Jump to content

Menu

MUS users- how many lessons a week?


Recommended Posts

I will be doing Pre-Calculus next year using MUS. I see that generally there are 30 lessons for most upper level courses, and I know Pre-Calc has only 30 lessons.

 

I will be doing 40 weeks of school, and I was wondering, how many lessons do YOU do a week? We're trying to schedule everything now. I will be doing Math for 5 days a week. I was planning on doing the general lesson on Monday, Tues-Thurs do the worksheets and Honors sheets(if there is time), and on Fridays do tests and review. I figure this will give me some flexibility for those harder lessons where I need a few extra days.

 

How do YOU do it?

 

Also, 30 lessons doesn't seem a lot. In your past experiences with MUS, have they covered that subject completely and effectively?

 

Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Cheryl in SoCal

The worksheets are divided into "Lesson Practice" (all the new lesson, usually A & B in the upper levels) and "Systematic Review" (some new, many review, usually C, D & E in the upper levels). In Pre-Calculus I'd want to do each of the worksheets (especially the Systematic Review) and then Honors. I would loosely schedule MUS for 6 days, which would still leave you with 20 extra days in your school year if you need more for a lesson. Here is how I would loosely schedule it:

 

Day 1: DVD and A

Day 2: B

Day 3: C

Day 4: D

Day 5: E/Honors

Day 6: Review and Test

 

You could move things around a couple of different ways. If you want more review you could pair up B (Lesson Practice) with C (the first Systematic Review) and do just the Honors on Day 5.

 

I will be adding LOF Trigonometry to MUS PreCalculus (starting it 1/3 to 1/2 way through the year (they will be finishing LOF Geo in the beginning of the year) so everything "Trig" is taught first by MUS) but you don't HAVE to do that. I like LOF, my kids like LOF and I like that it gives them more review and additional real life application.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't understand what you mean by Lesson Practice and Systematic Review.

 

Looking at their sample Lesson Plan online, it shows they have the Lesson page which is 2 pages.

 

Then they have 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6Honors, 6Test. Does the teacher's manual have what you're speaking of maybe?

 

http://www.mathusee.com/images/files/preCalcsample.pdf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Let me get out my PreCalculus Student Text.

 

Thank you. They aren't very descriptive about their upper level courses. I assume they're more well-known for their lower level courses because the manipulatives.

 

So the Student Kit comes with a Text and workbook, or is the workbook and textbook the same thing?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've used MUS since the beginning for all of mine. We're into Delta with my oldest now, just so you know where I'm coming from (esp since we're not as advanced as you).

 

I don't make my kids do every page if they have mastered the material. So, if we go into it and the first day they get it, I'll give 'em the test the next day and call it done. We've done five lessons in one day that way with my math-minded son who wanted to keep going and going and going...

 

On the other hand, if they obviously don't know their stuff, we'll keep going and not go on until they master it. My daughter had trouble with one concept to such a degree and got so frustrated with it that I put the math book away for literally three months. We did all kinds of things verbally (most of which she didn't even realize was math) and by the time we got the book back out she had it down and we went on.

 

That said, I do try to get a book done each year, so if we're really far ahead we'll relax a little, but if we're behind I have no problem doing more than one lesson a week either.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've used MUS since the beginning for all of mine. We're into Delta with my oldest now, just so you know where I'm coming from (esp since we're not as advanced as you).

 

I don't make my kids do every page if they have mastered the material. So, if we go into it and the first day they get it, I'll give 'em the test the next day and call it done. We've done five lessons in one day that way with my math-minded son who wanted to keep going and going and going...

 

On the other hand, if they obviously don't know their stuff, we'll keep going and not go on until they master it. My daughter had trouble with one concept to such a degree and got so frustrated with it that I put the math book away for literally three months. We did all kinds of things verbally (most of which she didn't even realize was math) and by the time we got the book back out she had it down and we went on.

 

That said, I do try to get a book done each year, so if we're really far ahead we'll relax a little, but if we're behind I have no problem doing more than one lesson a week either.

 

I see for the Delta level there are only 30 lessons as well. I suppose I could do more than 1 lesson per week if I got it; I mean, that is the point of homeschooling, work at my own pace. But what if I finish in 20 weeks and still have 20 weeks left of school, and then completely forget for when I do Calculus my Senior Year?

