Algebra 2 - CTC or Teaching Textbooks or Dolciani?

[Shelly in VA]

I realize those options are vastly different! I used the Dolciani Algebra 2 and Trig book and used it with one of my older kids. But I'm not sure that it's the right choice for ds. He is a solid math student, but he does not like math, and he gets easily frustrated. I also previously used VideoText, but I hesitate to use that now since ds did not use if for Algebra 1.  Because of that, I am considering something like CTC or Teaching Textbooks, but I am hesitant to use something that is computer based. Based on older reviews, I am also concerned that CTC is better as a supplement rather than a full curriculum, but maybe that has changed.

Also, if I go with CTC, would I need to do their Algebra 2 course followed by Trig and PreCalculus before getting to Calculus? Could those three classes cover two years of math without too much overlap, leaving his senior year open for Calculus?

Any input would be appreciated! Thank you!

[MamaSprout]

Have you look at Derek Owens or the Larson Intermediate Algebra texts?

Dolciani can be scaled back- just assigning A level problems and a smattering of B level problems. If you happen to have a copy of the TE, they often even tell you what sections to cover for different levels.

This teacher has teaching videos and his assignments online here: Lecture Notes (clausentech.com) and HW 2012-2013 (clausentech.com)

He doesn't cover every section or chapter.

(Eta- we used a different text - the Smith Prentice Hall one- then Derek Owens Algebra 2- so I haven't used this resource, but it looks very complete).

Edited August 13, 2021 by MamaSprout

[J-rap]

I loved Videotext, but if your ds has already had Algebra I and is understanding it well, I wouldn't use that.  I also liked Teaching Textbooks for one of my children (who was non-mathy) and she liked it and it seemed to work for her.  Another dd was bright, understood math well, but didn't enjoy it and had health problems so we just needed to get Algebra 2 done in a way that felt straight forward to her.  I also knew she wouldn't have the patience to watch lessons online.  We ended up using the Foersters Algebra 2 textbook and that was perfect for her.  I would pick out problems from each section to make sure she had practice and was understanding the concepts, but didn't require her to do every problem.

 

[Kassia]

Dd used Thinkwell for Algebra 2 and liked it a lot.  She used Teaching Textbooks the year before that for geometry and liked it, but said she preferred Thinkwell.  She went straight from Algebra 2 to Analytic Geometry and Calculus at DE with no problems.  She's a strong math student but doesn't care for math.  

 

 

[Shelly in VA]

5 hours ago, MamaSprout said:

Have you look at Derek Owens or the Larson Intermediate Algebra texts?

Dolciani can be scaled back- just assigning A level problems and a smattering of B level problems. If you happen to have a copy of the TE, they often even tell you what sections to cover for different levels.

This teacher has teaching videos and his assignments online here: Lecture Notes (clausentech.com) and HW 2012-2013 (clausentech.com)

Thanks! I have not looked at Derek Owens or the Larson book, but I'll check them out. I don't have the TE for the Dolciani, but I can see where it could be scaled back the way you are suggesting.

[Shelly in VA]

1 hour ago, J-rap said:

Another dd was bright, understood math well, but didn't enjoy it.... so we just needed to get Algebra 2 done in a way that felt straight forward to her. 

You are describing my son here! 😉 I have always heard good things about Foerster, but I've never used it (or even seen it, actually). Thanks!

[Shelly in VA]

1 hour ago, Kassia said:

Dd used Thinkwell for Algebra 2 and liked it a lot.  She used Teaching Textbooks the year before that for geometry and liked it, but said she preferred Thinkwell.  She went straight from Algebra 2 to Analytic Geometry and Calculus at DE with no problems.  She's a strong math student but doesn't care for math.  

I forgot about Thinkwell! Thanks. I've used Thinkwell Chemistry in the past, and ds will actually be doing that this fall. That might be a great fit for him. 

[cintinative]

On 8/13/2021 at 11:52 AM, Shelly in VA said:

Thanks! I have not looked at Derek Owens or the Larson book, but I'll check them out. I don't have the TE for the Dolciani, but I can see where it could be scaled back the way you are suggesting.

I have the TE and there are several paths suggested with problem sets in the front.  

here's a picture of what that looks like. There are different plans depending on whether you are including trig or not.  It has 180 (CORRECTION: 160) lesson days.  The "average" plan does not include a lot of C level problems in my experience. 

PM me if you think this would help you. I could probably scan my copies. My son uses them as his assignment guide for his work. 

Edited August 14, 2021 by cintinative

[Shelly in VA]

10 hours ago, cintinative said:

I have the TE and there are several paths suggested with problem sets in the front.  

here's a picture of what that looks like. There are different plans depending on whether you are including trig or not.  It has 180 (CORRECTION: 160) lesson days.  The "average" plan does not include a lot of C level problems in my experience. 

