I can't believe how many different ways you can teach math. The curriculums out there so many. How do you choose one? I know some people go through many before they find one they like. I'd hate to waste money trying the trial and error method. I get stuck in all the reviews. Most have both 5 star reviews and 1 star reviews. Can't I find a curriculum that doesn't have these extremes? Someone has given me the Rod & Staff books, but I've heard they can be boring so I'm doing some research before I dedicate myself to Rod & Staff. How did you choose your math curriculum?
My daughter is still in Kinder so I am sure the product doesn't vary too much in this stage, but I just went to my teacher supply store and picked up 2 different books and found a pack of subtraction worksheets at the Dollar Tree. I also have the EnVision CD-Rom from her old PS. I'm sure my approach will change when concepts become more difficult. Here's a bump though so maybe a more seasoned HS educator can help!!
We use Sonlight for our Kindergartner and included is Horizons Math. We LOVE it!!! It starts off slow, but every day builds off of the last. I would say the Kindergarten Horizons is at a 2nd grade public school level and my son is flying through it!! I really like it because the teacher's manual lays out every thing for me and even gives tips on how to teach the curriculum.
Most of the families that I know are also using Horizons Math :-)
I go by the learning styles of hte kids...
I decided on Math U see because my DS2 needed a FIRM grasp of the basics. Being that MUS is Mastery, they learn addition all the way through, 4+ digits, carrying, perimeter, everything associated with addition, then go on to subtraction, multiplying, dividing etc... they don't do a little addition, then switch to subtraction , then bounce back to more addition. It made much more sense to DS (who had completed 1st grade in PS) to go through the Math U see approach.
Once he got hte basics down firmly, we switched to a more spiral approach in Teaching Textbooks. It's alson on the computer which DS loves!
Jinx - Homeschooling Scout & Karate butt-kicking Mom to Star Scout Ian 1/98, Scout Sean 9/00, Brownie Heidi 4/03. Police wife to Joe and Alpha to my fur baby German Shepherd Spazz.
I second getting a math program that works with your child's learning style is key.
We use Math U See for several reasons. First it's a mastery program, I think mastery of a concept before moving on is imperative. Second, the manipulatives and how they are used, I have very tactile learners. The physical actions of the manipulatives have been instramental in helping all 3 of my girls achieve the mastery that we're looking for.
We (husband & I) ultimately chose MUS after requesting and watching the demo video. It just clicked for us.
That said, now that we are in gamma & delta, I am supplementing with Math Mammoth, and we do a number of online drill/games as well.
Quoting DangerousMommy:We use Math U See for several reasons. First it's a mastery program, I think mastery of a concept before moving on is imperative. Second, the manipulatives and how they are used, I have very tactile learners. The physical actions of the manipulatives have been instramental in helping all 3 of my girls achieve the mastery that we're looking for.
We (husband & I) ultimately chose MUS after requesting and watching the demo video. It just clicked for us.
That said, now that we are in gamma & delta, I am supplementing with Math Mammoth, and we do a number of online drill/games as well.
That is how is was with MUS for us too. We aren't supplementing with anything.
you almost need a trial by error in some cases. I think the free MEP is a good thing to try for a month or 6 weeks and gauge your kids learning style before comitting.
This is our first year of using Singapore math (mastery) and I'm so glad that we switched. It stresses critical thinking skills and mental math. We also use Teaching Textbooks (spiral) due to the fact that it explains everything so well, and DD really likes a computer-tutor.
We were using Saxon....it was ok but I felt that it was light on measurement and not challenging enough. I just used this year as an experiment for which math curriculum to use. So far, it is working very well. Good luck on your choice.
I had a funny reason for starting with R&S, besides believing that kids need to memorize their math facts to the point of reflex. I loved the little ducks they used in grade 1. I bought some little finger puppet ducks (like 50 of them) and made a pond and grass from construction paper. So, we used a 3D version of their flannel board ducks. It was great!
We also used R&S 2. My dd learned the addition/subtraction facts very well. I loved it.
However, mid-way through 2nd grade, I started researching the standards. R&S IS very thourough, but its scope & sequence will not meet the national standards for math until they catch up at the end of 6th grade (so I hear). If you are required to do any testing, you will have problems.
Another problem with R&S, though some will see it as a plus, is that after grade 2, R&S goes to a textbook format. If you have many children, this may work better for you. For me, I have only one child to homeschool, so a workbook is more convenient.
So, now we are using CLE (Christian Light Education). I could not be more pleased with it. I don't regret the path we took to get here, but I wish I had looked at it as an option when I found R&S. I may have chosen to use it from the start.
R&S is a mastery program. That's where it gets its boring reputation. However, some kids need the repetition to memorize the math facts. You could always back off a bit--cross out some problems or not do some of the "classroom" instruction in the TM.
CLE is an example of incremental/spiral. The instructions are written IN the child's workbook. After the introduction, there are just a few problems. The rest of the day's work is review from a wide variety of past subjects learned.
At one point we were doing both programs together. My dd preferred CLE from the start.
Meet Kelseyciarah
This Virginia mom never wanted to get married or have kids - but now she's a happy a SAHM of two little ones!
favorite way to get them to write
Saxon Vs Singapore (need help deciding)
- bttrflyvld
on Feb. 9, 2012 at 9:57 PM