PDA

View Full Version : Jacobs Geometry 2nd or 3rd edition?


Gena
04-30-2008, 11:01 PM
I had decided that for my soon-to-be freshman that I would purchase Jacobs 3rd edition and possibly the Ask Dr. Callahan DVD's. I recently had a friend give me her 2nd edition book/teacher's edition/tests to use. This would certainly help my budget. I was wondering if my daughter would be missing out on something by using an older version and if it was fairly easy to work through. Geometry is probably the part of math that I remember the least about, which is why I was considering the DVD's.

Advice please!:confused:

Maverick
05-01-2008, 12:54 AM
I purposely decided to use the 2nd edition because it has more proofs in it and I wanted a proof-heavy geom. program. My ds reads the lessons and does the problems on his own most days--I help occasionally when he gets stuck. There was a thread recently comparing editions and it included the reasons why the book was updated the way it is--I'll see if I can find the link. I learned that while the 3rd edition has fewer proofs, the ones that are included are longer and more complex, and the student is given some hints about how to solve them (ie some steps and/or reasons are provided). My friend went with the 3rd ed and Dr. Callahan DVD's because her ds is on his own--she can't help him at all. I think if you are willing to help and spend some time with the TM to figure things out when your ds gets stuck you'll be fine with the 2nd ed. Like I said, I actually prefer it.

Maverick
05-01-2008, 12:58 AM
Here's the thread with comparisons and Mr. Jacobs' statement. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16706

NJKelli
05-01-2008, 07:46 AM
I just wanted to add that you may want to check the Dr. Callahan website carefully before deciding to use his Geometry DVD's with Jacob's second edition. I thought I had read there that it is very cumbersome to use them together and, therefore, not recommended. You could probably work around it, but it might help to know the details beforehand.

Michelle in MO
05-01-2008, 08:25 AM
PM (private message) about this, but just six weeks ago I bought the entire AskDrCallahan DVD set, the 3rd edition of Jacob's Geometry, the Improved Test Bank, and the Enhanced Teacher's edition. I did so in a panic because I was afraid that Chalkdust Geometry wasn't working out for my oldest girl.

I haven't used it, and the set is brand-new. Check out my PM for further details, but I can sell it to you at a discount from the full price.

HTH!

womenfly
05-01-2008, 08:31 AM
Here's the thread with comparisons and Mr. Jacobs' statement. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16706


Maverick - thanks for posting the link to the other thread. I now remember reading that one, but it seems like I have to read information at least 100 times before I start to remember it ... 100 times seems a bit more than average, doesn't it? Well - I am 41 - as my children enjoy reminding me! I'll get it eventually.

Maura in NY
05-01-2008, 08:43 AM
I've been very pleased with it. I did want to point out, as some one who has looked over both versions and is currently using the 3rd edition that there are a fair number of complete proofs, including some on the tests.

Maura

Sharon in MD
05-01-2008, 11:55 AM
We used the third edition and were very happy with it. It may have fewer proofs than the 2nd ed....but there are still plenty as far as we were concerned.

ChrisN in NY
05-01-2008, 12:23 PM
I had decided that for my soon-to-be freshman that I would purchase Jacobs 3rd edition and possibly the Ask Dr. Callahan DVD's. I recently had a friend give me her 2nd edition book/teacher's edition/tests to use. This would certainly help my budget. I was wondering if my daughter would be missing out on something by using an older version and if it was fairly easy to work through. Geometry is probably the part of math that I remember the least about, which is why I was considering the DVD's.

Advice please!:confused:

We have the second edition Jacob's Geometry. It was the current edition when I was buying for my oldest (now graduated). I do not have money to reinvest in new curriculum for the rest of our homeschool years (youngest is in 3rd grade).

IMO, the differences between editions are not that significant that the 3rd edition becomes a "must have" and a child is "missing out" by not using it.

I'm much better at algebra than geometry, and I am going through the geometry for the second time with my oldest dd. I'm not finding it terribly difficult to work through. Sure, I have to read the book and look at the answer key, but I've managed to figure it out. If we really get stuck, we figure it out together (had to do this more often with oldest and Alg2/Trig). If that didn't work, I'd ask for help here.

HTH!