Hello! I have done an extensive search online and cannot find any samples from Foerster's Algebra I textbook. If anyone can help me with a link (or selected pages copied from your own book), it would be greatly appreciated. TIA, Pamela

I've been out of the loop for a while since I've just been using what my 1st child used for math. My 2nd child isn't understanding algebra 1 at all. She doesn't have dyscalulia, but just simply is in over her head. We've used grades K-6 grades CLE Sunrise math (did ok, but wanted more detail), 7th & part of 8th grade Teaching Textbooks (didn't like online), and remainder of 8th - now part of 9th grade Chalk Dust math with no luck 3 months into algebra 1. Every year we are just not getting it 100%. We repeated pre-algebra. We are now in Chalk Dust Algebra 1 and getting nowhere. There are numerous curricula that are book, dvd, cd-rom, and online. I don't know what all is offered anymore and I don't have $$ to waste. A main home school review website is permanently closed and I need help. Math curriculum for struggling high school Algebra 1? If you have a struggling student, what curriculum did you choose for Algebra 1. I'm searching the forum as well, but alot of math posts are old. (UPDATE: We have found a solution. See my last reply.) (2nd update given. We love Math Relief!)

My daughter does very well in every subject and is advanced in all but math. She is at level in Math, but ahead in Science. She wants to go to vet school in the future and is starting Biology as an 8th grader. The coop we're in won't allow her into Chemistry as a 9th grader unless she is has taken or is taking Algebra 2. So, we are speeding through Pre-Algebra this summer to try and prepare her for Algebra 1 in 8th grade. My dilemma is that I want her to enjoy Math like she does everything else, and I want her to have a thorough understanding of Algebra 1 before moving on to Algebra 2 while not holding her back in her sciences. She did BJU for a few years and hated it (did well in it, just hated how time consuming it was). Last year I switched her to CLE and it worked better, but she still doesn't enjoy math. Any ideas? I was thinking maybe something online for a change might help???

Read this in a city daily while waiting for library to open. Something to think about if choosing B&M for high school. A few issues were raised in the article. "The problem lies in the kinds of students enrolled in Algebra I in eighth and ninth grade. Students who take algebra in middle school are on a more rigorous pathway through math classes, and are able to master concepts in the class quickly. Students enrolled in ninth-grade algebra, on the other hand, are all performing at varying levels of math proficiency, Sarraf said. That means one high school algebra class might have students performing as many as three or four grade levels behind. The final wasn't the only problem. Before that, local school districts tried to get on the same page by adopting the same instructional materials for math, and voted in favor of using EngageNY — a common core-aligned, rigorous approach to teaching math. EngageNY worked for the middle schools, but students in ninth-grade algebra simply couldn't keep up with the same course material, Sarraf said. ... Most students coming from middle school go straight into geometry and are successful in meeting that requirement, but keeping ninth-grade Algebra I students on track is a challenge for a multitude of reasons. A majority of the students — about 80 percent — are either English-language learners, special education students or a combination of both. This may not be a big problem for linear equations, but many of the math problems presented in EngageNY and state standardized tests are written in dense paragraphs that need to be understood and decoded for the underlying math problem. This compounds the difficulty for students not familiar with the language, Sarraf said. ... For now, the district will continue to work towards common ground between middle and high school by way of a shared placement test developed by the Silicon Valley Mathematics Initiative. It should provide an objective measure for placing students in high school math classes, rather than relying on grades which are variable from one school to another and one teacher to another." http://www.mv-voice.com/print/story/2017/01/20/which-algebra-test-would-you-rather-take

Here's my dilemma: 9th grader starting Algebra 1 and I am trying to decide b/w Saxon Algebra 1 and CLE Algebra 1. I realize CLE goes no further and there is no geometry. The draw is that CLE workbook style looks appealing and the reviews all good and much cheaper than Saxon. So what's the problem you say? Well the attraction of Saxon is that I am looking to go to Saxon for Algebra 2 and beyond. I heard that the geometry credit doesn't start until Algebra 2 and on into Advanced Math. So I am thinking to get his geometry credit it won't matter if we do another vendor for Algebra 1...right???? Or am I wrong about the geometry? Since we are looking to do last 3 yrs of math with Saxon should we just start with Saxon instead of CLE and switching? But all the Saxon components are so much more expensive than CLE. Bottom line: I want to get the geometry credit that is woven into the Saxon Algebras and I want to make sure doing CLE for Algebra 1 instead of Saxon for Algebra 1 won't confuse him. Would it be better to stay with the same vendor/style for continuity and ease of learning in the long run? If it is worth the extra money for all of that I will pay it. Thx for any advice!

