Delayed/gapped Math, probable Dysgraphia: Verticy or Calvert standard?

[candikane]

My 8 year old in public school is attempting Math from home through the rest of the school year and summer. If all goes well, we will be homeschool or virtual school for next year.

 

She has big gaps in math starting in 2nd grade curriculum (she's in 3rd grade now) and probable dysgraphia that the school denies (we have a full neuropsychology testing next month).

 

The school is paying for math since they've failed to provide her with help all this time. I'm looking at Calvert (probably Math in Focus), or their Verticy program, as next year we would be using Calvert and probably Math U See. Any review/recommendations?

[OneStepAtATime]

Hopefully someone who has actually used Calvert/Verticy can chime in.  I have looked at them many times but have not used them.  

 

I did want to say that I would not recommend bouncing around in curriculum for math right now.  If you will not be using Math in Focus next year and she has not been using Math In Focus already, I wouldn't jump in for few months then jump back out again.  It is a very different system than Math U See.  If you are strongly leaning towards Math U See for next year, then test her and start her now.  Start with whatever level she tests into.   Filling in the gaps and getting her more solid on the foundation is more important.

 

 I did not do this with my own kids until last year.  It was a mistake.  The kids were using Harcourt in brick and mortar school.  When we started homeschooling we wasted a LOT of time, effort and money bouncing curriculums, when it wasn't really the curriculum that was the issue.  It was the basic understanding of math and the need to go back a few levels and go really slowly and explicitly, etc. that made the difference.  In fact, we ended up having to go way, way, way back to basic, basic subitization skills before the kids could truly move forward again and be successful.  We have still had some bumps but I understand much better now how they learn math and can slow down, speed up, approach things differently, etc. as needed.   

 

Good luck in your journey.

Best wishes.

[AliR]

DD has used Calvert/Verticy since 3rd grade with Calvert math.  Before then we had used Math U See, and I still use the Math U See manipulatives and techniques when things get difficult.  She is now in 6th grade and just finishing up 7th grade math (she really wants to start that 8th grade book before she turns 12!).  She started in 3rd grade at or below grade level in math, but has achieved a great deal over the last few years.

 

Regardless of the curriculm, I think you will see the biggest gains just from one-to-one teaching at your daughter's pace.  Calvert math is a good traditional way of teaching math.  I did look at Math in Focus with Calvert, and it did look very good, but we were too far along for it to be sensible to make the change.

[candikane]

Very helpful, my daughter is at exactly the same place. Maybe it's too late in the game to switch to MiF. I think going back and getting a solid footing with Verticy makes more sense, rather than switching complete styles. If we do go into the virtual public that I'm looking at for next year, they said:

 

For Math we have a number of different options that can be utilized. We offer Calvert Math, Singapore Math, Math-U-See, Saxon Math (mainly with our special needs students), and our 7th and 8th graders have the opportunity to take online math classes as well. If you have other math programs that you have used in the past that would like us to consider using, we can certainly take a look at that as well!

 

So I think a solid footing first, and we can always switch later if it seems like something else would work better for her

[AliR]

You should also consider what your teaching preference is, as that does help.  For example, I like Calvert Math as it is very much the sort of way I was taught, Math U See is great as the DVD explains everything, but I (personally) don't find the Singapore/Math In Focus methods as intuitive. I felt it would take me longer to get up and running with that program, although I would have loved to start it for K or 1st grade.

 

I noticed that you mentioned place value was a weakness - Math U See is particularly strong on this I recall. We started with Alpha and did most of Beta and some of Gamma before moving to Verticy 3rd grade.

[candikane]

Oh really? So MUS might be good for catching up until next school year starts in August/September, instead of Verticy? Aw jeez and here I thought I had it all figured out finally!!

[AliR]

If I had to choose, I would probably go Verticy but after the placement test and with the advice of an education counselor there. They are a really big help, and have dealt with all sorts of children with all sorts of issues.  DD has some complicated issues, but has done very well so far.

[candikane]

Sounds good, we'll shoot for that and take MUS if the school won't go for it. I'm soooo hoping my daughter does great at home so we can be done with public school!!

[candikane]

Thanks for all the help!!

[Heathermomster]

You will be better able to make an informed decision once NP testing and the report is explained to you.

I don't know a thing about Verticy or Calvart. I use MUS alongside information gained from books written by Ronit Bird and the book How the Brain Learns Mathematics by Sousa. If your DD does have a maths disability, her math achievement will be limited by the severity of her LD and the teaching. These kids generally require more time to complete math plus struggle with wm and EF issues. She will likely need one on one direct instruction. In my son's case, teaching to mastery followed by steady review is the only way that he does not lose what he's gained. He likes visuals, manipulatives, and is a whole to parts learner...

Basically, my vote is for your child to use MUS and supplement with MiF. You can certainly pick up MiF texts off of Amazon for cheap.

 

ETA:  If Verticy or Calvart teach math using explicit, multi-sensory instruction designed for dyscalculiacs, that would be awesome.  If you sign up with either, please tell us how it works out.

[candikane]

I really know nothing about her learning style, or of any LDs yet (although I'm pretty convinced that she has a few), so the neuropsychology educational assessment we have next month is kind of what I'm waiting on before making final decisions. However, she needs to start now, so I need to get my best option going ASAP until the testing is done.