Math terminology question (repost)

[4wildberrys]

DD has been doing TT algebra 1, but started running into some difficulties about lesson 54. Apparently, the teacher lecture on the cd was not helping her and without indexes or reference numbers (like Saxon has), she was having trouble locating which lesson to go to for help. So, for the first time I decided to step in and teach/help dd--this has been a BIG no-no after our Saxon year of horror. So, I am reading the lesson and I am wondering if this is NORMAL to teach in a high school Algebra level as far as reducing fractions. Instead of reducing with and LCD, TT has them break the numbers and exponents down to prime numbers, and then cross off the extras to come up with an answer. For example: 6x/18 = 2*3x/3*3*2. Cross out the primes on top and bottom and voila! your answer is 3x/2. This seems REALLY weird and not really up to high school level. Then, when trying to help with a problem like 2-11x= 5+8x, I was explaining about "isolating the variable" and my dd was totally stumped with my terminology!! So my question was "SO, how exactly ARE you being taught to do these problems?". "Well, not like that mom." TT uses terminology like "freeing the trapped x's"!! So far, I have seen NO reference to LCD, GCF or any other normal math terminology for teaching concepts. I am so angry at this "babytalk" for high school algebra because even thought the program is slow and gentle---it leaves me in a position that I will have to read basically every lesson and learn this new "gentle" math language just to help relate to dd with algebra! I want to drop this program SO badly and just have her do Life of Fred---but it was expensive!! And this will be the 2nd time I will have bought and sold TT Algebra 1 out of frustration!

SO---math experts---what do you think?? Am I just being overly sensitive, or is this program as behind and "off" as I am beginning to think?

[langfam]

Just some thoughts.

I think with some kids, DVD instruction is just not going to be enough. I have one DS where I have to sit and watch him work out some problems so I can "see" his thought process. Often it's just a small thing he doesn't quite get. Once I see where he's having trouble. I rework with him those sections in the text. I might do the evens while he watches and he does the odds.
This DS used Jacobs last year and it wasn't a good fit. This year we're using Chalkdust. It's going very well because he's not frustrated. He likes the way the text is set up. There is a daily review section of past concepts. Then the probelm set. The mid-chapter review and end of chapter review tells me if he's weak on certain concepts and it's so easy to so back to that section for clarification and review. I can't say enough good things about Dana Mosely the instructor. He's just excellent.


P.S. I'm not a math expert and I didn't quite answer your question on terminology. I remember when my kids did Saxon that's how they taught canceling.