For those of you who have used Foerster's algebra for Algebra I, did you finish all 14 chapters? If not, how far did you get? Is some of it reviewed in Algebra II?

My daughter is using Derek Owens for Algebra 1. I have worked problem #3 on 7.9 more than 3 times, and I "think" the answer key is incorrect. Does anyone here know if there is an errata sheet available? Is anyone willing to work the problem and tell me what you get for an answer? TIA ps. I get 2 over x cubed y cubed.

Can you help me pick an algebra course that my daughter can possibly complete in the next 4 months? It will be her only course work over the summer. I can help her, but she is so resistant to sitting down with me to do the lessons, I am looking at something she can do more on her own, like Tabletclass or Teaching Textbooks. She has gotten through the first five chapters of Jacob's, and has done ok with it. She's not a great math student, (the first half of this year was spent reviewing pre-algebra) and she puts a lot more time and effort into her other assignments. I want her to take an online geometry class in the fall, and I think she can get through algebra if she has no other classes to use as an excuse. I also think that she would benefit from more immediate feedback when she's working problems. Thoughts? Am I just expecting too much?

I will put my daughters schedule below, but I am just stuck. We made it through lesson 78 in Saxon Algebra 1 last year. This year I was hoping to finish it and then start alg. 2 Saxon. Here is the problem. She hates it. Algebra should be fun or at least comfortable IMHO. I have a math degree, it is not that I don't know the material backwards forward. If we decide to use some other book, we will be following the schedule of Alg. 1 in 9th, Geometry in 10th, Algebra 2 in 11th and trig. in 12th. Will she be ready for the sat or psat on this schedule? Also she doesn't want to "start over" Algebra 1 with another book, but she just is constantly complainng that she hates the way math is going!! My husband thinks it is part attitude and that we should finish her out in Alg 1 Saxon even if we just take our time. Such a struggle with this daughter. And I don't want her to be a guru in math, just up to speed...she has the ability...but also prepared for tests later and for the minimum amount of math she will need to take in college. Her strenghths lie more with writing, foreign language and artistic venues. Thanks for listening

My daughter is quickly moving through LoF Pre-Algebra and is about ready to move to Algebra. There are 3 books listed on the Life of Fred website, Lof Beginning Algebra, Fred's Home Companion Beginning Algebra, and Zillions of Practice Problems Beginning Algebra. It appears that Stan recommends getting the first two. Have you found a need for Zillions of Practic Problems? She has done well with Pre-Algebra thus far with the exception that sets tend to trip her up. TIA Sarah

My ds is 1/2 way through MUS Algebra 1. He got sidetracked by his academic load in other courses and fell behind in keeping up with the math curriculum. But he's on his way now. At his current pace he should finish in early June. Now that we're into it, we're both feeling a pull in a different direction. The Math U See text doesn't offer the depth he's looking for each week. He loved using Singapore and liked the way of looking at everything through a different lens! I'm thinking about having him finish MUS Algebra I, but he wants to go through something quickly to fill-in any potential gaps, before moving on to geometry in the fall. Your thoughts? In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to have a back-up text on the shelf to help him process his questions. Any suggestions?

I am ready to make the switch from MUS Algebra over to Foerster's Algebra 1 and use the Math Without Borders dvd along with the textbook. Which textbook did you use? (An ISBN number would be appreciated.) On the Math Without Borders site, it states that you can use this book or earlier versions. I will most likely purchase the newer version. I plan to do many of the problems alongside my son. Do I need both the Teacher Manual AND the Solutions Manual? If so, what are the ISBN numbers for these texts that will match up with the most recent Foerster's Algebra 1 book? Do I purchase them through Oasis? Thanks for any help you can offer! :)

It has been brought to my attention that many middleschoolers are taking Algebra I. Is this seriously the norm? I have read materials that sway one from letting their children take Algebra until high school. Dh and I have talked about this and we tend to agree... I have a friend that is a math teacher and her children used Saxon. She said that they did not do well on the ACT and that they took Algebra I in 8th grade.... What are your thoughts on this? I know some children are math oriented and NEED to be challenged. I am referring to our 'regular' children. ;) By the way my dc will be starting TT 7 this coming week. They could have taken pre-algebra, but barely (I gave them the placement test) and I want them to be capable of doing their math without frustration. What says the hive?

