I should have gotten Jacobs Algebra

[ktgrok]

At the last minute I went with CLE instead. I hate it. I can't even fully explain why, but I find the explanations confusing. I end up paraphrasing them to my kid to make them easier to understand, and the work bogs her down. Today I printed out the sample of Jacob's from Masterbooks and she did great. More importantly I understand it, so I can teach it!  So yeah, ordered that, and hopefully it arrives before we run out of sample lessons (I think I have 9 lessons printed out). REALLY wish I didn't waste nearly 3 weeks on CLE. 

[Nm.]

That is encouraging.  I have adhd and need stuff that I can actually teach.  The way it’s laid out just works for me based on the samples.  Hoping it’s a good fit for us too.

[ktgrok]

41 minutes ago, Nm. said:

That is encouraging.  I have adhd and need stuff that I can actually teach.  The way it’s laid out just works for me based on the samples.  Hoping it’s a good fit for us too.

Maybe that is the issue - CLE is SO wordy yet boring I kept paraphrasing and shortening it up. And the word problems were sometimes phrased poorly I felt. I should not feel I know LESS math after reading a lesson than I knew before reading it, lol. Wheras the lessons I readi n Jacobs had me nodding along going, "ah, yeah, exactly!" Or "huh, that's a good way to show that!"

[Brittany1116]

I feel you. Mine did Saxon Alg 1 last year and earned a lowish A but hated it. I thought it was easy to teach. We switched to AOPS Intro to Alg and are like 9 lessons in and we are both confused. We stopped using the book this week to spend some time in Alcumus. I am not sure what to do at this point. 

[SilverMoon]

Jacobs is on deck for my youngest. I hope he connects with it too. The writing style and smart numbers are right up his alley, and I have the pre-MB version with more comics in it. He's rather skeptical of textbooks so he's going to finish Keys to Alg first. 

[Ting Tang]

Better to have wasted 3 weeks than have been miserable for 30+ more weeks! Maybe all is not lost and some of that can be applied to the new program. 

[EKS]

We wasted...more than three weeks on VideoText Algebra.  And this was after doing something like five chapters of Jacobs.  I can't remember why I thought it would be a good idea to move to VT, but when we switched back it was like a breath of fresh air.  

I love Jacobs!  I truly believe that it is because of Harold Jacobs that I am now (18 years later) getting a degree in math.

Edited September 15, 2023 by EKS

[ktgrok]

So, three lessons down and math is now painless compared to CLE. Thank heavens. My 13 yr old is no longer scowling and sighing and pouting through the lessons and instead pretty dang upbeat, and actually seems, dare I say it, curious and engaged?

Edited September 15, 2023 by ktgrok

[Servant4Christ]

I downloaded the older textbook (1979, I think) and am reading through it as a refresher. I'm really enjoying some of the set IV problems. 

Edited September 20, 2023 by Servant4Christ

[Boymama5]

We switched to Jacobs after spending too long on AOPs. It’s been such a better fit for DS and though MDS wants to go from BA to AOPs I’m somewhat reluctant as k like Jacobs so much. 

[Nm.]

On 9/20/2023 at 5:40 PM, Servant4Christ said:

I downloaded the older textbook (1979, I think) and am reading through it as a refresher. I'm really enjoying some of the set IV problems. 

What older textbook?

[SilverMoon]

3 hours ago, Nm. said:

What older textbook?

I'd assume this one. By Harold R. Jacobs Elementary Algebra https://a.co/d/e33Wldb

You can read it at Archive but not print.  

[Calm37]

On 9/12/2023 at 7:17 PM, SilverMoon said:

Jacobs is on deck for my youngest. I hope he connects with it too. The writing style and smart numbers are right up his alley, and I have the pre-MB version with more comics in it. He's rather skeptical of textbooks so he's going to finish Keys to Alg first. 

Key to Algebra sails you right into Jacobs IME. 

[Nm.]

I wonder if having the old version and doing all the problem sets might be a good fit for starting it a bit earlier.  I just need the textbook..

[Nm.]

Are any of the comics inappropriate? Why were they removed?

[Servant4Christ]

4 hours ago, Nm. said:

What older textbook?

https://libgen.li/edition.php?id=137285513

[SilverMoon]

3 hours ago, Nm. said:

Are any of the comics inappropriate? Why were they removed?

Not that I'm aware of. MB is just weird. 🤷‍♀️ 

We have the old textbook, this solutions guide, and the teachers manual. I didn't find the TM very useful but others like it. 

Solutions Manual for Elementary Algebra https://a.co/d/6jRI4RI

[Nm.]

Bought the old one for 58+tax..l am hoping condition is actually as stated (very good).  

[kirstenhill]

On 9/23/2023 at 2:01 PM, Nm. said:

Are any of the comics inappropriate? Why were they removed?

Another reason (besides MB being weird as was already suggested) is copyright/licensing issues.  When MB bought the rights to the text, the licensing agreement for those illustrations would not have been automatically included - it would have to be renegotiated and paid for separately.  My guess is MB either didn't want to bother, or didn't want to pay what the owner of the rights to the comics wanted to charge. 

It's the same reason why reprinted books that are still in copyright sometimes don't include the original illustrations. The illustration rights are separate, and sometimes the cost to reprint the illustrations (in terms of licensing fees) is more than the new publisher wants to pay, or sometimes the illustrator refuses to give permission for the reprint or can't be reached.  

[Janeway]

3 weeks is not much time for waste. Just switch before you waste any more time! I am happy you found out how you feel about this so quickly. I have used something for months before I backed out. I love Jacobs. There are several programs I love and Jacobs is one of my favorites.

[OakParkOwlets]

What are y'all planning to use (did use) for Algebra II after Jacobs?  It looks like Masterbook's Algebra II is a different author.

Edited September 26, 2023 by OakParkOwlets

[SilverMoon]

8 hours ago, OakParkOwlets said:

What are y'all planning to use (did use) for Algebra II after Jacobs?  It looks like Masterbook's Algebra II is a different author.

I was planning on avoiding that decision until you brought it up. 🙃 

Jacobs' didn't publish an alg 2 book and I won't use anything from MB. Off the top of my head, Larson's Intermediate Algebra seems most likely to suit my youngest, choosing from that previously mentioned homeschool closet. Jacobs' geometry book is in there too. 

Or if Jacobs just doesn't work well, Thinkwell is our backup plan. 

[Not_a_Number]

On 9/12/2023 at 5:09 PM, ktgrok said:

I can't even fully explain why, but I find the explanations confusing.

This is just me collecting "bad math teaching" stories, but any examples?? 

And glad you found something that works better for you!! I've only heard good things about Jacobs' Algebra. 

[Nm.]

I got my book in today.  The condition is Much better than I expected.  However with exception to the easy chapters, I’m a bit lost.  Perhaps I need to do some brushing up on these things myself.  

[Not_a_Number]

2 hours ago, Nm. said:

I got my book in today.  The condition is Much better than I expected.  However with exception to the easy chapters, I’m a bit lost.  Perhaps I need to do some brushing up on these things myself.  

Anything we can help with?

[EKS]

2 hours ago, Nm. said:

I got my book in today.  The condition is Much better than I expected.  However with exception to the easy chapters, I’m a bit lost.  Perhaps I need to do some brushing up on these things myself.  

I assume we are talking about Jacobs here?

I recommend doing all of the problems ahead of your student.  Jacobs' problem sets are works of art, so it should be fun.  And it will give you an understanding of how Jacobs teaches through the problem sets as well as what your student is experiencing.

Edited October 2, 2023 by EKS