TT Math Pre-Algebra and above: (updated 5.16.16)

  • Interactive lectures
  • Automated grading [including Pre-Calc version 2.0 - releasing August 2016]
  • Over a dozen more lessons and hundreds of new problems and solutions
  • Hints and second chance options for many problems
  • Animated buddies to cheer the student on
  • Textbook w/ full lecture (non-consumable)
  • Reference numbers for each problem so students and parents can see where a problem was first introduced
  • A digital gradebook that can manage multiple student accounts and be easily edited by a parent
  • Built in back up and gradebook transfer feature
  • Compatible with PC (Windows XP or later) and Mac (OS 10.4 or later)
  • 150 multimedia lessons and nearly 3000 homework problems

Teaching Textbooks Components

Product Fact Sheet (read carefully, may have some out-dated info)

Algebra 2 or Geometry after Algebra 1?

Mathematically, Geometry and Algebra 2 can be done in either order. However, if a student is in 10th grade or higher, it is probably better to take Geometry first for standardized testing reasons.

Typical day (7.30.08)

  • Watch lesson on CD (or just read lesson in textbook)
  • Do problem set on separate paper
  • Check answers in paper answer key (separate booklet)
  • Watch solution on CD for any missed problems (unless student can easily catch his mistake by going over it himself; but if he's stumped, the solution is on the CD)
  • Parent or student keeps track of grades for daily work and tests
  • Tests are in answer key booklet and can also be done on separate paper.
  • Check answers for tests in answer key booklet.
  • Watch solution on CD for any missed test problems.
    • CD must be in drive in order to play any of the videos. Can use on different computers but only one at a time.

Is TT too easy? - publisher's response (3.13.08)

From the publisher:

Some students do have an easier time with our books than others but we think that is because we provide so much more explanation than the typical school text. In other words, "easy to understand" shouldn't be mistaken for "easy."

Our books were originally developed for gifted and talented students. In fact, one of the very first users of a TT actually scored the highest score in history on the math placement test that Dartmouth gives all of its entering freshman. That same student recently graduated from Dartmouth as the top math major. It is also worth noting that our books were written by Shawn Sabouri, a Swarthmore college graduate and his brother Greg, a Harvard graduate and Harvard math tutor. We could not and would not support doing a product that wasn't strong academically and didn't fully prepare kids for whatever they choose to become in their lives. (This was in response to a prospective customer's question, "I read in a review that Teaching Textbooks is targeted to the average student.")

Our books are fully-comprehensive. They cover all the standard topics and all the terminology that is in the tests mentioned [PSAT, SAT, ACT].

Letter from Greg Sabouri:

Customer Comments on Teaching Textbooks:

Why did Sonlight switch from VideoText to Teaching Textbooks? [updated 8.9.06]

When Sonlight changes our product line it is not that we feel that the original product was bad, but rather that the new product is a better resource for our customers. In this case, Teaching Textbooks provides detailed, taught solutions on the CD-Rom to all the problems in the program which makes it easier for students to be more independent.

The distinct divisions of courses in Teaching Textbooks (Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry) make transitioning from another curriculum or to another curriculum much less complicated than VideoText which covers multiple courses in one program.

Additionally, Sonlight has received a significant amount of positive feedback from our customers who have recommended Teaching Textbooks. After studying the program thoroughly, Sonlight agrees - there is no better math program at this level