Does Derek Owens follow and use the Jacobs text closely?

[...................]

I am still on the fence about Jacobs vs. Saxon ...I do know if I let ds use Jacobs, I will need regular, even daily support and DO provides that (and does a great job with that)

 

However his courses that were originally based on textbooks and then reworked, seem to be easier than the original text.  I would not want my son to have too easy of a course as he will be in the math department in college..(comp sci)

 

So...

 

Maybe I will let him use Jacobs this year if the DO class follows the Jacobs text very closely.

[Jennay]

Following as I am also considering DO Geometry for my 13yoDS.

[EKS]

My son used DO Geometry.  We have also used his prealgebra, Algebra 2, and precalculus courses, and I tutored a kid who used his Algebra I.

 

I love DO, but the geometry course is my least favorite.  I am a huge Jacobs Algebra fan, but his geometry book (3rd edition) is not my favorite.  There is a disconnect between the instruction in the book and what the student is expected to bring to the problems.  Derek bridges this gap to some extent--his lectures are excellent--but the disconnect is still there.  The problems that Derek provides--the HW and the tests--are in line with the material presented in the lectures.

 

When my son took the geometry course, I got around the book problem by pulling problems from Jacobs 2nd edition, which is much more straightforward, and also seems to be more in line with what Derek expects students to be able to do on the HW sheets and the tests.  I had to give my son a lot more instruction and on proof writing and he also needed way more practice with it than the course gave.  Luckily, the 2nd edition book has students do *lots* of proofs.  I should point out that my older son, who used TT for geometry, also needed a lot of additional instruction and practice with proofs.

 

I do not recommend DO geometry for kids who need a lot of direct instruction to understand math unless the parent is willing and able to step in and add practice problems and augment instruction as necessary.  

Edited July 19, 2016 by EKS

[EKS]

And to actually answer your question--DO does follow the Jacobs book closely and all of the practice problems come from it.

[...................]

Thank you so much! We will

Stick with the Saxon plan, this is the detailed explanation and review I really needed. I really appreciate you taking the time.