MIDAS

Blitzer, Precalculus, 7th Edition

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Core Code Alignment

Mathematics
Calculus
07040013020: Precalculus Elective CE (Math 1050)

Recommendation

Recommended Primary

Evaluation

This is a good text that covers all of the topics necessary for Precalculus. It has a lot of bright pictures, but no too many to distract from the content. The vocabulary is highlighted and easy to find. There is a good distinction between the practice problems. Some of my favorite features are include the ability to create a study plan for students. From what I can see in test mode, you can layout materials for students to read or view along with assignments in order. If students don't do well on an assignment, then the system can create a study plan for them to review the parts they missed, without you having to go back and check on it.

I also like that while going through the practice problems, there is an "Ask the instructor" button on each problem, so students can easily send a question right while they are in the problem, and right when they have the question.

Another great feature are the included pdf worksheets. for every chapter there are worksheets that have a worked practice problem with another similar problem right next to it, with room for the student to work the problem. The example and the question are side by side for those students who really just need that extra support on assignments.

There are also good study features in the etext. Students can take notes in an notebook along the side and even create their own deck of study cards as they go along. I'm not certain if they can share these or if they can be graded.

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Rubric : Mathematics 2025

Compliance with State Law (Required)

Item	3 - Extensive	2 - Adequate	1 - Inadequate	0 - None
Sensitive Materials and Prohibited Submission 53G-10-103, R277-628	This item has not been graded.

Prohibited discriminatory practices 53G-2-103-5, 53B-1-118 and 67-27-107	This item has not been graded.

Maintaining constitutional freedom in the public schools. 53G-10-202	This item has not been graded.

Free from advertising, e-commerce, or political interest	This item has not been graded.

Focus and Coherence: Non-Negotiable

Item	3 - Extensive	2 - Adequate	1 - Inadequate	0 - None
Non-negotiable materials must focus coherently on the Major Work of the grade in a way that is consistent with the progressions in the standards.	Student and teachers using the materials as designed devote the majority of time to the Major Work of the grade.	Supporting Work enhances focus and coherence simultaneously by also engaging students in the Major Work of the grade.	Materials follow the grade-by-grade progressions in the Standards. Content from previous or future grades does not unduly interfere.	Lessons that only include mathematics from previous grades are clearly identified.
Text is focused on the required materials to complete Precalculus

Rigor and Balance

Item	3 - Extensive	2 - Adequate	1 - Inadequate	0 - None
The materials support the development of students’ conceptual understanding of key mathematical concepts, especially where called for in specific standards or cluster headings.	Meets	Partially meets	N/A	Does not meet
I really do like the order of this textbook overall. I might rearrange the chapters a little for my personal preferences, but I do feel like it builds well.
The materials are designed so that students attain the fluencies and procedural skills required by the Standards.	Meets	Partially meets	N/A	Does not meet
The chapters give good example work and the book starts far enough back for students to build on previous knowledge
The materials are designed so that teachers and students spend sufficient time working with applications, without losing focus on the Major Work of each grade. (Are there single and multi-step contextual problems that develop the mathematics of the grade, afford opportunities for practice, and engage students in problem solving?)	Meets	Partially meets	N/A	Does not meet

Standards for Mathematical Practice

Item	3 - Extensive	2 - Adequate	1 - Inadequate	0 - None
Materials address the practice standards in such a way as to enrich the Major Work of the grade; practice standards strengthen the focus on Major Work instead of detracting from it, in both teacher and student materials.	Meets	Partially meets	N/A	Does not meet
They have a variety of examples and support for understanding how to do the practice problems.
Tasks and assessments of student learning are designed to provide evidence of students’ proficiency in the Standards of Mathematical Practice.	Meets	Partially meets	N/A	Does not meet
They show evidence of learning and I love the feature where students can right away click to get a study plan based on what they missed.
Materials support the Standards’ emphasis on mathematical reasoning.	Meets	Partially meets	N/A	Does not meet
The examples walk through the steps well and help teach good mathematical reasoning.

Access to the Standards for All Students

Item	3 - Extensive	2 - Adequate	1 - Inadequate	0 - None
Support for English Language learners and other special populations is thoughtful (evidence-based) and helps those students meet the same Standards (and rigor) as all other students. The language in which problems are posed is carefully considered.	Meets	Partially meets	N/A	Does not meet
The vocabulary terms are bolded for ease of finding, and they are pointed out again on examples to show how they are applied.
Materials provide scaffolding, differentiation, intervention, and support for a broad range of learners with gradual removal of supports, when needed, to allow students to demonstrated their mathematical understanding independently.	Meets	Partially meets	N/A	Does not meet
This is really one of the strengths of this text. There are a variety of assignment options and study plans can automatically be adjusted to support where a student finds they are having a hard time. There are also opportunities for students to send questions while they are working on a problem, without needing to leave the practice area.
Design of lessons incorporates strategies such as using multiple representations, deconstructing/reconstructing the language of problems, providing suggestions for addressing common student difficulties, etc. to ensure grade-level progress for all learners.	Meets	Partially meets	N/A	Does not meet
The strategies are there, but not always suggestions for other ways to complete the problem.
Ethnic Studies- (Ethnic studies in core standards and curriculum should be a narrowly tailored incorporation of age-appropriate opportunities that naturally arise through education without pretextual effort in courses, programs, or activities where ethnic studies is not a primary focus. The material should incorporate a curriculum of people and cultures that reflect the state’s various demographics without commentary that seeks to violate the neutrality standard established in codes: 53B-1-118, 53G-2-103, 53G-2-104, 53G-2-105, 67-27-107,	This item has not been graded.

Shared Values and Character Traits	This item has not been graded.

Assessment

Item	3 - Extensive	2 - Adequate	1 - Inadequate	0 - None
Multiple measurements of individual student progress occur at regular intervals ensuring success of all students.	Meets	Partially meets	N/A	Does not meet
This is really flexible for the teacher to assign. There are also practice problems all the way along that students can check themselves to determine how they are doing on understanding the materials.
Assessments measure what students understand and can do through well designed mathematical tasks and applications.	Meets	Partially meets	N/A	Does not meet
The questions are well laid out and do a good job of knowing what students need to review if they are not getting the correct answers.

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