General Information • Home Page • Our Company • Your Instructor • How to Use DVD or VHS • Quick Sketches - Homeschool Students • Quick Sketches - College Students • Frequently Asked Q's • Customer Comments Product Information • Prices, Ordering & Evaluations • Assessment Test Request • Textbooks & Solutions Guides • Course Outlines, Reviews & Demos Existing Customers • Quick Start Guide • Read Me First • Technical Support • Replacement DVD/CD • Tests and Measurement • Exhibit Schedule • Education Links Chalk Dust Company PMB 375 3506 Hwy 6 South Sugar Land, TX 77478-4401 800.588.7564 (USA) 281.265.2495 281.265.3197 fax sales@chalkdust.com	Frequently Asked Product and Learning Questions Does Chalk Dust offer a free DVD Evaluation Sampler and brochure to explain how the programs work and to show video clips from every program? Yes, contact us at 800-588-7564 or sales@chalkdust.com. Is your program best for my child? Perhaps; the "best" program for your child is the one that matches the learning style of your child with the teaching style (and learning support) provided by whatever program you use. Please compare Video Text with Chalk Dust Prealgebra. "Video Text has B/W module booklets that are not detailed enough, no application word problems, and usually less than 30 problems per lesson." Sandy Ackerman (former Video Text Prealgebra customer and current Chalk Dust customer) Also, in our opinion, Video Text Algebra 2 is not as comprehensive as Chalk Dust Algebra 2. Chalk Dust Company has accredited Houghton Mifflin derived color textbooks, complete step-by-step solutions guides (Basic Math, Prealgebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Precalculus, and Calculus I), numerous application problems, and more than 100 problems per section (ie lesson) on average from which to choose. Chalk Dust uses one on-camera instructor (Dana Mosely) who provides high-quality technical support directly to your student. The comprehensive videotapes or DVDs correlate to each textbook and focus upon teaching concepts with numerous sample problems. How do your math programs compare to Saxon, or ABeka, or Math-U-See?       Chalk Dust textbooks are in color and are derived from Houghton Mifflin textbooks which meet math standards in all states, and are used in colleges. The chapters are divided into sections that include numerous problems (often 75-150) many of which are "real-life applications". Tests are built into every text (Basic Math through Calculus I).       Complete Solution Guides are very detailed whereby a textbook problem is repeated and a step-by-step solution is given. In general, we feel that a student should work about 25 problems at the end of each section, but the exact number of problems that are worked is per the discretion of the parent. It's not about memorizing problems but it is about understanding concepts.       Chalk Dust makes no attempt to train the parent to become a teacher. Our goal is to connect the learning style of your child with the teaching style of Dana Mosely and to support that directly. When your child gets "stuck", or experiences learning difficulty, technical support directly from Dana Mosely is available. Are your DVD/VHS video led programs of high quality? Yes, the books (Basic Math through Calculus I) are from the college division of Houghton Mifflin (publisher) and the on-camera instructor is under contract with them. Are all programs now available on DVD? Yes. Does Chalk Dust Company sell used programs on eBay? No. However, individuals may sell their used programs on eBay. Can your SAT* Math Review guarantee a certain test score on the SAT? No. Do I have to return DVDs after I finish a school year? No. When you purchase a program from Chalk Dust Company that program is your property, including the DVDs. How long does it take you to ship an order, and how can I place an order? Most orders are shipped within 48 hours. Orders can be placed by phone 800-588-7564; or from this link: To Order or Evaluate; or you can mail your order to Chalk Dust Company, 3506 Hwy 6 South, PMB 375, Sugar Land, TX 77478-4401. I'm not quite sure how to make myself have more self-discipline for studying and doing the exercises. Do you have any ideas? Discipline is a tough thing to learn; and a tough thing to teach. However, you have already taken the essential first step in the process of learning dicipline, and that is to realize that it is important. Here are a few suggestions: 1. Don't work for too long at one time. If you find yourself getting tired, take a break and get a nap or some exercise. 2. Modify your assignments a bit to shorten the time spent "in the book". Our general recommendation of working odd-numbered problems does not necessarily mean you have to work ALL of the odd-numbered problems; 30-35 problems per section should suffice. It's about learning concepts--not memorizing problems. 3. Don't take all this too seriously. Develop a sense of humor about it if you can. As with most aspects of life, math is a process to be enjoyed rather than a destination to be achieved; and some failure is to be expected and regarded as a learning opportunity. 