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Choosing a Textbook

Posted by Waski_the_Squirrel on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:11:50 PM
It as been a number of years since I've chosen a textbook. I remember buying them in college. I liked getting used ones, but sometimes I had to buy new. I remember that sometimes the cost of an individual book approached $100. As a teacher, the books I did choose (early in the century) ranged in price from $35 up to $70.

Now I'm looking at books. I mentioned some of my criteria yesterday. I've begun looking more closely at individual books. Some can be discarded immediately. One huge shock was cost. It's been years since I've had new books. One of the books I like comes in at $133...and that's just a single book. I just can't imagine the cost for a big school. They're all pricey, though one of the books I like is available for free online. It's not pirated. The author made it available! Impressive, though the book itself comes in at $70, and is the cheapest of the lot.

I attempted to get a sample of another textbook.  I was bounced between 4 different people by 3 different phone calls. The last person told me that she needed to investigate me and did not know when they could get back to me. Does that mean they don't think I'm a real teacher? Her first step was to argue with me about my choice of text. I'll try really hard not to let this cloud my evaluation, but I know the bias will stick.

There are some cheaper options. I purchased a Calculus book from Dover publishing for about $20. They issue paperback versions of older texts. I like the book, but I don't think it's viable for my situation. The book is older and is more suitable on either a bookshelf or as a paperweight. It's a fat paperback and I don't think it will stand up to student use. That really is a consideration.

I love buying books. Visiting a book store or a used book store is the only kind of shopping I really enjoy. This process has frustrated me because none of the books are popping out as "good". I want to spend some more time looking at their content tonight. The uncooperative one isn't in the collection.

One bright spot is the help I've gotten from other teachers. The actual math teacher at my school suggested a decent book (the most expensive and one I used in college). I also got some great help from some really good teachers in the middle of the state. No agreement among any of them, but there was some really passionate disagreement over one book: the one which is playing games with me. One teacher told me that it's the absolute worst math curriculum out there. Another loves it.

I'll update on content and maybe post some finalists. I don't like the short notice on picking this book!
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New School Year

Posted by Waski_the_Squirrel on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 12:08:15 AM
I'm back from visiting my family back east and I'm getting ready for a new year. It looks like there will be some changes. My school has hired the man who held my post prior to my taking it. He will be coving Geology and Advanced Biology (two courses we never offered before), as well as Anatomy and a seventh grade health class. He will also be the technology person.

I've lost Anatomy from my schedule (good riddance). I'll be picking up Calculus instead. This came as a surprise. I'd been pushing to have us offer it, but I'd never actually expected to be the one teaching it. It's been nearly 10 years since I've taught the course, so life should be interesting this year.

This puts me in the position of choosing a textbook. While I don't teach straight out of a book, they do make a great resource, especially with a course like Calculus.

I've done some searching and I've contacted some math teachers I know. I'm coming up with a list and I'm assembling a collection of sample texts. Here's what I'm looking for:

  • It should be compatible with with AP curriculum. My course is supposed to be dual-credit, so I think that will work.
  • It should instruct on several ways to solve problems: analytical, numerical, and graphical
  • It should emphasize problem solving, not simply drill of skills
  • It should be clearly written so that an intelligent student can use it (too many math books talk right over the heads of their intended audience)
  • I'd like to see some small and large projects
  • It should contain technology applications (though I can add these myself if needed)
  • I'd like a book that can realistically be finished in a year: no bloated books to destroy my students' backs
  • I'd love it if there was an electronic version I could incorporate into my online "classroom"
It will make for a great opportunity. Hopefully I can do my part to improve the curriculum of my school.
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