ALGEBRA Review by Dr. Jay Wile,
Author of Apologia Science Curriculum

     "The quality of mathematics is extremely important to me, as math and science go hand-in-hand. There are many students who cannot handle my chemistry course, for example, because they have not had a good algebra course. That is why I strongly encourage you to look at Videotext Interactive's algebra course. It is, truly, the best that I have seen.

     The course teaches real mathematics. It does not use tricks or shortcuts. Instead, it teaches the student to think mathematically. That's what is missing from many algebra courses! The use of animation and graphics is excellent. They do not detract from the learning, as is the case with some video courses I have seen. Instead, they enhance the student's ability to understand what is happening in each and every step along the way.

     If you want your student to really learn algebra, then you should use this course. In short, this course is a scientist's dream come true!   Every science-oriented student should use it."

TOP

ALGEBRA Review by Kate Kessler,
Product Reviews Manager, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine

     VideoText Interactive has created a product that is broad in scope, but clearly understandable to those who have struggled with mathematic concepts in the past. The curriculum is a mastery program and it builds upon itself. It is unlike spiral programs and if you have been using a spiral program you will have to change your thinking with VideoText. If you move on without mastering the concept your student will quickly become lost because algebra is a step by step language that must be learned in the same manner as reading. We don’t jump into multi-syllabic words when they are only learning blending. One step builds upon the other until the whole scope of algebra is accomplished.

     Algebra: A Complete Course is exactly what it says it is: all the algebra you will ever need to know—Algebra Readiness, Algebra 1 as well as Algebra 2. Geometry is a completely different course and is sold separately. The course includes approximately 180 video lessons that are grouped into six Modules. Module A is where we begin. This will most likely review or re-teach your student every arithmetic concept that is essential to the understanding of algebra and equip them with the “why” of these concepts—all in an algebraic manner. Each lesson is taught by Tom Clark, the author, or another quality teacher. They are 5-10 minutes long and cover a single concept. He encourages you to watch and then pause to answer the questions that he asks. This is the “Interactive” portion of the program. It is important to interact with the program so that your student grasps the concept. As the parent, I highly encourage you to watch with your student so that you can help in the process of learning with anything that may come up.

     Each Module comes with the following books: that Module’s Course Notes, Student Worktext, Solutions Manual, Progress Tests, Instructor’s Guide, and the necessary DVDs that coincide with that Module’s work. I will list the complete scope and sequence of the entire course and detail every Module at the end of the review. It is very complete!

     The Course Notes are the notes your student might have taken or may need for every lesson taught by the teacher, all placed in to a reference notebook for your student. They did this so that your student could concentrate on the teaching portion of the lesson and not worry about taking the notes and getting lost in the process. (This is something I remember struggling with in school myself so I can really appreciate this book!) Every example and all the important information from each lesson is reproduced in hardcopy format in the Course Notes.

     The Student Worktext is the non-consumable text for your student. Important terms are reviewed and more examples of the lesson are explained as well as the student exercises are included in this text. It is not a workbook so your child will need a separate binder or notebook paper to do the exercises. This is a positive in my mind because the entire course can be used for multiple children. Mr. Clark strongly suggests that you have your child do half of the problems and then check their work to see if they truly did understand the lesson for that day. If they do then they can move on to other problems. He also suggests that you not use up all the problems in one day so that if there is a problem on the following day with a quiz they will have some new examples to work through for mastery. Review will happen every day because algebra builds upon itself.

     The Solutions Manual has every problem worked out in step by step detail. Even the easiest steps are shown for clarity of understanding. There are usually several approaches for solving the problems, but Mr. Clark has solved each problem using a straightforward and logical approach. Your child may veer from this approach and that is alright. He wants to make sure that the steps are clearly correct and that your child truly understands it. If they reach the right conclusion and they understand how they got to it then that is the goal.

