Interesting Teaching Textbooks comment this week.

[Jean in Wisc]

I have a friend who is an engineering prof at a local state university. His son got a 35 on his ACT when he was a sophomore and is doing calculus as a junior. His dad has been teaching him his upper levels of math, so I asked him what texts he used. He said he used TT because he had seen so many students come into college unprepared for math classes, and TT had what he considered important to a math program. He also thought it was well explained so that the students would understand the math, not just be able to do it.

I just thought some of you who have heard all the negatives about the program would like to hear another perspective.

Jean

[jibaker103]

I have a friend who is an engineering prof at a local state university. His son got a 35 on his ACT when he was a sophomore. He's doing calculus as a junior. His dad has been teaching him his upper levels of math, so I asked him what texts he used. He said he used TT because he had seen so many students come into college unprepared for math classes, and TT had what he considered important to a math program. He also thought it was well explained so that the students would understand the math, not just be able to do it.

I just thought some of you who have heard all the negatives about the program would like to hear another perspective.

Jean
Thank you for this Jean!!! It does my heart good to see such a glowing positive among all the negative for a textbook that is a miracle for my son!!!

[joyfulheart]

I had already been thinking of this for my son for next year-- that just made the decision!~

WOOHOO!!! LOve to see that!

[Leonor]

thanks for sharing.

[Lisa TX]

We offer math at our co-op, but several parents opt out to do TT at home. I've never heard anything but good stuff about it. What are the negatives?

[Jean in Wisc]

We offer math at our co-op, but several parents opt out to do TT at home. I've never heard anything but good stuff about it. What are the negatives?

If you search these boards for TT or Teaching Textbooks, you will find that a number of people do not find it rigorous enough, and they claim it skips topics that other programs have. It also does not follow the same order as other texts, saving the more difficult problems for pre-calc. There is a lot of heated discussion on the text.

Jean

[Lisa TX]

I've been off of here for a while -- today is my first day back in probably a year! I used to come here EVERY DAY!

We use Foerster and Jacobs at our Co-op. I think they are wonderful books, but moms that I love and respect love TT. Their kids just take study hall during our math hour.

[Lisa TX]

Jean do you remember me telling you years ago that a lady named Jean moved from Wisconsin to my area --- and I emailed her and asked her if she was "Jean from Wisconsin" from WTM. She had NO idea what I was talking about! LOL.

[Robin in DFW]

but, she has "outgrown" it, if that makes sense!

If you notice, the OP's friend's son is now taking Calculus as a junior...so, he would have started TT as a 7th grader??? Alg 1-7th, Alg 2-8th, Geo-9th, Pre-Cal-10th???

My dd is not as math savvy...she did Alg 1 in 9th, Geo-10th and is now doing Alg 2, but with Saxon (after going through the Saxon Alg 1 book and doing all the tests and working any lessons not covered in TT). She felt she needed something a little more difficult.

Like I said...we used TT very successfully...I think it gave dd the confidence to move into something more challenging.

Robin

[amlee]

i appreciate this, jean
thank you

[creekland]

His thoughts and our experiences with TT are quite similar. My sons have scored highly on standardized tests just using TT and Barrons Test Review books. The few college students I know who have used TT (admittedly not many, but mainly since the program is so new) have all said it has prepared them VERY well - even for math heavy majors. A couple used TT as a base only - to really learn the basics - then expanded into other books. Others used TT only.

TT will NOT take a non-gifted math student and turn them into a math superstar - nor will any other math program. It's also not the right choice for everyone due to learning styles and preferences. However, I've seen too many 'did very well' stories to put much faith into the negative threads that critique the curriculum as a whole. It's just not right for some students - like any curriculum.

[creekland]

If you notice, the OP's friend's son is now taking Calculus as a junior...so, he would have started TT as a 7th grader??? Alg 1-7th, Alg 2-8th, Geo-9th, Pre-Cal-10th???


This is the 'normal' progression for talented math kids in our area - both in ps and with homeschoolers. Stats is then the senior level course - or some swap Stats with Calc.

Average kids start Alg 1 in 8th.

Less mathy kids start Alg 1 in 9th.

[Pip]

I first heard of TT when a friend whose dh is an engineer said it was the program he wanted the kids to use as it explained so well. Another friend whose dh is an engineering professor at a local college and notorioiusly cheap saw it at our convention and said that was the program he wanted the kids to use.

My dh, also an engineer, is largely indifferent. His feeling is that it is a fine program but completely useless if it doesn't mesh with our kids. My 2 oldest didn't like it because they felt they tried too hard to be cute in their story problems. My youngest, who is easily distracted, did not do well with the cuteness because it just kept her from the task at hand.

Like so many things in homeschooling, it is a great program if it fits your situation.

[Robin in DFW]

This is the 'normal' progression for talented math kids in our area - both in ps and with homeschoolers. Stats is then the senior level course - or some swap Stats with Calc.

Average kids start Alg 1 in 8th.

Less mathy kids start Alg 1 in 9th.


As I said...my dd is NOT math savvy...just an average math student. I personally consider starting Algebra in middle school "advanced", especially as a 7th grader. Honestly, most kids I know (my oldest went to ps and did Algebra 1 in 8th along with her friends) don't do that "great" starting early...and she was in ALL AP classes all through hs and graduated with honors. My dd16 has a much better understanding than my oldest and I think it's because she had the brain maturity to really grasp the concepts.