 

If you ever finished week before school, how did you review? Did you buy another curriculum as reinforcement or let it be and just focus more on the other subjects with little Math review?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Cheryl in SoCal

It looks like it's set up differently than the other levels, with just A-D for the lessons instead of A-E. Also, in the other student texts a certain number of the worksheet pages are just on the new lesson and a certain number have the new lesson and review. PreCalculus doesn't seem to be set up that way. I haven't done it yet so I don't know if you are reviewing previous concepts in the new lesson because they are part of the new concept or if it's incorporated some other way. Based on the number of worksheets there are I'd tentatively schedule it this way. We also often watch the DVD multiple days for reinforcement even if fully understood after the first viewing.

 

Day 1: DVD/A

Day 2: B

Day 3: C

Day 4: D

Day 5: Honors

Day 6: Test

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Cheryl in SoCal
Thank you. They aren't very descriptive about their upper level courses. I assume they're more well-known for their lower level courses because the manipulatives.

 

So the Student Kit comes with a Text and workbook, or is the workbook and textbook the same thing?

It comes with the Instruction Manual, the Student Workbook and Student Text Booklet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It looks like it's set up differently than the other levels, with just A-D for the lessons instead of A-E. Also, in the other student texts a certain number of the worksheet pages are just on the new lesson and a certain number have the new lesson and review. PreCalculus doesn't seem to be set up that way. I haven't done it yet so I don't know if you are reviewing previous concepts in the new lesson because they are part of the new concept or if it's incorporated some other way. Based on the number of worksheets there are I'd tentatively schedule it this way. We also often watch the DVD multiple days for reinforcement even if fully understood after the first viewing.

 

Day 1: DVD/A

Day 2: B

Day 3: C

Day 4: D

Day 5: Honors

Day 6: Test

 

Thank you so much for the time you spent doing this for me. :D Very helpful

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Cheryl in SoCal
I see for the Delta level there are only 30 lessons as well. I suppose I could do more than 1 lesson per week if I got it; I mean, that is the point of homeschooling, work at my own pace. But what if I finish in 20 weeks and still have 20 weeks left of school, and then completely forget for when I do Calculus my Senior Year?

 

If you ever finished week before school, how did you review? Did you buy another curriculum as reinforcement or let it be and just focus more on the other subjects with little Math review?

 

I wouldn't rush but if it's very easy and you finish early I'd start Calculus if you're planning on doing it next year. If this will be your last math class I'd get Life of Fred Trigonometry and go through it for review, moving into LOF Calculus if you finish it as there is some overlap (Pre-Calculus consists of Trigonometry and part of what LOF has in Calculus, I think Analytic Geometry but am not sure).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Cheryl in SoCal
Thank you so much for the time you spent doing this for me. :D Very helpful

You're very welcome:001_smile:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I see for the Delta level there are only 30 lessons as well. I suppose I could do more than 1 lesson per week if I got it; I mean, that is the point of homeschooling, work at my own pace. But what if I finish in 20 weeks and still have 20 weeks left of school, and then completely forget for when I do Calculus my Senior Year?

 

If you ever finished week before school, how did you review? Did you buy another curriculum as reinforcement or let it be and just focus more on the other subjects with little Math review?

 

I just use everyday life as review for my kids. Opportunities will arise if you are looking for them.

 

If you want, there's no rule that you couldn't go on to Calculus early, either -- simply start whenever you're done with precalc. Chances are good that somewhere in there, you'll be glad you're not under pressure to get it done. :001_smile:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just use everyday life as review for my kids. Opportunities will arise if you are looking for them.

 

If you want, there's no rule that you couldn't go on to Calculus early, either -- simply start whenever you're done with precalc. Chances are good that somewhere in there, you'll be glad you're not under pressure to get it done. :001_smile:

 

I was looking into Life Of Fred as a supplement for review because I am in no way a math-minded person.

 

 

Only problem is, I'm trying to figure out which ones to get because pre-calc is a mix of trigonometry and Calculus but their Calculus says its based off of a 2 year college course. Hmm.... This is so confusing.

