Question about doing math "too fast" (especially for those using VideoText)...

[Heather in VA]

I am currently using VideoText with my 7th grade dd. She's not a mathy person but she's bright and is doing well with it. I often bring out problems from other more "traditional" math books to give her a variety and make sure she's getting it. (this isn't a commentary on VT - I'd do that with any program). VT Algebra covers Pre-algebra, Algebra 1 and Algebra II. At the current rate, she'll finish the full program by the end of 8th grade. That seems awfully early to me. While not a math person, she's bright enough to get through Calculus in high school but I really don't see any reason for a faster pace than that. Should I find a place in VT that is basically the "end" of Algebra I and do another Algebra I program for a while? Should I finish VT and then review. Should I not care and just keep going and figure there will probably be a point at which we will be forced to slow down?

Thanks

[GothicGyrl]

Keep going through VT.. we finished the first one in a year as well. Just keep plugging along and look at it this way, she can focus on more career oriented maths in high school. :)

[HSKLNG]

....M-Thu is VT and on Fri I use a traditional Alg curr. for variety and challenge. Alg is Alg, right? is she is learning it right she should be able to do any Alg problem no matter the source. I am not doing this thinking that VT is weak or anything, we like VT. I do it for my dd sake, she is easy to get the swing of things and flow thru them with no much effort, not bad but not good either. Life is not like that, she has to be ready for the "curve balls" (Mommy's thinking here).

According to my schedule, I thought that she was gonna be done with it fairly early, but it happens that so far she has been "stock" in some lessons, which I was not expecting, prolonging the course of time. The purpose is for her to "know" Alg, so we slow down when we need to or begin a lesson all over again if we have to, along with extra problems and practice until she "gets it".

I am not quite looking at my schedule any more. I know she needs other Maths but if a good foundation in Alg and Geometry is all she gets, so be it. After all, college sciences and maths are based on a good foundation in Algebra. So we are :auto:.

Like GothicGyrl said "Keep going through VT.

Lets take it one day at a time. HTH.

[mcconnellboys]

I would keep working through it. If she finishes all her high school level maths before she graduates, it will free up time for her to focus on her area of special interest, won't it? I know that different states have differing requirements about what can count, how many credits of math are needed, etc., but I don't know of any that require kids to go higher than trig/pre-calc unless they're perhaps going to major in math/science in college.

Regena

[Heather in VA]

Thanks - I like the idea of designating a day for another curriculum rather than the 'hey we should have a pop quiz' type thing that I'm doing now.

I feel better.

Thanks