Geometry (Power Basics series)

MathGrades 6–12

About This Curriculum

A simplified, streamlined geometry course designed for students who need basic content mastery without the complexity of traditional textbooks.

What makes it unique: Accessible geometry curriculum with fourth-grade reading level and concise approach, specifically designed for struggling math students

Geometry (Power Basics): Simplified High School Geometry for Struggling Learners

Power Basics Geometry is a streamlined, consumable worktext designed for students in grades 6-12 who need basic geometry content mastery without the complexity of traditional textbooks. The curriculum uses large print and simplified explanations at a fourth-fifth grade reading level to make high school geometry accessible to struggling learners or those needing remedial support.

Best for

Students in grades 6-12 who struggle with traditional geometry curricula, need remedial support, or require accessible high school geometry credit without college prep rigor

Evaluation Criteria

1 strength · 4 concerns · 1 neutral · 3 insufficient evidence

Sequencing ApproachStrength

The curriculum uses a mastery-based approach with clear unit structure. Content is organized into four logical sections: lines and angles, perimeter/circumference/area, volume, and coordinate geometry.

The program has 89 activities divided into four units, each ending with review, application activities, and tests, indicating systematic progression through topics

Teacher TrainingConcern

The curriculum includes a teacher's guide but appears to provide minimal instructional support, functioning primarily as an answer key rather than offering pedagogical guidance.

Duffy states 'Even though the student book teacher's guide has some instructional information' it mainly 'serves as the answer key to the student text'

Direct InstructionConcern

The curriculum is designed primarily for independent student work rather than teacher-led explicit instruction. While explanations are provided, the format doesn't strongly support direct instructional approaches.

Duffy notes 'courses are really set up so that students can work independently for the most part with parents/teachers correcting work and administering tests'

Assessment DiagnosticConcern

The curriculum includes a test pack for assessment but lacks evidence of diagnostic tools to identify specific skill gaps or misconceptions.

The program includes a 'test pack' with answer key as one of five components, but no mention of diagnostic or formative assessment features

Conceptual Procedural BalanceConcern

The curriculum appears to emphasize basic content coverage over deep conceptual development. While it includes real-life applications and explanations, the simplified approach necessarily limits depth in both conceptual understanding and procedural complexity.

Cathy Duffy notes the course 'doesn't go into very complex or unusual examples' and covers limited instruction in 241 pages, suggesting surface-level treatment of topics

Visual RepresentationsNeutral

The curriculum uses basic geometric tools and likely includes standard geometric diagrams, though visual model usage appears limited compared to research recommendations.

Heart of Dakota review mentions only basic supplies needed: 'graph paper, compass, ruler, protractor, and calculator,' suggesting traditional geometric representations

Word ProblemsInsufficient Evidence

The curriculum includes real-life applications, suggesting attention to applied problem-solving, though the systematic nature of word problem instruction is not detailed.

Duffy mentions the text includes 'real life applications' alongside explanations and examples

Worked ExamplesInsufficient Evidence

The curriculum includes examples within the text, though the extent and quality of worked examples is not clearly detailed in available reviews.

Duffy mentions the text includes 'thorough explanation, examples, and real life applications,' but doesn't specify the step-by-step nature of examples

Retrieval PracticeInsufficient Evidence

The curriculum includes unit reviews and testing, providing some spaced practice, though the extent of cumulative review and retrieval practice is unclear from available information.

Each of the four units ends with 'review, application activities, and tests,' indicating some systematic review structure

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com, heartofdakota.com