Math 6 TT Now Where?

[3musketeers]

Hi Ladies,

I am thinking ahead for math options for Secondary Math. I have been searching old posts to get a handle of what the transition from TT to Videotext might look like. I know that Carrie did Math Essentials as an in-between. If I wanted to follow the same path as Carrie's oldest, that did TT then Vidoetext, what would that look like? I will need the hand holding version

We are half way through TT 6 (will probably complete in October) with my soon to be 6th grader (in the fall). He has pretty much used Saxon younger grades and TT for the later elementary.

I am wondering if we continue with TT 7 (We would finish by the end of next year) and use Math Essentials overview as a supplement? Or do we do Math Essentials overview for our 7th grade math?

After that do we go to Math Essentials pre-algebra, then head into Videotext Algebra? How does Vidotext prealgebra fit in there?

I also would love feedback from those who have continued into the older HS years with TT.

Thank you for the help. Math is a stumper

[KimS]

Might I suggest you look at the TT higher math too. We have done Video Text and Teaching Textbooks and my son just didn't get it with Video Text and didn't even finish Alg 1. I went ahead and bought Alg 2 in the TT and he did great with it. The man explains it so well it makes it easy to understand. Plus you have EVERY problem worked out for you and you don't on Video Text.

Updated by moderator to add the following clarification: I'll also share a clarification that VideoText does indeed have a full-text answer key with line-by-line error analysis for every problem in the program included. It is one of the most amazing and teacher time-saving parts of VideoText and is an absolute must as we go into higher level maths! The line-by-line answers are meant to help students find their error, and the student is intended to do this error-analysis on their own. It is an easy answer key for me to pick up and use to guide my child as needed. I am also very thankful for the course notes are also included as well and the inclusion of almost daily quizzes make sure the student is ready to progress to the next concept.

[3musketeers]

Thank you, KimS

That is a very good thing to know. I would definitely like to have a complete solutions manual. As you can tell I am not a mathy person. We currently love TT and it is very much an option to stay.

[Kim S]

Well that is the one thing that I didn't like about Video Text. The answer was there but I didn't know how to tell him to get that answer. With TT every problem is worked out so you can know how you get that answer.

Clarification by moderator: Current editions of VT do include a full-text answer key with line-by-line solutions for each problem.

[Daph]

You can also check out Khan Academy too. It's a free website that teaches all types of Math concepts. I can't say that you could use it as a full curriculum, but it's a great helper!

[8arrows]

Carrie will be better able to help you when she is back from convention. I hope this is OK to post since HOD does not have high school math out yet. We used TT through just a few weeks of Pre-Calculus. We have been pleased with his math skills, and my son got a 28 on the math portion of the ACT. He did get a 31 overall, so his math scores are a little lower, but we are not a "mathy" family. I have no doubt HOD will have a great high school math line-up coming out in the years ahead, but if you beat that line-up by the sheer age of your child, I want you to know that TT was successful for us. Also, jumping into a different math curriculum late in the game can be hard.

[raceNzanesmom]

We also enjoyed TT throughout high school.

[Carrie]

Ladies,

I'll just pop-in to the thread late here with a couple of clarifications that will help as you ponder the best math option for your family. For those who love TT, I am so glad that it works well for your family. We fully realize that the same math path will not work for everyone. I only share what I have shared below so that those reading can more fully understand our reasoning in switching from TT to a different math path.

