If you switched to a different math after using MUS

[SebastianCat]

If you switched to a different Math program after using Math-U-See, can you tell me what worked well for you and your DC?

 

Background - My DD is 10 and in 5th grade.   I started her in Horizons math in 1st grade because my DS had been using Horizons and it worked well for him.  DD did Horizons until she "hit a wall" about halfway through 2nd grade and started having HUGE math anxiety.   I think the number of problems, color, pictures, etc., were just overwhelming for her and every single lesson involved tears.

 

So we switched to MUS and I took her back to Alpha.   She did well with MUS, sped through Alpha and Beta, then did Gamma in 3rd grade, Delta in 4th grade, and is now in Epsilon.   Now, however, she thinks math is boring.   She is sick of fractions.   When we get to the incremental reviews on the D, E, or F pages, she sometimes forgets how to do division.   

 

I'm thinking she needs to go back to a more spiral approach to math, with a bit more variety and review, but not quite as many problems and not as visually distracting as Horizons.   I'm wondering if CLE or TT might fit this bill, but honestly, I've heard more negative comments about TT than positives.    But is there something else I ought to consider as well?   Maybe just something to use as a supplement?

[Chanley]

We went to Math Mammoth and my son loves it. The boredom of MUS was killing both of us. MM moves more quickly and it stays engaging for him. My daughter went to tabletclass and now she is in a Well Trained Mind Academy class. 

[Coco_Clark]

I'd look into TT. I know there are a lot of negative comments about it not being rigorous enough, ect, but honestly those are all the same people that dog MUS for not being rigorous. My babysitter used TT and just started community college (at 16), he tested very well in math. I think it has an undeserved rep.

[rimk3]

My son did MUS alpha and beta, then needed more variety. He shuts down if there are lots of problems per page and lots of pages. He is now using MEP and we both love it. One page with a deceiving amount of problems on it. The format of the page doesn't overwhelm or intimidate him. It has a tight spiral with plenty of review. Something to concider, it is teacher intensive. I do enjoy teaching MEP and it is a great fit for my ds, so I do not mimd the time it takes.

[SebastianCat]

Thanks for your replies!

[Lori D.]

Since many people switch from MUS to something else for Pre-Algebra and high maths, you might want to just hold on for another year -- ESP. since MUS is working! -- through Zeta (decimals, percents), and at that point the scope and sequence of MUS is back into the same alignment as all the other math programs (which makes it much easier to switch, than in the earlier elementary grades).

 

JMO: Since MUS is easy for DD, and she is getting close to a natural "jumping off" point from MUS to a different program, I would use this year and next as an opportunity to add supplements, and try out some different approaches to math, and to bolster the weaker problem-solving aspect of MUS.

 

You could try CLE or TT as your supplement if you think one of those might be a good fit to carry you through high school.

 

Or, consider using something now and next year from a different perspective that strengthens math thinking and problem solving as a supplement (Beast Academy, Life of Fred, Math Mammoth, Singapore 4A/B and/or 5A/B) , and then make the switch at Pre-Algebra to a math series that is focused on the high school maths -- perhaps Lial's Pre-Algebra.

 

BEST of luck in finding what works best for math! Warmest regards, Lori D.

[SebastianCat]

Since many people switch from MUS to something else for Pre-Algebra and high maths, you might want to just hold on for another year -- ESP. since MUS is working! -- through Zeta (decimals, percents), and at that point the scope and sequence of MUS is back into the same alignment as all the other math programs (which makes it much easier to switch, than in the earlier elementary grades).

 

JMO: Since MUS is easy for DD, and she is getting close to a natural "jumping off" point from MUS to a different program, I would use this year and next as an opportunity to add supplements, and try out some different approaches to math, and to bolster the weaker problem-solving aspect of MUS.

 

You could try CLE or TT as your supplement if you think one of those might be a good fit to carry you through high school.

 

Or, consider using something now and next year from a different perspective that strengthens math thinking and problem solving as a supplement (Beast Academy, Life of Fred, Math Mammoth, Singapore 4A/B and/or 5A/B) , and then make the switch at Pre-Algebra to a math series that is focused on the high school maths -- perhaps Lial's Pre-Algebra.

 

BEST of luck in finding what works best for math! Warmest regards, Lori

 

 

Thanks for the suggestion of just supplementing rather than switching entirely.   That might be the way to go until we hit Pre-A.   My DS is doing Lial's Pre-A this year, so I am already familiar with how it's laid out.   I hadn't thought about this approach.

[julikins]

I agree with a supplementing and keeping on with MUS until the natural jumping off point.  And I was going to suggest that you not require every page for her to do.  If she understands it, let her move on. That has helped my dd so much.  She zooms at the beginning of the year, where the content is easily understandable then takes her time with the more complex concepts later on.  She's done very well and is doing pre-algebra now in MUS.  We decided to stick with it.

 

[kolamum]

If she's finding it easy why not do the A & D pgs on D1, if she gets it all right & is ready to move on, move. Otherwise do B & E the next day. Thus she's always doing a review page for information formerly learned. Just a thought..

[Hedgehogs4]

I agree that hanging on through next years sounds like a good idea. We used MUS through pre-algebra and switched to saxon for Algebra 1. So far so good...

 

[purduemeche]

We used MUS but found our boys weren't progressing fast enough and we had to add tons of worksheets to remember basic facts quickly. We switched to Saxon and haven't regretted it.

[marynamo]

Our MUS experience:

 

We are in South Africa and used a local spiral curriculum for several years, but one 'method' jumped so quickly to the next that they are a hard time retaining what they learned, there weren't enough revision and the foundation was just not good enough.

 

We eventually moved over to MUS (The SA edition) and my kids love it. We went a few levels down than where they were suppose to be since it is a new program and English is not our home language. The kids excell and score on ever final over 90% in their testing every year. We also managed to pick up and they are now at the level where they should be to enable them to complete all the books.

 

They love program and I love the program and they can't wait to do math. The foundation is solid with good revision. I personally will never go back to a spiral program again and also when looking ahead to the final few years I am really going to need those DVD instructions ;)