purchased Foerster's Advanced Algebra/Trig. He is completely and totally lost in it. How can that be if he excelled and got almost everything right in LOF Advanced Algebra? He is struggling to understand the concepts even in the very beginning of the Foerster's book, struggling to complete all the graphing of functions, and feels like he has no foundation for any of the work in this book. He is also using MWB flash drive videos before each lesson. I'm really not sure where to go from here. Would it be best for him to stick it out and struggle through? If we switch to something that is easier, would he even be able to go into science in college? I'm not a math person and have no idea what to even think so don't know what to do for him. He tells me he absolutely hates math and doesn't think it will ever come naturally for him. But I know he will have to at least master it if he wants to go into a science career of any sort. He is a very very hard worker, very motivated and self driven, but is extremely frustrated and becoming anxiety ridden over this. Any advice is welcome.

I was just going by chapter titles and none of them matched up. So you think I should just look up the particular concept in WOC and use any videos that apply? I am also looking for a test booklet but can't find one. There is a chapter review in the book, but no tests/answer keys

Are there any sources of teaching videos for Zumdahl's World of Chemistry? Everything I have found is for his book "Introduction to Chemistry. I just purchased the book for my 11th grader, but I'm also not sure what other supplementary books/materials I need. All these questions are coming from a NON science oriented parent, if you couldn't already tell! I have no idea where to begin with this. Thanks so much.

Thank you!

happysmileylady I've heard people say that, can you tell me why spiral wouldn't work for someone so I can see what I think in relation to my son? Thanks

What are the opinions on Saxon on this board? I have used it in the past and stopped (other children), but I'm wondering if it is a good fit for my third child. I know no one can speak to that aspect, but I'm wondering what the general view is. This is for my son who is great with numbers, but needs practice to retain. Very bright, not a genius, LOVES science and will need higher math when he gets older. He is currently in 6th. LOF is not cutting it, and I will use it as a supplement, but not the main curricula. Thank you

Just a few questions about World of Chemistry by Zumdahl. Are there any online teaching videos for this text? Tests, study guides, quizzes, answer keys, etc? Or is just the text available and I would have to teach it myself? Thanks!

Thank you Lori. Sounds like great advice!

Thank you for all the suggestions......I, too, have serious issues with using LOF exclusively. I love the theory behind it, but for most people, at the very least, more practice is needed to get good at a concept. I have been reading about CLE. Anyone love this program? Is it good to use then transition to a Pre Algebra from there? Thanks

I have one child that graduated high school a few years ago, a high school junior, a 6th grader, and a 2nd grader. I feel that I have made some mistakes with math with all of them at some point and I'm trying to avoid making any more. My junior is all set, but it took years of trial and error (HATED Saxon, used LOF for 2 years, switched to Foerster's Algebra/Trig). My question is this: I want to avoid all this switching/delaying with my other kids. They are both using LOF right now, and although it's going well, there is very little practice and I'm not sure I want to continue with it after this year. My 6th grader (VERY science oriented) picks up concepts quickly, but needs more practice. I also want to make sure he will be ready for a challenging prealgebra program. Then again, maybe I should stick with LOF through high school, but supplement with something. As far as my 2nd grader goes, I will probably just keep doing LOF with her, supplementing the same way I decide to supplement with my 6th grader. Any advice is welcome. My main concern is being sure that they don't get to college and find out they did not have the math foundation necessary. Although I did well in high school math, up to Trigonometry, I remember very little and I don't feel that I am the best person to even evaluate whether a program is what they will need. Thank you

Thank you all....that helps clear up most of the confusion. Although now someone else has told me that if I have the videos, then all I would need is the Teacher's edition which contains all the answers, including all lesson problems as well as chapter review and test answers.

Would I need the Solutions Manual if we use the DVD? I guess I'm confused..... Thanks

Where did you buy the Solutions Manual? I'm having trouble finding it (This is for Foerster's Algebra and Trig) Do I also need the Test Booklet? Yes, I was mistaken when I said we are using MWB for Geometry. Thanks.....

