4Real Forums: Ask Dr. Callahan

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High School Years and Beyond
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Topic: Ask Dr. Callahan

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donnalynn
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Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 12:29pm \| IP Logged

Martha
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Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 12:56pm \| IP Logged

Bump!!!

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stellamaris
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Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 2:49pm \| IP Logged

I have not used Dr. Callahan's course, but I have used the Jacob's Algebra and Geometry books. The Algebra book was good and very thorough with lots of practice. It was fairly easy for a student to learn from, although it is designed for classroom use and you may have to work some with your student.

I did not like the Geometry book as well. It seemed unclear and also there was very little emphasis on "proofs" and the proofs that were assigned were half completed already, the student only have to fill in two or three lines of the proof. I prefer a more traditional Geometry text that requires the student to THINK about how to develop the proof on their own. We used my husband's old high school geometry text; basic but thorough.

One advantage to these books is that, unlike Saxon, they are geared to the SAT's and use the same language and types of problems as the SAT. I know most private schools do not use Saxon because it doesn't prepare the students for the SAT's, although it really does a more thorough job of grounding them mathematically. My now-engineer son scored fabulously on the Math 2C (highest math achievement level) with Saxon, but didn't shine as well on the regular SAT math (go figure!). It's sad but true that the standard textbook publishers work hand-in-glove with the test designers. Saxon doesn't.

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StephanieA
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Posted: Jan 21 2010 at 8:34am \| IP Logged

We bought the Algebra 1 set and the girl who taught it was not great. We watched 4 sets of problems...all done in the book. One set she worked incorrectly.

To me they weren't worth the money.

As far as the geometry proof vs. non-proof aspect, I think it depends on the child. We wanted/needed proof-based geo for our first 3 kids, the 4th I don't think it is in her best interest to plod through many formal proofs.
One can learn to discern, argue, and defend positions in other ways than mathematically. However, I have yet to find the "perfect" geometry text with or without proofs.

Blessings,
Stephanie

donnalynn
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Posted: Jan 27 2010 at 3:06pm \| IP Logged

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