At HOD, we've decided to continue the Singapore route into middle school/high school through Discovering Mathematics, and we are also leaning toward offering the VideoText route as a second option (for those who have not come from a Singapore math background). While you can easily use any math route you prefer, and there are many good ones, I'll link a thread that explains a bit more about the DM series. Link: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7945

I'll also share a clarification that VideoText does have a full-text answer key with line-by-line error analysis for every problem in the program included. It is one of the most amazing and teacher time-saving parts of VideoText and is an absolute must as we go into higher level maths! The line-by-line answers are meant to help students find their error, and the student is intended to do this error-analysis on his/her own. It is an easy answer key for me to pick up and use to guide my child as needed. I am also very thankful for the course notes that are also included as well, and the inclusion of almost daily quizzes make sure the student is ready to progress to each next concept. Here's a link to a fuller math discussion of many various math programs out there. It does include a more detailed description of VideoText on the later pages. Just keep in mind that this is an older thread, but I it may be of help as you ponder. Link: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2573

For our part, we used TT 6 and 7 with our older son, and for those particular levels when comparing programs we found that TT lagged behind other math programs for grades 6 and 7 scope and sequence-wise. For kiddos who use TT one grade level ahead in the elementary and middle school years, the scope and sequence in more on track.

As kiddos head into high school, in our comparisons, we found that the scope and sequence for TT Algebra I doesn't go as far as typical Algebra I coursework, leaving some Algebra I concepts to be completed in their Algebra II program. The TT Geometry program is a separate program and is strong on its own, covering everything covered in a typical Geometry program. The TT Algebra II program picks up with finishing typical Algebra I concepts and consequently doesn't go as far as a typical Algebra II programs. Those remaining Algebra II concepts are included instead within the TT Pre-Calculus.

For those kiddos who use TT all the way through high school, they eventually end up going just about as far as a usual Pre-Calc. course. So, the concern in using TT comes for those who switch out of TT after Algebra I or Algebra II, thinking they can move into a different Algebra I or II program (and finding they have not had all concepts that are typically covered within those courses).

Another factor we found in the middle school TT courses was that it gave a grade that wasn't always accurate, giving the kiddos more than one try at a problem and then not weighting the grade to show the child needed more than one try to get the answer. This is not a concern in the high school courses, as no automatic gradebook is kept for the student. For my part, with TT, I also felt lost in helping my child when he did hit a snag, unless I watched the lesson and then helped him. This left me feeling out of touch with what he was learning in math each day. This can be a problem in many math programs and is not unique to TT but more linked to me not keeping up daily with watching the TT lessons.

With this in mind, to answer the original poster, you can certainly continue on the math path you're already on if desired (just keeping in mind the thoughts I've shared above). Since your son is using TT a grade ahead, you should be fine scope and sequence-wise. We did find almost half of TT7 to be a review of TT6, so if you do go the TT7 route it would likely be possible for your child to only do Math Essentials Pre-Algebra after TT7, and then head into VT Algebra (which begins with Pre-Algebra in Module A and then moves into regular Algebra in Module B on up). The only reason I had my oldest son do Math Essentials regular program was to do a quick review of all his basics in math before VT, as I've switched programs too many times in math with him and felt I had created holes in his math learning.

I pray you will find the math path that is best for your family. I know how difficult this can be and understand that one-size does not fit all!

Blessings,
Carrie

[3musketeers]

Carrie,

Thank you so much for your detailed response. I now have a handle on what moving ahead in either TT or Videotext might look like. I know that both are good options and we are praying too on which way to proceed. Having read your reasons for moving away from TT and being so pleased with the 3, soon to be 5, teacher's guides that we have used, I thought that I would consider VT as well, since we are moving into higher level math. Just needed a little clarification on how the Math Essentials fit in. I love that you are so active on your board. I feel like I can get input from an expert in your field.

Cindy

[Tabitha]

Wow.

I just found this post and wanted to bump it up for others pondering the same thing now as myself.

Carrie's analysis is wonderful!

We will be using TT this year, again. It's just what my girls like. Singapore wasn't a fit for the oldest, and she hates Saxon. Younger wants computer work like the oldest, so I'm gonna let her get into TT as well.

Anyway, I couldn't decide placement for my oldest between TT7 and Pre-Alg. Carrie's comment helped. We won't do TT7 if it's that much of a review of 6 (we are coming over from Saxon last year).

Now I know what missing links to consider if we move from TT to another program in the years to come. If we stay with it, which is my intent now, we'll make sure to go all the way through Pre-Calc.