My 8th grader is using TT Algebra I, although he "uses" it in that he reads the lesson, we usually do the practice exercises together, and then he does the problems. He will not watch the lectures or examples on CD. (Yes, I realize this defeats the purpose of TT). So, he's struggling with chapter 4 or 5, simplifying equations. If he sees: 17 - 4(2x + 10) He wants to turn it into 13 - 2x + 10 and then into 23 - 2x and then he'll still sometimes want to make that = 25. It really throws him when they do a "simplify this expression" without giving him the = side of things. Not that he's 100% stellar on what to do when it is a full equation, either, but..... I gave him a practice sheet Weds, Thurs & Fri of just "show me what this means" and started with simple 4(x+5) (for him to write (4)(x) + (4)(5)) and moving to things like the first problem I typed. When I wrote these for him, he did fine. One hundred percent accuracy. That was Thurs & Fri. Today, same thing but in the book, he went back to missing them every time in the way I described. His excuse?? "Well, that was a long time ago...." Please tell me there's something other than "we'll just have to do math on weekends, too...." to help this. We had a VERY LONG DAY today with me correcting his math at every.single.problem. because he didn't remember any of it. The only new concept today was how to shift the negative from a - (parenthetical) and make it a + (-1)(parenthetical). So 5 - (x+3) becomes 5 + (-1)(x) + (-1)(3). that's it. That little bit turned a 20 minute session into an hour long session. Help??

I have a daughter that is home schooled and a son in public middle school. The school uses different text books for Algebra 1 -- one text book for advanced students and another for regular math students. The advanced track will use Foerster's Algebra I book next year while regular will use Larson's Algebra 1 Concepts & Skills book. When I asked one of the math teachers about this, she said that "Foerster's is great for calculation-type problems but not as strong in critical thinking problems." Do those of you using Foerster's Algebra 1 book agree with that assessment??? I've never heard that about Foerster's book. In fact, it seemed to be one of the top choices for Algebra. So I'm keen to get a second opinion, especially since I'm trying to choose an Pre-Algebra and Algebra program for my hs dd. Thanks!!! Anna

Up until yesterday, I had planned to use Chalkdust and LoF with my oldest son. I know those programs are "solid." I'm comfortable with them. After some back and forth with some people on the accelerated learner board, people who know the various math programs gave me some feedback, and I went back to revisit some selections, and suggestions. I don't want TT. My son is "good" at Math, shows interest in technical/technological fields, and at this point he needs something a bit "more." The Dolciani Pre-Algbera course was a nightmare. Neither of us liked the text, examples, explanations... we hated it. So, at this point the Doliciani Algebra I is going to be a very hard sale. Foerester's was mentioned as a possibility. There are some videos that can be purchased to "enhance" the text (Math without Borders), which I feel will be helpful. It sounds like it might have some humor, I like the textbook + video assist format, and it sounds like it might be a bit "deeper" than some other texts out there. I also stumbled across something relatively new, called Kinetic Textbooks. Unlike the other options I've really considered, which all have textbooks, it's a computer-based program and a $49 for 12 month subscription. A couple of reviews praise it fairly highly -- and of course, my son thought it looked fun. In the scheme of things $50 for 12 months is pretty cheap for a math course, although I don't have anything I could "keep." The program tracks all of the problems, grades... very, very nice on that end. Very independent, but no tutoring/extra help (which is one thing I like about Chalkdust... an outside person we could go to if we get stumped). Lial's I've heard has wonderful explanations, but can be quite hefty (my son does better with short & sweet...) I probably wouldn't mind having a copy on my shelf just to have different explanations available, but not so sure about something that has been described as a more "incremental" approach, with a student having to do a lot of review, etc. at the end of a chapter. Jacob's I have also heard uses some humor, cartoons and gets to some of the Why's in math (which, I think my son may like). But that "incremental approach" rears it's ugly head (we had an awful early experience with this approach with this boy, and I don't want to repeat that. There are the Ask Dr. Callahan videos, etc. -- and it too receives high marks. I don't mind my son thinking math is "fun" (but, he thinks anything new or different is fun... until it's not "new" anymore :glare:). I DO want math to be solid, rigorous, not something I'm willing to skimp on at these levels. Pretty much all of my choices (other than Kinetic) is going to have a lot more work for me to check and review work... so I need a good TM with full solutions. I have other kids, and I just don't have an extra hour or two to go through everything step-by-step with my son, to make sure he's doing it right... but an answer key, or answers to simply odd problems is not going to cut it. *I* want clear examples -- which are tied to the problems being worked, not just one simple example, followed by problems that jump 2-3 levels without much basic practice, good instruction, good review (like cumulative review, chapter tests, quizzes, and enough problem selections to go back for extra practice, if needed). Additional Challenge problems would be nice, but not completely necessary. I can always keep a copy of AoPS, and we have LoF already on-hand. I am more worried about this decision for my oldest child. My two younger children seem to flourish regardless of the program... they seem to be a bit more adaptable. Re-using is a nice feature, but it doesn't have to be mandatory. Cost isn't a huge consideration, either (I was planning on purchasing both AoPS and Chalkdust next year for my ds). We also purchased Descartes Cove for the kids' to play (Family Gift)... so there is plenty of math around. :lol: So, here I am... asking for input, and praying for assistance and clear direction from those of you who may have been through this, or know more about these math programs than I can find out. Thank you so much.

