kitchen table math, the sequel: Teaching Textbooks

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Teaching Textbooks

My sister just switched from Saxon to Teaching Textbooks.

More later --
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8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm interested in your take on Teaching Textbooks.

March 29, 2007 at 3:08 PM
Anonymous said...

Looking at the Math 6 placement test, I have to say that most of what it covers is the equivalent of Singapore 3A-B, with the exception of decimals, which are in Singapore 4B. The word problems are simpler than those found in Singapore 3A (first half of 3rd grade.)

March 30, 2007 at 6:01 AM
Anonymous said...

It looks great, but pricey for the after-schooler. I love the idea, though.

March 30, 2007 at 6:16 AM
Catherine Johnson said...

I haven't been able to look at it yet; my computer wouldn't run the example...

March 30, 2007 at 6:37 AM
Anonymous said...

Catherine, the authors of this series do not claim to have math degrees. I couldn't find a reference to the series being used in any school whatsoever except for theirs. According to their videos they teach math by saying things like "Move x to the other side" ...okay for a tutor but that is not mathematical justification and there is "no concept" in that sort of description of algebra manipulations.

The people I have seen use this series tend to be people looking for remediation. The other attraction that this series has is that the parent doesn't have to learn math alongside their child in order to teach it. Learning math presents a hardship for some parents.

Many, many people have said that it is very watered down.

March 30, 2007 at 7:20 AM
Anonymous said...

Learning math presents a hardship for some parents.

And some just flat out don't want to do it, as I have found out over the years.

I like the idea of it as a tutor, but I think the cost is high, even though they justify it pretty well.

I do like the cd aspect of it.

March 30, 2007 at 8:45 AM
Catherine Johnson said...

The people I have seen use this series tend to be people looking for remediation. The other attraction that this series has is that the parent doesn't have to learn math alongside their child in order to teach it. Learning math presents a hardship for some parents.

Many, many people have said that it is very watered down.

Well, that doesn't surprise me!

(I'll alert my sister.)

This program was recommended by CA administrators. My sister's district uses Connected Math.

(She's pulled her 8th grader out of middle school & put her in "independent studies," which is an option in CA. With independent studies you don't have a teacher - or, rather, a teacher checks in with you once or twice a week...)

March 30, 2007 at 9:15 AM
Andy Lange said...

I looked at one of the sample lessons for Math 7 (lesson 20, I think) and it was "Divisibility Rules, Part II".

Definitely not teaching deep concepts, and probably not real useful in the greater scheme of things unless there were a lots of questions on a timed test that all involved whether particular division problems (2916 divided by 4) had remainders or not (eek, fractions!). And it only gives rules for 2,3,4,5,6 and 9.

I'd stick with Saxon, if I had the time. If you don't have the time, how much Kumon could you get for $185?

March 31, 2007 at 11:10 AM

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