Okay, I couldn't tell exactly what you were saying..... I think I was tired so couldn't figure it all out in my head. I'm so sorry I misunderstood! The reason this all started was that I was thinking of possibly going back to TT with my dd. She's interested in Chemistry, so I'm thinking she MAY need more than the TT Pre-Calc if it's Algebra 2 equivalent. But I don't want her to have to take a whole extra year of math to get through that level. But, then again, maybe the slower pace would be better cuz she'd retain it more. I dunno. I'm just interested in what others think and are doing, which is part of me analyzing the different curriculums. TMom, my dd is going through 2 maths also this year: CLE Math 8 and LoF Beginning Algebra. She does CLE 4 days a week and LoF 2 days a week. That's our plan anyway, it's already been messed up and this is only our 2nd week of school! That schedule isn't set in stone, though, it's just a general guideline. I think we'll go faster sometimes and slower sometimes, and it'll all even out. DS18 is heading for college in less than 2 weeks. Once October comes around dd and I will really be able to run her homeschool the way we'd like. Right now we fit it in in-between different errands and things we have to do to get my oldest ready for college, volunteering and grocery runs!
You know, Carl made another point in this discussion (coming from his "math teacher in a public school" perspective!). He says that, even if it doesn't cover as much as we thought in the time frame we thought, it will still teach a whole heck of a lot more than they do in the public school for the same (supposed) class!
That is interesting - I mean, outside of cost - is there any reason if the student does well enough, not to get through Alg1 Alg2 and the pre-calc (most of it) in two years? If the program works that well, is it worth the price?
Absolutely none that I can think of. Keep in mind that for me, when I put out the big bucks for it, I am thinking of my younger two down the road. And I have also lent it to friends when I wasn't using it.
gwenny, you make a good point--now that I know that it's that way, we could work through them at a pace that would get her through the 3 levels in two years, if she wanted to stick to that pace. Then she could do Calculus, or whatever else to keep with Chemistry. Of course, this is all supposing she sticks with the Chemistry idea. If she decides to be a dog-trainer, then she wouldn't need more higher maths, and could just do it at a slower pace!
I just learned that TT IS an approved vendor for our charter - somehow it does meet CA standards and NCLB standards! (yay!) If TT works well for us, we may stick with it and just see if he can keep up with a faster pace -- or work at his pace and have him take pre calc as a college class to make sure he is ready.
That is a good point - if you have several children, it becomes an "investment." Then if you can sell it or lend it out, or even save it for grand children (don't laugh, my dd9 has specifically asked that I hang on to certain products we have used so SHE can use them with her kids when she homeschools - how AWESOME is that!!)
I hate to say this.... I do think Teaching Textbooks is great. I plan to switch to it for my younger child as soon as he finishes what we already have. BUT, that being said, their Algebra 1 course is more like half pre-algebra and half algebra. You really do need to go through the whole sequence to get the full algebra 1 course. Sorry. I have not reviewed beyond Algebra 1, but I do know their algebra 1 course is missing a few things, several things in fact. That being said, I try to avoid being stuck on labels. If I already know I need to complete both algebra 1 and algebra 2 to get the full algebra 1 course, then fine, we will do both. How something is presented means more to me than weather is says it is level this or that. I also want to know that in the end, everything needed is presented. I do not want anything skipped in the end.
What are you worried about? I think you would just need to do some good research on MUS. I've heard good and bad, depends on the people, but I don't know specifically if they're on track/ahead/behind. I know they're a good program, as TT is. I was glad to read about the TT algebra1, 2 and Pre-Calc, because it came at a time when I can "deal with it accordingly". If dd wants to use TT I would still use it, just MAYBE at a little bit quicker pace. I like how it's set up. Jackie, is it the same guy's voice at every level? Just curious, as dd said she didn't really like the guy's voice...it was kind of irritating for some reason. That's why we tried other things. There are so many good things out there for maths, I like finding out as much about the programs as possible! Another one I've looked at is BJU. The levels through 8th grade, I recently heard, are pretty teacher intensive. So if someone wants their child, in those grades, to work pretty much on their own, I guess that's not the best curriculum to do that. My oldest did the 10th grade BJU program, and it was tough! It was perfect for him at the time! But my ds15 wouldn't do well with that. DD might, we'll see how things go... So many things to think about when choosing curriculum!
If working on their own through eighth grade is what you're looking for, I recommend Christian Light math! It's a spiral, like Saxon, but in workbooks, and the explanations/examples are wonderfully clear, so that the student can work independently.
Saxon and BJU I think, both are good, my ds 18 used that in high school level Alg1, 2 and Geometry and tested into the highest level for what he needed in College? so he is struggling a bit but doing 'ok' with it. Hsi only complaint-- everyone seems , and is , so much older than him in the class!
Deena - when I was in high school, i was told that I could take Chemistry even though I was only in Geometry. My math skills sucked but I have awesome science skills. She doesn't *need* even Algebra 2 for Chem, it just helps when you start getting to the upper level math with it, but I still scored an A when I was in high school. She will just learn the upper level math through Chem, not Algebra 2. Does that make sense?
Deena, I was wondering about the pre algebra to algebra stretch , MUS has both but I was hoping to go from SOS to MUS since we have access to the Alg1 for free .. of course thats probably a couple years to go but was wondering if it will leave some holes or not. I dont worry too much just wonder a lot lol
Yes, that makes perfect sense and is good to know! She does pretty well in sciences, so hopefully she'll do fine in the Highschool Chemistry. For college Chemistry, though, to major or minor in Chemistry, do research, etc., she'd have to have a lot of math, wouldn't she? I haven't really researched that yet... BTW, since you have awesome science skills, can you come teach my dd (and me)?! I wish I knew more, and could really encourage her interest in chemistry more! Yes, I agree! DD is doing CLE Math 8 this year and it's going well so far. She's still in the first Light Unit, so it's review of 7th, basically. But I like that, since it gets her accustomed to how CLE math works, gives her a great review (especially since, despite how much I wanted her to do some math over the summer, we were so crazy busy that it didn't get done!), then she'll be ready to tackle the rest of the books better! We're happy with it so far! Jackie, Have you seen CLE math? It works kind of like we do already: give them the test, if they pass, they go to the next pre-test, if not, they do a lesson. I am liking how it's set up. So, I agree with Lindina that CLE math is definitely worth a look!
Oh dear, I looked at what I typed, and it looks kind of rude. I didn't mean it that way, I just meant to ask a question about specifically what you're concerned about. Does that make sense? You answered very well what I was meaning to ask! It's hard to know how well two different curriculums compare unless you find someone else who has done that exact thing and compare the two curriculums in depth and see how they compare and what they cover up to the point of where you want to switch. I've heard some are quite compatible, but others would leave fairly large gaps. I've heard about MUS for a long time, but have never tried it, so I don't know anything about it, really. I want to look at the SOS Spanish for dd, and see if that's something she can start next year, maybe? Do you know anything about that?
Even if she is going to major in Chem, she can start taking the upper level math via college courses after she finishes her highschool math. If you are concerned, call a local college and see what they recommend. Most kids, even those who want to major in Chem, only have Algebra 2 or maybe pre-calc or some trig coming out of highschool, so your dd is not really going to be behind. College is the place for most of that upper level math. good luck!
