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Laurel-in-CA
04-20-2009, 07:04 PM
DS will be doing Chalkdust Alg. 2 next year. He has his eye on mechanical engineering / robotics or construction. Anyway, what would come next? Would it be their Trigonometry course, or would we go to Precalculus? I am all at sea here, having barely finished Alg. 2 and forgotten that painful experience as soon as possible. He likes Chalkdust, tho' (yea!) and is pulling an A in Geometry. Help much appreciated!
MomsintheGarden
04-21-2009, 07:03 AM
Our ds is in engineering at college; he did CD Precalculus after CD Algebra II, then he did CD Calculus.

CD Precalculus contains trigonometry, advanced algebra, and analytic geometry. It is excellent preparation for calculus, and the next step in the CD sequence for future engineering majors.

HTH,
GardenMom
Laurel-in-CA
04-21-2009, 12:37 PM
So, high school sequence for DS will be: Geometry, Alg. II, Precalculus (includes Trig) and then Calculus? Man, I hope those Chalkdust CDs are good, because I am helpless past Geometry!
MomsintheGarden
04-21-2009, 04:06 PM
So, high school sequence for DS will be: Geometry, Alg. II, Precalculus (includes Trig) and then Calculus? Man, I hope those Chalkdust CDs are good, because I am helpless past Geometry!

Yes, that's right.

The CD DVDs and textbook are very good, but expect to have glitches. That's when you will need to contact CD - they have pledged to help original purchasers with one student. I would suggest that, if possible, you try to learn along with your student.

And now I must (sigh) tell you that the CD Precalculus book is quite time-consuming and challenging. The CD rep told me over the phone that many students take 1 1/2 school years to complete it. I'd recommend having your student begin it the summer after he finishes Algebra II. Plan on him working on it over the following summer as well, if he needs to. Don't worry about taking the extra time to make sure he really understands, especially the trig. He MUST master trig before he attends engineering school.

And one more thing. If at all possible have him do at least the first CD Calculus course before college. The CD Calculus course covers the first half of the book, enough to have him ace the calculus AB exam. Many engineering schools are looking for applicants that have Calculus and physics in high school. He will have a much easier time getting into college if he takes these in high school.

Blessings,
GardenMom