Hello, I've been asked to teach some small co-op math classes next year. This year I'm teaching Geometry (Jacobs) and in the past have taught Algebra 1 (Holt). I love the Jacob's Geometry. The Holt, it's pages are busy but it has some good points, too. Ages ago I used Foerster with my son for Algebra I and II but I hardly remember it and the books are not in my personal library any more. I'm looking for text recommendations for Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Algebra II, and Pre-Calc/Trig. I had originally thought to use Jacob's Algebra I since I like the Geometry so much, but now I'm wondering whether consistency in all the classes (except geometry) would be a better idea and if so, what text? I did get my hands on some Lial's (how do you pronounce that, by the way?) but only the Beginning Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, and Pre-Calculus with Limits, not the Pre-Algebra. They were $4 per book so I'm not heavily invested here, they mostly quite old. I haven't had a chance to evaluate them yet. If I do use Jacobs for both Algebra I and Geometry, what do you think would be a good Pre-Algebra, Algebra II, and Pre-cal? Do you think consistency is important? Thank you for your input, I really appreciate your experience and your comments. Sandra p.s. I'm sure my sig line is very out of date.

So...I thought since there are quite a few threads going now on the topic of Pre-Algebra, it might be helpful to have one master thread to discuss texts, and to link to previous conversations. (Links at the bottom) I will post a link to my blog once I get photos up, as I know some of the texts are hard to preview online (Lial's, in particular) I have received Dolciani PreAlgebra: An Accelerated Course (1985) and Lial's Pre-Algebra Third Edition in the mail this past week. I already own Lial's BCM and AoPS Pre-A. So I think I have shopped enough that I can now safely make my decision...:D Initial impressions of Dolciani and Lials: Dolciani Pre Algebra: An Accelerated Course 1985 thorough, dry, no color, few pictures/images, black text with some color fonts as headers to different sections. Problems: divided into A (basic) B (more challenging) and C (challenging) problems. Word problems are dull, but serviceable. If your child didn't have trouble with Singapore CWP, he/she won't find these too hard, certainly not in the first part of the book. Odd answers in the back of the student book. Percents Chapter has the following sections: Percent of Increase or Decrease, Discount and Markup, Commision and Profit, Percents and Proportions, Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Percents and Problem Solving. Sample Word Problem: Gilbert wants to borrow $2250 for 3 years to remodel his garage. The annual rate is 18%. If the principal and interest are to be repaid in equal monthly installments, how much will each installment be? Sample Word PRoblem 2: If a car uses 5 gallons of gas to travel 160 miles, how many gallons would the car use in traveling 96 mi Lial's Pre-Algebra, Third Edition: Thorough, more visually appealing than Dolciani. Some might say it's more visually cluttered, but I don't agree. I think the colored fonts are used well to highlight important information. Sidebars on each page provide problems that are linked directly to the text they are next to, so it's easy to pinpoint areas of weakness in your student. Word problems seem more 'real-life'. Each chapter has sub-sections outlining how to solve different sorts of problems. For example, the Percent chapter has subsections entitled: Changing Percents to Decimals by Moving the Decimal Point, Changing Decimals to Percents by Moving the Decimal Point, Wrting Percents as Fractions, Writing Decimal Percents or Fractions Percents as Fractions, Writing Fractions as Percents, Finding 100% of a Number, Finding 50% of a Number. Each explanation is clear and shows a few examples. Sample Word Problem:In the hospital pharmacy, Michiko sees that a medicine is to be given at a rate of 3.5 mg for every 50 lbs of body weight. How much medicine should be given to a patient weighing 210 pounds? As point of reference, this question shows up about halfway through the book. Sample Word Problem 2: Ms Henderson owes $1900 in taxes. She is charged a penalty of 12 1/4 % annual interest and pays the taxes and penalty after 6 months. How much does she pay? Both text have built-in review and self-tests. I think Lial's has more concrete examples, Dolciani assumes a bit more. Lials' questions seem more...interesting. With Lial's I think you'd have to be careful that your child wasn't just following the steps: the steps are so clear, that a child could potentially follow formulas rather than truly understand the concept. Throwing in some Singapore CWP 6 or AoPS Pre-A would certainly reveal that. Dolciani is more old-fashioned and perhaps less suitable to a younger child. Okay, so I have more to say, and want to talk about AoPS and BCM too, but I'm tired and I'd rather here what others have to say. Links to recent threads on Pre-A: Thread 1 Thread 2 Thread 3 Thread 4 Thread 5 Thread 6

I am considering purchasing McDougall-Littel Pre-Algebra 3rd Edition and was wondering if it is necessary to purchase a Teachers Guide or Solutions Manual? I am looking for a textbook type pre-algebra that would be similar to Math Mammoth in explanations. I don't like Dolciani or AOP's they seem like they may cause frustration for my dd. I am also considering Lial's Pre-Algebra but was wondering if you need to get teachers guides or solution manuals with that textbook? Does anyone have experience using these textbooks that can give me some input as to whether there is much benefit in purchasing any of the additional guides or manuals offered?

Does anyone have any experience using Singapore Math 6B? If so, what did you use next? I was planning to do Jacob's Math (algebra) with Dr. Callahan because I have heard such great things. But when my dd did the 'are you ready' test on Dr. Callahan's site she missed more than I'm comfortable with. So now I'm revisiting the idea of a formal 'pre' algebra course. Singapore has hit on many of the concepts but I'm guessing not all (we've used their u.s. standards editions since first grade). Does anyone have a recommendation for what we should use prior to Dr. Callahan's Jacobs Math? Thanks so much!

We just finished chapter 1 of AoPS prealgebra and DS 11 is totally balking at writing out the problems. He's always hated to write, but many of the exercise, review, and challenge problems required him to cross things out, regroup, etc., and sometimes he really needed to have the numbers on a sheet in front of him. I wrote out a few for him, but it was long and tedious and not how I want to spend my time. Do your kids willingly write out the problems if they need to manipulate the numbers? I thought of making copies of these sections, but the way they are spaced on the sheet doesn't offer much room for writing either. The math in this chapter was no problem and I'd like to continue, but I don't want each day to be a writing battle. Is it just my kid?

DS10 just completed AOPS online prealgebra class and is a little intimidated at the idea of starting the algebra class. The class was a good pace and skill but he needed help thinking through some of the challenge problems. Any ideas? Do we continue (we can do alcumus before the start of class), take a break and do zacarro algebra, LOF algebra, AOPS AMC 8 basics (never done any math competition) Any other ideas? Thanks.