PM me if you think this would help you. I could probably scan my copies. My son uses them as his assignment guide for his work. 

Thank you! Going to grab my book and look at it compared to the page you sent to see if this could work. I appreciate it! I will PM you after I get a chance to look it over. 

[Shelly in VA]

10 hours ago, cintinative said:

I have the TE and there are several paths suggested with problem sets in the front.  

Can I ask if the TE was helpful beyond the schedule? I'm guessing I would need it if I go with a textbook instead of an online program. Although I have a math minor from college, it has been MANY years since I tackled math (beyond helping kids with problems here and there). Not sure how I managed to do so little math with my older kids throughout their high school years, lol.

[cintinative]

19 minutes ago, Shelly in VA said:

Can I ask if the TE was helpful beyond the schedule? I'm guessing I would need it if I go with a textbook instead of an online program. Although I have a math minor from college, it has been MANY years since I tackled math (beyond helping kids with problems here and there). Not sure how I managed to do so little math with my older kids throughout their high school years, lol.

Not so much, because we have the solution manual also. Sometimes we use it to check answers (because it has those), but the solution manual does also.  I guess it's handy if you just want to check answers but not solutions?  Some of the graphing problems only have very intermittent answers though and we end up pulling out the solution manual. So honestly, if you have the solution manual, I can get you the schedule and you wouldn't really need the TE.

My oldest is almost self-teaching Alg II with the Dolciani text. I say almost because I do sometimes have to explain something.  Also, we are only a few weeks in.  Most of it has seemed like Algebra review so far. 

 

[Lucy the Valiant]

We used Dolciani because I was self-learning alongside my students for the first year. The Slader website was actually more useful than the teacher's edition because the website had solutions while the TE had only answers. 

I'm a little embarrassed to admit on a board of this caliber how many times we had to start with the solution and work backwards to the problem, but what I'm NOT embarrassed to admit is that we did it, and those students went on to do just fine in calculus. (And I was a MUCH better teacher when the 2nd set of siblings came along, LOL.) 

Getting ready for my 3rd trip through this year. 🙂

[Shelly in VA]

43 minutes ago, Lucy the Valiant said:

We used Dolciani because I was self-learning alongside my students for the first year. The Slader website was actually more useful than the teacher's edition because the website had solutions while the TE had only answers. 

I'm a little embarrassed to admit on a board of this caliber how many times we had to start with the solution and work backwards to the problem, but what I'm NOT embarrassed to admit is that we did it, and those students went on to do just fine in calculus. (And I was a MUCH better teacher when the 2nd set of siblings came along, LOL.) 

Getting ready for my 3rd trip through this year. 🙂

Thank you for the link to that website! 

I am constantly telling my kids that if they have tried to work a problem, working backwards from the solution is a perfectly fine approach. I've always thought that is part of the reason some of the solutions are included in student textbooks! 

[MamaSprout]

11 hours ago, Shelly in VA said:

Can I ask if the TE was helpful beyond the schedule? I'm guessing I would need it if I go with a textbook instead of an online program. Although I have a math minor from college, it has been MANY years since I tackled math (beyond helping kids with problems here and there). Not sure how I managed to do so little math with my older kids throughout their high school years, lol.

Not really helpful beyond the schedule as far as I can tell.

 

[cintinative]

@Shelly in VAI just remembered that the TE has the answers for the oral exercises/practice exercises prior to the "written exercises" and the solution manual does not.  FYI for anyone reading this thread later. Sometimes these are ones that a teacher would go over though--so it is possible they can be found online in a video instruction, etc. such as the one linked above.

Also, there are tests in the TE, but there are also tests in the student book (the ones in the front of the TE are different). 

The tests in the student text are included in the solution manual.

Edited August 15, 2021 by cintinative

[CAtoVA]

My DS is a capable math student but hates the subject and has no confidence in himself as a math student. He requires a spiral approach to build confidence and stay focused. We did CLE Algebra 1 and Thinkwell Geometry; CLE worked fine but with Geometry he was very close to wanting to drop out of high school. I don't think this had much to do with Thinkwell and Dr. Burger, but rather that geometry is so different from algebra and spatial concepts are his weakness.

For Algebra 2 I knew that he would need something that would hold his interest. We started with a typical math textbook that Dr. Burger wrote and is used in many schools (I can't remember the name). That was a fail. Then we went to Yaymath! because I got sucked in by a promotion on homeschoolbuyersco-op promising highly engaging and non stuffy math. That lasted about two weeks. In desperation we went to Teaching Textbooks about three weeks ago and FINALLY something has clicked. I can't say he loves math, but Teaching Textbooks Algebra 2 is quite thorough in explanations and is spiral which my DS desperately needs. He can do all lessons on his own but I have been sitting with him for now because this is our 3rd program in about six months and I wanted to see if it is working and will probably continue to work. So far so good.