4. Please contact me (Dana) with your concerns over specific problems before they become full-blown frustrations. Tell me how you are thinking about the problem and where you are getting stuck. Together we can get through this. What programs do you recommend for a science major? Basic Math, Prealgebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus, Calculus I. The humanities major may substitute College Algebra for Precalculus. What is a "starter package"? This is one textbook, a solutions guide, and the first DVD. Additional DVDs may be purchased as necessary. Call for prices. Do you have a math-assessment test? Yes, through Algebra 1. Please call 888-693-6284 or see www.math-matters.com. Is Algebra 1 equivalent to Elementary Algebra; and is Algebra 2 equivalent to Intermediate Algebra? Yes. How can I find additional homeschool resources? Go to www.chalkdust.com and click on "Education Links" in the lower left margin. How can I obtain a Chalk Dust product demonstration? Go to www.chalkdust.com, click on the product of choice, and click on "View Demo". Or, click on "to order or evaluate" and request an evaluation for the product of your choice. A brochure and DVD Evaluation Sampler will be mailed to you. Or, pull up the homepage and click on "flash player" - fourth bullet from the top. Why are programs changed? Periodically the publisher (Houghton Mifflin Company) will discontinue a textbook and solutions guide edition for a given product. Chalk Dust then must reshoot the source video presentation in order to continue offering the product under the latest edition. Is student technical support available if I purchase a used Chalk Dust program? Yes, please call 800-588-7564. What programs do you recommend for elementary school? Please go to www.chalkdust.com and click on grades 3,4, or 5. Complete Elementary Math Courses for 3rd, and 4th, and 5th grades with... Color textbook on CDROM. Voice presentations of key points in each lesson. Cumulative Reviews from Lesson 1 Printed materials for tests, Complete Solutions Guides, and glossaries Technical Support provided online or by phone Compare current Chalk Dust programs with previous programs? Background. Chalk Dust began operations in 1994 and has grown from offering one program to ten complete programs. In addition to offering VHS based math presentations with books and student technical support, Chalk Dust now has DVDs for every program except College Algebra. At www.chalkdust.com you can view a picture of any program, download demonstrations (i.e. 2-4 minute instruction clips), see the course outlines, read reviews and customer comments, and order any program, literature, or a DVD Evaluation Sampler. The exhibit schedule and educational links are also provided. [note: The educational links include Math-Matters.com where you can view sample lessons for grades 3,4, and 5 among other sites.] Chalk Dust is owned by Dana, Richard and Minerva Mosely. Dana takes care of production and student technical support. Richard and Minerva take care of business operations, marketing and customer support. Basic Math (on grade level at Grade 6). Underlined items are new versus the previous program. The new Basic Math program (copyright 2003) includes 6 VHS tapes (or 4 DVDs), a hardbound textbook with 9 chapters, a complete solutions guide, and technical support for your student(s). Compared to the previous program, the textbook has three additional chapters - Statistics and Probability, U.S. Customary Units of Mesurement, and The Metric System of Measurement. The first six chapters are unchanged and include Whole Numbers, Fractions, Decimals, Ratios and Proportions, Percents, and Applications for Business and Consumers. Prealgebra (on grade level at Grade 7). Underlined items are new versus the previous program. The new Prealgebra program (copyright 2002) includes 10 VHS tapes (or 6 DVDs), a hardbound textbook (it's still 10 chapters), complete solutions guide, and technical support for your student(s). Prealgebra is a comprehensive entry level algebra course with algebraic expressions beginning in Chapter 1, Section 2. The chapter topics of the new Prealgebra are nearly the same as the previous course but the chapter sequence has changed a bit. Fractions now appear in Chapter 3 (versus Chapter 3 and 4 previously), Percent is chapter 8 (versus 6 previously), and Geometry in Chapter 9 (versus 10 previously). Several new topics introduced in the new Basic Math are continued in the new Prealgebra program - the Metric System and U.S. Customary Units of Measurement in Chapter 7, and Probability in Chapter 10. Algebra 1 (on grade level at Grade 8). Underlined items are new versus the previous program. The new Algebra 1 program (copyright 2001) includes 11 VHS tapes (or 6 DVDs), a softbound textbook with 10 chapters, complete solutions guide, and technical support for your student. Compared to the previous program (Essentials of Algebra 1) the chapter sequence is only slightly different. Systems of Linear Equations are now covered