bluedarling Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 dd15 is in Algebra I in public school right now, and coming back home next year. She loves algebra, and has requested to do Algebra II next year rather than Geometry because she now has a lot of confidence in Algebra...the highest algebra I student in her class (though she was my weakest student.) However, I've been subbing, and the Algebra 1 classes in my district all seem to me to be more like pre-algebra?? They are using Big Ideas Algebra I. At this point in the year, they are still reviewing combining like terms (granted they are further along than that...it was just review because some of the kids STILL can't do it!) They were simplifying radicals, and such. Really basic stuff. (They were also graphing quadratic equations.) My original thought was to place her next year in Lial's Intermediate Algebra that I have from her older brothers, but I'm also looking at Saxon if I go through an umbrella school. Will she likely be ready? I know there's a placement test for Saxon...is there one for Lial's? Anyone familiar with Big Ideas Algebra to compare? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 Big Ideas Algebra 1 California edition looks very similar to the old Holt Algebra 1 California edition by the same author (Larson) Graphing quadratic equations is chapter 8 out of 12. Link is to student page which has quizzes and chapter tests https://ca.bigideasmath.com/students/?level=10.00&free=1 The scope and sequence for Big Ideas Algebra 1 & 2 and Geometry link (8 page pdf) http://www.hmhco.com/~/media/sites/home/education/global/pdf/scope-and-sequence/mathematics/elementary/big-ideas-math/big_ideas_math_aga_scope_and_sequence.pdf?la=en Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluedarling Posted April 2, 2016 Author Share Posted April 2, 2016 Big Ideas Algebra 1 California edition looks very similar to the old Holt Algebra 1 California edition by the same author (Larson) Graphing quadratic equations is chapter 8 out of 12. Link is to student page which has quizzes and chapter tests https://ca.bigideasmath.com/students/?level=10.00&free=1 The scope and sequence for Big Ideas Algebra 1 & 2 and Geometry link (8 page pdf) http://www.hmhco.com/~/media/sites/home/education/global/pdf/scope-and-sequence/mathematics/elementary/big-ideas-math/big_ideas_math_aga_scope_and_sequence.pdf?la=en I've seen the book (my dd has one), I'm just not sure how to compare the level to say, Lial's or Saxon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkT Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 The Big Ideas Algebra 1 text is just fine for a non-honors course - it covers the Common Core topics for Algebra 1 I think you are confusing weak students (that probably don't belong there) slowing up the class with a weak text. Graphing quadratic equations is probably right on track for standard Algebra 1 at this point in the class. I assume they will do more quadratic equations stuff like completing the square over the next month or so. Does this school have an honors class? You should try to get your student into that track. It makes a big difference. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkT Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 Big Ideas Algebra 1 California edition looks very similar to the old Holt Algebra 1 California edition by the same author (Larson) Old Larson is McDougal-Littell which became Holt McDougal after acquisition. The old Holt series (2007 and before) lead author is Dr Burger (Thinkwell). They all have similar content now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluedarling Posted April 2, 2016 Author Share Posted April 2, 2016 OK, thanks. I guess I was just panicking that so many of the kids still didn't know how to combine like terms...my dd does, and would have been in an honors track next year if she stayed. She has been in regular classes this year, and that factored into her public school experience. You're right...just because the weak kids can't combine like terms, doesn't mean I should panic that dd is behind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 but I'm also looking at Saxon if I go through an umbrella school. Will she likely be ready? I know there's a placement test for Saxon...is there one for Lial's? Anyone familiar with Big Ideas Algebra to compare? You don't need a placement test for Lial's. They teach every concept from the beginning. If she is missing skills, she will pick them up as she goes. It is a great book for transitioning from a weaker math program (ds transitioned to if from MUS). The only caveat there is that if she doesn't already know the first sections of each chapter that are supposed to be review, it will take her a long time to get through the book. I still recommend it in your situation. Can't help with Saxon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad S Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 Old Larson is McDougal-Littell which became Holt McDougal after acquisition. The old Holt series (2007 and before) lead author is Dr Burger (Thinkwell). They all have similar content now. Publishers often have sold multiple texts for the same course, sometimes just slight versions and sometimes quite different. FYI, I think McDougal-Littell also had another series, which I don't think was the same; at least the Algebra 2 book did not have Larson listed as a coauthor nor did it seem similar in content to Larson's other books which seem different in style and level. A McDougal-Littell 1998 series had Richard Brown and Loring Coes as the lead authors for Algebra 1 and Miriam Leiva and Richard Brown as the lead authors for Algebra 2 (reprinted/republished in 2004). The local public schools here still use the Brown co-authored McDougal-Littell books, to the extent they use books, for honors-level courses. They're not bad books, at least the Algebra 2 book, and their content is similar to common core coverage. If you use a text that doesn't include a few chapters on data analysis and statistics, I'd strongly recommend you include that in your home teaching -- it's so important nowadays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkT Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Publishers often have sold multiple texts for the same course, sometimes just slight versions and sometimes quite different. FYI, I think McDougal-Littell also had another series, which I don't think was the same; at least the Algebra 2 book did not have Larson listed as a coauthor nor did it seem similar in content to Larson's other books which seem different in style and level. A McDougal-Littell 1998 series had Richard Brown and Loring Coes as the lead authors for Algebra 1 and Miriam Leiva and Richard Brown as the lead authors for Algebra 2 (reprinted/republished in 2004). The local public schools here still use the Brown co-authored McDougal-Littell books, to the extent they use books, for honors-level courses. They're not bad books, at least the Algebra 2 book, and their content is similar to common core coverage. If you use a text that doesn't include a few chapters on data analysis and statistics, I'd strongly recommend you include that in your home teaching -- it's so important nowadays. It's all about consolidation in the K-12 textbook world that's why they end up selling many versions of Algebra 1 for example. This has been around since 2001 Larson, Ron; Laurie Boswell, Timothy D. Kanold, Lee Stiff (2007), Algebra 1 Concepts and Skills, McDougal Littell http://www.amazon.com/McDougal-Littell-Algebra-Mathematics/dp/06185940272007 McDougal Littell also had the Dociani series (with Richard G. Brown) http://www.amazon.com/Algebra-Structure-Method-Book-1/dp/0395977223 later the parent company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) acquired Holt Rinehart and Winston which had Burger as the lead author http://www.amazon.com/Holt-Algebra-Student-Edition-2007/dp/0030358272 talk about killing the competition now HMH in 2016 has Burger http://www.hmhco.com/shop/education-curriculum/math/secondary-mathematics/holt-mcdougal-algebra-1-geometry-and-algebra-2 Larson http://www.hmhco.com/shop/education-curriculum/math/secondary-mathematics/holt-mcdougal-larson-algebra-1-geometry-algebra-2-with-pre-algebra I think Richard Brown is "retired" from the new textbooks path for HMH (probably will sell as "classic") Curiously Big Ideas is an independent publisher: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ideas_Learning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.