     The Progress Tests book comes with a detailed Table of Contents section that lists every quiz and comprehensive unit test included. As much as was possible, Mr. Clark included a quiz for each lesson. Sometimes more than one lesson is combined in a quiz—depending upon the content. For every quiz there is also a second optional quiz so your student is sure to understand the lesson. They have also included a second comprehensive unit test as well. Depending upon your philosophy of schooling and testing, you can use these in a variety of ways. Mr. Clark tells us, “Use these as you see fit.” I appreciate that he considers us capable of deciding for our own families in these areas and that he sees us all as individuals. It is refreshing!

     He does recommend that you don’t give a quiz on the same day a lesson is learned because sometimes our minds will remember the information only long enough for the quiz. He recommends waiting until the next day to give an accurate reading of your child’s grasp of the concept. All tests and quizzes are available to copy for your family’s use. There is room on the page to work out the problems and he shares, “Don’t hesitate to adapt these to your style of instruction.”

     The Instructor’s Guide is a valuable tool for you as the teacher. It includes all the test and quiz solutions, the important concepts for you to read through and understand, and a detailed Table of Contents. It also includes a letter from the author that explains what your child will be learning in that Module as well as a schematic of the entire course so you know where you are in your student’s learning. He also mentions that these pages might be helpful for those working with an umbrella school of some kind that needs to understand how the program compares to other algebra programs.

     The author emphasizes that he will not be using any tricks or shortcuts. This is not a “math-made-simple” type of course and Mr. Clark shares, “To be successful, you don’t really need them. In fact, you don’t really want them if you are trying to understand the concepts. You just need clear and detailed explanations.” You will find them in this program. The idea behind VideoText Algebra is that you can sometimes succeed in math if you use your common sense and intuition, but you can always succeed by learning how to analyze problems and work through them systematically. Sometimes this can be frustrating to the student because some of the examples will use easier number combinations that a child may be able to work through in his head. However if they don’t learn the process or grow impatient and wish to skip an example because they “already know this” they may be stymied when they reach the more complicated problems.

     Each of the Modules contains approximately three month’s worth of learning material. At the conclusion of the course, your child will have learned all of algebra 1 and 2 in the span of two years. As mentioned above geometry is separate and to be completed after the algebra program. This is important to remember if you are planning ahead for college-prep testing.

     VideoText offers help over the phone at their numbers above. There are few companies that offer phone help for algebra. Their word of the day, every day, is “Why?” Their goal is to answer the “why” of math for their students and this is one of the many ways they make themselves available to help you. I find that very impressive.

     The cost of the program may be a deterrent for some families, but before you give it up altogether let me share that it is available for purchase per Module, that it is completely reusable for every student, and that it covers a full two years of algebra (and pre-algebra is not needed as well because of Module A.) So, if you look at it that way you can see the cost benefits might outweigh the negatives.

     Click here to see the complete scope and sequence of the program taken from each of the Modules:    

ALGEBRA Review by Victor Storkel,
President of Virtue In Knowledge Publications

    Critical thinking and effective reasoning skills are the most overlooked and undeveloped areas in most children’s education.  These are two of the most vitally needed skills in order for students to become successful leaders and thinkers.  Just as Abraham Lincoln would study geometry to hone his logic and thinking skills, all students must master upper math courses to become successful and skilled thinkers.

     One of the best math products available today is the VideoText Algebra course.  After many years of use with our 3 children and an extensive review, we have found the VideoText Algebra to be very thorough, easy to follow and simple to use.  VideoText even has a complete satisfaction guarantee for their products.  But what really sets VideoText apart from all the rest is their unique and thorough educational approach.  This program is unique in two ways.

     First, it focuses on mastery of the material rather than just mere memorization.  Most math up to algebra is correctly taught by memorization.  Unfortunately, most algebra teachers also use memorization as the primary tool to teach this higher math program.   By so doing, they deprive the student of the opportunity of truly mastering the subject by failing to understand the key foundational principles upon which this subject is built.

     Second, rather than just learning what to do, the VideoText teaching methodology is to have your child comprehend both what to do and why they do it.  This significant difference is what critical thinking skill development is all about.  Helping the student to develop tools that will take them beyond just getting the right answers, to understanding how they came to the right conclusions and why the method they followed got them to the right answer is crucial to not only the mastery of algebra, but all subjects.

