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Marybeth
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| Posted: May 17 2005 at 2:21pm | IP Logged
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I have never ever succeed with math. Does anyone have advice for a mom who needs to teach primary math and is nervous about which program to choose? I have looked at Math U See and Saxon at our homeschooling group curriculum night. I liked both programs but just need some more input from Moms currently teaching math.
Thanks so much!!!!
Marybeth
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stefoodie
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| Posted: May 18 2005 at 5:00pm | IP Logged
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I like Right Start for primary math. It's more mom-intensive but the explanations are right there, some scripted, so I find it really easy to teach with.
JMHO, hth,
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stef
mom to five
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Marybeth
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| Posted: May 18 2005 at 7:39pm | IP Logged
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Thank you. I am going to check it out for sure! I appreciate the suggestion.
Marybeth
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ALmom
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| Posted: May 19 2005 at 2:20am | IP Logged
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We have used a number of math curriculums depending on the child. Math-U-See has some wonderful ideas for introducing concepts - especially fractions. It is very clever at getting across why something is done and is very hands on. It does not have a lot of practice problems - those are up to mom to create and frankly I didn't really have the time. Also, my older children and especially my intuitive math children hated the video and didn't want to be bothered with all the hands on. Also math vocabulary is weak. We followed up with Saxon for practice and math vocabulary but introduced concepts with Math-U-See. It did get my daughter with a vision problem over the hump and she went from math-u-see intermediate to Saxon 5/4(mostly intro vocabulary and skipping through quickly) to Saxon 8/7.
For younger children we found a lot of math things in the back room of a teacher supply store. There is a number board where all the numbers are different sizes and stack up so that the 2 and 3 on top of each other will be the same height as the 5. This allows the children to feel the numbers. WE have numbers with holes and pegs(the 3 has 3 holes and the child can place 3 pegs in it). This stuff along with handmade stuff from Math Their Way (old Addison Wesley) is out on shelves sort of like a Montessori classroom. We have some Miquon Math (not very popular but it does have great worksheets to lay around), pattern blocks, cuisenairre rods, etc.
The Saxon program has tons of practice problems, my strong math boys loved it (for younger children we enlarge the page in 5/4 and let him write on it). It is easy for parent-teacher and pretty easy for the child to use on their own. Sometimes it is weak in presenting reasons why something is done and some children get bogged down in memorizing steps in how to do a certain problem (without understanding why) and that's when I make sure we do our own presentation of the concept (either my own explanation, math-u-see or a manipulative to demonstrate along with some discussion around the dinner table where dad asks application type questions as part of the conversation) and just use Saxon as practice sheets once they get the concept.
It sure is easy and familiar though.
Oh, I also caution that in the Algebra I, the section on factoring and solving simultaneous equations got so chopped up that they lost sight of the end goal. I used Jacob's Algebra for that one section - introducing the concept and then we went back to Saxon to practice the different steps to get where we wanted to go. This worked well for us because I had all this stuff lying around. Some of it depends on how comfortable you are in presenting math concepts. With Math-u-see you need to supplement practice work and math vocabulary (things like addend, divedend, product, sum, etc.) With Saxon you need to make sure the children are understanding concepts and not just plugging numbers into a formula.
Hope this helps
Janet
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Marybeth
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| Posted: May 19 2005 at 3:52pm | IP Logged
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Janet,
Thank you for all the information. I appreciate you taking the time to help answer my question. 
God bless,
Marybeth
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Genevieve
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| Posted: July 11 2005 at 10:01pm | IP Logged
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Have you looked into Singapore Math? I'm biased being Singaporean though.... 
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Genevieve
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Tina P.
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| Posted: Sept 16 2005 at 7:31am | IP Logged
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For the littlies, we used many, many math programs. I found that Singapore didn't cover all the bases, MUS was too quirky for my oldest, Saxon was too, too much. I loved Horizons, but I fear my kids didn't like it. I settled on MCP math, which is all my 7 yo has done and is succeeding. 
I'm afraid I've completely befuddled the older two by flip-flopping them through all the other programs.  The plan is to continue Joshua (7 yo) in MCP until he's ready for Saxon 5/4 (which is next year already!)  and then move into Saxon for 5/4, 6/5, 7/6, and 8/7 and then on to Algebra and Geometry with Harold Jacobs....I think.
I hope this has helped somewhat, but you see I'm as confused as you are in some ways. 
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
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Taffy
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Tina,
Just wondering why you think that Singapore Math doesn't cover all the bases?
Thanks,
Liz
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Susan
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TracyQ
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| Posted: Sept 16 2005 at 9:26pm | IP Logged
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We have used Saxon here. Saxon K-3 has scripted lessons, and uses more hands on with manipulatives. In 4th grade, it switches with the textbook approach in Saxon 54, but there are now DIVE CD Roms to go along with Saxon math that is done on the computer, with a teacher teaching the lesson on a chalkboard or white board. You hear his voice for each lesson, and the writing comes up on the screen as he's teaching. You can pause and rewind as needed to see the lesson again, or go back to any lesson to get refreshed if needed.
It's been a Godsend to me, and a HUGE blessing to our older boys. Our daughter doesn't like using it yet (she's on Saxon 65 at this time), and I do her lessons with her, and make them more hands on for her. But eventually, she'll go to the CD Roms too I think.
Just another option to prayerfully consider.
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Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
 homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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Erin
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| Posted: Sept 17 2005 at 2:48am | IP Logged
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Genevieve wrote:
| Have you looked into Singapore Math? I'm biased being Singaporean though.... |
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Genevieve,
I am about to swap to Singapore for ds10, he is maths resistance to textbook and this is the first one he has actually liked the look of. He has done the test (did wellsurprisingly, very handy for finding weak areas)
In my research I found that they say Singaporan students resulted up in the top for the world. Having said that I am planning on getting ds to do Mental Maths consecutivley, good to pick up on any 'missed areas'.
I am coming to the conclusion that no maths program 'does it all', and yes different students do better with a text thanh another would.
Would love to hear how you have found Singapore.
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: Mom's Math Phobia
