Foerster's Algebra 1--most important chapters?

[NJKelli]

My daughter is using Foerster's Algebra 1 this year. I just love this book! She's getting A's on the end of chapter tests so it seems to be a good fit for dd.

We started this year on chapter 3 since we had done chapters 1 and 2 as a trial at the end of the last school year. We wind up spending only four days a week on math because of a full-day coop. She usually finishes a lesson a day, but we always spend a few days on the word problem lesson at the end of each chapter and a day or two on review before the tests. It's time consuming this way, but I think it's worth it. We are now finishing up Chapter 6.

In the Teacher's Edition it explains that the book is sequenced to cover the quadratic formula by mid-year. This is what we've just finished with chapter 6, so we're on target for Foerster's recommendation even with the slow pace we've been going. He also states in the TE that the second part of the book "allows more flexibility in the selection of sequence and topics to fit the students' needs and available time." This is where I need help since it is unrealistic to cover all of the chapters that remain in the book by June though I will try to have her do an extra day of math a week to keep up a good pace and prepare her for high school next year.

The titles of the chapters after chapter 6 are:

7 Expressions and Equations Containing Two Variables (lots of graphing)
8 Linear Functions, Scattered Data and Probability
9 Properties of Exponents
10 More Operations with Polynomials
11 Rational Algebraic Expressions
12 Radical Algebraic Expressions
13 Inequalities
14 Functions and Advanced Topics

So much of what she's done so far in Foerster's is a lot of what I did in algebra 2, so it's hard for me to judge exactly what is necessary. I think we should aim to do chapters 7, 9, 11, 12, and 13. What do you think? What would your priorities be in this situation?

I could decide to go slowly and finish the book no matter how long it takes. I just don't know if that would be worth it for this child.

Would anybody like to jump in and make a suggested sequence of study to get us through this year? :D

Thanks!

[In The Great White North]

It depends on what you want to do next year. :)


I wouldn't skip any whole chapters unless I was sure they would be in the Algebra II book. We did skip a few lessons, that seemed either intuitively obvious to the casual observer or redundant, but not any entire chapters.
(We were using an older edition.)

I particularly wouldn't skip chapter 8, as it seems to be the single chapter most likely to be useful in other subjects, especially if research is involved.

Chapter 14 is likely to be covered again in Algebra II.

[SusanAR]

We didn't skip any chapters. We did skip a few of the lessons that were listed in the TE as optional. It took us over a year to complete the text, but that was not a problem for us.

Susan

[kiana]

Is she going to remain with you for high school? If so, do you know what you're using for Algebra II? If not, do you know what the school she's going to go to will use? I'd figure that out first, look at the book, and make sure that I didn't miss something that was presumed knowledge in Algebra II.

[NJKelli]

Thank you for your replies. I love this book so much that I wish we could go through every section, unless, like In the Great White North said, some were obviously unnecessary.

For Algebra II, we will probably use Foerster's and perhaps supplement it with Math Without Borders. I'm pretty comfortable now teaching algebra I, but I don't know how I'll feel with algebra 2. I am thinking about Chalkdust for geometry. The price tag makes it a bit of a fantasy, but if I could swing it I might do that for dd. If I were to fall in love with Dr. Mosley like so many others here have, I may want to continue with Chalkdust. Who knows? I do have a Jacob's 2nd ed. geometry book on my shelf already.

The advisor at Kolbe went through all the section titles for me last night and suggested what is really worth doing and what could be skipped. (She's amazing!) Her advice went along with the consensus here to not skip entire chapters but only sections. I think the plan will be to cover what she suggests even if it takes us longer. (As a rather new homeschooler perhaps I'm too attached to the idea of finishing a course in a strict school year to the detriment of dc? But, having to think about what to put on a transcript scares me.)

[langfam]

Kelli,
Yes!! If it's Megan you're talking about, she is amazing for math and science advice!

[cabdriver]

We are enjoying Foresters as well. Where did you get a teachers guide? I have the solutions manual- is this the same? It sounded like yours has lesson plans etc. I would really be interested .
Thanks!

[NJKelli]

Kelli,
Yes!! If it's Megan you're talking about, she is amazing for math and science advice!

Megan is the best! I think I will probably stay enrolled in Kolbe for her help more than anything else.

[NJKelli]

We are enjoying Foresters as well. Where did you get a teachers guide? I have the solutions manual- is this the same? It sounded like yours has lesson plans etc. I would really be interested .


I like using the TE and use it more often than the Solutions Manual--though that certainly gets used, too, especially for the word problems.

I found a Foerster's set on Cathswap. I was just lucky because I have never seen one since. And, I only found it by searching the archives back when it was a yahoo group.

I have seen Foerster's Teacher's Editions on follett.com. They are reasonably priced so you may want to take a look. :)

[cabdriver]

Thanks! I just tried Follett with no luck but they may have something in the future. I'll call their customer service Monday. Any other ideas out there would be greatly appreciated. I didn't know there wes a TE for Foresters. Now that I know I've got to have one!

[naturalmom]

What would be some of the optional lessons? How would that work with chapter tests - are those topics not on the test, or do you modify the tests if you don't teach those lessons?

[NJKelli]

Check out this link and see if it's what you need...

http://www.fes.follett.com/follett_fes_general/bookdetails.cfm?bID=374712&bc=Used&P=1&isbn=NONE&s=sr%20#%20&CFID=2329434&CFTOKEN=61160563

If you seach by Foerster, his algebra 1 book will come up. But, it doesn't indicate teachers edition on the list of books it brings up. You have to click on the different versions of the titles to see which one is the teacher's edition. The link above is for a TE that I found there.

[NJKelli]

What would be some of the optional lessons? How would that work with chapter tests - are those topics not on the test, or do you modify the tests if you don't teach those lessons?


I have all the notes I made on another computer. I'll take a look and get back to you. :)

[cabdriver]

Thanks so much for the link to the TE at Follett. I already ordered the book. I REALLY appreciate the help!
Have a great Christmas!