Help! I am trying to figure out what to do for math next year for my DD11. She is almost finished Thinkwell pre-algebra, and while it is going well, she does not want another video-type math program. She is a control freak and hates having to go at someone else's pace! I had originally thought about TT algebra 1 next year, but does it make sense to buy the books only? We went through the video samples and it drove her crazy. Any opinions on Saxon? Or, would it be crazy for me to just let her have a "year off" and just read through LOF books? Right now she is reading LOF pre-algebra on Fridays with a small group of friends and they are having so much fun! Thanks, Michelle
My personal opinion....Let her pick. She is so advanced that it wouldn't really matter right now at this stage. We have and are still using Saxon Algebra 1 on some days. We use khan academy on others. Math U See is okay but I wouldn't think it would be challenging enough for her though. I haven't used LOF.
I've only used Saxon, and while it's not "comfortable" or "fun", she can go at her own pace, and it gets the job done. I've had at least one kid who scored above his grade level although he hadn't finished Alg I yet. I've gotten others up to their grade level who started out far below.
We did not care for Saxon. We didn't even make it through the school year. I enjoyed TT. Ems has her own opinions about TT. We are working on LOF and Ems loves it. I am amazed at how much she has learned from the books. If any book allows for a student to move at their own pace, it is definitely LOF. Ems uses LOF as a complete curriculum. Some people say it isn't complete, yet it is advertised as a complete curriculum and we use it successfully as a complete curriculum. We do not use it as a reading book. Ems has to complete all the questions and quizzes. Plus, she likes to dive deeper into some of the information that is given in the books. I personally would not allow Ems to take a year off of math. If I chose to hold off for a year on a curriculum, I would still have to give worksheets to reinforce what she has already covered. However, your daughter, your choice. You have to do what is in her best interest.
TT Alg. 1 CAN be done without the CD's. Rachael started TT with Geometry. She would read the book and do it, not using the lecure CD's at all. But I would still get them. There are two reasons. When Rachael got into Alg. 2 and Pre-Cal, she was WAY beyond me. I couldn't help her. If she had a problem with Number 7 of Lesson 41, there would be no one to explain it to her. With TT, each problem is explained step by step on the CD. Also, there would be one or two units where she had a bit of trouble. When this would happen, she would go over it a second time, this time listening to the lectures.
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I did take Suzanne's advise and let Lauren help pick what she would do. My daughter and I went through a bunch of websites this afternoon looking at different math programs. It took much longer that I anticipated, but in the end I think we've come to a workable solution. Lauren decidedly told me that she is "an old school, paper-and-pencil-type of girl"! She didn't want long video lectures or interactive computer lessons. So she quickly ruled out MuS and TT. She was on the fence about Saxon because of all of the mixed reviews from friends and various hs forums. So, she is going to use the LOF Algebra books along with the short videos on Khan Academy. The only math videos she likes right now are those on Khan Academy, well, the Vi Hart videos, specifically. My first choice for her would have been Saxon, but I think allowing her to be a part of the decision-making process will help her to take more ownership of her education. I guess now I just have to trust the process! Michelle
ShellChelle, totally OT here, but is one of her forums the Teen Homeschool Hang? Rachael's on that, and this past week at a Scholarship Competition, she ran into someone she knew from there! They had never actually met before, and didn't know the other was going to be there, and just happened to sit next to each other! Anyway, was just wondering!
Awesome Michelle. I did a little checking on LOF today. They have a sample lesson so I'm going to have my kids do it and see if they like it. Glad you guys were able to find something together.
Hi Jackie, No, Lauren's not on the Teen Homeschool forum...yet! She's only 11. But, I might have to check it out for my 14 year old. Thanks for the tip!
We used Saxon for high school and sd loved it! She said the lesson were laid out very well, great explinations and examples. She thought having the constant review was great because it did not let her forget anything. The word problems they used related to chemistry and physics so when she saw the problems in those clases she felt more comfortable doing them. I highly suggest it especially if she is not a video person.
have you ever checked out Khan Academy? great for control freaks since you can choose your pathway through the different subjects.
Yes! My daughter likes the Khan videos. She uses them with LOF. They are perfect for her because they don't slow her down by being interactive---which is what she detests! I had thought that Saxon with the DIVE dvds would be a great solution, but LOF fits my daughter's learning style to a T. In her words, she "zones out" with textbooks.
Traditional textbook with Khan and Youtube videos as a backup are our plan for math from here on. I just cannot see putting the money into a CD based program that will drag progress down. We will have the video help for the topics when it is needed and wanted, but progress will not be dependent on it.
