Now that you know what factors to consider, it’s time to pick a couple of programs to look at more closely. The excerpts below are adapted from the publisher's info. After that, keep showing up day after day, ready to teach your child math. How about I just do both?”. Some of these may be new to you, especially if you’re just starting out homeschooling. For example, a child in a conceptual program who’s learning how to add 2-digit numbers might first learn about regrouping with hands-on manipulatives, then translate the work with blocks to written addition problems, and finally generalize this idea to larger numbers and to subtraction. Pick a full lesson (preferably in the middle of the book) and read through it carefully. I wouldn’t have known to grab it without your recommendation. I try not to give advice unless I know what I’m talking about. And, it’s certainly possible to use Saxon and still give kids a solid conceptual understanding, but it takes a lot more effort on the parent’s part to help kids make those connections. I feel like it might need a supplement though. Sometimes you may need to slow down and stick with a skill for a while. I would love to know your thoughts and opinions on Saxon Math K-3 as well as the Saxon Math 5/4 and up series. That said, there are certainly families that love Saxon and have found it to be very effective in building students with strong math skills. Condition is Good used condition. 5th grade lot of books, BJU, Singapore , math, reading, grammar, workbooks, map. Increased flexibility is the main benefit when it comes to buying a one-way flight from Bajura(BJU) to Monroeville(MVC). Does the book give you clear instructions and guidance? Right Start, Key To workbooks, manipulatives, flash cards, etc. Do you have any suggestions on this type of math program? Up to this point we have just used workbooks and hands on math. If you have a quick question, you can contact me here. BJUP materials I was curious if you knew much about Horizon math. I’v thought about changing to Singapore, ( even bought it ) but it was a little o verhelming. So back to Singapore Math we ran, and … The Singapore Ministry of Education decided to take the best practice research findings from the West and applied them to the classroom with transformational results. You might make a mistake in buying math curriculum, but that’s okay. Yes, Saxon is not on my list of recommended programs. This is our first year homeschooling and we have been using Saxon math for our 3rd grader. If your child enjoys a slightly competitive and fast paced setting they may do much better with Abeka vs BJU. Includes systematic, cumulative review. Step 1: Identify what you’re looking for in a program. Math 3 (3rd ed.) And no matter what curriculum you go with, you can always use it for an additional explanation of tricky topics or some practice and review. Pay attention to how you feel as you read it. You probably barely have time to teach one full math curriculum well. Since BJU sounds like it’s been working well for you, I’d suggest sticking with it through 5th grade and then taking a look to see if Art of Problem Solving Pre-Algebra looks like a good choice for your kids for 6th grade. If you have a child who loves wrestling with challenging problems, she may be bored and sulky if she finds her assignments too easy. Singapore was way too hard for me to teach and my kids were more confused. Like, “I think my kid would love the graphic novel textbook in Beast Academy. Don’t worry about coming up with a perfect plan for your child’s entire education from preschool through twelfth grade. {{ LOOK INSIDE }} FIRST GRADE MATH CURRICULUM OVERVIEW Hello guys! They just seem to need a lot of it. Math Mammoth can be used quite independently by kids once they learn how to read the worktext closely, with no additional teacher’s manual needed. But truly, both are great options, and either should serve your kids well, so just pick one and go for it! Singapore math curriculum is a blend of both a traditional math approach (textbook and workbook style) with an out-of-the-box strategy. And that makes you an expert, too. We have a charter that uses Singapore so am considering starting that at home, another program uses the real math program so am trying to understand the major differences. I’m also not a big fan of the practice book layout, especially in the younger grades. Children who like novelty often prefer spiral programs, and many children benefit from the continual review. One of the biggest issues parents run into with mastery programs is feeling like their children forget too much from chapter to chapter. Math 1 Student Worktext The full-color Student Worktext presents activities around a theme involving Digit There are sub-categories for topics for all levels of math. I love what you said about the fundamental differences in teaching Math in Singapore vs. in America. To avoid this, make sure you pinpoint what need you’re trying to fill before you buy any supplemental materials. Math in Focus: The Singapore Approach Grade 1 Second Semester Homeschool Package (9780547428758) Some spiral programs focus on a topic for few lessons in a row before jumping, while others jump from one topic to another with every lesson. If you're looking at Singapore then check out Primary Mathematics. BJU Reading 5 Pages In My Head. I can see how it could work okay for children who thrive on workbooks and enjoy that feeling of completing their assignments, but I worry about how well they really understand math. If the lack of consistent review is the main problem for your kids with Singapore, how about taking the reviews in the textbook and workbook and spreading them out? help students not only to read, multiply fractions, and recognize Hi Kate I’ll also explain a few of the jargon-y terms that get tossed around regarding math programs to help you make sense of the reviews and descriptions you