Hi everyone! Welcome to another homeschool curriculum forum post. Today we’re talking all about math!
As most of you know I have previously tried both Abeka and Saxon math. Abeka was okay for the younger years, but flashcards just weren’t doing it for us. We needed something more hands on as well as something that better explained the various skills we were learning.
We switched to Math U See. While this curriculum was working well for us, I ventured over to Saxon for a bit just to see how it worked. After finding myself explaining Saxon lessons using our Math U See blocks and examples, we switched back to Math U See and haven’t looked back since.
One thing to know about MUS is that they do teach to mastery, and that means your student might not learn a certain skill right off the bat. They build on concepts so that the math skills actually make sense for your student.
Students also use the MUS visual manipulatives to help further understand whatever skill they are working at the time. However to my surprise the students do not become depending on the manipulatives to solve problems. They’re simply hands on training tools to use until a concept is mastered.
Pros:
- Hands on learning.
- Teaches to mastery.
- Visual aids to help explain various skills.
Cons:
- Skills are taught in a non-traditional order.
- Manipulatives can be pricey unless purchased used.
So, now comes the fun part!
What are your favorite Math curriculum, resources, websites, etc? Leave a comment below discussing your choices for this year and why.
Feel free to ask questions or reply to each other too!
It’s my way of doing a forum without actually doing a forum haha!
And hopefully this will help us all as we start the process of researching curriculum, and trying to decide what will be the best fit for our homeschool.
Note: Please keep today’s conversations geared towards MATH, I will be posting one for each subject separately so we can keep our comments organized.
Click here if you missed my previous Homeschool Curriculum Forum posts!
Disclosure: This was not a sponsored post, I may however be affiliated with one or more products mentioned. The opinions expressed in this post were not influenced by the company. They are products I have used and felt like sharing, cuz’ it’s my blog and I can if I want to.
I use Alpha Omega Lifepac for my 1st grader. It definitely goes further in Math than what she would have learned in PS. She has learned how to add and subtract double digits along with a little bit of carrying. She has also learned all quarter hours of the clock and currency values. To subsidize her learning, I buy workbooks from the Dollar Tree. This givers her extra practice and gurantees that she knows the math. We also use flash cards. I like that it is self paced, teacher lead, and inexpensive for curriculum.
Urgh, math is a difficult one for us. I started with Horizons for my daughter when she was in 1st grade. That started out very well, but then went downhill. It was too much too soon.
I switched to MUS and at first my daughter did very well with it. The blocks really helped her to get it. However, after a few months it turned into her just playing with the blocks and wanting to pick blocks of certain colors instead of the right answer. She wanted them to “look good together”. The blocks ended up being a distraction. The black and white boring workbook pages were too boring though and wouldn’t keep her attention.
Then, I switched to BJU Math. Again, fine in the beginning but not long term. She was just not getting the math facts down, even with extra help of flash cards, games, etc.
I started Life of Fred with her last year and she loves it. We started on Apples and have completed Dogs. I stopped there, because Abby was still not retaining the math facts. It says they have to know the facts to move on to the next book.
I started using addition bingo, x-tra math and other games in hopes of getting these facts down. I can see x-tra math has helped her, but I’m afraid she’s very far behind now. We are still on addition!
I’m not sure what to do next.
We’ve gradually been leaving curriculum behind and adopting more of a living maths approach throughout our homeschool.
Let’s Play Math by Denise Gaskins has been hugely inspiring recently. Last week we had our first full week of “Maths Playtime”. We read about Fibonacci and spotted Fibonacci numbers in nature, we played with pattern blocks, we made up story problems and we practised arithmetic doing KenKen puzzles. It was great fun!
My son also has me read Life of Fred to him every day because it’s such a great story!
Great forum – thank you everyone for so many the wonderful ideas.
My kid’s school uses Saxon Math. Both by kids love it. I am amazed of what they have accomplished with the program. Inspired by Denise Gaskins book, I am planning to have a summer filled with Maths Playtime too. I have been adding to our home library Math picture books and just downloaded the Bedtime Math app for word problems each day.
After 3 years of floundering in public school math, my son has really gotten it this year with k12 math. Because k12 is often done as an online public school, I feel a lot of other homeschoolers overlook this jewel, which can be purchased independently for homeschool use.