in Chapter 7 (versus Chapter 8 previously), and Rational Expressions and Polynomials Chapter 9 (versus Chapters 9 and 10 previously). Geometry versus New Geometry (2007). First let me explain why we are changing textbooks. The old traditional textbook is a copyright 1995 and has been out of print for some time now. The publisher is running out of textbooks so we had to find an alternative. Similarities. Both textbooks include an introduction to trigonometry. Both textbooks include the Euclidean development of proofs (including logic) and feature the two-column method of proof. Both textbooks offer a complete and conprehensive development of Geometry that meet or exceed high school requirements throughout the country. Some differences. The old textbook is published by the School Division of Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company and, therefore, responds to mandates of the NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) which require many, many items of inclusion that are not "mainstream" in course context as well as presentation style (lots of color). Those items of inclusion and the extensive use of color are regarded by some as adding interest and a real life connection while for others those items represent a major distraction from the main focus of the course. By contrast, the new textbook is published by the College Division of Houghton Mifflin and contains much less color, less "distractions" and focuses a bit more directly on the content. The depth of coverage is just a bit greater in some topics in the new textbook and there are many real-life examples and word problems to reinforce skills in every section, perhaps more than the number found in the old text. The DVD instruction associated with the old textbook was designed to accompany 3 different textbooks while the DVD instruction associated with the new textbook as specific to the new text. I can make a case for either textbook. The bottom line is, given a particular student, one of the textbooks may be preferred over the other one due to the learning style of the student. However, good students will respond quite well to either textbook and other students might need a modification in assignments to help them along. That is one reason why we offer technical support to parents and students. SAT* Math Review. This program includes the new test topics reflected since March 2005, and can also help with the math portion of the ACT. Algebra 2 (on grade level at Grade 10). Underlined items are new versus the previous program. The new Algebra 2 program (copyright 2001) includes 14 VHS tapes (or 8 DVDs), a softbound textbook with 11 chapters (a hardbound text is optional), complete solutions guide, and technical support for your student. Compared to the previous program (Essentials of Algebra II) the chapter sequence has been expanded somewhat to reflect several notable changes. A Prerequisites Chapter, Chapter 1 Integers now includes a section on Business and Scientific Problems, and Chapter 7 Linear Models and Graphs of Non-Linear Models includes a section on Conic Sections which is normally taught in College Algebra. College Algebra, A Graphing Approach, 5th ed., 2008. This is the latest College Algebra program from Houghton Mifflin. 13 DVDs [note: The humantities (non-science) major may discover that the highest level math course required for college graduation is College Algebra.] Trigonometry. Underlined items are new versus the previous program. The new Trigonometry program (7th edition copyright 2007) includes 9 DVDs, a hardbound textbook, a solutions guide, and technical support for your Student. The 7th edition is nearly identical to the 6th edition. Section P.8. In the 6th edition it is called "Shifting, Reflecting, and Stretching Graphs", and in the 7th edition "Transformations of Functions". Section P.9. In the 6th edition it is called "Combinations of Functions", and in the 7th edition "Combinations of Functions: Composite Functions". Precalculus. Underlined items are new versus the previous program. The current new Precalculus program is (3rd edition, copyright 2001) with 14 DVDs, a hardbound textbook, a complete solutions guide, and technical support for your student. Compared to the previous Precalculus program (1997) the new program includes one less tape volume for each of the following four Chapter topics: Polynomial and Rational Functions, Exponential and Logarithmic Functions, Trigonometric Functions, and Topics in Analytic Geometry and Geometry in Three Dimensions. [The program includes a number of T-180 and T-200 tapes to reduce the number of tapes versus the previous edition from 20 to 16.] [note: Precalculus includes College Algebra, Trigonometry and Limits (ie Calculus 1, Chapter 1). Students headed for the sciences in college will be required to take college physics and calculus. Precalculus is essential preparation for these courses.] Calculus 1. The new program is copyright 2002. 12 VHS tapes or 11 DVDs. TOP OF THE PAGE Copyright © 1996-2008 Chalk Dust Company Website design and hosting by Mediawest Online.