Math Without Borders is an ongoing project to supplement some of the best high school math textbooks
with Home Study Companions, to make them useful for homeschoolers and adults for self-teaching.

Meet the Author

The challenge facing homeschool students and adults studying mathematics at home is that mathematics textbooks are not designed to be used alone. A lot goes on in a good math class besides reading the text and doing problem sets. Textbooks are designed to be taught by an experienced teacher. A good teacher should be able to:

• give an overview of the subject to "put the text in context."
• model the thinking skills and strategies that go into analysis and problem solving.
• illustrate, demonstrate, and clarify (as well as prove) the underlying concepts.
• point out links between different parts of the subject and applications beyond what is in the text.

Rather than start from scratch with yet another textbook, I decided to start with the best existing textbooks and provide the kinds of additional support for home study students that a good teacher would provide in a classroom. The texts I have chosen for this project (selected based on ~30 years of teaching experience) are:

Algebra I: Expressions, Equations, and Applications, by Paul A. Foerster
Geometry-A Guided Inquiry, by G. D. Chakerian, Calvin D. Crabill, and Sherman K. Stein
Algebra and Trigonometry: Functions and Applications, by Paul A. Foerster
Precalculus with Trigonometry: Concepts and Applications, by Paul A. Foerster

So far the Algebra I and Geometry courses are complete and the Algebra II course is in progress. I have also completed a short review course for the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE).

Home Study Companion - Algebra I
Whiteboard video lessons covering the "classroom presentation"
portion of a full high school Algebra I course based on
Algebra I: Expressions, Equations, and Applications
by Paul Foerster
(Samples on Google Video: Chapter 1-3, Chapter 2-8, Section 4-5)

[The samples on Google Video will give you an idea of the content, the flow of the presentation,
etc., but they are of rather poor video quality. For a good representation of the actual production
values, download this Introduction to the Home Study Companion Algebra Series (28 Mb).]

Home Study Companion - Geometry
Includes a solution manual, commentary, extensions, and nearly
300 dynamic demonstrations using ^®The Geometer's Sketchpad
(for Windows and Mac), designed to accompany the classic text
Geometry: A Guided Inquiry
by G.D. Chakerian, Calvin D. Crabill, and Sherman K. Stein
(Video Demonstration on Google Video)

CAHSEE Algebra
The CAHSEE Algebra CD contains 22 whiteboard video lessons covering
all of the Algebra I standards tested on the California High School Exit Exam.
This is NOT a typical "test prep" course, drilling on problems similar to those likely
to appear on the test. Rather it re-teaches the concepts covered in the CAHSEE standards
from the ground up. It is good teaching by an experienced teacher, pure and simple.
(Samples on Google Video: Standard 2, part 1, Standard 5, Standard 15, part 1)

Home Study Companion - Algebra II
(Projected release, Fall 2008)
Whiteboard video lessons covering the "classroom presentation"
portion of a full high school Algebra II course based on
Algebra and Trigonometry: Functions and Applications
by Paul Foerster
(Video Demonstration on Google Video)

Email: david@mathwithoutborders.com / Toll-Free Fax: (800) 517-2947

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^®The Geometer's Sketchpad is a registered trademark of Key Curriculum Press.