I was just talking with a friend about curriculum, and how well DS1 has done with TT math. She said she glanced at it at a HS convention and said it looked "too remedial" for her son. Our kids are good friends, and hers never quite struck me as being a math whiz or anything, but they've been using Bob Jones up until now. He's starting 5th grade; mine is starting 6th. It did make me curious, though, if Bob Jones is significantly more challenging than TT? I've been impressed with TT, and DS1 enjoys it. His highest standardized test scores the past two years were in Math. If he does one TT level a year he'll be doing pre-Calculus by his senior year, which is farther than DH or I ever went with math. I wonder if I'll ever get over this fear I've had since starting to HS, that my choices for the kids are going to leave them behind everyone else? :roll:
I'd say you have all the proof you need! Your DS is doing great - if it ain't broke don't worry about it! :wink: From what I have seen of Bon Jones, mostly science, it is advanced. But that doesn't make it better. If a kid can't grasp what they are saying and then apply it what good does it do to have an advanced program? YKWIM.
Rachael is doing pre-cal this year as a 10th grader. It will be her third year with TT. That doesn't sound very remedial to me!!!
amen I agree with Jackie, it may be she was looking at a lower level ofit or something? The approach may seem simplistic to her because it is not the same sort of text book following a teacher. As fro struggling with the are you teaching them enough keep with the program progress as thhey do and you will be fine!
TT can be behind, level-wise compared to other curriculums. My dd did TT Pre-Algebra in 4th grade and did fine with it. However, looking at other Pre-Algebra programs, I don't think she would've been able to do them that same year! One of my friends says TT Algebra 1 is like Pre-Alebra and a half--a little more than P-A, but not complete A1, and that TT Algebra 2 is like Algebra 1 1/2, etc. I tend to agree with her assessment. It doesn't mean TT is not a good or a remdial program, it's just that the levels are different. She uses TT and she and her kids love it. I really like it too! My ds15 did TT Algebra 1 in 8th, then did LoF Beginning Algebra and Advanced Algebra in 9th grade. This year he will do Geometry at school, then his Junior year, by his choice, he will do Algebra 2, to make sure he understands the Algebra well enough. You can do the placement test for TT to make sure your child is on the level that is best. Other than that I wouldn't worry about it. I think it was rather rude for your friend to say that in the first place! If you have a program that your child likes, and is advancing well in, then that's definitely the program you should use! You can be happy you have found a program that works so well for your ds!
My daughter tried out TT6 this year and it wasn't a great fit. She was in Gr. 5 but it didn't even seem challenging to her. I have heard others with similar complaints but frankly, if it works for a certain child then it works, regardless of what others think. If your child is doing it and also scoring well on standardized tests or performing to your expectations then it really doesn't matter.
