Fitting Geometry and Algebra II in one year - with online classes

[habeomom]

Has anyone tried to substitute a full Geometry or Algebra 2 course with the Thinkwell Essential courses? Am I crazy to consider it?

 

Algebra I bogged us down, and he wants to be an engineer. We would use the pared-down Thinkwell Essentials geo and alg 2 courses so that we could get to the Precalcus course by the end of 11th grade and then slow down and go through that course slowly, taking time to understand concepts, using Khan to help with concepts as needed.

 

What do you think of that idea? What are your best ideas for getting through both Geometry and Algebra 2 in one school year?

Thanks for your help.

 

Here's a link to the essentials programs, if anyone is curious:

https://www.thinkwellhomeschool.com/collections/essential-review-courses

 

Edited April 12, 2021 by habeomom
clarify what I am actually asking for help on!

[Farrar]

I would do the Mr. D's summer geometry course and then pick back up with Thinkwell and do the full Algebra II. Though... honestly, if Algebra I with Thinkwell bogged you down, that might be a good indication that it's just not the best program for you. Or not. Depends.

[regentrude]

50 minutes ago, habeomom said:

Algebra I bogged us down, and he wants to be an engineer. We would use the pared-down Thinkwell Essentials geo and alg 2 courses so that we could get to the Precalcus course by the end of 11th grade and then slow down and go through that course slowly, taking time to understand concepts, using Khan to help with concepts as needed.

 

Gently: for a future engineering student who was "bogged down" by algebra I, going slowly and thoroughly is more important than doubling up on a "pared down" version of math just to race to (pre)calculus. 
I teach physics at an engineering school, and the students who struggle do so not because of calculus, but because their algebra skills aren't rock solid. That causes them to fail chemistry, fail physics, and fail higher math.
If algebra 1 was a struggle, then do a full, thorough algebra 2 program and take whatever time he needs to master the material, as opposed to racing through a curriculum that is intended as a refresher for a course the student has already taken. Math light crash course for an engineering student to whom math doesn't come easily is a really bad idea.

Edited April 12, 2021 by regentrude

[Garga]

8 minutes ago, regentrude said:

Gently: for a future engineering student who was "bogged down" by algebra I, going slowly and thoroughly is more important than doubling up on a "pared down" version of math just to race to (pre)calculus. 
I teach physics at an engineering school, and the students who struggle do so not because of calculus, but because their algebra skills aren't rock solid. That causes them to fail chemistry, fail physics, and fail higher math.
If algebra 1 was a struggle, then do a full, thorough algebra 2 program and take whatever time he needs to master the material, as opposed to racing through a curriculum that is intended as a refresher for a course the student has already taken. Math light crash course for an engineering student to whom math doesn't come easily is a really bad idea.

I’ve heard regentrude say this before, and I’ve also heard other mathy people on this site say it as well: you must get Algebra I down cold before moving on.

Consider what she’s said. She knows what she’s talking about.

[Not_a_Number]

9 minutes ago, regentrude said:

I teach physics at an engineering school, and the students who struggle do so not because of calculus, but because their algebra skills aren't rock solid. That causes them to fail chemistry, fail physics, and fail higher math.

I'll second this, like I usually do. 

I've taught calculus at the college level, and the reason kids have trouble is almost always because they are shaky on fundamentals. Those fundamentals are Algebra 1 and below: for example, a lack of understanding of fractions, which becomes a lack of understanding of algebraic fractions, which becomes a total inability to work with rational functions. Or it could be a lack of understanding of what the graph of a function is saying. 

Do you know what bogged you down in Algebra 1, OP? What were the issues? 

[Arcadia]

1 hour ago, habeomom said:

Algebra I bogged us down, and he wants to be an engineer. 

...

What do you think of that idea? What are your best ideas for getting through both Geometry and Algebra 2 in one school year?

 

If you really want to get through geometry and algebra 2 in one year (including summer), and your child is willing to put in the hours, get a tutor. 
 

The Thinkwell Essentials courses may be free but they are still video based lectures followed by quizzes. There is no teacher to ask for help if you or your child need help. Also the Thinkwell Essentials courses are meant to be used as refreshers or for revision.  Even the free Khan Academy might have better coverage than the free Thinkwell Essentials courses.

[Sherry in OH]

If he really wants to do Algebra II and Geometry in one year, options include:

• Do Geometry as a summer course. Then start Algebra II in the fall.   
• Do Geometry as his fall semester math course, scheduling a double block of time to complete a year's worth of math in a semester.  Then do Algebra II as his spring semester math course, again scheduling a double block of time for math.  
• If he wants or needs a slower pace, plan to do math year round.  Start geometry as soon as he finishes Algebra I, continuing through the summer and into next school year.  Start Algebra II when he finishes Geometry and continue as far into the following summer (or even next school year) as needed.
• Any of the above schedules doing Algebra II first, then Geometry.
• Switch to a math program that combines Algebra II and Geometry.  Saxon does, there are probably others.
• Do two math courses simultaneously.  (Not for weak math students or the faint of heart.) The second math course takes the place of an elective.

[Wheres Toto]

First, I agree with Regentrude and others that this is not a plan for a kid who doesn't understand Algebra 1. 

But, way back when I was in high school, anyone who wanted to do Calculus senior year did Geometry and Algebra 2/Trig in the same year.   Just as two separate courses as part of the daily lineup.   

My son is doing both this year - MUS Algebra 2 and Jacob's Geometry.  At first he did both each week but then requested to alternate so he does one than the other.  Usually it's 2 weeks of Geometry for a whole chapter, then a week for a chapter of Algebra 2.   This has been working well but it's probably going to take him a year and a half to do both.