Ready for VideoText Algebra?

[holdinon]

I am trying to decide if I need to have my oldest go through one more year of CLE math (her current program), or if she would be ready for VideoText Algebra.

She is currently in CLE 7th grade (706 for those familiar with the LightUnits). I had forgotten to place my order for her next set of math books before she finished what she had, so since I had already purchased Richard Fisher's Math Essentials Pre-Algebra Concepts, I had her start that while we waited on the CLE order to come in.

As it turns out, she was able to do everything in there except for one concept, and she easily picked it up after watching the the lesson.

So, now I am thinking we may have a couple of options.

Either way, I will have her go ahead and finish CLE 7th grade out the rest of her 7th grade year (we are scheduled to be done mid-June).

Then (for 8th grade) we could either do CLE 8th grade and begin VideoText in 9th. Or, could we just stop CLE at the end of 7th and move straight into Algebra in 8th?
This is a science minded girl (plans to go to Veterinary School eventually) so she will need plenty of math. So starting Algebra in 8th grade seems ideal. The thing holding me back is that CLE intends for students to complete CLE 800 series (8th grade math) prior to their Algebra. I had assumed that this would be necessary, and was just going to plan Algebra for 9th. But since she did so well with the Math Essentials Pre-Algebra, I'm wondering if this is enough "evidence" that she could go ahead and begin VideoText Algebra next year (for 8th). I don't want to "waste" a year of math instruction, but at the same time, don't want to doom her to problems either.

(Of course, I realize that we can start Algebra and then move back if she struggled---and I will certainly do this if needed---I am just trying to get a feel for what is generally considered "ready")

Thanks!
angie

[deltagal]

I don't have an answer for you, but a question.

How did you like Math Essentials? And how long did it take your daughter to go through the pre-algebra?

[LynnH]

My ds does CLE math and is in level 600. My understanding from reading many posts is that the 700 level is a typical pre-algebra course. Also I am pretty sure that Videotext Algebra says their course covers pre-algebra concepts. So I think you would be fine to go from CLE 700 to Videotext. I am having my ds go from 600 to Chalkdust pre-algebra. Having already done my Chakldust lesson plans I know that many of the concepts that my ds has already had in CLE 600 are covered in Chalkdust pre-algrebra.

[Cindygreen]

We used VideoText Algebra this year with my 8th grader. I would say that if your daughter is a good math student then she could probably move right into Videotext and do very well. It starts with pre algebra concepts in the first module and then moves on into Algebra I and II. If, on the other hand, you have a student who is still solidifying mathematics then she would probably do well to wait and do the full pre-algebra course before starting VideoText Algebra. It sounds like your daughter is advancing well in math so she could probably move on.

[momtofive]

I'm all ears! My son is just finishing up CLE 600 and will start 700 in the fall for his seventh grade year. From there we plan on switching to something else mostly because I've heard that CLE 800 is review. I had thought about Teaching Textbooks, but have been really on the fence because of some of the comparisons and reviews that I've read. I hadn't even thought about VideoText. I know Carrie's used it and has recommended it to someone at one point. Does anyone know if you can use VideoText all the way through high school? I should do some looking into that.

Thanks so much for asking this question, as it applies to many others!

[holdinon]

How did you like Math Essentials? And how long did it take your daughter to go through the pre-algebra?

She loved it! I don't know if it was just the change from her normal math or what, but she really did enjoy it (and she doesn't exactly love math ). The lessons are very short. I think they are meant to be done in 20 minutes a lesson. (I think I read that somewhere). But what we did is just kept doing her regular time block of math (which is 45 minutes) and she just completed whatever she got to in that time frame. Most days she did three full lessons. Some of the time she only did 2. She had completed about half of the book when our CLE order came in. I was going to have her finish CLE math 7th grade books then come back to the Math Essentials. But she didn't want to go back to the CLE. So we made a compromise and she did a CLE lesson one day and a Math Essentials the next. I think if she was working on just Math Essentials, she could have finished in less than 2 months (at 45 minutes per day).

My understanding from reading many posts is that the 700 level is a typical pre-algebra course.

Since going through the Math Essentials Pre-Algebra, I would say this is a correct assessment.

We used VideoText Algebra this year with my 8th grader. I would say that if your daughter is a good math student then she could probably move right into Videotext and do very well. It starts with pre algebra concepts in the first module and then moves on into Algebra I and II. If, on the other hand, you have a student who is still solidifying mathematics then she would probably do well to wait and do the full pre-algebra course before starting VideoText Algebra. It sounds like your daughter is advancing well in math so she could probably move on.

I think after hearing this (and after looking further in the q@a's on the VideoText page, we will definitely be safe in going ahead with VT in 8th. (Not going to order it quite yet , but unless something comes up or someone points out anything that would make me change my mind, I think this will be the plan.)

I hadn't even thought about VideoText. I know Carrie's used it and has recommended it to someone at one point. Does anyone know if you can use VideoText all the way through high school? I should do some looking into that.

HOD is going to advise students who come from Singapore background (which will be all of my younger kids ) to continue on with Discovering Mathmatics. For those who did not come up through Singapore (like my guinea pig girlie ), they are recommending VideoText Algebra.
I believe (but am not absolutely certain, so please wait for someone to confirm)---but I think that the future guides will have option of doing either/or DM or VT. As far as VideoText, the website says that if you complete BOTH the Algebra AND the Geometry courses (6 modules each, I think), then the student could claim credit for Alg I and II, Geometry, Trig, and Pre-Calculus. I haven't planned this far out yet though. (It's all I can do to get through one semester at a time ). But I do remember seeing that about the credits when reviewing VideoText.

Discovering Mathematics looks quite good also. I think my younger kiddos will do well with it when the time comes, but it is definitely not for my oldest (non-singapore) student.

[momtofive]

Thanks for the reply about the recommendations for using VideoText! I wanted to mention also that I so appreciate you bringing this up, as I'm now looking into going this route!

Thanks, again!