Homeschool Math -- Need Suggestions

[MidnightCry]

Hi, guys. I've been using Math-U-See since the beginning and I'm considering a change but don't know what to try. I do like the way the MUS instructor teaches the concepts but I don't like how "deep" the teaching is -- for example, each book focuses on one area such as subtraction or multiplication ALL year (with a small amount of review) with very little else taught. I don't know about most kids, but I don't think she is able to achieve mastery at her age. About 3/4 of the way through the multiplication book this year, she sort of "shut down" -- maybe reached her capacity or something -- when the numbers got huge (she just doesn't have a concept of a number in the hundred millions). I pushed her on through but I don't think it's been worth it. Seems like once they can multiply 3 digits times 3 digits, multiplying 5 digits by 3 digits at this age gets tedious . . . problems get really long and (she, at least) doesn't seem to be able to maintain focus. ANYWAY, what I'm trying to say is, I really need some suggestions for next year. She'll be 4th grade. Please tell me what you love and why!

Thanks!

[HSmomto4]

We use MUS for my 7 year old, but Saxon for my 13 year old. I haven't gotten out of Beta in MUS so I can't say much about it, but with Saxon we have gone from 6/5 to Algebra. The only thing about Saxon is that there are A LOT of practice problems and if you do them all you can be at math for an hour or longer. We only review the last 5 to 10 lessons and then once a week do all the practice problems.

[funmudder]

We loved Saxon (http://saxonpublishers.harcourtachieve.com/en-US/saxonmath_home), but the boys wanted to change things up a bit. We are going to try some of the math workbooks from ACE (http://www.aceministries.com/homeschool/Default.aspx) for over the summer. :madgrin

[lisaann]

My ds is going into 4th next year as well. Up until this past year we used Saxon but my dd (who was in 1st) struggled with it so much I decided to switch to Math U See. I wanted them both to be on the same program so I switched my ds as well. While I did like how the guy taught most of the lessons I feel the same way as you........too much of the same, got too deep for the age, didnt teach other important math concepts. I am switching back to Saxon next year.

Saxon has alot of work in the 1-3rd grades but the cool thing is you dont have to do it all. We rarely did the Meeting Book and the opening excercises simply because ds didnt need it. If I find that dd needs the extra work we will do it. It is nice to have the choice. :thumb Starting in 4th grade (book 5/4) Saxon has much less work for the kids to do and they write the lessons in a way that encourages the kids to start working more independantly.

[MidnightCry]

My ds is going into 4th next year as well. Up until this past year we used Saxon but my dd (who was in 1st) struggled with it so much I decided to switch to Math U See. I wanted them both to be on the same program so I switched my ds as well. While I did like how the guy taught most of the lessons I feel the same way as you........too much of the same, got too deep for the age, didnt teach other important math concepts. I am switching back to Saxon next year.

Saxon has alot of work in the 1-3rd grades but the cool thing is you dont have to do it all. We rarely did the Meeting Book and the opening excercises simply because ds didnt need it. If I find that dd needs the extra work we will do it. It is nice to have the choice. :thumb Starting in 4th grade (book 5/4) Saxon has much less work for the kids to do and they write the lessons in a way that encourages the kids to start working more independantly.

I've sure heard a mixed bag on Saxon, but it will probably be one that I consider. I looked online at some sample pages of Bob Jones, Abeka, etc., but they both do a small amount of instruction (rather than teach the concepts like MUS) and then the kids do the problems. And am wanting to look at Singapore. There's a curric fair coming to my area in late June. I'm still going to use MUS with her but not go so deep (once she gets it, she gets it) and then supplement with something "wider". Plus, I will still use MUS with her younger sisters. Thanks!

[Cookies4me]

On the singapore website you can view 3 or 4 pages of each book.

such as this link for 1st grade (http://www.singaporemath.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=PMUST1A&Show=TechSpecs). If you look at that page and go down you will see "samples"
To get here from other grade levels click on the book title and then "content and samples" white tab at the top.

[MidnightCry]

On the singapore website you can view 3 or 4 pages of each book.

such as this link for 1st grade (http://www.singaporemath.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=PMUST1A&Show=TechSpecs). If you look at that page and go down you will see "samples"
To get here from other grade levels click on the book title and then "content and samples" white tab at the top.

Thank you! I had tried this, but didn't scroll all the way down to see the links for the samples! I kept thinking "those idiots -- I don't see any samples!" Ooops.
:doh

[Cookies4me]

:lol
:hug It's ok. I do it all the time :madgrin