Jump to content

Menu

Pros/Cons of math curricula


Recommended Posts

Okay, I have been researching and reading. Still I am having a hard time narrowing down the curriculum for my twins. Ugh!!!!

 

 

Question about the math....

 

 

 

Currently my twins are doing Holt Algebra 1 2007 edition in their 8th grade class.

 

What is the difference/similarities between the titles of math texts?

Beginning Algebra

Intermediate Algebra

Elementary Algebra

College algebra

Algebra and Trigonometry with Analytic geometry

Algebra 1

Algebra 2

Precalculus

 

I just don't know what route to go for my twins. Then at publishers websites I find that some texts are listed as honors/AP. What I want is for my twins to get a solid foundation in math. I don't know if college algebra would be an option and if so then maybe go that route.

 

Currently I am leaning towards for algebra 2 and geometry:

 

1: Holt Algebra 2

Holt Geometry (they are using Holt Algebra 1 now)

 

2: Larson Application/Equations/Graphs

Larson Geometry 2001

 

3: Lial Algebra 2

Jacobs Geometry: Seeing, Doing, Understanding

 

4: Brown Algebra 2: Explorations and Applications

Jacobs Geometry

 

So I would appreciate if you tell me any pros/cons you know about these math texts. I looked into Foerster and Dolciani. Honestly I don't know if going from current Holt Algebra 1 text to these texts would leave any gaps??

 

Thank you,

Anita

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What is the difference/similarities between the titles of math texts?

Beginning Algebra

Intermediate Algebra

Elementary Algebra

College algebra

Algebra and Trigonometry with Analytic geometry

Algebra 1

Algebra 2

Precalculus

 

 

Thank you,

Anita

 

Beginning Algebra = Elementary Algebra = Algebra 1

 

Intermediate Algebra = Algebra 2

 

Algebra and Trig with Analytic geometry will include additional material beyond the Intermediate/Algebra 2 text. When I was in high school, my Algebra II course included Trig which was the norm then; nowadays, it seems many students receive a basic intro to trig in geometry (as I did) but do not return to the subject until precalculus.

 

Precalculus is the course that elevates the material from Algebra 2 to a higher level to prepare students who are taking Calculus. The content of precalculus is sometimes stretched over 2 semesters at community colleges where it is called college algebra.

 

Please note: not all authors include the same material in Algebra 1 or Algebra 2 for that matter. Just because two books bear the same title does not mean they are equivalent.

 

None of the texts you mention are AP. The only AP math courses are Calculus AB, Calculus BC and statistics.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Jane

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Your 4 choices are mainstream math texts. They should be fairly compatible because they were made to the same 'standards'.

 

After Algebra 1 you would move on to Algebra 2/Intermediate Algebra with Geometry in between or following (I prefer it in between).

So that would be 9th and 10th grade.

 

Pre-Calc is a combination of Advanced Algebra/Algebra 3/ College Algebra and Trigonometry, usually one semester of each. These texts can take 2-3 semesters to complete.

This would be 11th grade.

 

Calculus would come in 12th. Depending on your student's strengths at this time they can sit for the AP Calc tests.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...