Math Matters

The purpose for the articles in this catalog are to provide the information you need to take on the roll as guidance counselor. All our math curriculum is selected based on its level of “teachability”. This measures its success in making complex concepts easy to understand.

Courses for 1st-6th

Standard Courses for 1st-6th - We offer, as our standard course, a very special, visually appealing, 300+ page two color worktext published by one of the leading curriculum providers. Available for a few years, the feedback on them has been very positive. What makes this series so special is that it’s the only one published for the public schools that contain all the concepts typically found in the standard hard-bound basils. Beginning at 1st grade, its high level of teachability enables Algebra concepts to be within the grasp of the average student. Separate test books, weekly and day to day schedules are provided for all levels. A teacher’s manual with all the answers as shown in the teacher’s edition is provided for grades 3rd and above while 1st and 2nd have teacher’s guides. To date, we have found no other home school provider offering this series.

While there is another similar series on the market it was designed for remedial students. In addition it is less in-depth, offers no companion CD-ROM, or website, and has less positive feed back.

Gentler Course for 3rd-6th -To prevent struggling students in 3rd-6th grades from being retained in math we offer two color grade level workbook sets. The sets include nine workbooks, built-in tests, answer keys, and now, a schedule! While considered on grade level this math is designed for students needing an easier course. They are a remake of a much cherished old favorite that was brought back by popular demand. A NEW Schedule is available!

Catch-up Math Course, Level One - This course, offered for 5th and 6th graders, is recommended for students working at 2nd or 3rd grade or two to four grades below their intended level. Older students may also benefit from this course.

Text Supported Courses - 7th & 8th

Catch-up Math Course, Level Two - This course, offered for 7th and 8th graders, is recommended for students who are working at a late fourth to beginning 5th grade level. It is designed to get the student ready for Pre-Algebra. It should be evident after Pre-Algebra what course should follow. This course is not illustrated in the graph below which begins at 7th grade. While not on the high school order form it can be written in as some high school students may benefit.

This course does not offer as much consumer math as our standard 7th grade course which, hopefully, should be your first choice because it presents lessons with life and business skills applications. The feedback on our standard 7th grade course has been extremely positive. Also see ALEKS on the facing page.

High School Math Video Courses

Video Text, a highly respected course for Algebra I and II has been able to teach students who struggle with math because it excels in teachability. Each part, consisting of nine videos, student texts, and teacher’s supplies are normally taught for one school year taking the series two years to complete. Level One is a prerequisite for Level Two.

Other video courses offered include Algebra II, a comprehensive Basic Math course and Geometry.

Computer Courses

Courses on computer require little to no assistance making them ideal for busy parents, those who lack the confidence to teach the subject themselves, as well as a money saving alternative to expensive tutors!

Real World Math, recommended for high school students, earns high praises. It is an ideal choice for anyone who, after completing pre-algebra, neither needs a catch-up course nor wants to pursue Algebra.

8th and above - Math curriculum is being reinvented! With the exception of accounting, real world math (a life and business math) and trigonometry we can now offer nearly the whole line of secondary mathematics on computer with video tutorials and numerous other very special features. Utilizing interactive, audio, video, and animation technology hours of one-on-one instruction are presented by only the finest instructors. Other features include printable quizzes and notes, automatic scoring, complete solutions explaining answers, and real life applications. Because the video component takes up so much space each course includes four to 12 disks.

Basic high school courses include Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, and Geometry. Our version provides a parent-teacher disk with on-line and printable tests plus solutions. For system requirements see page 17. Look for this symbol on the order forms: H

Beginning College Algebra, (new), College Algebra, Algebra II, Pre-calculus, and Calculus are accompanied by a companion website where you will find printable notes, additional exercises, quizzes and tests. All problems are automatically scored with worked-out solutions and explanations for all answers. These courses are equal to high school advanced placement courses. For system requirements see page 11. See sample screen on page 10. Look for this symbol: C

Both Video Text and the computer based courses were created by zealous math specialists who felt the need to correct problems they saw in today’s math curriculums. Algebra’s true purposes, to teach analytical thinking, provide the math concepts required for certain vocational pursuits, apply real life applications, and serve as a prerequisite for furthering the student’s educational career are focused upon making these the finest math courses for parent-directed education!

ALEKS - Self-instructing tutorials in general math, appropriate for advanced 3rd graders to college, uses state-of-the-art computerized intelligence and Web-based programming. Because ALEKS continuously adapts to the student’s strengths and weaknesses it is the ideal choice for all. For a special preview visit www.aleks.com before making your decision. Ordering through ALEKS would cost $215.40 per student for 12 months. However, when purchased as part of a curriculum program Curriculum Services will provide it to you for the special price of only $125 per student! ALEKS develops and maintains a precise and comprehensive assessment, teaching what the student should learn next. ALEKS cost a fraction of what a human tutor would and can be used at any time with unlimited hours. Due to numerous requests ALEKS now provides printable worksheets for pencil and paper activities. Because of ALEKS’ unique features it cannot be shared between students.

PROBLEM - SOLUTION

While the struggle to understand mathematics is not new, the situation worsens despite the generous funding allocated to education. Methods of teaching are in constant flux as one approach is replaced by another. Sadly these efforts have not produced the results promised which leaves students with poor self-esteem and a bleak future. To help we must understand why this problem persists.

Many contemporary math texts following a new teaching philosophy coined the “New-New Math” are flooded with excessively long and time-consuming activities with little or no value. For more information look up the U.S. News and World Report, May 1999 in your library. This article refers to this ‘New-New Math’ or ‘Whole Math,’ as it is also called, “a... Bologna Sandwich... with vague objectives... obsessions about feelings, self esteem, dumbing down, and an all around politically correct agenda... Those vague objectives include meandering exercises that have little to do with math, such as illustrating data collection by having second graders draw pictures of their lunch, cut the pictures out and have them put them in paper bags.” It continues by the finding of a popular 812 page high school algebra text where “equations don’t show up until page 165, and the first solution of a linear equation, which comes on page 218, is reached by guessing and checking.” When you teach New-New Math to struggling students problems are compounded.

Math anxiety, which often begins in the lower grades, starts when children experience fear of, or harassment due to, mathematics. Isolated events, while unpleasant, usually do cause this problem, as it is a learning associated anxiety which grows from these experiences being repeated. One might think that any professional educator would know better but the prevalence of math anxiety shows otherwise. Students thus afflicted perform well below their ability which is often below grade level. The remedy can be to leave the classroom behind and teach one on one with a good math program. With the anxious student it is essential to avoid scolding as this only exacerbates the problem. Gentle encouragement is needed while directing attention to his/her best work.

For a youngster not seriously lagging an on-level text is recommend as long as you are willing to commit to the extra attention the youngster needs. This may help him/her get caught up without experiencing the failure that promotes low self-esteem. Math texts review all previously taught arithmetic skills, in part, because of the traditional summer vacation during which time some rarely exercise their math skills and the wide spread prevalence of major gaps. For grades one through nine the test booklets we offer may help you pinpoint both performance level and gaps. They are designed to test mathematics and language skills. See the article on Testing for more information.