Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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Living and Loving Numbers
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Subject Topic: when to begin MUS? Post ReplyPost New Topic
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monica
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Posted: March 13 2007 at 2:37am | IP Logged Quote monica
I have always disliked math and it is my biggest area of dread surrounding hsing, so I have been checking out math programs to find one that is good, but gives me the help i feel like i need in teaching math. sooo, i have liked what i have heard about MUS. i love hands on stuff, but need someone to help me explain what we are doing with all the manipulatives.
i still dont quite get the levels, guess i need to brush up on my greek. but i assume that alpha is the first level, is that Kish level or 1st grade? More importantly, what skills need to be mastered before beginning that level. Im asking because my son is a great counter and is starting to add on his own and since his grandma bought hima watch, he is all about learning to tell time. If MUS is working on these things in the first (alpha??) level, then maybe i should go ahead and get it for him.
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Bookswithtea
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Posted: March 13 2007 at 8:23am | IP Logged Quote Bookswithtea
MUS has placement tests and samples on their web site. I use MUS primer in the first grade, because I don't introduce time and skip counting normally in the K years. I am more of the 'better late than early' philosophy. If you tend to a more academic kindergarten, then you could start with primer in K. Incidentally, if you use MUS until high school and start with primer in the first grade, you will hit Algebra 1 in the ninth grade.

We tend to cover just slightly more than one level each year, so I expect my kids to finish the last level before Algebra 1 at the end of 7th grade rather than 8th grade. This still gives me wiggle room for a child who is struggling with math.

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cathhomeschool
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Posted: March 13 2007 at 10:09am | IP Logged Quote cathhomeschool
From the Math U See website,

Primer focus: Have Fun Introducing Math
PREREQUISITE: The student should be beginning to count and quantify.
Topics covered:
Number Recognition and Counting from 0-9
Writing Numerals
Geometric Shapes: Rectangles
Geometric Shapes: Circles
Geometric Shapes: Triangles
Place Value: Units and Tens
Place Value: Hundreds
Unit Bars or Weaning from the Green
Addition: Introduction and Symbolism
Addition: +1
Counting to 20
Addition: 2+2 and 3+3, Vertical
Geometric Shapes: Squares
Addition: 4+4, 5+5
Skip Counting by 2
Addition of Tens
Skip Counting by 10
Addition of Hundreds
Solving for an Unknown
Skip Counting by 5
Tally Marks
Addition: Making 10
Skip Count to Find Area
Telling Time with Minutes
Telling Time with Hours
Telling Time with Minutes and Hours
Subtraction: Introduction and Symbolism
Subtraction: -1

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Since you personally feel that you will need help teaching math and since Primer covers time, I would start with Primer now and not Alpha.

The biggest concept to learn early on in Math U See (in my opinion) is that in counting we start with zero and work to nine. Growing up, we always counted from 1 to 10, but that doesn't work with the concept of place value and the Math U See manipulatives.

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Theresa
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Posted: March 13 2007 at 10:37am | IP Logged Quote Theresa
We used Primer in 1st grade rather than kindergarten and I'm glad we waited because it had been a struggle for him. He is in 2nd grade now and we've just finished Alpha but I really see the light bulb going off now for him so for us waiting was better.



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