For those of you using TabletClass math, how is it going?

[Halcyon]

I am still debating between Dolciani algebra and tablet math. We have about 4 more months left in Dolciani Pre A so we have time, but I would love to hear how people who are using algebra from TabletClass are liking it.

 

Ds has confided that he finds Dolciani dull, although he does it. Should I continue with something that is working, even if he finds it dull? He is mathy, so I am not worried about him not understanding stuff, or of having gaps. We have only switched once, from Singapore to MM and then onto Pre A, which has been going fine. He understands the concepts and does well, but as I said, he isn't thrilled by the book.

[Halcyon]

Bump.

[dereksurfs]

Hey Halcyon,

 

I was wondering how things were going with your ds this year.  As you know from our story ds12 used TC for Pre-A with great success.  It helped launch him into AoPS Intro to Algebra this year.  We also have TC Algebra which we plan to use as supplemental to AoPS.  But because ds12 has been thriving with AoPS I'm letting him focus on that for now.

 

I know you are planning on moving to Algebra next.  I have Dolciani, TC, Foerster and AoPS to compare and use as resources if/when needed.  I would say it really boils down to where your son is at and what fits his learning style best.  Dolciani is a bit dry I think when compared to something more interactive like TC or AoPS with their video lessons and TC's online component.  Plus both TC and AoPS are more directed toward the student and can be worked more independently as full or complete programs.  Dolciani and Foerster by contrast are more classic student 'workbooks.'  As such they are intended to be elaborated upon via classroom lectures/lessons.  Dolciani was my Algebra text and was a standard back in the 80s.  While it was a great text for what it offered I don't think I could have ever learned algebra from it very well without also the great instructor I had.  He elaborated upon the concepts in the book quite a bit which included fielding a lot of questions.  I remember as a kid looking at the short examples in the text thinking 'I could never learn Algebra from just this.'

 

Just some food for thought as you decide.  With TC so affordable and your son so young you could easily use TC then supplement with Dolciani (or something else) for another perspective on things when needed/desired.  You can also use the S&S matrix I created to map them if you choose to go this route.

[Mom0012]

We are only just finishing up chapter 3 of TC, but so far I am happy. My son is enjoying the lectures and feels they help him understand concepts very well. I am having him take notes as is recommended and that also seems to be helpful to him plus I like to see him developing that skill. He's also enjoying some of the more complex problem solving here and there. He's used to using CLE (which I love and has been a great fit), but I think TC feels more "grown up". Unfortunately, my son seems to need mixed cumulative practice and TC does not offer that, so we are continuing with CLE on the weekend. I'd love to use just one program.

[AimeeM]

Like Pastel, our daughter seems to need more practice (or, rather, more review) than TC offers. I did purchase TC, so I'd like to use it, but I'll have to see how I could go about matching up the content with a spiraled review (perhaps for a morning math session).

[dereksurfs]

Like Pastel, our daughter seems to need more practice (or, rather, more review) than TC offers. I did purchase TC, so I'd like to use it, but I'll have to see how I could go about matching up the content with a spiraled review (perhaps for a morning math session).

 

 

Amiee,

 

I am curious because I don't recall.  But was your daughter doing spiral based math prior to TC?  For ds12 he had done mastery based math up until TC.  So he was used to that type of instruction.  I did have him do additional problems at times to solidify certain concepts using AoPS or Khan. That was mainly when he hit the really challenging topics such as Linear Equations and I wanted to present things from a variey of perspectives.

[AimeeM]

Amiee,

 

I am curious because I don't recall.  But was your daughter doing spiral based math prior to TC?  For ds12 he had done mastery based math up until TC.  So he was used to that type of instruction.  I did have him do additional problems at times to solidify certain concepts using AoPS or Khan. That was mainly when he hit the really challenging topics such as Linear Equations and I wanted to present things from a variey of perspectives.

No. She did a short stint in Horizons pre a, but it was largely a review of Math Mammoth 6 (well, the first part of the book). We're considering going back to that, because I feel she needs the review (whether she likes it or not - she didn't retain with mastery from Math Mammoth 6 pre cc alignment); rather, I should say that she didn't retain where she could recall off the top of her head - her issue was that she couldn't recall, until she saw it again, and then halfway through presenting it again, she remembered (lightbulb! ding!) and became annoyed because it was "boring" to do again.

 

Math is the one thing I haven't purchased yet for the fall. I'm going to have her review some things in Math Mammoth 6, but she seems to have decent recall right now... applied to real life, not so much on written work. Part of me wonders if she's just bored (before algebra it's basically basic arithmetic over and over again), but I hesitate to move her on when her school work is so sloppy and full of silly errors (and I've been advised on these boards not to move her on for those reasons). I have TC (and he is allowing her to try both pre a and algebra until, I think, august 1st, to see where she best fits), but I'm just not sure...

 

I have AOPS fever too, but again, there's hesitation. She does better with a challenge (much better), and conceptually seems to do very well with math (computation can be weak, but that's due to her dyslexia and a work in progress) but she isn't one who enjoys math.

 

And then there's sticking with something boring but thorough... like Horizons.

 

Look at me, writing a book. Sorry, lol. Can you tell I'm frustrated :p

[dereksurfs]

Yeah, every child is definitely different with a different set of learning needs.  As such the more rigorous math programs such AoPS, TabletClass or BJU are not always the best fit or at least not during a particular window of their development.  You sometimes have to tailor the program to the child and this can mean using more than one in parallel.  These programs can be either great supplements for challenging problems or as a spine depending on the child's current skills and learning style.  

 

For us ds12 wasn't ready for AoPS right away during the Pre-Algebra phase.  But after supplementing with it while going through TC Pre-A it grew on him.  Now during Into to Algebra it is working great.   But we definitely had to build up to it as he matured in his ability to focus on more difficult problems over an extended period of time.  This also involved working on accuracy through carefully writing out all the steps and then double checking his work. 

 

I think as parents we have to be careful with programs such as AoPS getting the 'fever.'  I would say when I first got the Intro to Algebra text it was so well written that it looked like a work of art to me. :D   As a software engineer I have a strong appreciation for high quality math curriculum.  So I would love all my kids to use this text.  However, it may not be the best fit for all my kiddos.  Likewise I really like TC with the clear instruction and good level of challenge problems.  But I'm not sure it will work for my girls.  Only time will tell.  I'll probably try to integrate them in some way.  But if they aren't a good fit for a spine I'll find something else that will be better for them.