I can’t teach my teens Algebra and Geometry on my own. I need help. So I was over the moon to find out about, and try VideoText Interactive! The company offers two AMAZING programs: Algebra: A Complete Course and Geometry: A Complete Course. Both use interactive video-based strategies, with brief lessons and clear explanations to teach Algebra and Geometry from start to finish. Both are great homeschool math options.
VideoText Interactive Math review – What Makes VideoText Different and Unique?
What are VideoText Interactive Lessons Like?
It’s generally recommended that a student begin the Algebra course in the 8th or 9th grade. If they are doing well in arithmetic, a 7th grade start might be reasonable. On the other hand, 10th and 11th grade students who are struggling, find this course extremely helpful in getting them back on track, probably allowing them to move through it more quickly than a younger student. To see if your child is ready for Algebra, check out the checklist on this page.
Each lesson begins with a 2-3 sentence introduction and then the lesson begins. Dialogue is a cornerstone of each lesson, and the lesson should be paused every 15-20 seconds (or more often if appropriate), to engage your student in discussion. This means that, for a 5-10 minute VideoText lesson, it may take 10-15 minutes to finish developing the concept. During this time, your student should not take notes. Instead, your student should concentrate on the lesson – concept development and understanding.
Once the concept is developed and the VideoText lesson is completed, you can use the course notes to review, reinforce, or to check on your student’s comprehension. These course notes are exact replications of the content that was viewed in the lesson, illustrating the same terms, problems, numbers, and logical sequences.
More info on VideoText Interactive Lessons
If your student needs a little more help, he or she can use these course notes while viewing the lesson again (we do repeat lessons on a regular basis – just because I want to make sure my kids truly “get it”).
Next, your student can begin to do some work independently, either by your introduction of additional examples from the WorkText, or by the student immediately going to the WorkText on his or her own. The primary feature of the WorkText, beside providing problem banks with which students can work on mastery, is that objectives are restated, important terms are reviewed, and additional example are considered, in noticeable detail, taking students, once again, through the logic of the concept development process. I do like this constant review. I think it’s important in math.
In addition, there are detailed Solutions Manuals, which provide the opportunity to check work and engage in error analysis. There are also quizzes, unit tests, cumulative reviews, and final examinations to help you further assess your student’s progress. In fact, the assessment package often utilizes open-response questions which require the learners to state, in writing, their understanding of the concept. I love this because it reveals much more about a student’s understanding of a concept.
Algebra: A Complete Course – Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 (I like the combination – that this is a COMPLETE course)
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ALGEBRA ORIENTATION PACKET
There are 176 video lessons contained in 10 unit directories. The program covers Pre-Algebra, Algebra I and Algebra II, and is a firm foundation for students advancing to VideoText’s Geometry: A Complete Course, covering Geometry and Trigonometry. Each Algebra Program Module includes DVDs and corresponding books (Course Notes, Student WorkText, Solutions Manual, Instructor’s Guide and Progress Tests).
Materials in the complete course include:
176 Video Lessons – Each of the 5-10 minute lessons explore Algebra concepts in a detailed logical order. No shortcuts or tricks are used, the methods are easy to follow, and the lessons promote a clear understanding of a concept.
360 pages of Course Notes – These notes allow students to review the lesson. Each page chronologically follows the video lesson, repeating exactly what was shown on the screen.
590 pages of Student WorkText – These pages review the concept developed in each lesson. More examples are given and exercises are provided for students.
Solutions Manuals – These manuals provide detailed, step-by-step solutions for every problem in the student WorkText. This resource is a powerful tool when used by students to complete an error-analysis of their work, and to check their thought processes. My kids really benefit from the solutions being written out – they can see if they’ve missed a step, and why it’s an integral step.
Progress Tests – These tests, with the step-by-step answer keys (Instructor’s Guides) included, are designed to have students demonstrate understanding, lesson-by-lesson, and unit-by-unit. There are two versions of each test (I appreciate this), allowing for retesting or review, to make sure students have mastered concepts.
FYI – here are some screen shots from Unit V, Part A Lesson 2
CLAIMED CREDITS:
When a student completes Algebra: A Complete Course, the student can claim credits for all of the following:
- Pre-Algebra
- Algebra I
- Algebra II
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ALGEBRA SCOPE AND SEQUENCE RATIONAL
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ALGEBRA COURSE SCHEMATIC
Geometry: A Complete Course
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE GEOMETRY ORIENTATION PACKET
There are 170+ video lessons contained in 8 units. The program covers The Structure of Geometry, Essential Elements (Fundamental Terms & Fundamental Theorems), Simple Closed Plane Curves (Triangles, Other Polygons & Circles), Loci and Constructions, and Trigonometric Relations.
Materials in the complete course include:
176 Video Lessons – Each of the 5-10 minute lessons explore Geometry concepts in a detailed logical order.
Course Notes – These notes allow students to review the logical development of a concept. Each page chronologically follows the video lesson, repeating exactly what was shown on the screen.
Student WorkText – These pages review the concept developed in each lesson. More examples are given and exercises are provided for students.
Solutions Manuals – These manuals provide detailed, step-by-step solutions for every problem in the student WorkText.
Progress Tests – These tests, with the answer keys included, are designed to have students demonstrate understanding, lesson-by-lesson, and unit-by-unit. There are two versions of each test, allowing for retesting or review, to make sure students have mastered concepts.
Here are some screen shots from Unit V, Part A Lesson 5
CLAIMED CREDITS:
With the completion of Geometry: A Complete Course, the student can also claim credits for:
- Geometry
- Trigonometry
- Pre-Calculus
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE GEOMETRY SCOPE AND SEQUENCE RATIONAL
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE GEOMETRY PROGRAM SCHEMATIC
Plus, there is a VideoText Interactive Helpline (Yah!)
The VideoText Interactive Helpline comes FREE for those that have purchased the Algebra or Geometry Program NEW through the compnany’s website, from their authorized distributors, or from their booth at a conference. If you have purchased any of their products used, you can purchase this instructor help.
VideoText Interactive Math Review – What I like about VideoText Interactive:
- What really matters is that it works. Yep – it really works. Any student who uses the programs will have a very solid knowledge and understanding of all algebra and geometry concepts.
- The program lets your kids learn Algebra and Geometry at home, even if you’re not an algebra or a geometry whiz. Your kids don’t have to leave the house to take a course elsewhere and you don’t need to hire a tutor.
- An extra bonus – it lets you become more of a whiz, if you participate in the lessons. You can refresh your math memory – or learn things you zoned out on in high school.
- This program is really simple to use and is a very COMPLETE program. I like that algebra is taught all at once, rather than Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2, which is the order that most public schools teach the courses.
More things that I like:
- I appreciate the mastery approach to teaching rather than the spiraling approach. No shortcuts or tricks, just logical and well explained concepts, building one upon another. VideoText does this well.
- Lessons are short and sweet and to the point. This is really a benefit for kids that don’t think they like math. They get the knowledge in a short amount of time, and before they know it, they’re “getting it” – their confidence grows – and they’re positive feelings towards math increases.
- Students can review the video lessons as often as they wish and can go over notes as often as necessary. Being able to view the videos and then read the notes works well for different learning styles.
- There’s a money back guarantee – I always appreciate that, don’t you?
This is a great homeschool math option – and I’m pretty darn impressed with this program.
I think you will be too! 🙂
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- VideoText Interactive Math
