Math U See and Teaching Textbooks at the same time?!?

[DaisyMay]

Would I be crazy to use Math U See PreAlgebra at the same time as Teaching Textbooks PreAlgebra? I'm thinking of doing 1 day of MUS with me, then independently the rest of the week, and then 4 days of TT.

 

My ds13 is dyslexic and really needs a bit more time with concepts before moving on, but he also needs a lot of review.

 

I have always had him (and his sisters) do at least 2 other supplemental math things, so the workload wouldn't be new. I would drop the extra math activities.

 

Is this crazy?!?! Any suggestions?

 

Thanks in advance!

Gayle

[DaisyMay]

Anyone? :)

[Rosyl]

Here is my .02: I supplemented with my oldest until last year and generally over taught until he got it. Then I relaxed. I had him work only on facts (MUS). Once he could do the facts, he then all on his own understood concepts and was able to apply them in real life. Last night we assembled a trampoline and used fractions--reduced and increased, multiples of 72, the 4, 6 and 9 facts. He was right there with me and my dh, fast on facts and concepts.

 

All of that to say one program is enough. Let him rest on what he knows and allow time for the concepts to sink in.

 

;)Perhaps, if nothing else, I have bumped your post and someone can disagree with me giving another side to supplementing.

[tjarnold]

I know this is a very old post, but I am considering the same thing: combining MUS and Teaching Textbooks at the Pre-Algebra or Algebra I level. We used MUS for several years, but switched to Saxon two years ago for a variety of reasons. For this particular child, I need to be creative in finding ways to help her understand and master math.

 

DaisyMay, did you end up combining the two programs? If so, how did it work for you?

 

Tiffany

[tjarnold]

Anyone? Has anyone else considered this approach or something close to it? My 13yo dd struggles with math and has made great strides with the extra practice and constant review of Saxon. However, when new concepts are introduced, Saxon doesn't give her enough of a conceptual understanding. I could do that (as her teacher), but I have a lot of extra responsibilities with a very ill father to care for, and I want to make sure her math program can teach her without me as a necessity.

 

Tiffany

[PeterPan]

We combine TT and BJU for similar reasons. Give it a whirl. Main thing is not to overload them. As far as MUS, well personally I'd do HOE (hands-on equations) instead for the pre-algebra. That would, as you're thinking, give the hands-on to balance TT. Together they'd still take a reasonable time. But if you're already in your groove on MUS, well fine. Definitely though some kids benefit from a mix.

[tjarnold]

Thank you, OhElizabeth! In our case, I'm thinking I would try to use the MUS videos to supplement TT as the core. My daughter doesn't seem that motivated to use the blocks herself, but I know they are useful. Conveniently, we already own all the relevant MUS DVDs. I'm just trying to evaluate how successful she would be with TT. I think the interactive component would be great for her.

[Guest gilroy]

I think and great and fine opnion

[PeterPan]

Thank you, OhElizabeth! In our case, I'm thinking I would try to use the MUS videos to supplement TT as the core. My daughter doesn't seem that motivated to use the blocks herself, but I know they are useful. Conveniently, we already own all the relevant MUS DVDs. I'm just trying to evaluate how successful she would be with TT. I think the interactive component would be great for her.

 

 

When you describe it that way, I think I would start with *just* TT and see where you're at. The dc may not *need* the MUS manipulatives to visualize the math. Many dyslexics and whatnot kids are VSL and right-brain dominant, meaning they visualize the math quite well without manips. They need more time to make the connections because of their brain structure (Read Dyslexic Advantage by the Eides), not because they're math dumb. If anything, I would use Hands-on Equations in that situation as the manipulative supplement, not MUS. He's already rejected MUS and said he doesn't need it. HOE is a more sophisticated manipulative anyway. They have an app for it, or you can get a kit that includes a dvd. My dd says she still thinks of math the way HOE does.

[Corraleno]

I would use Hands-on Equations in that situation as the manipulative supplement, not MUS. ... HOE is a more sophisticated manipulative anyway.

