IATeachingMom Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I have a 5th grader doing TT math 6, but he's flying through it. It doesn't seem very challenging at all?! I have no problem with him going on the TT 7 but I'm concerned that the material isn't "deep" enough. That TT is too light so to speak. What would be a better, more challenging curriculum? I'd really like something that isn't teacher heavy but...I can be persuaded. One of the major draws of TT was how independent it is. I actually really like math- up until about advanced geom or trig... blech.... but finding the time has been tricky with 4 kids. However, he's good at math and likes it, so, should I just make the time and find a more teacher intensive curric or is there something out there similar to TT but a bit more encompassing. I've heard good things about Saxon....would that be a better route? FWIW, we did Singapore math until 3a....then tried public school (waste of time). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaceful Isle Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 My 3rd grade boy is doing TT 4. He is doing really well and loves it. I just appreciate that he can do it independently because he is the type that loves it that way. If your child loves it, stick with it for this year, and you can always reevaluate next year. If you are worried he is not getting enough, you could always get an extra grade level math workbook to do along side TT and also make it last longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Did you give him the placement test? Or just put him at the grade level he would have been in at a school? If you didn't give the placement test he may not be placed correctly. I would do the placement tests. If he already took the placement test and that is where he is supposed to be, then be aware there is a lot of review at first. Things should ramp up eventually. Is he using the workbook? As for something not teacher heavy but more challenging, perhaps look into the CLE Light Units? Again, though, download the free placement tests and start back a bit. Have him do each level (they are long so maybe on different days) and see what level he places in to. There are TMs but the units are written to the student. Tight spiral covering many topics. DD loves CLE. So do I. And you can purchase just one or two to see if it is a good fit instead of having to commit to an entire costly program. DS not as much so he is using MiF most days. Teacher intense, though, so not what you are looking for. You could also have your child do Khan Academy coupled with something like Saxon. Some kids really hate Saxon, but that could be true of any math curriculum. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 TT has a reputation for being one of the easiest math programs. If you want more challenging but online, look into Thinkwell, EPGY, TabletClass, or Derek Owens. Art of Problem Solving also has online pre-algebra classes but those I believe have a specific time slot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahW Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 but finding the time has been tricky with 4 kids. However, he's good at math and likes it, so, should I just make the time and find a more teacher intensive curric or is there something out there similar to TT but a bit more encompassing. I've heard good things about Saxon....would that be a better route? There are DVD's for the Saxon books. I think they start in middle school. They may be good for your situation. I just saw a few minutes of them once at a conference. It had a nice lady with a southern accent teaching. Hopefully someone who knows what I'm talking about can point you in the right direction... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Tablet class comes on sale at the homeschool.buyers co-op for $50 a year. I would get him to look at the free demo. If he likes it finish the TT level you are on and switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 If SM went well before, why not use that again? Alternatively, MM may be more open-and-go than SM, as the lessons and workbook are combined into a "work text." Fifth grade was about the time my dd got more independent with it, though sometimes I would still need to go over the lesson with her (5 or 10 minutes, tops) and/or help with difficult problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiMi 4under3 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 There are DVD's for the Saxon books. I think they start in middle school. They may be good for your situation. I just saw a few minutes of them once at a conference. It had a nice lady with a southern accent teaching. Hopefully someone who knows what I'm talking about can point you in the right direction... I believe Saxon has 3 options: The Art Reed DVDs, Saxon Teacher vidoes, and D.I.V.E videos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IATeachingMom Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 I believe Saxon has 3 options: The Art Reed DVDs, Saxon Teacher vidoes, and D.I.V.E videos. Good to know! Does anyone know how a smooth a transition to Saxon would go? If TT is easy, and we move to Saxon will we be playing catch up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I did not have a positive experience with TT either. We were using it with CLE when Rebecca was in third grade. She tested out of 2/3 of TT 3 after completing CLE 200. While using CLE 300, we had to skip out of so much of TT 4, I eventually got rid of it because it just wasn't worth it. She kept saying, "Mom, I already learned this!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat in MI Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 Good to know! Does anyone know how a smooth a transition to Saxon would go? If TT is easy, and we move to Saxon will we be playing catch up? You would need to do the Saxon placement test to determine if you need catch up or not. My guess is if your child is doing one level ahead in TT they will probably place on level in Saxon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Well, do you think he is learning the math? Like, can you print some problems from the internet from previous sections and then see if he really understood and retained? I don't really see a huge problem with a kid churning through something faster, as long as he is retaining and isn't upset in some way. You could also supplement with Zaccaro's Challenge math. We put off buying this for so long and I LOVE IT> It is SO accessible and truly challenging yet it works the child up to the most challenging levels because it contains four levels of problems for each type of problem. We have the primary one I am using for my 5th grader. We just do Level 3 and Genius Level and then we move to the next chapter. She will be done the Primary CHallenge Math book in probably a month or so, and then we will upgrade to the regular Middle Grades Challenge Math. In this way she has had her confidence in problem solving very gently built and I am satisfied that she is really gaining concepts and not just algorithms and also being challenged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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