Valuable TEACHING TEXTBOOKs information ...

I was able to interact with Greg Sabouri this afternoon and got some additional information that I found very helpful ..

I. PRODUCT PACKAGE

Includes a Student Text, Answer Key and Test Bank, set of CDs. (Test bank can be reproduced for personal use, or students can work problems on a separate sheet of paper.) The CDs are color coded - the Lecture & Practice CD and the Solutions CD are both yellow. Parents should feel free to give students both yellow CDs. The Test Solutions CD will be color coded to match the level being taught (i.e. Geometry is blue, Pre-Algebra is green, etc...) NOTE: There is *no* Solutions Manual text.

II. TEACHING PROCESS

  • Lecture - student has two options here ... read the lesson in the textbook and then watch the accompanying lecture on CD ROM, or just watch the lecture.
  • Textbook - Practice Problems (5 in each Lesson)
  • Lecture & Practice CD - student watches Practice solutions on the CD ROM. At this point students often fast forward through the solution for Practice A to see if they got the right answer. If they did, they move on to the next practice problem in the text. If they didn't, they can take the time to watch the solution in its entirety. Repeat this step for all practice problems.
  • Do Problem Set (21-24 problems) from textbook on paper.
  • Parent or student checks homework against the Answer Key.
  • Solutions CD - Student watches solutions for those answers missed.

III. PLACEMENT

How does Saxon compare to Teaching Textbooks?

  • Saxon 8/7 and Saxon Algebra 1/2 are equivalent to Teaching Textbooks Pre-Algebra.
  • Saxon Algebra 1 is equivalent to Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1.
  • Saxon Algebra 2 is equivalent to Teaching Textbooks Algebra 2.
  • Saxon Advanced Math is equivalent to Teaching Textbooks Pre-calculus (still in production - we do not offer)

If a student has finished Algebra 1 in any other product, they can move on to Teaching Textbooks Algebra 2.

Teaching Textbooks Algebra 2 contains two chapters of mainly review of Algebra 1 concepts. This allows students to step into TT Algebra 2 from other products. There is also the option of having students "test out" of the first two chapters of Teaching Textbooks Algebra 2 if it seems too easy.

If a student has completed 2-4 VideoText Algebra modules they can go into Teaching Textbooks Algebra 2.

Rule of thumb: If a student is 13 years old or above and has a solid foundation in basic math, they can enter Teaching Textbooks at Algebra 1. TT Algebra 1 assumes that a student knows *nothing* about Algebra. If a student is a *young* 13 or below, it would be better to start with TT Pre-Algebra. Pre-Algebra is basically 1/2 review of basic math and 1/2 introduction and familiarization with Algebra 1 concepts.

IV. FURTHER PRODUCT INFO

  • Lessons/Exercises should ideally consume no more than an hour.
  • Each chapter is made up of a number of exercises (6-9 depending on the product) and there is a test at the end of each chapter.
  • Should be able to complete a level in one year
  • Most lengthy product will consume 145 days (including chapters and tests)
  • Geometry course *does* offer proofs in almost every lesson

V. CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Teaching Textbooks does have a toll free teacher support number that can be used M-F, 9-5:00 CST. The number is printed on the package materials and is also on their web site.

NOTE: Customer *must* have purchased the CD-ROMs to take advantage of teacher support.

Teaching Textbooks also offers technical support. However, since the CD ROMs do not require any installation, there are few tech support issues with this product.

VI. SELLING POINTS

Solutions CDs - number one selling point for this product. Every single problem has solutions with no steps skipped. (Chalkdust offers lectures only, DIVE doesn't provide solutions for all problems and somtimes the problems/solutions don't sync with the text). Content - in conversational style with considerably more explanation. Built from the ground up for homeschoolers. In addition - many "real world" examples are built into every level. Student never has to ask "what's the point?"

VII. CUSTOMER SERVICE ISSUES

Some customers may complain that their CD ROMs do not "auto run". This is easily fixed by having them put in the CD ... then click on My Computer. Look for the CD Drive with the TT CD in it and right click and choose to "Open". The window will display all the lessons on the CD. Have the customer scroll to the bottom and double click on TT to run the entire CD.

Return Policy: TT will take returns up to 30 days from date of purchase. They will not take into account beginning date of use. If an overseas customer has a problem with TT materials, please refer to Customer Relations. Materials can be opened but must be in resaleable condition.

VIII. PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS

Customers can purchase just the textbook and answer key/test bank but the solutions will be missing (there is no solutions manual text) and they cannot take advantage of teacher support if they don't purchase the CDs.

Some customers do purchase just the CD sets if they are reviewing for SATs or other exams.

  • designed specifically for homeschoolers – textbook and teacher combined into one
  • audiovisual step-by-step solutions for every one of the 3,400 problems in the book
  • over 120 to 160 hours of instruction on 7 CD-Roms – great value for what you get
  • more than twice the instruction/solutions of any other program, even Dive or VT
  • complete step by step solutions (no assuming you know something) – he doesn’t just say it, he shows you each step
  • Easy to use, click on the lesson, click on the lecture and go
  • slide bar so you can get to the point you need easily
  • Friendly tutor/coach guiding you through each concept/problem
  • Real world examples
  • Employs spiral review method

Drawbacks

  • no glossary, no index

How to Use

  1. Read printed lesson
  2. watch lecture on CD
  3. work any of the five practice problems that seem difficult
  4. watch CD lectures that explain those practice problems
  5. work all of the problem set
  6. grade the assignment
  7. watch the step-by-step solutions on CD for any missed problems

Practice problems are not required

  • each practice problem labels to be similar to problems in the problem set with those same letters
  • hardest problems have a practice problem to match them, so this system gives students a hint for the toughest problems in each set
  • highlighting emphasizes the most important lessons
  • recommends going to alg 2 after alg 1
  • pre algebra spends 60 lessons reviewing basic math (fractions, decimals, percents, measurement) before alg,
  • Alg 1 reviews all concepts taught in pre-alg
  • alg 2 reviews all concepts taught in alg 1

CONTENTS

  • Large, 2” spiral bound textbook, paperback – includes lesson (instruction), practice problems and problem sets
  • CD folder – lecture and practice problems
  • Paperback (perfect bound) answer key and test bank
  • CD test solutions

30 day no questions asked guarantee

TT will allow customers who purchased through SL to obtain replacement CD's for damaged or lost CD's for $15. The customer will need to contact TT directly.