Hello,

Has anyone had any experience with Teaching Textbooks? Our daughter did A Beka through Algebra I and did very well. We are now not doing A Beka, as we chose to start TOG, which meant diving into everything new for us. We chose to do Chalk Dust Geometry this year and have had nothing but problems with it. The book is not user friendly, although the teacher seems to do a good job. However, it is simply too complicated to try and find things in the book to help her. Things are not explained well. My husband has to help her, as I am not a math person by any stretch of the imagination. Thank goodness he is, but it is taking too much of his time to deal with this.

I have recently read that both Chalk Dust and Teaching Textbooks are for your typical average student, and that your student will be able to test out of College Algebra and/or PreCalc once finishing these courses. I do know that Chalk Dust offers a separate Geometry and Trig course, since none of this is included with their other courses. Teaching Textbooks does offer the separate Geometry, of course, but they also briefly cover Trig in their Algebra II course, and really cover it much more in their PreCalc course.

Our daughter is not some super, duper math brain and I don't expect she will ever need anything like Trig for the future, but I do want to make sure to have her prepared well for college. She does very well now and I don't want to see her go backwards at all. I actually have already ordered the Teaching Textbooks Geometry class, but was really looking for some input from others who may have tried their high school courses.

Thank you,
Swim Mom (from Maine)

UPDATE: In case anyone is interested in our experience with this program, we have received the Teaching Textbooks Geometry package and our dd has completed six classes and loves it. She says that he explains things so much better than the man on Chalk Dust. She says she actually understands what he is talking about this time. I believe we will stick with this program throughout the remainder of her high school years.

Thanks for posting this. We jsut started this year with TT pre-alg. for my not math wiz daughter but she is doing much better. I was a little concerned lately because of all the talk about TT not adequately preparing kids for college math courses. I hope this is not the case because we are leaning towards it for all of high school also.
Lisa

Hi, our family LOVES TT. We have used Math7, Prealgebra, and Alegbra I. It has been nothing but great. They also are really friendly to work with.

HTH!!!

We are using Teaching Textbooks as well. We will DEFINITELY stick with this program. It is very user friendly and the topics are explained very well. My dd has struggled with math up until now. She is now averaging a 92%. Some of the things I like about it is the fact that it frees me to spend more time with my younger ones, is self-teaching, keeps track of problems missed, and keeps a record of their grades. My dd likes to see how she is progressing and loves it that she can sit down at anytime and do her lesson w/o waiting for me. She has been known to do a couple of lessons on the weekend! After trying just about everything on the market over the years we have finally found a keeper!

Cari

Thank you ladies for your input. It makes me feel more like I have done the right thing. As she moves along with the course and is doing so well; it simply makes me feel even better. She got a 96 on her first test and is having no trouble with her homework. Loving it!!!!!

Where do I find the section that keeps track of grades and problems missed through the TT math programs? We have pre-algebra right now.
Lisa

Hi Lisa,

We are using the 6th grade level and their scores on lessons and quizes are kept in the "gradebook" on the computer. You will find a link to click on at the bottom on the left side. I am assuming that all levels are the same. Let me know if you find it!

Cari

I have a child in Pre-Algebra now. We LOVE it! We are from
A Beka PreK-3rd grade, Saxon 4th & 5th. He did excel w/both
programs. But, BURNED OUT his Love of Math. We are now
back on track.

TT came w/3 CD booklets.
Lecture & Practice CDS,
Solutions CDS
Test Solutions CD
I am confused as to where the "gradebook is on the computer".

Thanks for clarification.
Lisa in Va.

I dont think that is included in the pre-algebra. That link might only be for the lower grades.
Lisa

I wanted to add that I emailed TT and asked them if they were a college prep math curriculum. They said that they were. They have questions in their math specifically for the ACT and SAT tests. They also said that math does not need to be rigorous to be good. They help explain the concepts so that the children "get it", not just go through the motions. HTH!!