read online. Concepts are presented with examples and explanations. Excited? What do you think? Andrea says. Singapore developed a new way of teaching maths following their poor performance in international league tables in the early 1980’s. skills with review activities. A Chapter Review and a Cumulative Review are included in each chapter to reinforce the covered math concepts. Math in Focus Student Book Grade 1 Part B, 318 pages, hardcover. But you are the one who is going to have to teach it, so it’s wise to take a moment to sit back and consider how you feel before you click that Buy button. Go to the websites of your favorite programs, find some samples and print them out. (If I did, I might never finish the Math with Confidence series!) -Kate. Starting Points (Biblical World View Curriculum) Worldviews of the Western World; The Child’s Story Bible ; Apologetics in Action from Master Books; Exploring the Bible for Kids; Other Curriculum, Electives and Multi-Subject Courses. Any comparisons or opinions about the type of learner this curriculum best fits? . 2) Because kids don’t really understand what they’re doing, CLE provides a ton of practice for cementing the procedures through rote repetition. Alpha mixes up topics some, but later books focus on just one major topic per year. A math curriculum is a tool for teaching, but you are the teacher. Buying supplemental materials is another symptom of the Overcomplication Danger Zone: “I think my child will do best with a procedural program like Rod and Staff, but he’d like math games, too, so I’ll also get the RightStart Card Game set and Multiplication Facts That Stick.” Now, I have to admit I’m a big fan of both, but this approach is still a little risky. Teachers and the direct support that they provide to the students are most important part of math classrooms. Singapore Math is a program with a unique framework with a focus on building problem-solving skills and an in-depth understanding of essential math skills. If you teach either of those programs well, your daughter will likely do just fine with math. Most homeschool math programs cover roughly the same topics, but their pace and depth vary widely. It has a good amount of problems to complete within a section or topic, although not as much afterwards. Good math instruction is worth the investment, but some curricula are pricey or have hefty start-up costs. features include "Algebra Around Us" and sections on Since the 1990s, Singapore’s government has been publishing textbooks. Roundtrip vs One-Way Flights from Bajura (BJU) to Monroeville (MVC) There is usually no major price difference between buying a roundtrip flight versus a one-way flight. From the sample pages and information I can view from their website, it seems like a good program, but my only concern is the scope and sequence seems a little behind what Abeka or Horizons 3rd grade math are. The manipulatives (cardstock counters and plastic building blocks) are fun and appealing; some children play with them outside math time and familiarize themselves with basic principles on their own. We just purchased BJU’s math curriculum for my oldest who is starting 4th grade. They’re usually very direct and to-the-point about explaining exactly how to find that common denominator or borrow the 1. It is between math u see and Singapore. When you’re in the Overcomplication Danger Zone, you start having crazy ideas. This is why I love homeschooling…the ability to change something if there are issues. We never know what the next year will bring, or how our educational plans will shift. Both Singapore and Math Mammoth were written before Common Core came out, but they both incorporate much of what is best about Common Core: a focus on helping kids understand both the “how” and the “why” of math. Some kids do need the very slow and steady approach that MUS takes, but most don’t. Second, you have to promise in advance that you will take all my suggestions with a humongous grain of salt. Just pick what you think will work best now, and let next year sort itself out once you get to it. In my opinion, the way the material is presented is generally more important than whether a program is mastery or spiral. They sometimes use manipulatives for demonstration purposes, but they usually focus more on pencil-and-paper techniques. Your reviews have been so helpful. So, today because it was available I picked up a Math Mammoth 6B and year 6 answer book for $4. However, booking a roundtrip flight is a simpler process. >Math 1-3 student worktext $22.22, complete kit $137; Choosing a program with a difficulty level appropriate for your child is the most important step you can take to help your child develop a positive attitude toward math (and avoid the dreaded math tears). It has a great balance of conceptual and procedural teaching, and the teacher’s manual is fantastic. Teaching Textbooks works well for some families, but some find that their child learns to match the instructional patterns without really understanding the math. BJU MVC. Instant spiral review! This year my seventh grade daughter is using BJU Press Fundamentals of Math. I regret not purchasing the Gr1 home Instructors Guide separately (Sonlight didn’t recommend it till Gr 2). Thanks or writing this! Here’s my advice on how to clear them out so you can move forward: Roadblock #1: Is it really okay to switch programs? For example, a child in a procedural program who’s learning how to add 2-digit numbers would likely be shown how to “carry the 1,” with more emphasis on the specific steps and details. NO! My 2nd daughter needs a program like Saxon math. And it’s such a common concern that I’ve written a whole article about it. One day the focus is fractions, another day the focus is measuring in centimeters, another day it’s the area of a triangle, with little connection. Math can be learned in so much pleasanter of a way, without making it