 

I was considering moving onto Calc early but I am not sure that Math U See has their Calc program all together yet. It seems a bit scattered.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Cheryl in SoCal
I was looking into Life Of Fred as a supplement for review because I am in no way a math-minded person.

 

 

Only problem is, I'm trying to figure out which ones to get because pre-calc is a mix of trigonometry and Calculus but their Calculus says its based off of a 2 year college course. Hmm.... This is so confusing.

 

I was considering moving onto Calc early but I am not sure that Math U See has their Calc program all together yet. It seems a bit scattered.

 

I'd ask MUS when they think their Calculus course will be ready. LOF Trig could be done in completion after MUS PreCalculus, and I'm guessing the first chapters of Calculus. You could go on in LOF Calculus until you start hitting things you haven't learned yet (then switch back to MUS) or switch over to LOF completely if you end up liking it better (or if MUS Calculus isn't ready yet).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd ask MUS when they think their Calculus course will be ready. LOF Trig could be done in completion after MUS PreCalculus, and I'm guessing the first chapters of Calculus. You could go on in LOF Calculus until you start hitting things you haven't learned yet (then switch back to MUS) or switch over to LOF completely if you end up liking it better (or if MUS Calculus isn't ready yet).

 

 

I was thinking of buying Life of Fred Trigonometry along with Life Of Fred Advanced Algebra. Looking at the contents of the Calculus course for Life of Fred and the contents for MUS Pre-Calc, they don't look like they have much in common.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd ask MUS when they think their Calculus course will be ready. LOF Trig could be done in completion after MUS PreCalculus, and I'm guessing the first chapters of Calculus. You could go on in LOF Calculus until you start hitting things you haven't learned yet (then switch back to MUS) or switch over to LOF completely if you end up liking it better (or if MUS Calculus isn't ready yet).

 

I think I will take your advice. I was going to get Advanced Algebra along with Trig. from Life of Fred, but they use their Advanced Algebra before their Geometry. I already did Geometry so I figured it would be safe to get just Trig. alone and then Calc. from Life of Fred to use until I get stuck, as you suggested. By then, I should have MUS Calculus, which I figured out is completely done, it is just a different format than their other levels (It is done online).

 

Thank you for the suggestions :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Cheryl in SoCal
I think I will take your advice. I was going to get Advanced Algebra along with Trig. from Life of Fred, but they use their Advanced Algebra before their Geometry. I already did Geometry so I figured it would be safe to get just Trig. alone and then Calc. from Life of Fred to use until I get stuck, as you suggested. By then, I should have MUS Calculus, which I figured out is completely done, it is just a different format than their other levels (It is done online).

 

Thank you for the suggestions :D

 

You're welcome:001_smile: Unless something has changed, they do plan on releasing it in the regular format.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One of the great things about MUS is being able to go at your own pace. If you get it quickly, then only do a couple of worksheets and move on. If it's tough then spread it out doing a page a day, or maybe even 1/2 a page. If you know you are putting in your best effort and you have been at it for an hour, give it up and come back the next day.

 

I never set out a specific schedule for MUS because I know that some of this flexibility will be nessesary. I plan to average a lesson a week but I know it will vary bit.

 

This will be your Jr. year, right? If you have a good chunk of time left after completing MUS you could then get LoF to use as reinforcement and for a different perspective. Also, you could continue doing math a few times a week all Summer to keep is fresh and lessen the ramp up in your Sr. year. My kids have to do math 3 days a week, year-round because whenever I have taken a Summer off they lose about 1/3 of what they learned the previous year. Not worth it imo.

 

I wanted to let you know that I think it is great that you are taking charge of your education. That is wonderful! Do your parents know how lucky they are? :D

 

Thank you for your suggestions and thank you for the last part as well :D

 

This is my plan:

 

I will do MUS for about a month, and then start reviewing with Life Of Fred Trigonometry.

I will do this until I am done with MUS and then done with Life Of Fred Trig.

I will then do Life Of Fred Calculus until the end of my Junior year (If finished before them, which I should be), and when my Senior Year rolls around, get MUS Calculus and continue with them, using Life of Fred as review as I go.

 

Thank you for all the suggestions :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...