     Training one’s mind to think in an orderly, logical and progressive manner is vital to becoming a discerning and persuasive adult.  VideoText products have accomplished these training goals while providing the most comprehensive and easy to use algebra course available today.

     Vic Storkel is President of Virtue In Knowledge Publications, a company that specializes in producing resources that focus on the only three areas in which critical thinking skills can be developed in a student – Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.  In addition to reviewing the best critical thinking products in use today, Virtue In Knowledge has a passionate desire to help develop proven critical thinking skills in harmony with the Scriptures.  For more information go to – www.VirtueInKnowledge.com 

ALGEBRA Review by Cathy Duffy
Author of Homeschool Curriculum Guide

     "This unusual course actually combines pre-Algebra through Algebra 2 concepts (including serious work with functions) in a single course. If you are considering starting this at the pre-algebra level, you should know that most pre-algebra courses cover geometry, measurements, and other topics that are beyond the scope of this course.

     This course focuses on number concepts that are foundational for algebra: fractions, decimals, operations, prime numbers, signed numbers, etc. It continues teaching algebraic concepts in a different sequence than is common to most other programs. Equations and inequalities are taught together, concepts are developed in a order of degrees (e.g., first-degree equations, then second-degree equations), and it strives to follow a logical continuity from lesson to lesson as much as possible.

     The course is divided into six modules, which should take 1-2 months each to complete. You should consider the entire program equivalent to two years of high school algebra, and a supplement to a pre-algebra course, even though it should take less time to complete.

     Five-to-ten minute lessons are presented on the videos (about 30 lessons per module, with about 10 lessons per tape). These should be paused frequently for students to consider their own answers to questions posed by the video teacher. It is recommended that a parent watch the video and discuss concepts with student, but I suspect most parents will prefer that their teens work independently. A booklet of Course Notes covering all key concepts and examples comes with each module, so students need not take their own notes as they watch videos. Each module has a student WorkText that presents concepts again, using additional examples, then provides practice exercises. Instructor's Guides consist of quizzes, tests, and answer keys. Two versions of each test allow for resting when necessary. A Solutions Manual provides step-by-step solutions for every problem in the WorkText.

     A number of different teachers present the lessons, but they all use a consistent style that works very well. Presentations are methodical and clear. Videos use animated graphics to illustrate lessons. Emphasis is upon conceptual understanding rather than memorization of processes.

     This course should work well for those who need solid algebra courses, but also need students to work independently. The multimedia presentation should be especially helpful for students who struggle with math. If students need assistance, a toll-free help-line is available for them to ask questions.

     If it does not pose problems for SAT or ACT testing, I recommend completing all six modules before tackling a geometry course."
TOP

Dialectic Stage Math: Grades 7-9
VideoText Algebra

     CCH's top choice for Algebra instruction, for 7th-9th grades and up, or after completion of a complete course in Arithmetic as described in Grammar Stage Math. VideoText Algebra is a unique approach to algebra among courses available.

     First, it contains all the material covered in both Algebra I and Algebra II in one course. Years ago, there were only two mathematics courses required for high school graduation--one year of Algebra, and one year of Geometry. When it was decided to increase mathematics instruction, a second year of Algebra was tacked on after the traditional Algebra - Geometry progression, called Algebra II. But since it had been over a year since the student had taken an Algebra class, the majority of the Algebra II textbook was a repeat of Algebra I. In only the final few chapters of the text was there any new material, and that is the way it has continued from that day to this. But it is craziness to take Algebra II after Geometry -- a complete understanding of Algebra is the foundation of all higher mathematics, including Geometry! Mr. Clark, mathematics teacher, math textbook author for traditional text publishing companies, and former superintendent of mathematics instruction for the state of Indiana, has therefore combined the complete subject matter of algebra, Algebra I and II, in one course. When the student has completed VideoText Algebra, he should receive credit for a one-year course in Algebra I and a one-year course in Algebra II.

