4Real Forums: MathUSee Newbies

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Living and Loving Numbers
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Topic: MathUSee Newbies

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dollylima
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Joined: Aug 31 2007
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Posted: Aug 18 2008 at 8:50pm \| IP Logged

I just ordered the MathUSee curriculum and manipulatives and Im both excited and a little bit worried. I had been doing more Waldorf-type math with my son but he is entering third grade now and Ive noticed that although he seems to get the concepts of math and is able to use them in daily life, he still relies on a lot of counting when doing multiplication as opposed to just knowing the facts and applying them.
So, Im hoping we have chosen the right program. Id like to hear from others who are using it successfully and also ask you how much time it takes you to work through each level. I have ordered the Beta level for my son and am hoping we can go through it quickly as a review/reinforcement and move on to the Gamma level in the same year, but I dont want to put too much pressure on him or make it a chore. Im hoping it will be fun, too.
We had ordered the Saxon books and manipulatives, but then I stumbled on the MathUSee and it seemed like a good way to combine hands-on, real-life math with a structured approach. Im hoping Im right!
If you use MathUSee, Id love to know how you like it.
thanks!
Heather

LeeAnn
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Joined: May 25 2007
Location: Washington
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Posted: Aug 19 2008 at 4:41pm \| IP Logged

Heather,
We used Math U See last year and are continuing with it this year.

My 4th grader went through both Gamma and Delta last year since she had already learned some mult/div facts at public school the year before. My 2nd grader went through Beta and it was just right for her.

This year I'll have three students using Epsilon, Gamma and Primer. We didn't use the manipulatives much after the first couple months, unless they needed reinforcement or extra help on a concept. I let the kids watch the weekly dvd lesson which they liked. They often "got it" from just watching the dvd without me having to explain anything and were just able to work without my help (nice).

We didn't do all the student text pages if they thoroughly mastered a concept within the first two pages. Sometimes I'd have them do just two pages from the new lesson and one review page before moving on to the test. We did do all the tests.

I like the program. I hope it works out for you!

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dollylima
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Joined: Aug 31 2007
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Posted: Aug 19 2008 at 5:18pm \| IP Logged

LeeAnn,
Thanks so much for your response. It's exactly the kind of feedback Im looking for. Math is not my forte, so it was my intention to watch the DVD together with my son and hope that he gets the concepts without my having to give a lot of examples or explain further. He seems to have a mind for math so I figured it was a safe bet that he would. Good to know that you are having exactly that experience! Im also really glad to know you can go through more than one level in a year's time. Like I said, my son has some experience with the topics covered in Beta, but they said that if, for example, your child counts when doing multiplication factors (we learned them with glass stones a la Waldorf, so yeah, he does count) that it would benefit the child to start with the basics again so that it's second nature.
I agree with this idea, after all, math is something that he will use throughout his lifetime.
Im hoping the manipulatives remind him enough of Legos that he thinks they are fun to work with.
One can hope!
Thanks again so much for taking the time to answer.
Heather

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Heather

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nissag
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Joined: Nov 23 2006
Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Sept 03 2008 at 6:27pm \| IP Logged

We're pretty Waldorf-y, and have used MUS for YEARS. We love it - and the kids have had no problem at all. We have one child who has tended to be more analytical and used Saxon for a long time, but now even he is transitioning to MUS.

Blessings,

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Nissa
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