Algebra 1

[Pam L in Mid Tenn]

I posted this on the high school board, but also decided to post here. thanks for any help and all replies.
Pam


My dd 15 is failing Algebra 1 using TT. She had gotten to Chapter 7... barely... A couple of weeks ago, I decided to go back to lesson 1 and work problems with her. We've spent the last two weeks working problems, explaining, reworking, explaining again, etc etc..... yesterday I made up a test of problems we had already worked together from chapters 1 to 4.... she made a 43. ... Today, I made up a test of just problems from chapter 1, she made a 68.... Better but not acceptable.

Very long story, but she has some diagnosed learning disablilties and some brain damage from an accident when she was a toddler. The doctors told me that she would most likely not do well in the higher maths.

Our state (TN) has a course called "Integrated Mathematics." I have looked online at a couple of textbooks, but don't like what I see.

Does anyone have a suggestion for an "Integrated Mathematics" high school level book? DD is 15 and in 9th grade. She HAS to have at least 3 math credits.

I have looked at Aleks, but I am not sure about it. I think I would rather have a textbook to teach her and KNOW what she does know and what she doesn't.

She did fine with TT pre algebra... B's and C's mostly, but that is good for her in math. She can add, subtract, multiply, divide. She can follow a recipe and count money. She'll be able to manage a checkbook. Do we HAVE to have algebra??

Is there another math trail to follow in high school besides Al 1 , geometry, al 2???

She was crying today after learning that she'd made a 68 after doing her best. "I'll always be bad in math."

Should I post on special needs board?
Please help.
Thanks,
Pam

[Laurie4b]

Pam, I answered on the high school board, but later thought of this: often it's visual spatial processing and reasoning skills that keep kids from succeeding at higher math. Is that the case with your student? If so, Brainware Safari has a good computer program to work on those specific cognitive skills. I believe it's still on sale for $49 through Homeschool Buyer's Coop (normally $349). We have it and it really works the brain out! You should be able to do 15-20 min per day , 5 days per week, added to her other curriculum. It's not much to invest if it makes a difference. The program says it's for kids up to age 12, but that's only because of the graphics. The actual exercises are for any age up to adults. I like the graphics, myself!

So if you could develop the cognitive skills and also do repetitive direct teaching of the math, that might work. Anyway, just another thought.

[Virginia in Tx]

We are using MUS - are in Algebra 2 now. I think the reason it works for us is there are manipulatives which help to make abstract concepts very concrete. You may find that the problem isn't Algebra per say but maybe she hasn't totally grasped earlier concepts. If you go to the MUS website (google Math U See) you can take pretests to determine whether there are areas you need to spend more time on before Algebra. We started with MUS in middle school. I will take longer than 1 year to do Algebra 2 but that is okay with me - I never thought he would make it to this level.

[LearnFromHome]

Pam,

I know how frustrating that can be...we also struggled with math for a very long time. We tried and finished TT Algebra with no success. Finally we came across Math-U-See and my ds is doing great. He's in 12th grade and he is just now finishing Algebra II but that's because I had him re-take Algebra I with MUS since he forgot or didn't remember what TT had taught him. Last week he told me he wants to take Pre-Calculus during the summer and this is a student who cried and didn't want to continue taking math.

Hope that helps!
Judy

[Pam L in Mid Tenn]

I do know that it IS a visual spatial processing problem. Also, some mild dyslexia, ODD, and some mild ADD. I 'll look into the brain ware program. How long will it be on sale? (Not doing anything until after Thanksgiving)

I had not thought of doing a MUS placement test. Even if I didn't use MUS that would help me see exactly where the gaps are.

Thanks.
Pam

[teachmom3]

I think the suggestion about trying MUS is a great idea.

MUS and TT take very different didactic approaches to math. TT takes a primarily algorithm-based approach, while MUS is more conceptually based. If TT is not a good fit for your child, perhaps MUS will work better.

Also, MUS is the only math program I know of which uses manipulatives all the way through algebra 1.

[Mandamom]

>>>>I had not thought of doing a MUS placement test. Even if I didn't use MUS that would help me see exactly where the gaps are.>>>


If you want to see where gaps are you might want to take the placement test on http://mindsprinting.com .

I also like Math-U-See and highly recommend it.