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Angel
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| Posted: Jan 24 2011 at 5:53pm | IP Logged
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Lots of questions here... Mostly I'm wondering how independent you expect your algebra learners to be. (Please include what curriculum you're using.) And then I'm wondering what you do if they can't be independent because the work is too difficult.
We're using Life of Fred Beginning Algebra. My ds likes it better than other "boring" texts, but chapter 4 is basically one giant mixture/distance/time/age word problem and it is killing us. The author says elsewhere that the book should be self-teaching, but these problems are HARD. I'm having to help him through most of the problems and we're at the end of the chapter, and he still is not getting these things. I tried to find more word problems to supplement, but most textbooks (including Jacobs) don't provide very many. (In fact, Jacobs seems easy to him after Fred... and I'm wondering how the heck do I grade this??)
Anyway -- just wondering -- how much time you spend directly with your algebra I students, what you expect from them, do you stop completely if something like word problems are not being mastered or would you go on, knowing there is likely to be some review...?
I'm having a hard time juggling all this, which is why I ask -- we're sitting down to do algebra at 3:30 with a 7 month old trying to grab everything on the table... and that's the LEAST distracting time of the day!
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Jan 24 2011 at 6:16pm | IP Logged
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Algebra 1 was my most hands-on course with my ds.
In fact, I actually lectured daily at a whiteboard, (giving lessons, doing multiple sample problems...the works!) which is something I have never done with any other subject ever before or since.
I only did it because I really felt like the extra time I spent with him really thoroughly covering the basics of algebra was essential for his understanding. He would NEVER have gotten it on his own.
He has since gone on to do Alg 2 and geometry independently I think in large part to his solid understanding of alg 1.
To me this is one area where the extra effort on my part really paid off.
oh, btw we used Keys to Algebra and Real World Algebra.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Angel
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| Posted: Jan 24 2011 at 7:17pm | IP Logged
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Tell me about Real World Algebra, Theresa... does it explain plainly how to do word problems? I find that ds needs a little work on solving equations with one variable at this point, but that's relatively easy to supplement. But we've worked the word problems over and over again in Fred and he's still not getting it.
How much work do/did y'all do on word problems?
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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Kristie 4
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| Posted: Jan 24 2011 at 9:00pm | IP Logged
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We used Jacobs Algebra- did it over 2 years which was amazing because we could take our time. I taught with ds in the beginning of the year but he eased into it himself in year 2. My dd did it independently....
In Jacobs there are very few word problems- but I do remember the ones with two variables, once you are well into the book (the ones on velocity, time, distance and the like) being ones we had to work out together- even my dd who is a whiz at math.
The Algebra review in Jacob's Geometry is showing me that so far he indeed retain the Algebra- which is reassuring!! (But the Geometry takes foreeeeeever- proofs are our worst enemy at the moment!)
Edited to add: that we used Jacob's Algebra (we are on Geometry now)
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Kristie in Canada
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A Walk in the Woods
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LLMom
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| Posted: Jan 24 2011 at 9:25pm | IP Logged
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I use Teaching Textbooks. It requires very little of my time. I answer occasional questions each week.
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Lisa
For veteran & former homeschool moms
homeschooling ideas
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: Jan 24 2011 at 11:07pm | IP Logged
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We used Jacobs. My son came to me when he didn't understand something and we worked through it together. (So not much input from me.) He took 1 1/2 years to do it, though, so the slower pace helped. I think level of independence depends largely on the particular child and on the text used. My son doesn't enjoy math and struggles more with applying the concepts. If we'd done the book in a year he would have needed more help from me.
I wouldn't push ahead too much if your son isn't getting a concept, but if it's really frustrating you might move on and then come back to it a little later (assuming the next chapters don't build on the current concepts).
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Jan 25 2011 at 11:38am | IP Logged
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Angel wrote:
Tell me about Real World Algebra, Theresa... does it explain plainly how to do word problems? I find that ds needs a little work on solving equations with one variable at this point, but that's relatively easy to supplement. But we've worked the word problems over and over again in Fred and he's still not getting it.
How much work do/did y'all do on word problems? |
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Oh, gosh I wish I could remember better, but it's been so long ago. We used the Keys books as our main text during the week and then did Real World Alg as a supplement on fridays. I really don't remember how good the explanations in the book were. Sorry.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
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mooreboyz
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| Posted: Jan 27 2011 at 7:23am | IP Logged
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Angel,
You are exactly where I was at a couple years ago with my oldest. I went with LOF...the website sold me. I thought he'd have a hoot with the cartoons and he had always been a whiz at math which is why were at Algebra at 11 years old. He just couldn't get it on his own and when he would come to me with a question it was so hard to do with a baby and toddler and other boys running around. I love Algebra, but you have to get inside the problem to explain it...not something I could just do in the middle of "life". So, we back stepped a lot with fred and I printed worksheets off the net for more review. Then the next year (last year) I invested in TT (all the other boys can use it too) and it worked superbly for him. All the explanations are there. If he got something wrong he could watch the solutions worked out. Perfect for our busy house. If I only had a couple kids I would have been able to sit with him each day and work through probs, but I have a large family. I also bought Real World Algebra which he did on Fridays and over the weekend. There isn't a lot of explanation there. It just helps tie the concepts to life imo. It was bonus work in a way. If he got the tough probs he'd get an "einstein" certificate which was in the book.
I know lots of people liked LOF, but it made my math loving kid hate math. Which is why right now I'm contemplating buying TT 7 or prealgebra for ds #2. I think a transition book before algebra will help.
This year my oldest is doing accounting and working Algebra review on Fridays just to keep it in his head. Then next year i think we'll do Alg 2.
Let me know if I can answer anything else for you.
Hang in there!
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Jackie
7 boys - 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17 years
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4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: teaching algebra - help!