BTW, where I live, starting Algebra 1 in 8th is for the advanced kids..."normal" kids start in 9th and end with Pre-Cal in 12th. Many who start the progression in 8th end up NOT taking a math their senior year because they already have all required 4 years by 11th.

Just because a student doesn't take Algebra in kindergarten doesn't mean they are less than "normal" or are less intelligent...it just takes some longer than others to reach the brain maturity to understand. Those "late bloomers" often end up really loving math and go on to be math majors. My dh was a late math bloomer and he went on as an older college student to become a very talented engineer AND he really enjoys math...but, he didn't like math at all as a high school student...

Not trying to be confrontational, just clarifying our experiences....

jmho,
Robin

[kwall]

Thanks for this encouragement. My son just started with it after trying two other programs and he is sailing along. It is good to hear evaluations from someone that really knows math.

Kerry in CA
www.noellethemovie.com (http://www.noellethemovie.com)

[Jean in Wisc]

Jean do you remember me telling you years ago that a lady named Jean moved from Wisconsin to my area --- and I emailed her and asked her if she was "Jean from Wisconsin" from WTM. She had NO idea what I was talking about! LOL.

:)Haven't moved yet... :D

[Jean in Wisc]

but, she has "outgrown" it, if that makes sense!

If you notice, the OP's friend's son is now taking Calculus as a junior...so, he would have started TT as a 7th grader??? Alg 1-7th, Alg 2-8th, Geo-9th, Pre-Cal-10th???

My dd is not as math savvy...she did Alg 1 in 9th, Geo-10th and is now doing Alg 2, but with Saxon (after going through the Saxon Alg 1 book and doing all the tests and working any lessons not covered in TT). She felt she needed something a little more difficult.

Like I said...we used TT very successfully...I think it gave dd the confidence to move into something more challenging.

Robin

Yes, this boy is very bright. I'm sure his math abilities come from the genes, and any good math book would work for him. I just thought it interesting that his dad has such high praises for TT. I always say that math is a subject that works best when you find the one that fits your child...but it is nice to find a prof in the engineering dept who finds TT a good solid high school math program.

Jean

[creekland]

As I said...my dd is NOT math savvy...just an average math student. I personally consider starting Algebra in middle school "advanced", especially as a 7th grader. Honestly, most kids I know (my oldest went to ps and did Algebra 1 in 8th along with her friends) don't do that "great" starting early...and she was in ALL AP classes all through hs and graduated with honors. My dd16 has a much better understanding than my oldest and I think it's because she had the brain maturity to really grasp the concepts.

BTW, where I live, starting Algebra 1 in 8th is for the advanced kids..."normal" kids start in 9th and end with Pre-Cal in 12th. Many who start the progression in 8th end up NOT taking a math their senior year because they already have all required 4 years by 11th.

Just because a student doesn't take Algebra in kindergarten doesn't mean they are less than "normal" or are less intelligent...it just takes some longer than others to reach the brain maturity to understand. Those "late bloomers" often end up really loving math and go on to be math majors. My dh was a late math bloomer and he went on as an older college student to become a very talented engineer AND he really enjoys math...but, he didn't like math at all as a high school student...

Not trying to be confrontational, just clarifying our experiences....

jmho,
Robin

I wasn't passing judgment at all - just mentioning that what that student did is not at all out of the ordinary - at least - for our area. Even in our ps, students who take Alg 1 in 7th do not generally spend a year without math. They take Calc, Stats and/or College Algebra (college level class) in their upper years.

Where I went to school mathy kids started Alg 1 in 8th grade too, but that's definitely not the norm around here.

And... as you said... it certainly doesn't mean someone can't be good at math just because Alg doesn't click early. Upper level math ability develops at different times for different people. 'When' it does is neither right nor wrong... just part of what makes us different.

Sorry if it didn't come across that way.

[Sandy in Indy]

... TT had what he considered important to a math program. He also thought it was well explained so that the students would understand the math, not just be able to do it.
Jean

This is exactly what I have always said about TT. It explains the math so that kids understand it. That's more important than doing a "rigorous" text that a kid doesn't get.

Our experience with TT was great. DS did well on the SAT and tested into cc Calculus as a senior. He aced the class. I credit TT for making that happen...cause I haven't taught him math since the 7th grade.

[creekland]

This is exactly what I have always said about TT. It explains the math so that kids understand it. That's more important than doing a "rigorous" text that a kid doesn't get.

Our experience with TT was great. DS did well on the SAT and tested into cc Calculus as a senior. He aced the class. I credit TT for making that happen...cause I haven't taught him math since the 7th grade.

:iagree:

What you said exactly. My son is in Calc now and having no difficulties...

I also have to add, though, that the best math course for a student is one they click with... and remember from.

[Cheryl B in VA]

:iagree: This last post is kind of what I was going to say. My oldest ds is now taking calculus at the cc as a senior. Math is not his strong subject but he still does well (640 on SAT). His math path was: Video Text Algebra (1/2 the program) in 6th, 7th no math, 8th TT Algebra 2, 9th Geometry at ps, 10th no math, 11th advanced math at ps. Ds 2 is finishing TT Algebra 1 this week and then going on to TT Algebra 2. The program is a perfect match for him. Ds 3 is doing TT math 5 and loves it.

When people ask me about TT I tell them that if they start the high school math to stick with it all the way through pre-calc because TT introduces some topics later than other curricula. But, if the program works for your child, don't worry about 'when' a topic is taught, instead make sure the student 'gets it.'