Masterbooks version of Jacobs & question

[Nm.]

DS would thrive with the way Jacobs Algebra is written.  He also does well with videos.  Anyone know how much masterbooks changed the original Jacobs?  They have a video course to go along with MB version and I think that would be really helpful.  I could teach it (I love math), but he despises me teaching him.

*ETA Cathy Duffy says not much has changed.

I’d like to skip math mammoth 7 and begin Jacobs after 6b.  I’m assuming since it’s lighter it should be fine if we go slower in the beginning.  It looks very gentle.  Anyone done this?

Edited September 7 by Nm.

[Lori D.]

Jacobs Algebra
^^ this is a thread from 2018 that discusses differences between the original 1979 version, and the newer Masterbook version

[Nm.]

Thank you.  I think I would prefer the original due to the exercises 1-4, but it’s actually quite hard to find at a reasonable price these days in good condition.  It sounds like the student text has exercises 1&2, 3 is in the TE, and 4 is…? 

[Lori D.]

In this video review of the Masterbooks version, it looks like set 4 is in the student book.

set 1 = review of past concepts
set 2 & set 3 = identical types of problems**
set 4 = optional challenger problem

** = set 3 is if wanting additional practice on the concept; both set 2 & 3 put the lesson concept into practice; the problems in each set start more simply, and build up to require more thinking

 

ETA
It looks like Exodus books carries a few used original editions of the original for $50. Otherwise, I see the ori5ginal editions run for $75 and up at Amazon.

Edited September 8 by Lori D.

[EKS]

I actually used the Masterbooks version with a tutoring student because I could just give him parts of the pdf version of the text for him to work on.  The content of the parts we used was identical.

I think they made the Set III problems a separate text for two reasons.  (1) They could get more money.  (2) There was some confusion about whether students needed to do both sets or not.  People were probably also doing exactly what they shouldn't have done which is to assign the odds of both sets.  Anyway, having it as a separate, optional book will hopefully eliminate these issues.

[Nm.]

Thank you.  I think I’ve decided on what to do for Algebra.  😅  Anyone know if finishing a grade 6 math is enough to start Jacobs without “prealgebra”?  

Edited September 8 by Nm.

[Lori D.]

1 hour ago, Nm. said:

Thank you.  I think I’ve decided on what to do for Algebra.  😅  Anyone know if finishing a grade 6 math is enough to start Jacobs with “prealgebra”?  

Not quite clear what you mean here ^^^

- Are you thinking Jacobs Elementary Algebra is pre-algebra, and you'll do something else for Algebra 1?
(answer: Jacobs is an Algebra 1 program, not a Pre-Algebra program)

- Or were you thinking that you'll do a Pre-Algebra program alongside with Jacobs as the Algebra 1?
(answer: Depends on the student, but I'd probably do a quick run-through of a pre-algebra program to make sure the student was solid with the basic concepts that are needed for success with Algebra.)

- Or that you'll skip Pre-Algebra and go straight to Jacobs as Algebra 1?
(answer: Depends on the student. You'll want the student to be very solid with working with fractions, decimals, and basic solving for X to do this.)

Another idea, instead of a full pre-algebra program before starting Jacobs -- possibly do excerpts (as much or as little as needed) from the Key to... math series -- whatever the student would benefit from and get solid with. (Key to... Fractions; Decimals; Percents; Algebra). Each topic has several workbooks, with each workbook focusing on different aspects of that topic. So you can get the whole set of workbooks, but just do excerpts, as needed on specific aspects.

Edited September 8 by Lori D.

[Nm.]

It was a typo.  Meant to say without prealgebra.  Maybe I ought to just start next year in 8th and do what we can for prealgebra this year.  He’ll finish 6 in December.  So should have time to do enough prealgebra.

[Lori D.]

32 minutes ago, Nm. said:

It was a typo.  Meant to say without prealgebra.  Maybe I ought to just start next year in 8th and do what we can for prealgebra this year.  He’ll finish 6 in December.  So should have time to do enough prealgebra.

Gotcha. 😄

Maybe look at samples of Jacobs and see what you think -- if DS could go straight to Jacobs Algebra 1, but at a slower pace.

[Nm.]

It looks very gentle and easier than math mammoth at least to start.  I’ll just go ahead and try it!  Fill in as needed.

Edited September 8 by Nm.

[EKS]

3 hours ago, Nm. said:

Thank you.  I think I’ve decided on what to do for Algebra.  😅  Anyone know if finishing a grade 6 math is enough to start Jacobs without “prealgebra”?  

Jacobs has the algebra part of prealgebra but does not have the great big review of arithmetic part.  It is appropriate for a student who is solid on arithmetic and does not need the review.

[Nm.]

That helps!

[Janeway]

21 hours ago, Nm. said:

Thank you.  I think I’ve decided on what to do for Algebra.  😅  Anyone know if finishing a grade 6 math is enough to start Jacobs without “prealgebra”?  

Depends on the curriculum. If you are talking grade 6 of Abeka or teaching textbooks, I would say no. If you are talking grade 6 of Singapore Math 3rd edition/US edition (or maybe even Horizons math), then I would say yes. But it might also depend on the child. Half my children have been rather good at math and moved straight to algebra. Half have needed pre-algebra first. But if you are coming from TT or some other program like that, no, not likely.

[Nm.]

I’ve decided to let DS12 go through math mammoth 7 this year and start Jacobs whenever he’s done with that.  He’s self motivated (at least lately) to plow through extra lessons to catch up.  Not sure about the videos for Jacobs yet.  They look quite boring 😂.  However I’ve rearranged our schedule and given him specific times I will be teaching him LA / Math.. and he is okay with that now.  

Edited September 13 by Nm.

[Lori D.]

1 hour ago, Nm. said:

I’ve decided to let DS12 go through math mammoth 7 this year and start Jacobs whenever he’s done with that...

Sounds good. 😄 Don't feel that he has to do every.single.problem of every.single.lesson -- it's fine to adjust and do excerpts or skip if he's solid on some of the concepts, just needs some review on others, and needs to spend more focused time on yet other topics.

 1 hour ago, Nm. said:

... Not sure about the videos for Jacobs yet.  They look quite boring 😂...

If he's somewhat math-y, and if you feel comfortable with guiding through Algebra 1, you really don't need the videos. 😉

[DaileyLeaf]

On 9/8/2023 at 10:44 AM, Nm. said:

Thank you.  I think I’ve decided on what to do for Algebra.  😅  Anyone know if finishing a grade 6 math is enough to start Jacobs without “prealgebra”?  

Jacobs does not cover a few concepts that are a part of grade 6 & 7 curriculum. You would need to review/teach unit rates, inequalities, ratios, geometry and others if your child will have to take any state testing in the next year. Otherwise, the first half of Jacobs seems to me to be a repeat of math mammoth 7 and other prealgebra programs. The substantial part of algebra with new concepts doesn't begin until chapter 9. I wish my daughter had started it in 7th and taken it slowly through 8th. My next child is going to start Jacobs sooner but incorporate plenty of review.

[kirstenhill]

6 hours ago, DaileyLeaf said:

Jacobs does not cover a few concepts that are a part of grade 6 & 7 curriculum. You would need to review/teach unit rates, inequalities, ratios, geometry and others if your child will have to take any state testing in the next year. Otherwise, the first half of Jacobs seems to me to be a repeat of math mammoth 7 and other prealgebra programs. The substantial part of algebra with new concepts doesn't begin until chapter 9. I wish my daughter had started it in 7th and taken it slowly through 8th. My next child is going to start Jacobs sooner but incorporate plenty of review.

After my DS11 finished AOPS Pre-Algebra late last winter, I decided to go with Jacobs next for Algebra, to slow down a bit, and not spend as much time on math (which he loves, but he is dyslexic and we really need to be putting lots of effort into reading and writing).  I totally agree with this that the first half of the Jacobs book was all review.  We got through that before the end of last school year, and we are just starting with the "new" material now.  I really like it a lot.  It's my first time working through an algebra text with one of my kids.  My oldest took algebra at school, and my next two worked through the AOPS intro to Algebra book on their own and I just checked their work or answered occasional questions.    I like that Jacobs is pretty clear and not overwhelming.  I'm using an older copy of the textbook with the masterbooks answer key and that has worked just fine.  I think there was one problem that was changed enough that the answer key didn't make sense, but I've only found the one so far.