into a long, tedious chore each day. I will be sharing our first grade math curriculum with you today like I promised! They’re often a good choice for kids with dyslexia, too, since conceptual programs help these kids build on their strong visual processing skills and holistic thinking ability. September 12, 2017 at 10:57 am Hi Stacia, I’ve never reviewed BJU in depth, but overall it looks like a really good program. It tells kids what to do to solve problems, but it doesn’t offer much explanation to help children understand why the procedures work. If your husband takes a look at it and loves it (and plans to do most of the teaching), you might switch to that for 4th and 5th grades. Thank you for your time. They are attracted to colorfully illustrated type things. Anxious? Math 4 student worktext $22.22, complete kit $136; Math 5 student worktext Saxon math is not a good fit for her as proof this year attending a private school that uses it. No matter what curriculum you choose, you will always need to adjust it to meet your child’s needs. The same goes for all the other math supplements out there. It is the name that the United States has given Singapore’s math curriculum, of which it has taken notice. Teacher Support. Condition is Good used condition. Hi Kara, I use (and adore) CLE’s Language Arts, but I’ve only looked at samples of their math program. Definitely don’t try to do both programs! The teacher is Please note that comments are closed on this post, as I simply don’t have time these days to give individualized advice on curriculum selection. Just like there are no perfect parents, and no perfect children. My favorite programs tend to be on the more-conceptual side: they explain why the math works but also give kids lots of practice with how to do the math. math education. Customize without losing continuity. I’m hoping to write an in-depth review of it later this summer, but I’ll give you the brief version here. I am leading toward Singapore, but have so many friends and heard such great things about Math U See. Singapore. I’ve never reviewed BJU in depth, but overall it looks like a really good program. I do have some concerns about the program, which is why I don’t recommend it. "Probability and Statistics." solve word problems to develop problem-solving skills, and maintain Beast Academy is a great program for mathy kids, but it works best when the parent loves it as well and feels comfortable with it. December 9, 2018 at 11:32 am. BJUP texts offer multiple approaches Here's a peek into our experience with Bob Jones Math … I’m curious what your thoughts are on Christian Light Education’s math? After much research, I settled upon Singapore Math and we used that the rest of Kindergarten. Why just memorize dates when Does it make you. But then review is incremental and spiral to make sure to cement the info and give them plenty of practice to build speed and fluency. Learning Things has free placement tests for Saxon Math for all levels. But, conceptual programs aren’t necessarily the best fit for every child. In this context, the term mastery describes the way the lessons are organized, not the ultimate goal.). Life is unpredictable. Algebra 1 Student Text Includes scriptural principles woven Trying to puck a math curriculum is overwhelming. Any help would be great! I’m struggling with trying to decided what I should do with two of my kids next year. Look over the table of contents, introduction, and any teacher helps or notes. Latest COVID-19 coronavirus data and map for Brumath, Bas-Rhin, France I would love to use Teaching Textbooks for my 2/3rd grader. These are available to the private sector. I’ve answered literally hundreds (maybe thousands!) Thanks At some point we skipped Maths and did Singapore Math instead. Choosing a math curriculum will go much more smoothly (and feel much less overwhelming) if you narrow down your choices before you start looking around online. In Singapore math, students must think through concepts and apply them in new ways from the very start. Procedural curricula focus more on teaching children how to do math–the procedures that get the right answer. And if your child struggles with math, you’ll both be frustrated if you choose a book that’s too hard. Students don’t just learn equations to reach an answer; they learn how the equation works. skills, and maintain skills with review problems. numerous examples worked out with clear step-by-step explanations. The short answer is that you won’t mess up your kids for life if they miss a couple things by switching math programs in fourth grade. While learning with the BJU Press homeschool math curriculum, your children will see the relevance of math and its biblical basis from beginning to end. Fundamentals of Math Student Text Presents concepts in I think Horizons is a spiral approach where BJU is more mastery, but that might have changed over time. Hi Kate, thank you for writing this blog post. Look for more on Saxon at the end of the summer, but I hope this at least gives you a partial answer to your question. It is very helpful. Voila! Singapore definitely has a nicer layout than Math Mammoth. Identify what you’re looking for in a program. Glad it’s working well so far. It has a great balance of conceptual and procedural teaching, and the teacher’s manual is fantastic. Step 3: Print samples, and check your gut. Big-picture thinkers who love to know why often thrive with conceptual programs. And Singapore is a way more rigorous and interesting program for those kids. NOTE: Singapore Math® is generally a year "ahead" of math programs in the U.S., and most children need to begin Singapore Math® with the "B" book of the year before! As a result, it’s very dependent on rote memorization of the procedures without much conceptual understanding. So go for it! I’m torn between math mammoth and Singapore math. 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