What is your favorite Algebra 1 curriculum?

[SS in MD]

My dd finished SM 6B and will start Algebra 1 in the fall. What is your favorite Algebra 1 curriculum? Price is a factor, my husband is very ill, so he is not working and self-employed. So, we are very limited in our finances. (Can't afford Chalkdust!) Thanks so much! God bless.

[AngieW in Texas]

Kinetic Books is my #1 choice. Jacobs is my #2.

 

Kinetic Books actually costs less than Jacobs, even when you buy Jacobs used.

 

KB is $50 for a one-year subscription. Many of the problems have immediate feedback and even have a help button that will walk you through to the answer one step at a time (rather than just providing the answer or the solution outright). The end-of-unit problems are to be completed on paper rather than on the computer. Only the odd answers are provided for those problems, but I sometimes have my dd do only every-other-odd instead of all the odds because sometimes just the odds is a bit of overkill.

 

When my dd finished Singapore 6B, she tried one month of aleks and hated it. Then she worked through Math Smart Junior (usually available on amazon for $0.01) before starting KB Algebra.

 

Since my dd is young, I am slowing her down by having her also work through Jacobs (which I already owned because her older sister used it the previous year). I bought my Jacobs 2nd-hand for $60.

 

I like Jacobs, but KB goes deeper and has much better explanations.

 

Finishing KB in one year is definitely doable. My dd is going to need 1.5 years, but that's because she's also working through Jacobs. She's halfway through the 9th chapter (out of 13) in Kinetic Books and is also halfway through the 8th chapter (out of 17) in Jacobs. She stopped halfway through the 8th chapter in Jacobs and switched back to Kinetic Books because the explanations in Jacobs weren't good enough for her.

 

http://www.kineticbooks.com

[LadyAberlin]

My favorite is BJU, but if you aren't strong in math yourself it wouldn't be a good choice unless you use the DVD's. I like the looks of Video text but it is expensive unless you purchase a module at a time or find it on the used board.

[Willow]

Video-text, but it is very expensive indeed, so you might have to search for 2nd hand. It is possible to buy 1 unit at a time, but you will go through 'A' very quickly indeed, by 'B' you should slow down a bit and right down by 'C', so you may need to have a and b before you start.

[Miss Marple]

Life of Fred Algebra is very inexpensive and non-consumable. My son just finished 6B also and will begin LOF next week. Also, you could purchase a Lial's set quite inexpensively, too. I used it with my 2nd son when he finished SM 6B. It wasn't quite as lively as LOF though :-)

[homeschoolmomof6]

My vote is for Saxon

[Michelle in MO]

Lial's Introductory Algebra; thorough, rigorous, very complete, easy for parent and child to use, DVT's (like a DVD), student solutions manual with full solutions, not just answers. Only difficulty---some word problems.

 

I would also recommend trying this same question on the h.s. board---there are other excellent programs out there like Dolciani and Foerster.

 

HTH!

[curtisandsheri]

I second Lial's Intro. Algebra. I found it used for a great price on Amazon last year.

[wimseycat]

I would vote for Teaching Textbooks. It is a little pricey but if you have multiple children who will use it, then it will pay off in the end.

 

Annika

[tammi]

I third Lial's. I found it used on this site.

Tammi

[SS in MD]

After Lials Introduction to Algebra what do you use next?

 

-thanks!

[kpupg]

Life of Fred Algebra is very inexpensive and non-consumable. My son just finished 6B also and will begin LOF next week. Also, you could purchase a Lial's set quite inexpensively, too. I used it with my 2nd son when he finished SM 6B. It wasn't quite as lively as LOF though :-)

 

 

:iagree: And the author is readily available by email to help if needed. Be sure to invest in the Home Companion guide for lesson plans and additional helps.

 

Karen

[Michelle in MO]

Algebra, you would do a geometry program and then do Lial's Intermediate Algebra.

 

But, be sure to peruse the h.s. boards and ask plenty of questions about algebra programs before you buy. What works for some kids may not work for others. There's also Dolciani, Foerster's, Chalkdust, etc. So many programs! Plus, on the h.s. boards there are many very smart "math moms" who post frequently; as you read and educate yourself, you'll be able to narrow down which program is right for you and your child.

 

HTH!

[MicheleinMN]

Foerster's Algebra - for a strong math student

dd and I both really liked Algebra I. She'll be doing Algebra II this fall.

 

Saxon Algebra I - for a non-math student

 

(Can you tell I have one of each so far?)

(4 more to go with the next 2 appearing to be one each also.)

 

 

HTH,

Michele

[deeinfl]

So far it has been Math Relief Algebra, but I'm interested in what Life of Fred has to offer, so we may be trying that one out really soon. :)

 

Dee

 

Blessings!!

[Beth in Central TX]

I'm a convert from the high school boards and plan to use Modern Algebra Structure and Method Book 1 by Dolciani (1965 Edition) for Algebra 1.

 

I first heard about these books on the old board. Since I found Rod & Staff for our elementary math sequence, my goal had been to find a similar high school level math series (preferably from one author and/or publisher). Therefore, my DH and I have spent the last 6 months or so researching the higher level math options. We read through many websites and looked at some of the video options at our homeschool book fair. We reviewed & compared math books (via inter-library loan) written by Lial, Larson, Foerster, Brown (the newer Houghton Mifflin Algebra edition that started with Dolciani), Jacobs, and Jurgensen. In the end we decided to use the older Dolciani editions because they present a more logical and systematic approach to math. The books aren't flashy, but they teach the basics thoroughly.

 

I decided to go ahead and purchase all 4 years of these older 1960's edition math books written by Dolciani. I found them used on-line at Amazon.com and E-bay. For the Teacher's Edition and Student book I paid just over $200 for all 4 years: Modern Algebra Book 1, Modern Geometry, Algebra 2 and Trigonometry, and Modern Introductory Analysis. If you live in an area with good library sales and adequate second-hand book stores, you can probably find these books even cheaper.

 

HTH!

[EKS]

Jacobs Algebra. I love this (we are about three quarters of the way through). His lessons are short and to the point. The problem sets are well crafted, leading the student from basic to complex gently. He always shows how the algebra relates to the arithmetic they already know. My son is getting a strong background in elementary algebra using this book. From here we will go on to Jacobs Geometry and Foerster's Algebra II (both are already on the shelf).

 

I've used or extensively reviewed VideoText, Saxon Algebra 1, and Life of Fred. VideoText takes itself way too seriously and there isn't enough review. Saxon Algebra 1 just makes me woozy every time I look at it. Life of Fred is interesting and we are using it as a supplement here but I wouldn't want to use it as a main program. I know others here have used it successfully.

 

Edited to add: I have also used Aleks Algebra I *for myself* before my son began algebra. It is wonderful for brushing up on long unused skills or for review but I would never use it as a stand alone course as it is not coherent. This is being reinforced for me right now because I am using their geometry in preparation for teaching geometry in the fall.

[threetreasurs]

Too many choices!

[sweetbaby]

MUS