Self-Education question on math

[elegantlion]

If you are self-educating or reeducating math how do you work through the book? I am getting ready to go through pre-algebra and algebra but I'm not sure how quickly to work.

Do you make yourself do a certain amount of the problems or do you just make sure you have a clear understanding and move on?

I have a few other projects I can't set aside right now but I want to bump the math up on the to do list. I just don't want it to take a year to get through pre-algebra either. :confused:

[LoriM]

I would recommend that you consider how much time you can spend each week (day), and give yourself reasonable goals. If you want to finish a pre-Algebra review in 4 months, let's say, since I'm assuming you actually know more "pre-Algebra" than you think you do from your childhood, I'd divide the book in 16 "week" units. I would use a more traditional textbook (that is, not Saxon), and work evens or odds in the lesson sets, and test myself with the chapter review or chapter test. If you do well (85% or higher) on the chapter review, then move on. Otherwise, go back and work the odds (or evens) in the lessons that support the concepts you missed, and try that test again.

Every text will vary in the number of problems in the exercises, but I would estimate that you should plan to work about 150 problems each week if you can (30 per day). Make sure you correct the ones you miss. Keep a notebook, and work neatly. Show your steps; it makes it easier to find errors when you go back to check.

I commend you! If you get stuck on a problem you cannot solve, just post it here. There is always someone happy to help.

Lori

[ksva]

If you are self-educating or reeducating math how do you work through the book? I am getting ready to go through pre-algebra and algebra but I'm not sure how quickly to work.

Do you make yourself do a certain amount of the problems or do you just make sure you have a clear understanding and move on?

I have a few other projects I can't set aside right now but I want to bump the math up on the to do list. I just don't want it to take a year to get through pre-algebra either. :confused:

I'm reeducating, I suppose. I'm going through 2 different algebra books with various dc. One is the Frank Allen book (more theory with problems thrown in). The other is a book by Welchons and Krickenberger (more 'here's the formula, now do this set of problems').

For the Allen book, I have to sit and think, and I never know how long that will take. I don't do it every day, although I would probably be better off if I would.

For the other book, I scan the problems and try to pick out the hardest ones to do on my own. (I have the answers for both books.) I also never know how long this will take. I just sit there and work on them until I either get it and understand it, or until it all starts bouncing off my brain. If I get it, I write how I set it up in pencil in my copy of the book. This helps me remember the thought process, should dd have problems with it. If I don't get it, I set it aside and come back to it later - usually another day. If I still don't get it, I ask one of older dc for help. If I still don't get it, I ask dh to explain it to me. I try to avoid this, however, because dh tries to explain it to me as if I'm one of the engineers at his work ... very frustrating.

But I'm still not able to put a specific time to it. I have to squeeze it in when I have quiet, uninterrupted time. Usually late at night or on a weekend. And if my brain is fired up and I'm getting them all correct, then I just keep going as long as I can to take advantage of it. ;)

You'll probably be pleasantly surprised by how much you remember, though. And it's worth it to force yourself through the hard ones, too. Great confidence builder and prep for the harder stuff to come.

FWIW

[elegantlion]

Ah the voices of reason, thank you. I am using a 1972 Dolciani pre-algebra book. I have the teacher's manual so I will have access to all answers but yes, dividing it into sections will help. Thank you.

I will challenge myself and try to pick the hardest, because I'll have to teach it anyway. :001_huh: It has been many moons since I have seriously studied any math. I HOPE it has stuck in my brain somewhere.

If I get stuck I can always flip to the front of the book and be amused by the authors' hair and clothing style from 1972. :D

[Rhondabee]

I don't call it "self-educating", but in preparing to teach Jacob's Algebra, what I did was complete the Chapter Reviews. If I couldn't remember how to do a problem, or did it incorrectly, I could look back at the Chapter summary to see which exact lesson to go to for help.

Of course, I'm hoping I can throw in the towel for Geometry, and buy ChalkDust instead - LOL!

[Jane in NC]

If I get stuck I can always flip to the front of the book and be amused by the authors' hair and clothing style from 1972. :D

Hey--I once resembled that comment.

Paula, feel free to ask me any questions that you may have regarding Dolciani. I do not have the pre-algebra book, but should be able to help walk you through any difficulties you may encounter. I have the Algebra I/II/Analysis books on my shelf for reference.

Jane

[EKS]

I actually used ALEKS to refresh my math skills prior to working with my son on algebra. It worked like a charm and made it so I didn't have to spend a lot of time of things I already knew. I spent about 40 hours on their algebra I course and 20 hours on the geometry course.

[Dee in MI]

The other is a book by Welchons and Krickenberger (more 'here's the formula, now do this set of problems').

No kidding! I inherited this book from my husband's uncle. Love the story problems. And the approach is SO different from Dolciani. I don't intend to work through it, but I am flipping through to see where I get caught up. I've got Alg I & II and Plane and Solid geometry.

[elegantlion]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I guess it's like eating an elephant, but you have to actually start instead of just thinking about it. :glare:

Jane, on a bad hair day I can still resemble the pictures :D. We won't pull out the pictures from kindergarten either, which is about how old I was in 1972. My Dolciani collection is growing, it's almost as fun as collecting antique Shakespeare books.

[ksva]

No kidding! I inherited this book from my husband's uncle. Love the story problems. And the approach is SO different from Dolciani. I don't intend to work through it, but I am flipping through to see where I get caught up. I've got Alg I & II and Plane and Solid geometry.

lol. Yeah, dd and I get a kick out of the propaganda page at the start of each chapter. Our 2 books have different copyright dates, but the pages are similar. I believe it was the Cold War years and there was a huge push towards the math and sciences back then. Dh and I both remember that pressure very clearly, even into the '60's and early '70's. Such a different time, eh? :)