I'm hoping there is someone here that has used this textbook that can help me. I purchased the book brand new. I just ordered the flash drive from math without borders. Now I'm wondering if I need an answer key also. There are answers in the book to the odd questions, but what about the others? And aren't there tests also? It just seems like a lot of books/accessories to buy for one course. I have the same question about Jacob's Geometry. Thanks so much

Thanks everyone. I will just do searches for the info for now. I am glad it is nothing that I did lol. I seem to be falling into the rabbit hole of the best math curriculum for my science minded high schooler and was hoping that pinned thread would help me sort it all out.

How can I get permission? Thanks so much!!!! Edited to add: I seem to only be kicked out of the Math thread. The others I'm able to view.....

Thanks for the info! I just checked it out, and apparently he can take Introduction to Chemistry at our local community college and earn 4 credits while he is at it! I don't know why I didn't think of it before, but it sounds like a great plan for him. It will not only give him the taste of a college class in his junior year, but also earn him credits. It will also, of course, give him a real lab experience, versus what we could do at home. Thanks again

"Smily"....since you seem to know a lot about this career track, do you have any suggestions about a good math curriculum? He just finished up Geometry with Life of Fred, and is ready to start LOF Trigonometry, but he has expressed that he doesn't know if it's rigorous enough, and is growing a little weary with the extraneous story line that he doesn't think is necessary. I'm not sure if he's right, but am open to suggestions.... Thanks!

Thank you for the kind responses so far! Yes, he's solid on Algebra 1 and 2, and I will definitely keep up on that knowing that the math is more important than the science at this point. I am looking into outsourcing the chemistry at least.....it will definitely be hard to do it on our own. I REALLY appreciate the tips regarding college science. I am not science oriented, and my first child was not going into anything even remotely science like, so this is all new to me. Cindy....you feel the WTM science classes are rigorous enough for pre med? I would think then it would be fine for my son also.... I will also check out the thread that Murrayshire mentioned. Thank you for that! Any more suggestions are always welcome. I have learned a lot so far and I appreciate it.

Hello, I've been reading for hours now about different high school chemistry options for my 11th grader. He is pretty set on studying atmospheric science in college, with a minor in environmental science. I want to be sure to prepare him well for college science, but after reading I'm more confused than ever. He is currently set to begin precalculus/trigonometry and is highly motivated and self-directed. I am NOT strong in the sciences, however, and worry that I will do him a disservice. A good friend used BJU for her son and he had a lot of trouble in his first two years of college science classes, despite a very high IQ....so it worries me that my son will have the same issues if I choose the wrong curriculum. My friend feels now that BJU did not adequately prepare her son for college biology or chemistry. My son's first love is physics, but I know he needs to master this chemistry also. Any help is appreciated.

Thank you all SO much. I'm so glad I joined this forum, as I was searching the web for reviews, and sometimes it was confusing to hear the anecdotal evidence for one system or another. Here, I feel like you guys are super knowledgeable and experienced. I am going to stick with Saxon (at least for now), as that is what my gut instinct was telling me from the beginning, and what I now believe is best for us. My reservations about MUS were apparently correct, in spite of my friend's son doing so well with it. I agree that her son is way beyond the average math student (while my son is NOT, but highly motivated in order to be able to pursue a science career) and that he did well in spite of using MUS. Thank you all so much, and I'm sure I'll be back here. Anna

I think my major hurdle with Saxon was that I read in numerous places that it does not teach the concepts well at all, and that although a child may be able to test well, they will not be able to transfer that knowledge to "applying" it to science, etc. THat is was just rote memorization of rules for specific problems, and didn't teach a true understanding of math. I will investigate those other programs that were mentioned. I wonder if using math u see JUST for Algebra 1 would leave him behind for next year....