 

 

:iagree:

I don't think MUS would add much, plus their Prealgebra is kind of a weird mishmash of topics that didn't get included in the lower levels. There are only 30 lessons, and 2 of them are just on converting between Fahrenheit & Celsius; 1 is on using military time. It will not line up very well with TT, and in the one area that might — negative numbers —I think MUS's presentation is really weak. In your situation I would go with TT as the primary program, and supplement with HOE and maybe Fred.

 

Jackie

[tjarnold]

Thanks for the suggestions! I've never heard about HOE, but am in the process of checking it out. (Just when you think you've tried every math program out there, you discover you're wrong.) Tell me more about your experiences with it. Would just getting the app(s) suffice?

 

And to clarify, my daughter is almost ready for algebra. She did take the TT algebra placement test, and if she'd gotten one more question correct, she would have placed into algebra. Knowing her math issues though, I'm not going to have her move ahead until we can address a few of her weaknesses over the summer.

 

She's not actually dyslexic -- she's really just clueless when it comes to math, plus very insecure about it and quick to get frustrated because she's been banging her head against the math wall for her whole life. Her father (a brilliant historian and author, if I do say so myself) was the same way. He took algebra twice as a teen -- once in 8th grade and once in 9th, and actually did worse the second time. DD has the same math brain as her dad: math just doesn't compute without good explanations, lots and lots of practice, and plenty of time. She will never be on a science/math track, but she will want to go to a selective school, and she knows she has to at least jump over the SAT math hurdle in order to achieve her other goals.

 

Tiffany

[PeterPan]

Well the worst that happens is that she goes through the TT pre-algebra quickly, doing double lessons. She could do that now and be into algebra 1 by fall.

 

I haven't used the HOE app, because it came out after we had done the main thing. I'm not sure we even finished. It's just a really basic thought process, with little Sorry game pieces you move to show setting up equations. It's a good thought process though for visualization, definitely recommend. The app I think has a free portion to try, doesn't it?

[tjarnold]

Yes, there is a free version of the app, which I plan to get in a few minutes.

 

I currently have my daughter working on MUS Pre-Algebra because we had an extra copy in the garage. She completed 100 lessons of Saxon 87 this past school year. (With 20 or so lessons to go, she just seemed to hit a wall.) Do you strongly feel that TT Pre-Algebra would be more effective than MUS Pre-Algebra?

[PeterPan]

Do you strongly feel that TT Pre-Algebra would be more effective than MUS Pre-Algebra?

 

 

Nope. :) But then I haven't used it to have an opinion on it. Try what you've got, see where you get. Math is totally individual. For us, TT was magic, golden, solved our problems. So if your dd turns out like mine, then yeah actually it would be worth the investment. But if she's just like *that close* to getting over the pre-algebra hump, gets over it with the MUS, and then you go into TT for algebra 1, that could work. Or maybe you find MUS is golden for her. It's really just individual, no magic balls to rub, sorry.

[tjarnold]

For us, TT was magic, golden, solved our problems. So if your dd turns out like mine, then yeah actually it would be worth the investment.

 

 

What do you feel BJU adds to your child's math program?

 

Also, how much teacher involvement do you find you need with TT?

 

Thanks again for all your assistance,

 

Tiffany

[PeterPan]

What do you feel BJU adds to your child's math program?

 

Also, how much teacher involvement do you find you need with TT?

 

Thanks again for all your assistance,

 

Tiffany

 

BJU has much harder word problems and a C level set of problems that make sure they're understanding the theory completely. There are also sometimes topics that don't get covered (small things, nothing major). Mainly though it's for the more challenging problems. Some people don't even DO the C level problems and Dominion Math in BJU, and that's the portion we go to. Usually her understanding of the topic is fine after TT and with just a quick check she's ready to go into the C level problems.

 

There's nothing wrong with doing TT by itself. It covers the material fine, and for some people it works out great. *Sometimes* you'll see posts from people who say their kid did TT and did horribly on testing. Was it the child (ie. that's how he would have scored, no matter what curriculum he used) or that TT isn't adequate? I really don't know. I just know where my dc *should* score, based on how she always has scored. So when I touch up TT with a dab of BJU (a very standard program written to cover everything they need to test well), I KNOW she has what she needs. I can't *guarantee* that with TT. It's my security blanket.

[tjarnold]

Very interesting. Thank you!