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Thoughts on Critical Thinking Company's Mathematical Reasoning


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I was just wondering if anyone had experience or thoughts on Mathematical Reasoning for a child who is has a strength in geometric reasoning and needs remediation to "close" the gap with computation and algebraic reasoning. DD, in beginning of the year kindergarten, scored above grade level on the Math Prinary MAP test in all areas. The difference in the two areas was a very wide gap. I know at the PS school she is in she will not receive remediation for this score even though the gap is wide it is still above grade level. Any other suggestions would be great.

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I have not used the Mathematical Reasoning book but I've looked at the demo pages online.  It looked very similar to their Building Thinking Skills book (which is good).

 

I used Dreambox for my Kindergartener.  It's an online program with a game like feel which builds an incredibly strong number sense.  It's pricey but it worked really well for her.  It's also self paced, so your Kindergartener can go through K, 1st, 2nd, as far as she wants.

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I've used critical thinking companies mathematical reasoning, dreambox, maths seeds, mammoth math, and now their school is providing st math.

 

I didn't like mathematical reasoning. Yes having color was nice but it was nothing special as far as math books went. I have k through 2nd books I needed to sell (minimal marking as I made my kids use a dry erase marker and sheat protector on the pages). I switched to mammoth math for my spine curriculum after my kindergartner finished the kg book my 1st grader almost finished hers.

 

I didn't feel it was very tough, it seemed watered down. Mammoth math is more dense material and for me more economical as I bought k through 6. Mammoth math is more challenging. Word problems are better.

 

Also mammoth math at least addressed the issue of common core where I don't see CTC-MR having done this (they don't have to but at least be more challenging for my mathy kids ... they are nowin 1st and 2nd).

 

I supplements with dreambox (which is great!!!! Not a full curriculum though so I need mammoth math to fill in gaps) And I keep math seeds going bc kids still enjoy it. My daughter is in a pilot program at school for St math.... that seems great too. Not sure if that's full curriculum though.

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I use Mathematical Reasoning as a fun supplement. I have gone through the age 3, just finished age 4 and about to start the K book. My dd enjoys it and it does a good job of touching on many different aspects of math reasoning in a spiral approach, keeping all of those skills fresh. I would not use it as a stand-alone, full curriculum, though (except for preschool).

 

If the remediation she needs is in computation skills, I would look at Math Mammoth or CLE, because they are straight-forward, step-by-step skills based, and very inexpensive to try out.

 

If she needs facts practice and enjoys card games, Right Start math games might be helpful. If you don't want to buy the full game set right off the bat, they sell tutor kits where you can buy only the games for certain operations (addition set, clock set, fractions set, etc.)

 

Sometimes it takes a lot of trial and error to figure out what will work with each child.

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So to clarify:

 

  • The child is above grade level in both areas.
  • This is a child under the age of 7.
  • There is an unusually large gap between geometric and logical reasoning.

To my mind, this sounds like a child who is precocious in geometric reasoning but not in critical thinking, but who has not reached the age at which many children hit symbolic / abstract thinking anyway.

 

I would not "remediate" in that case. If the school's curriculum is bad, then I'd support the child with my own curriculum. In kindergarten, that would be a lot of games and movement to develop number sense. Timing things, counting things. Lots and lots of lego, bicycle riding / trike riding, swinging, and Candyland counting the squares. Sports, counting goals, and getting concrete objects to hang the numeric hat on--that would be my priority.

 

Call me old fashioned, but in my world, there's nothing wrong with a child not being advanced in two areas equally.

 

I apologize if I have mischaracterized the situation and therefore given bad advice.

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