     Second, VideoText Algebra instructs the student first in the language of mathematics, its grammar and syntax, if you will, and therefore gives the student vital tools to truly understand algebra, the language in which all higher mathematics is done. This approach makes algebra simple to understand for even the most math-phobic. I know, because my oldest daughter, who has since graduated from homeschool high school, was math phobic. (Not any longer, thanks to VideoText Algebra.) We tried Saxon Algebra I, which did nothing but cause her hours of tears and frustration daily, and added to her I-knew-I-couldn't-do-math mentality. She then studied Harold Jacobs Elementary Algebra, which she did complete with a B average, with much labor and determination, over the course of two years. But when we chose VideoText Algebra for her Algebra II course, she cried tears of joy when she first began working in it. "I finally understand math! I am not dumb in math after all!" were her exact words. It broke my heart, but made me extremely grateful to Mr. Clark for his unique approach.

     Third, VideoText Algebra tells the truth about mathematics, something that even Jacobs' Algebra sometimes avoids. For example in the first chapter of Jacobs' Algebra, he states that no number can be divided by zero, for the answer is meaningless. Period. The student takes that on faith, and remembers it with no further explanation. In VideoText Algebra however, students divide numbers by zero, to find out what happens. (Yes, it CAN be done.) They learn why division by zero is meaningless, and that learning why really satisfies their natural questions and solidifies the basic principles in their memory, with understanding.

     The lessons in VideoText Algebra are taught on video, and include 5-7 minutes of instruction. The exercises are contained in the Student Workbook, and include 20 problems per lesson. That's it. When the student learns why, and understands the principle, he does not have to do 50-100 problems per lesson to get formulas drilled into his head by rote. Complete solutions to every problem, including every step worked, come in the Solutions Manual for the teacher or parent. This lets the parent go over problems missed with the student, who can then see exactly where he went wrong, and why. VideoText Algebra is expensive, because of the videos. This is the only expensive program I recommend in my whole catalog, for any subject. But the 6 modules can be purchased separately, as the student needs them over the course of the year, so the parent in effect can make payments on the program. The organization and presentation of the material to be learned is so simple, elegant, well-done, and unique among algebra courses, that it justifies the expense in my mind.
TOP

ALGEBRA Review by Deborah Deggs Cariker
Reviewer for Eclectic Homeschoolers Online

     Veteran mathematician Tom Clark has a mission: Help every math student understand what he/she is doing - AND why.

     It's not enough to learn quick tricks and shortcuts, Clark says. Students must understand why math works so they can be successful with it. He strives for mastery, not just a good grade with soon-forgotten data.

     After 30-plus years as a classroom teacher, math supervisor, et. al, Clark has fashioned a program that won't have your children putting up tearful walls at math time.

     VideoText Interactive (italics on Interactive) is not a "math-made-simple" program. It is a program that teaches with visuals, graphics, and computer animation how to attack the problem, understand it, and solve it. I personally found the program encouraging. It holds attention with animated movement and color sequencing, emphasizing the problem and its particulars, not the teacher.

     Since VideoText Interactive strives for mastery, Clark instructs parents, teachers, and students to watch the step-by-step, detailed instructions over and over - without taking notes. (Complete notes are provided since Clark believes note-taking only distracts from learning.) In the lesson parents and students will discover many questions and an invitation to pause the tape, discuss the problem, and understand it before moving on. Clark feels parental involvement is VERY important, especially at the beginning of using the curriculum. Second, Clark says to review those course notes. Third, work the exercises, where students will find nothing new. They're already familiar with the concept. Then, check their work in the Solutions Manual where they'll not just find "back of the book" answers, but the entire step-by-step procedure for each problem. Last, test your student's progress - and watch their eyes shine with achievement.

     I believe programs like this that strive for mastery and help students development critical thinking skills also enhance self-esteem.

     This program is conversational, not stiff: "See this problem? Looks pretty scary, doesn't it?," the announcer commiserates.