Seriously I am DEEPLY concerned my daughter's SAT scores will be plummeted by her inability to grasp Algebra. I'm INCREDIBLY comfortable with math & Algebra. My DH is extremely math capable, having gone onto extensive math classes throughout his college career. She simply isn't grasping it. More than that, it takes us about 6-8 LESSONS (not problems) before she can grasp a new concept and then I don't feel she's understanding the "why and wherefore" but just doing rote math without any true comprehension. She constantly must go back and look up formulas. I'm concerned. I'm DEEPLY concerned. She's a freshman, this is Algebra I. We must get through Algebra I & II and Geometry before her SATs and honestly, I was hoping before her PSATs. We are willing to start utterly & totally from scratch with a new program. Plus if we start over, I can scratch the current grade which will drag down her GPA and begin again. Someone, please, tell me, what have you loved for your math hater? (Please don't tell me Teaching Textbooks. This one I've already removed from a list of possibilities for a different reason.) I'm open to all other suggestions.

Pros and cons, please! Heather

Pros and cons, please! Heather

Pros and cons, please! Heather

Which is the best algebra 1 curriculum for a concrete thinker? Ds12 is just not an abstract thinker at all. And he struggles with math. He is not (at this point in time) headed into a mathy career field, but he will be going to a four year college, so I do want him to take algebra 1 in 8th grade. TIA,

We're in chapter 5 of Larson's elementary/intermediate algebra book (planning to stop at chapter 10 this year) My ds is getting more and more confused by Algebra...entering a "can't see the forest for the trees' muddle in which he gets so caught up in rules and formulas that he's losing sight of why he's doing what he's doing. He's not doing badly with Larson--gets low A's or high B's on most of his chapter tests--but I get the feeling it's all not clicking and that he's forgetting what he's learned as soon as he's done with the chapter (though, again, he did fine on the cumulative 1-3 test; but that material was mostly review from last year). He hates the textbook--the sheer number of problems on the page, I suspect, get to him, even though we only do every fourth. It also takes him FOREVER to get his tests done because he's so worried about getting things wrong and overthinks everything. In short, the math anxiety monster has struck big time...what to do?! He's a humanities oriented kid--not particularly math-oriented but does fine normally. We used Singapore through 6B, which he loved, then TT Algebra 1 last year which was so-so. Is there an algebra text out there that works well with kids who like the Singapore approach? Or should we just keep muddling through, and expect it all to come together at some point? (That has happened before). Also--while he dislikes the math textbook, he likes the chalkdust videos--it would be ideal if we could pair them with a different style textbook. TIA, Mary

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