Pros: the text books are labeled as colors, not grades, so if you feel your child isn’t on grade level, you can teach them at their level–and they’ll never know! This is very important for keeping self-confidence up in struggling young mathematicians.
Online learning and assessments: many, many of the lessons have a large section done with an online tutorial and interactive games. He loves getting to do math online! By the time he’s ready for the offline learning that I need to guide him through, he has a lot of it figured out.
The online con we’ve had is that my child needed some extra help memorizing all of his times tables in the time alotted. That said, he has a math-specific learning disability. We supplemented with the book, Times Tables the Fun Way, and have been delighted with his progress.
After hours of mathematical misery in previous years, it was a surprise to all of us to hear our child say, “This is fun!” (granted, there were still some bad days, but still!)
Our family is 100% loyal to k12’s math program. In other words, any year we’re schooling at home, you can expect to see us following this curriculum.
We use Singapore Math, and we like it. We have to use a lot of manipulatives with one child, none with another and some with the third. But in that way we can adapt it to different learning styles.
Next year I’m going to switch my 4th and 5th grader (probably just for a year or two – and my 2nd grader will do the same in a couple years) to Comprehensive School Mathematics Program. It’s what I used in a gifted/talented program in elementary, and I’ve been looking for it for years! Very untraditional. We’ll add in some logic/math puzzles. They’re just fun 🙂 We’ve done Mind Benders in the past and have enjoyed those. And after reading the above reviews, I’m considering supplementing with Life of Fred for all the kids
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I believe my oldest daughter is mildly – moderately dyslexic, so a hands-on approach would be good for her, but I don’t like the way MUS is taught for mastery. I can see her easily getting bored and/or frustrated if their is a concept she can’t get right away. I am hesitatnt to “just try it out” as it is an investment to purchase both the curriculum and the manipulatives. My question: is there a math curriculum out there that uses manipulatives, but has a spiral approach rather than a mastery approach?
We love the interactive multi-sensory math program from A+ TutorSoft. I use it with my first grader. I am a blogger and have done many reviews on math curriculum and A+ TutorSoft had everything I was looking for. It is comprehensive, interactive, combines multiple learning methods, has no gaps and has all grade levels available. Here is my review if anyone wishes to read it http://www.kathysclutteredmind.com/2013/01/a-tutorsoft-review-amazing-homeschool.html. They offer a FREE 30 day trial so you can try it before you buy it. Oh it is definitely the most inexpensive math program for homeschoolers as well which is a huge +
I have found that a great math supplement is Mountain Math. My 2nd grader has ODD and schooling is very difficult. It wasn’t until this year that she has fully participated and I will admit she was way behind when we started. With Mountain Math we do daily with our other math curriculum. She covers all of 2nd grade standards every day so she never forgets a concept. Since we started this year she has caught up and understands it all. it looks expensive on line but if you email them and tell them you homeschool, they will give you a book for $25.
I have used Saxon math with my oldest since we pulled him out of 5th grade in public school. He loves the program, and has literally blown through the Algebra 1 book! It took us a year and a half to get through 7/6, but I think it was because there were so many gaps in his education left by public school. I was unimpressed with the lower elementary levels, so my twin 5yr olds are using BJU 1st grade and love it. We have chosen to stay with a secular homeschooling theme, so we just skip the religious comments in the bju book 🙂 I can’t say enough great things about Saxon for the years we have used it!!!
Help please! I’m a working Mom that would love to add to my childrens’ cirriculum for when they are finished with homework, weekend fun and over the summer. My eldest is currently in 1st grade and my second is in Jr-K. They both go to a private school that uses the Houghton Mifflin cirriculum. I’ve used Erica’s Letter of the Week and K-4, but need more…ideas. My oldest uses Raz-Kids for additional reading and comprehension….any suggestions would be welcomed.
I’ve been searching and asking some teacher friends and here’s what I’ve been told:
1. Frist in Math – currently at out school and introduced in 2nd grade
2. Ten Marks – used at the local public school
Has anyone heard of these? If so, any feedback?
I can’t believe how many options are out there. Thank goodness for boards like this.
thanks for any help!
🙂