Can anyone please share their experience and opinions on teaching Algebra for a struggling math student? He wants to know why he needs to learn it and needs to see real life examples/applications/ word problems. He needs lots of practice and review, too.
I am considering Math U See because of video-based lessons and the good math reviews I have read, and it is recommended by SCM. We tried Alpha long ago and he didn’t understand with the blocks. Does that matter now?
I am also considering Jacob’s because of good reviews, and it is recommended by Richele Baburina. Do we need the videos? What do we use for “Algebra II” after this book?
We used RightStart through level C, then CLE Sunrise through level 703. I supplemented CLE with Strayer Upton and he stopped asking why we need math. But now, “why do we need algebra?” So I need something for him to see its usefulness. We also supplemented through the years with elementary Life of Fred. Last year, we used Systematic Mathematics Math Rescue which didn’t “rescue” us as I hoped it would. We supplemented that with Life of Fred pre-algebra Biology and Economics books, but it was still a struggle. Can LOF Beginning Algebra be used as a supplement? It seems that would be too much. I am not sure about using it as our only math program. Is it enough? It is nontraditional and includes the author’s opinions on other topics mixed with the math teachings.
(I was taught with Saxon. I did well with it, but I just learned the steps and did it and never asked why we need to know it. Actually…I thought it was fun, like playing a game or solving a puzzle.)