     The recaps and reminders help students implant math strategies in their brains and do not induce that hit-and-miss quality of some math curricula. You can see that it "made sense to approach it that way," as the on screen announcer comments.

     If, for any reason, the tapes and notes and solutions still leave you and your child drawing a blank on Algebra, VideoText Interactive offers a 1-800 help line. Clark's brother, Steve, assured at the June, 2001 homeschool conference in Houston that they're so sure you'll understand the program, they're willing to pay for your phone call if you don't. Now, that's a service! I hope they offer that on the upcoming Geometry module!!!

     Each module includes approximately 30 lessons on videos, a Quick Reference Guide, a Student WorkText, Instructor's Guide with Detailed Solutions for Progress Tests, Course Notes, Solutions Manual, and Progress Tests all neatly packed in a sturdy plastic box. Your satisfaction is guaranteed on all six modules that teach Algebra I and Algebra 2, as well as on subsequent course modules being developed - like, <gulp!> Geometry! Individual modules normally cost $99.95, but home user package pricing discounts the three-module package to $269.00, and the complete six-module package for $519.00. And this is OWNING, not renting!

     Algebra really doesn't have to be that hard. (Geometry is a different matter entirely! Is it obvious the subject scares me?) To order, call 1-800-ALGEBRA, or visit the web site at www.videotext.com While you're asking questions, ask about the monthly payment plan. This is a great program, and very homeschool friendly! I can't imagine there'll be any dissatisfied customers.

A veteran journalist, Deborah Deggs Cariker is a 6th year homeschooling mother of two and Assistant Editor of the EHO Product Reviews Department. Cariker and fireman husband, Bill, make their home near Conroe, Texas.

ALGEBRA Review by MaryAnn Turner
Reviewer for Mary Pride's Practical Homeschooling Magazine

    Thinking mathematically is the Key to being a successful math scholar.  Algebra: A Complete Course from VideoText Interactive does a remarkable job of helping your son or daughter understand the reasoning behind the concepts of both Algebra 1 and Algebra 2.  This unique approach makes VideoText Algebra the most user-friendly algebra course I’ve ever experienced.  My 13-year-old daughter was immediately captivated.  This is the same daughter who has trouble completing math lessons because of boredom!

     The colorful computer-generated graphics and the “one-on-one” feel of the video presentation make the short lessons easy to follow.  The lecturers vary from module to module, but in each video your student will feel like he is being tutored personally.  The screen is never cluttered.  The quality is excellent.  Each video moves smoothly from lecturer to problem, and lesson to lesson. This is very refreshing for this mom who has struggled to teach algebra in a language my children could understand.

     I wish VideoText Algebra had been available when we were wading through high-school math programs a few years ago.  It is by far the easiest to use course that we have ever used, and we have tried all of the “big names” in math curriculum.
 

ALGEBRA Review by Beth Laing
Reviewer for God's World Magazine

     We loved this thorough study of algebra that begins with no pre-algebra expectations, making it easy for any high school level math student to use. Before getting into the numbers, all mathematical terminology is clearly defined, the author calls this the mathematical "parts of speech." Both students who need guidance at a steady pace or those who have a natural math affinity will find this curriculum exceptional. Additionally, homeschool moms who may find upper level math intimidating will find they can readily depend on this curriculum, and what a relief!

     All major algebraic expressions are taught and reviewed in this course, which would give any student a working knowledge of algebra. The philosophy of this program is not to teach methods, but to teach a logical understanding of numbers and variables and their relation to each other. The methods, then, become second nature and problem solving is easier.

     Each module contains three video tapes (although module F has two), a Student WorkText, a course notes booklet that contains the video lesson notes, a solutions manual, a progress tests booklet to assess the student’s progress, and an Instructor’s guide. This video curriculum suggests first watching the video lesson, pausing at the appropriate points to answer questions, and then the student should work through the exercises in the WorkText. The complete course contains 6 modules and covers all algebraic concepts in Algebra 1 and 2 using multi-sensory methods. Each module contains approximately 30 lessons.
TOP