Math U See vs Rightstart vs Saxon

[WriterMommy]

I'm currently using Saxon Math 2 for my ds7. He doesn't love it, he doesn't hate it. He says he wants to be an engineer and build things when he grows up, and I've read that Saxon is not good for that path. I recently took a few learning type quizzes and they reported that he is primarily an auditory learner, and secondarily a kinesthetic learner. So I've been investigating different math curriculums, and Math U See and Rightstart seemed like something my son might like.

Math U See seems similar to Saxon but with more manipulatives, which I like. Rightstart seems to come from left field with its abacus and subitizing... But I feel like it might be more mathematically minded, just confusing to me because I didn't learn it that way. Does anyone have input on these two math curriculums, or on what would be good for and auditory kinesthetic learner?

[bluedarling]

I used Rightstart when my children were that young.  I really liked it, but it is teacher intensive!!  (I couldn't do it with 4 kids.)  And...my kids were wanting more independence after a couple years of it.  My oldest is an auditory learner, but found the auditory portion difficult due to a learning disability, so that part didn't help him.  My 2nd son sounds more like your son (intense builder/inventor)...he did very well with it.  We switched to Math U See (when I became overwhelmed), and LOVE it!   We like the way the pages are laid out (much less intimidating to my kids), love the video instruction, and the structure of the program.  However, its not enough on its own for my 8yo (she can do a worksheet in 5 minutes), so we supplement for her. I would probably recommend Rightstart for a young child...just because its so interactive, unless you have multiple children and your time is at a premium....in which case you could get MUS and buy the Math Games book from Rightstart and incorporate those games with MUS (that part is just so fun!) 

 

Rightstart:  lots of teacher interaction, varied activities including games, varied manipulatives, mental math focus, challenging (may not be enough repeition for mastery for some students...like 3 of my 4!)

MathUSee:  structure, clean layout/fewer problems, video instruction, more repetition/mastery (this was huge for making my older kids successful!)

 

I think either choice is a good choice at 7yo.  :)

[Ellie]

I'm currently using Saxon Math 2 for my ds7. He doesn't love it, he doesn't hate it. He says he wants to be an engineer and build things when he grows up, and I've read that Saxon is not good for that path. I recently took a few learning type quizzes and they reported that he is primarily an auditory learner, and secondarily a kinesthetic learner. So I've been investigating different math curriculums, and Math U See and Rightstart seemed like something my son might like.

Math U See seems similar to Saxon but with more manipulatives, which I like. Rightstart seems to come from left field with its abacus and subitizing... But I feel like it might be more mathematically minded, just confusing to me because I didn't learn it that way. Does anyone have input on these two math curriculums, or on what would be good for and auditory kinesthetic learner?

 

And yet there are scores of people who did Saxon and went into engineering and similar careers.

 

People who say Saxon isn't good for [insert career path here] are most likely going to be people who didn't actually do Saxon.

 

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If your ds seems to be doing well with Saxon, keep doing it.

[Crimson Wife]

Saxon is a solid curriculum, but one that would drive my children bonkers with its extreme "spiral" format.

Math-u-See has the reputation of being one of the weaker math programs, so that wouldn't be my choice for a child who wants to go into a STEM field.

Right Start is excellent but teacher-intensive.

What I would actually recommend for a child who wants to be an engineer is Beast Academy. It's not kinesthetic but it's the one workbook that my DS actually loves to do. The 3rd grade books and 4A are available now and 4B is supposed to be coming out shortly. By the time your son finishes those, the rest of the 4th grade books should hopefully be available. The 5th grade ones may or may not be ready in time for him, but I wouldn't let that deter you from trying BA.

ETA: here is the link for BA: https://www.beastacademy.com/

[WriterMommy]

If I were to start Right start, bluedarling, where would I begin? I feel like it's so different I would need to start at the very beginning.

[sbgrace]

If I were to start Right start, bluedarling, where would I begin? I feel like it's so different I would need to start at the very beginning.

 

There is a placement test on the RS site. http://rightstartmath.com/home-school/placement-test level B is excellent. If he's placed in C, they would include transition lessons to get him, and you, up to speed.

 

I really like RS for an auditory kinesthetic learner. We did pretty much all of RS A and B orally and with the manipulatives indicated. It felt perfect for my auditory son.

[nature girl]

I was just typing exactly what sbgrace said when her comment popped up. :) My DD is young so we're only on A, but we're both LOVING everything about the program, the games, the manipulatives, the way it teaches how to think about number manipulation...It's giving her such a wonderful full understanding of concepts, every lesson is so different it never gets boring, it really is a fun program to work through. She asks me for "math time" every day.

 

I want to add also that they're very receptive to questions...I shot RS an email wondering which level to start on, and heard back within a couple of hours with suggestions and all the information I needed to decide.

[bluedarling]

My oldest started with Transition Lessons/C, and it was fine!  (Though a 7yo could start in B without being 'behind'!)  The abacus sounds 'different', but once you read how to use it, it won't seem like that foreign of a concept...I really didn't find it that "out there," but I do remember feeling that way when I first looked at it.