Help! I have a 9th grader this year who likes Math, so I don't want to kill her enthusiasm. I switched from Abekka to Teaching Textbooks for Algebra 1 for 8th grade,and she liked it. I want to go on to Algebra 2 with TT, but was told by a HS Math teacher that he didn't think it was "thorough" enough. I don't think Saxon would be the thing for her....are there any "math experts" out there who could direct me??

Thanks
Debbie

hi-- I have also used Teaching Textbook with my daughter. She did Pre-Algebra last year and while she liked it and did well on the tests, i also had the concern of the thoroughness of this program--i have read that it is a few grades behind typical upper grade programs. We have switched to VidoeText -we have only done the first three lessons but i think this is what we are going to try for next year. There is DVD that you watch before each lesson, then do the homework. There is a short quiz the next day before you begin a new lesson/topic. There has been people who have said there wasn't enough review-i haven't used it so i don't know about that. however, of all the programs we've looked at, this seems the best-nothing is perfect, unfortunately.
pam

We are very pleased with the Singapore math which we've done for years now. For the high school level, Singapore Math offers three (I believe) choices, some of which are more challenging than others.

The one we're doing is quite tough, no getting around that. But it's definitely thorough enough!

Debbie,

I have used both Teaching Textbooks and VideoText Algebra. I like VideoText better. I believe it is a more thorough program. I just watched the DVD's with my kids and then knew what they were doing so I could answer any questions they had. Since we typically give two high school credits for Algebra, we took 2 years to do VideoText, but you could definately do it in less.

HTH.
Patti

My eldest did pre-algrbra in Saxon along with their other ealier grades. My son felt like he was burning out and it just seemed to make him grow to hate math. So we tried VideotText for Algebra. Got half way through the year and found that the review just was not enough for my son. He managed the chapter tests fine but really struggled with the exams which covered all the material. Even after all the expense we discontinued and resumed with Saxon. We wanted to do a complete seperate year for Geometry so he just finshed Jacob's Geometery. Saxon's Algrbra teaches geometry as well but not enough for a full credit. My son said that he just felt burned out on Saxon and really did not want to return to it. Based on that we decided to use Teaching Textbooks. My upper elementary and middle school kids are using this program and we all really like it. My kids are college bound and I do not necessarily feel that Teaching Textbooks is below grade standard. Although I will acknowledge that their program does not seem as challenging as Saxon's (but maybe part of that "challenging" is where the burn out came from since a passing grade in our home is 93%).
HTH

Debbie, was there are reason you switched from Abeka? Is it possible, since she is familiar with it you could switch back?

Like Beth we are using Singapore Math and I set out, with some trepidation, into the uncharted waters of NEM this fall. I like the program a lot, but I would encourage you to explore their site and use any placement tests that have in determining what level your dd would be.

My math-loving son LOVED Videotext (and disliked Teaching textbooks, but that could have been the difference of Algebra vs. Geometry, instead of the difference in programs). It's very thorough and challenging. The same math-loving son helped me choose a different algebra program to use with my third son (for whom I don't think Videotext is the right answer). We are going to start using Math-U-See, along with the "honors" books, for both of them (Pre-Algebra for 3rd son and Pre-Calc. for my math kid). Unfortunately I can't yet tell you whether this experiment will be a success, but he and I were both very impressed with the demo DVD.
Bonnie