Help me think through some math issues?

[Susan in TN]

In 6th and 7th grades, ds did Keys to Algebra and NEM1. We decided not to continue with NEM, and I wasn't confident that ds had thoroughly covered Algebra I, so now in 8th grade he is doing the chapter reviews and tests of Jacob's Algebra and is almost finished with that and has done pretty well.

So I'm not sure where to go from here, exactly. I'd like him to do geometry next and we could either start in January and complete a course over the summer, and do Algebra II in 9th. Or we could do some geometry "prep work" for the rest of the year (I'm thinking Patty Paper Geometry and maybe some Euclid's since he's doing ancient history this year) and then do "formal geometry" in 9th. I'm leaning toward this, because I don't see the need to rush him through.

I'm also considering a tutorial for geometry next year but I'm not sure about the quality of the text / class yet - they use Prentice Hall. Or we could do geometry at home using YOUR most favoritest, bestest in the whole world geometry program.

FWIW, ds does pretty well in math, especially with concepts and doing things in his head which makes me crazy :tongue_smilie:. He is doing better writing out his problems.

[Susan C.]

Hi Susan from another Susan :)

Math has been my most challenging subject to get a good fit in most of the 15 years I have been homeschooling. Encouraging, right :)

The thing I have taken from all of my struggles with my two kids is that a good fit curriculum wise, and the correct timing developmentally wise are the MOST important. Translated, don't do it too early, or too hard. If your son starts to bog down, complain, do poorly, it is time to re-evaluate. I just changed from Chalkdust Geometry (which is a good geometry program) to BJU. Both of my kids like BJU. It is in about the middle difficulty wise. BJU teachers on the dvds (for Algebra 1 on) slowly introduce concepts, review a lot, and break down each concept into smaller chunks. A kid who gets math rather quickly would lose patience with this. For us, in Chalkdust, every concept introduction produced a ton of questions, the information came too quickly, and both of my kids couldn't fill things in between concepts.

At our house, from Algebra 1 on, math without a dvd is not an option!! I have heard others say their kids can do the math just from the book, we could up to prealgebra, but from Algebra 1 on, there was either too much conflict or the math got beyond my ability. And the kids cannot argue with the tv :)

[Susan in TN]

Thanks, Susan :) I just read a review of Prentice Hall Geometry (used in the tutorial) that criticized it's lack of logical order and frequent examples that don't prove what they are supposed to prove. That would drive ds nuts! I will keep on looking for a good fit. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of having a DVD.

[Susan C.]

There are good reviews for Chalkdust New Geometry. Chalkdust is good, a good fit for a math/science oriented student. Even with a few annoyances of watching old link classes, I like BJU (this week, anyway).