Teaching Textbooks

[Linda (Australia)]

Actually.. (still following on from a previous post)..


My dd has done TT Algebra 1, and did fine, but is struggling with the Geometry text.

Maybe we should do Alegebra 2 instead, and then to Geometry AFTER Algebra 2 - would that work?

Do most people do Geometry before, or after, Algebra 2?

She doesn't seem ready to grasp the concepts of Geometry.

[hferguson10]

We are just finishing up TT Algebra 1 and will go on to Algebra 2 per recommendation by the TT folks, then after that, tackle Geometry. They said they recommend this because it makes sense to continue on with Algebra rather than taking a full year off to do something completly different, then go back to Algebra. The only reason we do this in the states is because the PSAT has geometry on it, so schools put it in 10th grade so students will have had a go with Geometry before encountering it on the PSAT.

But since we aren't going to take the PSAT, TT's logic makes the most sense to me.

Hope this helps,
Heather

[Emma]

:iagree: This is exactly what the rep told me at our convention.

[Pip]

We are still in Algebra I with my 12 yo dd. Even taking her time, she has time to get geometry in before college boards. I know many people who do not like to teach geometry too early as the logic part is a maturity thing. YMMV. I am having my dd do some logic before we hit geometry

Ann

[Jann in TX]

Geometry is a pesky subject--it doesn't have a good fit in any of our 'traditional' progressions...

I personally think it is 'best' between the Algebras because a good Geometry program will USE (therefore practice) Algebra 1 skills so the student has NOT had a whole year to forget--they have had a year with reinforcement.

If a student takes Geometry AFTER Algebra 2 they have a WHOLE year to forget their Algebra 2 before they begin Pre-Calc. This makes Pre-Calc difficult--unless the student is put through some sort of a review before the course starts. Most Pre-Calc programs do not provide much review--they just jump right on in! This may be different with TT because much of their Algebra 2 level concepts are in their Pre-Calc text.

Geometry takes maturity--I think 10th graders do much better with it than 8th or 9th graders.

[wimseycat]

We used TT Alg 1, then TT Geometry, then TT Alg. 2 and had no problems. However, I have a friend who will be doing Alg. 2 before the Geometry because some of the problems will involve concepts from Alg. 2. In hindsight, I can see this is a valid argument. At the time, my ds just wanted a break from Alg. and Geometry fit right in.

Annika

[Kareni]

My daughter did Algebra I, Geometry, then Algebra II. She used Lial's books for Algebra and Jacobs' Geometry.

I have noted that the Life of Fred author prefers the Algebra I, Algebra II, then Geometry progression.

Regards,
Kareni

[catsluvsushi]

Like others, my children did Alg. I, then geo, then Alg. II. We had two reasons for this progression: 1) my kids needed a break from Alg. I, and 2) geometry is required for the SAT and we didn't want to wait another year to start taking the SAT. I think it would be ideal to take Alg. I and then Alg. II if the SAT timing is not a concern (other than the info from the one post about precalc) and the student is doing okay with algebra, i.e. doesn't need a break. TT has a lot of review so I'm thinking that having geometry prior to precalc may not be an issue due to the amount of review they have. Additionally, TT saves some material from alg. II and specifically puts it in precalc (different from the chalkdust program) so this might help make the transition to precalc from geometry easier.