Algebra II ideas?

[Laurel-in-CA]

My dd has done Dolciani Algebra 1, with tutor, and struggled to eke out a "C". This year she's doing Jacobs Geometry, which I chose with her artsy/wordsy/non-mathy self in mind...and she's still struggling. She stalls out and has to wait for her dad's guidance, at least once a week.

Next year the plan is for her to do Alg. II, and then in her senior year some kind of business math. We expect her to major in art in some form or another. So I am looking for something to get the two of us through Alg. II. I think she needs more support than just the textbook and answer key. And it doesn't have to be the most rigorous Alg. II out there, as science/math are far from her career path ideals.

Can y'all make some suggestions for me? (I had to finish Alg. II over the summer myself and that was *THE LAST* math I ever wanted anything to do with.

[Karin]

She's an artist, and so I'm guessing she's a visual learner, and perhaps visual-spatial. But this is just a guess based on my artist dd's (particularly my younger one.) If you're not interested in vigourous, but in her getting enough to help her get her credits and get through the SAT, you may wish to try a combination of visual programs or else something like TT. MUS is very visual, but I'm not sure if she could jump right in; you'd need a placement test.

Or, have you considered something like Gelfand's? It's a lot of thinking and theory first, so you actually UNDERSTAND what's going on, the theory, etc. If she's a big thinker, this might work even though it's considered rigourous by some. Honestly, I find thinking courses much easier than memorization courses--we're all different. If I get the big picture, everything else is easier and makes more sense (this is a vs trait, or else a right brained trait, or some type of trait I have. I'm ill and jet lagged, so if I've confused brain types, that's why.)

[Laurel-in-CA]

Very artistic, very visual but not hands-on. That's why I thought geometry would work better than algebra for her, but it seems not, or at least not with the text she has an insufficient support from me. I am thinking TT may be the best choice. We used MUS when she was in elementary (before it got revised), but not in quite awhile. Thanks for the ideas.

[Karin]

Good idea. My vs is also kinesthetic. However, she doesn't build with MUS, just watches Mr. Demme build to see it. However, she told me she's tired of MUS (she's doing Zeta) so this may be the end of the MUS road for us. She also does Singapore (she's generally math savvy, but needs different ways to find what works for her) Math, and I'm going to try a Russian program next. If she were more like your dd, however, I'd be considering TT for her (she's my second.) As much as I like them learning rigourous math, I have to evaluate what's best for each child. My eldest is doing history light for this very reason--she HATES history.