How to schedule LIAL Intro. Alg?

[langfam]

Can you help me with scheduling for this course?

DS has struggled with Saxon in the past. Would take sometimes 3 hours to finish a lesson and I often found the textbook in the trashcan! He was so frustrated with the text.

This year(8th) he is slowly working through Jacob's ALG. He will not finish it or finish it well for that matter, but at least has not been frustrated.

At first, I thought he should do Saxon Alg 1 next year in 9th. I think I was suffering from amnesia. But after reading threads here, I purchased a copy of Lial's (with DVT's very inexpensively) and love it! Especially all the real-world application word problems.

Looking at the text, each lesson has about 70-80 questions. Do your students do all these problems in one day? Have you been successful in completing the course in one year?

Do your students read the text then watch the DVTs or the other way around?

Thanks in advance.

[NancyL]

I think the odds for each section are plenty. You can do the chapter reviews and tests if you think they need more. We finished the Beginning Algebra but didn't want to do the intermediate, but the college algebra is too advanced. We have an old Lial--Algebra for the College Student--that we keep going back to... I like the paperback study guide that you work through in case you have trouble with the problems. They are very reasonable when they are older. We use it as a supplement because the end of the book gets into the harder concepts in preparation for College Algebra, but they are just so well written. I don't know why our local high schools just can't use these instead of the new reform math with extremely expensive textbooks.

[Kareni]

My daughter used Lial's Beginning Algebra. I believe I had her do about every third or fourth problem. That was plenty!

She followed that with Jacobs' Geometry and Lial's Intermediate Algebra. She's thriving now at the community college taking Trig.

Regards,
Kareni

[Colleen]

My oldest son recently began using Lial's Intro Algebra. He's working through it in the same way he worked through Lial's BCM. One day, he'll read the lesson and work the problems in the sidebars. The next day, he completes the odd exercises that accompany the previous day's lesson. If there are an excessive number of problems or the material is particularly challenging, he takes an extra day to do those odd problems. Because he's on the younger side for algebra, I don't want him to rush through it too quickly, so I'm fine with him taking the time he needs. As with BCM, he'll complete both the odds and evens for the chapter tests. I didn't buy the DVTs so I can't speak to that.

[Michelle in MO]

I have my girls spend 2-3 days on each lesson (i.e., Mon. and Tues on Section 2.1) and have them read the chapter examples and concepts for just that portion of the lesson. For instance, for Monday's lesson, they might read Examples 1 through 3, and then do the problems pertaining to those examples (each problem set is clearly labeled up above, "See Example 3" or whatever). Then on Tuesday, they might read Examples 4 through 6, and then do those problems pertaining to those examples. Work through at the child's pace, although for most parents, it seems like 2-3 days per section is usually good. Odd problems are usually enough---you could overwhelm a child, assigning all the problems!

The student solutions manual provides detailed explanations of how to solve each problem, plus there are DVT's to go with the lessons.

[Jann in TX]

I usually split up the lesson (it was designed for block scheduling) having the students read/work the side bar problems for about half of the lesson and then work the corresponding ODD problems in the problem set.

Working the ODDS provides the student with more than enough practice!

I'm also a big meanie--I INSIST that ALL problems in the Chapter Review are completed. Sometimes I will allow the student to skip the last section (called "mixed review")--it is a practice test.

I'm mixed on how I assign section reviews (mid chapter reviews) and cumulative reviews. Some students get assigned all of the problems, some just the odds, some only selected problem types--and a few get to skip them.

I allow an average of 2 days per section.
2-3 days for Chapter Reviews
1 day for tests
1 day for cumulative reviews

Working at this pace it is easy to complete the text in one school year with some flex days included.

[langfam]

Thanks so much everyone. You all are great!:thumbup: