 More Brain Picking!!! |
| sumi |
 Jun 7 2005, 03:28 PM
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#1
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So....I asked this question for language curriculum, now I'm asking about math - what do you use and what do you like about it? Please excuse my curiosity, I need to tell the ladies at our church (who want to start a co-op) more about the different curricula out there and while I have done a lot of research on my own your input can help!
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| Nancy in FL |
Jun 7 2005, 03:39 PM
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#2
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I use Math-U-See for ds because needed the hands on "see it-say it-build it" approach. He loved the LEGO type manipulatives.
I use Saxon on my oldest dd because she had a different learning style. She doesn't need all the extra hands on stuff and it tends to distract her. I am trying to decide on youngest dds math program right now. I am leaning towards Math-U-See for her since she loves the hands on approach like my ds. 
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| mtbriere |
Jun 7 2005, 03:44 PM
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#3
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Saxon has worked well with all my dc. I looked into Making Math Meaningful for my ds last year with all of his confidence issues. He has an auditory learning style, yet has visual processing problems. We ended up going with Saxon and its incremental approach has worked well for him. However, I believe Making Math Meaningful would have worked well if we had the chance to use it.
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| Melanie |
Jun 7 2005, 06:09 PM
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#4
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I really like Math-It for younger children. My son used Math-It for 1st and 2nd grade, then went to Saxon 5/4 in 3rd grade. Math-It did a wonderful job preparing him for Saxon, and for $50 for two years worth of material was a great deal financially, especially since it can be used again. You learn math facts in Math-It by laying down color coded problem cards on top of the answer cards as quickly as you can. It also comes with a a pamphlet and a book which describes what children should know by grade level up to grade 8. We used that book to make our own worksheets.
He is doing very well in Saxon, and I love it because it is so easy for me. All the planning is already done!  At first I sat and went over the lesson with him, but now he is able to learn the lesson himself, with only occasional help from me. He is doing very well with it. |
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| hsbeliever |
Jun 7 2005, 06:59 PM
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#5
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Marilyn Burns (a nationally renowned math educator) has a series of books called A Collection of Math Lessons. There are three books: 1) Grades 1 thru 3; 2) Grades 3 Thru 6; 3) Grades 6 Thru 8. The books are written for the teachers, not the kids. They are not consumables, so they will last forever. They are just under 200 pages each. Each book is written for groups or classes of children, and they tell what the concept is to be taught and how (in detail) to teach the lesson. Each book introduces and develops concepts through problem solving, using thinking and reasoning skills as well as writing and communication skills. I have seen these lessons "in action", and they are terrific for actually developing an understanding of math rather than just rote memorization. These books can be used as the core of a math curriculum or as a supplement. What may be especially nice for a co-op is that they allow for kids' differing math abilities and that the books are full of illustrations and explanations for clarity for the teachers. |
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| CelticMuse |
Jun 7 2005, 07:07 PM
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#6
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we haved used a few math programs in our time.
Moving With Math Horizons Saxon Miquon Singapore For my 7 yr old DS we are using horizons at least until the end of third grade then I hope to switch to saxon math 54. Noah loves horizons, I'm not sure why but probably because it makes sense to him with his dyslexic mind. Although he really doesn't seem to have math dyslexia at all.  So we will stick with what works for now.
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| Blaise |
Jun 7 2005, 10:08 PM
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#7
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Using Saxon here. We really like it... the kids can work on their own with almost no help from me because it teaches so well and gives such great examples.
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| javaprof23 |
Jun 8 2005, 05:30 AM
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#8
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Another Saxon fan here! I think the daily "meeting" makes for a very solid foundation in the basics...counting by multiples, calendar, time, math facts, etc. It can get a little tedious at times with all the built in review, but some kids really need that.
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| Donna |
Jun 8 2005, 10:37 AM
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#9
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We've used:
Horizons, Saxon, VideoText, Jacobs, and Spatial Problem Solving with Cuisenaire Rods We also used a lot of things for math such as beads, blocks, cuisenaire rods, coins, paper representations of fractions and other shapes. |
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| bev |
Jun 9 2005, 11:27 PM
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#10
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Yet another Saxon fan here.
 DS just finished 1st grade level and did great! |
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| mom-to-five |
Jun 10 2005, 06:31 AM
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#11
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We have to vote for Singapore math here!! We really love it alot!!
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| Appliejuice |
 Jun 10 2005, 08:22 AM
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#12
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We have used Math-U-See, Saxon (for one year), and now we use Rod & Staff. What has made the math work is using the manipulatives that Donna mentioned above.  We will be sticking with Rod and Staff. It is striaght forward, no fluff. My kids like the textbook approach. Each lesson reviews what has been previously learned, so they don't forget. The younger grades have cute little drawings and use things like felt ducks to count with. Second grade uses a bee poster. They also have blacklines, which is just extra worksheets if needed. Every other day is a speed drill. Tests every two weeks (I think). This year I bought dd#1 an Abeka speed drill math book for two reasons: 1) It is colorful and dd likes color. 2) School2 made me buy it.  |
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