chalk dust vs teaching textbooks geometry

[wyomom]

I am once again in a quandry over what to do about math. We started out in 1st grade with saxon till 8/7 and that's where we got lost. Dd just couldn't understand it anymore and it was taking her 3 hours a day to do math. So, after much research and deliberation, we went with TT alg 1 which she is doing well in, likes it and is done in 30 min a lesson. I worry of course about it not being thorough enough since she will be going on to college but she says she is plenty challenged by it. She is getting most of her problems right on the lessons and tests missing around 2 or 3 problems but never because she is stumped on the concept. Usually it is from silly mistakes and once we go over it with the instructor on the computer she knows where she went wrong.

Now, after reading alot more neg than good about TT I am wondering if we should just bite the bullet and finish her out with Chalk Dust through high school. She is 13 and in 7th grade so I was a little concerned with pushing her too fast with a more rigorous program compared to TT and end up with the same confusion and tears we got with Saxon. But then again, I don't want her to go all through high school with a math program that won't give her a solid foundation in college if she decided on a science major.

I did go with TT over chalk dust because #1 it was cheaper and #2 I have no time to teach her the new concepts. She just sits down at the computer, does the lesson and in the afternoon, I have an hour to go over all her work from that morning and we correct things if she got them wrong and clear up any confusion. This seems to be working well but I'm not sure we could do that with Chalk Dust.

I am just not sure what to do. She really likes TT and wants to stay with them for Geometry next year since she is about done with their Algebra 1 but of course I am worried about the thoroughness of the program. Then again, TT alg 1 has her very challenged she says so maybe putting her into something more rigorous for geom would be like the old days of saxon 8/7 when it took 3 hours to do one lesson and lots and lots of tears. I definately don't want that again. Our house can't survive that.

Those of you who have more experience with this sort of thing, I need some good advice. What should we do? I don't want to mess up a good thing but what if it is a good thing because it is so easy? Hmmmmm I just don't know. Like I said, I am in SUCH a quandry over this.

[Kareni]

Given your daughter's age and the fact that she's not "behind" in any way, you might find this thread of interest:

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35062&highlight=teaching

In the thread, Carmen_and_Company talks of using Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1 and 2 as an Algebra 1 course.

Regards,
Kareni

[langfam]

Chalkdust's Geometry is a very challenging college text. I would hesitate using it for a child so young, unless they were very good at math. With my children who are using Chalkdust, even though Dana Mosely is an excellent teacher, I still do have to help my children work through problem areas. Sometimes, they might have a concept that they are struggling with and it requires me to sit down with them and watch them work through some problems just so I can "see" where they are lacking in understanding. We then have to go back to those sections and review to cement concepts. Geometry is a course that requires a lot of reasoning. Some kids are just developmentally not ready for that until they are older. I think Kareni's suggestion might work well for your child.

[Katia]

I agree with continuing on with TT since your dd is so young. Using the TT Algebra 2 text for 8th grade would be perfect for her. You can title that Algebra 1 on her transcript.

Then, for 9th grade go into TT Geometry, or you could switch over to CD at that time, and continue on with CD's Algebra 2 in 10th grade ; CD Precalc in 11th grade, then CD Calculus in 12th.

Nothing like having someone else plan out your child's math schedule, eh? LOL But don't be afraid that TT will not lay a solid foundation for upper level maths, because it will. Just realize that the title of the book is a little off...and that their Algebra 1 book needs their Algebra 2 book to be a complete Algebra 1 course. It's really pretty simple.

Good luck!

[Ida]

Ds is 6th grade and NEM 1 wasn't getting done consistantly because it was just too much for both me and ds. My plan is to have him Continue through the summer and finish Algebra I in the fall. When he finishes it, sometime in the first semester of 7th, he will use TT Algebra II and Geometry concurrently. I will probably let him decide whether he wants to toggle the programs every other day, week, or chapter. I am hoping he will finish by the end of 8th grade. Then starting in 9th he will definitely redo Algebra II and possibly Geometry with a more rigorous program like Chalkdust and will still have time to do pre-calc and calc using whatever program seems most appropriate to his goals and aptitude at the time. I guess I am effectively doing what Katia suggests and am combining TT's Algebra I and II and calling them Algebra I.

[4wildberrys]

Why is it that if our kids are doing well with a program, it is not taking all day and they don't hate their math anymore----we want to change programs!!!! :confused: Not criticizing, just commiserating :glare: When my kids were doing awesome in Math U See---and finally getting math and accelerating---I felt it was the time to switch to Saxon........and made them detest math. DS is also doing very well with TT---no complaints, finishes quickly---and I want to switch him again based on bad reviews too!!! Since he is 7th and starting the TT Alg 1 next week---I think I am going to stick it out with the TT sequence and supplement with LOF. At this rate---he will still get to Calc by 12th, which what I am trying to accomplish. There are PLENTY of good reviews and LOTS of kids who have gone on to higher college maths with using TT too----so it may not be as rigorous as other programs, but it seemingly works too. As a matter of fact---I don't think I have read any threads (and correct me if I am wrong here--please!) that kids using the Chalkdust (just to name one popular program) are so far advanced by the end that they test THAT much higher into or out of college maths................

[langfam]

Kids are so different and they each have own learning style. I'm all for using the curriculum that suits the child. We used Saxon for 11 years because it is the one most homeschoolers use, and I blindly went along with it. It was only after my 2 eldest did very average on the PSAT after completing Saxon Advanced Math that I started to question Saxon. It was only then that I stared looking into other curriculums. Fortunately we found Chalkdust's SAT review, because they did great on the SAT after using it.
My kids are now using curriculums that work for them. One is using TT Precalculus, She also had used TT Geometry. Some are using Chalkdust; one is using Horizons/Singapore. If it were me, I'd be using Foerster's because it's the text *I* like the best, but I realize that my kids are all different and I'm going to use what works best for them.

[Karin]

We had our 13 yo redo Algebra 1 with a more rigourous text. She did Lial's then switched to TT. She'll do Geometry at 14. We're not TT fans, though. Chalk Dust did look challenging when we saw the demo, and I think it would be too big of a jump after TT Algebra 1.