HOMESCHOOL MATH: REVIEW OF VIDEOTEXT ALGEBRA

Definition of the word ALGEBRA*: Math that parent’s dread teaching. 

I have been provided with Module A Homeschool Math VideoText Algebra in exchange for a curriculum review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have homeschooled for 24 years. For 24 years I have heard two questions over and over again – 1) What about socialization (which is a topic for another blog post), and 2) How will you teach higher math? This question didn’t shake me because I thought I could teach math to my children.

It turned out that I was wrong. Not because I didn’t understand Algebra; I not only understood Algebra, but I loved it. In fact, I took Calculus in college for fun. The reality was that I couldn’t teach Algebra to my oldest son because traditional teaching methods weren’t working for him. I used VideoText Algebra 15 years ago, and finally, my son understood math. Fast forward to today: I have another son who needed an Algebra program. Up to this point I have used Life of Fred, and he has loved it, but after all these years, he was getting bored and started to dread math. I knew it was time to find something different for him. I immediately thought of VideoText Algebra.

Videotext Algebra A Complete Course covers Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 and Algebra 2. This includes 176 lessons. It can be purchased by Module or as an entire set.

My HOMESCHOOL MATH REVIEW of VIDEOTEXT ALGEBRA ONLINE – MODULE A:

PROS:

• VIDEOTEXT ALGEBRA teaches the why behind the concepts.
• Online access for parents and for the student.
• YOUR CHILD HAS AN INSTRUCTOR FOR THE CLASS: Each lesson is taught by an instructor via video. There is both a DVD and online option. I am using the online option. My son simply logs in and watches the video.
• SHORT LESSONS: Each video is approximately 5-10 minutes. Do you remember tuning your teacher out in school because she/he droned on for 30+ minutes? Science has shown that people can only focus on a presenter for 7-10 minutes. After that they begin to lose interest. These videos are the perfect length to prevent your mind from wandering.
• COURSE NOTES: These notes highlight the key points from the lesson. While these can be accessed after the video lesson by your child. I prefer to print them off beforehand.

 

• WORKTEXT PAGES provide a review of the VideoText Algebra lesson. I print these off too. These pages have words to know with their definitions and example problems and how to solve them. They also have exercise problems to solve. I assign the odd problems, and then check his work via the online solution manual. In the event that my child misses too many problems, I can then assign the even problems for more practice.
• QUIZZES. Every 2-3 lessons there are quizzes. This helps to see if your child is struggling in a particular area before too many lessons have gone by.
• MODULE A covers Mathematics parts of speech, Fractions and Decimals, Percent, Primes and Composites, Least Common Multiple, Greater Common Factor, Order of Operations and more. For a complete list of what is covered, see VideoText Algebra.
• COMES with a 30 DAY Money-Back Guarantee
• Extra practice problems are available online.

CONS:

• My son commented that the videos appear to be from the 90’s. I laughed because when my two older sons used VideoText Algebra it was on VHS and fairly new, and they had commented on the videos. (The man presenting had on a sweater vest. In the clip below there is nothing that speaks 90’s.)

 

MY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOMESCHOOL MATH VIDEOTEXT ALGEBRA:

My Homeschool Review of VideoText Algebra is not complete without a recommendation. You came here wanting to know what my thoughts were, but also would I recommend this course. Despite my children’s aversion to math teachers wearing sweaters (LOL), I can wholeheartedly say that I would recommend Unit 1 for all students who are needing to take an Algebra Course. Unit 1 will give them a complete review of Pre-Algebra and  

Is your child ready for VideoText? Find out here!

*THE REAL DEFINITION OF ALGEBRA: the part of mathematics in which letters and other general symbols are used to represent numbers and quantities in formulae and equations.

Watch for my Homeschool Math Review of VideoText Algebra Module B in the upcoming months. 

Thanks for following along,

Patty @ A Mother’s Random Thoughts