jwoodbri Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 For summer/supplemental use do you use the workbooks as well? Last summer I bought BA 3A and 3B. My older son enjoyed reading through 3A but I don't think we did more than a few problems in the workbook. At the end of this summer he will be 10 and about to begin 5th grade. If you know about RightStart he is about 1/2 way through book E. Should I get the level 4 books for him to go through or should I just pick up with 3B? Should I add in workbook pages or since it's a supplement just stick to the "text" book? Thank you! Jess P.S. I also have a son who is just finishing 2nd grade (currently lesson 100 of 150 in RS C). Thinking I'll have him slowly work through 3A and 3B this summer. Not sure about workbook with him either... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudge Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Gonna have to follow this. I also have BA 3a and while the kids enjoy reading the stories and the characters, we didn't do many problems in the wkbk, because I couldn't figure them out. And teacher always looking in the back of the book at the answers sets a bad example..... haha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerforest Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I personally think doing the workbooks is pretty critical to the real value of Beast Academy. There is so much content and critical thinking happening with the problems. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwoodbri Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 I personally think doing the workbooks is pretty critical to the real value of Beast Academy. There is so much content and critical thinking happening with the problems. Thanks for your input. I think the workbooks are definitely valuable. Just didn't want the boys adding another whole math program in over the summer. Maybe we could compromise and just do some of the problems... hmmm. Wish they had pdfs available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
go_go_gadget Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I personally think doing the workbooks is pretty critical to the real value of Beast Academy. There is so much content and critical thinking happening with the problems. This. Math is something you *do*; it's not a passive experience. Also, OP, you said you were going to have your rising third grader work through 3A and 3B slowly over the summer, but that's a bit of a paradox, covering half a year's material "slowly" in a summer, since he's not accelerated. BA is cute and cuddly, but deceptively deep and demanding. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Without the workbooks, it's just a series of math story books. Good ones with a few practice problems, but basically just living books. If that's what you want, then sure. But it's not really the meat of the program. And I doubt it would take long - not all summer. But it is a full, difficult math program with the workbooks. Some kids will find it fun though. Doing it all over the summer is either impossible or inadvisable so think about choosing your chapters. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwoodbri Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 I'm not assuming he will get through both books, but he easily could. That part really doesn't matter to me. By slowly I more mean that I'd like him to not sit down and finish them in a couple weeks which is what he would do given the chance. I'd like to be sure he takes the time to work through it over a longer period of time so doing some of the workbook would be a good thing for sure. Remember I'm not looking for a math curriculum as I'm very happy with RS. Just looking for the boys to having fun with math and reinforce what they have been learning. Last summer my oldest read through the first book really quickly because he enjoyed it and it was review. Almost all of the first two books will be review for my younger son as well. My main question is where would I put my older son... move him up to 4 or keep working through 3? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwoodbri Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 Without the workbooks, it's just a series of math story books. Good ones with a few practice problems, but basically just living books. If that's what you want, then sure. But it's not really the meat of the program. And I doubt it would take long - not all summer. Yes this. My kids like reading LoF this way too. Tossing in some additional problems here and there to make sure they are getting it. I love BA and thought about switching to it but RS has been great for us so I'm definitely not trying to do two full curriculums. That would not make for a relaxing summer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetpea3829 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I don't think it's beyond the realm of possibility to accomplish Beast 3A and B, including workbooks, over the summer. Though I suppose it would depend on your definition of "summer break". I concur with other posters, however...the workbooks are really vital to the program. There is a lot of content in the workbooks that is not really covered in depth in the guide. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momacacia Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Gonna have to follow this. I also have BA 3a and while the kids enjoy reading the stories and the characters, we didn't do many problems in the wkbk, because I couldn't figure them out. And teacher always looking in the back of the book at the answers sets a bad example..... haha! There is no shame in this. My kid knows I'm insecure in math. She's overheard that I actually flunked my Algebra II final and passed the class only because I always did my homework (consistency pays off, lol). We sometimes call Dad at the office for help. Math is important at our house and understanding what we're doing in math, even if I have to look at answers and socratically lead her to an answer, is worth my looking not like my usual brilliant self. ;) Consequently I have kids who are better at math than I am and heaven knows, that's one of our goals! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotherOfBoys Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 It sounds like you might be better with Murderous Maths instead. It's a cross between Life of Fred and Beast guides. Cheaper. For just the guides and a few problems in the practice books, your not getting your money's worth from ba. If you like rs then add review of that or just start the next level over the summer while fun reading murderous maths. You don't have to wait to start rs in the fall. Just do it half pace or something. I wouldn't get ba 4 if you haven't finished ba 3. Why have two half grades lying around your house hoping your next dc will use it? All ages can get something from ba3. Murderous Maths comes in ebook form too. Perfect for summer traveling. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gil Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 For your purposes, I would just finish BA 3. If you buy any new books in the series, I would buy 3c and 3d because then your younger son could have the whole grade level set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dramorellis Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 It's deceptive in the fact that they may have covered the topics already but not in the way the workbook approaches them. So even if it is technically review, there is likely to be a lot of new applications to concepts(that are quite challenging) that you just won't get from the guide alone. Since you already are happy with RS, then I would second the recommendation of Murderous Maths instead of BA for summer reading. We got the whole box set on Amazon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwoodbri Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 Thank you ladies! Hadn't heard of Murderous Maths before but looks and sounds interesting. (Not I remember why I try to hide from this forum... always find so many wonderful things to buy. lol) And if I go with another BA book I'll buy the rest of 3. That makes a lot of sense. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 I have never been able to really learn math by just reading a book and when I see my daughter using the workbooks it is definitely there that the concepts sink in. I would recommend the workbooks, for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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