Math suggestions

[Jess4879]

What pre-alg math has worked for your dyslexic kiddo?  I think we'd do best with a mastery-based, with built in review. 

[OneStepAtATime]

There was no one program that worked, TBH.  The only thing that has worked here is cobbling together parts from many programs.  I use CLE/CTC/Key to series currently.  In the past I have also used Beast Academy, Math on the Level (and still use their checklist and their 5 a day review sometimes), Math in Focus, AoPS Pre-Algebra, AGS Pre-Algebra, along with other resources.  I started out believing that if I just found that one right program we could just keep plugging along and it would be fine.  Nope.  DD, especially, needed different things for different reasons at different times.  And she needs both mastery AND spiral.  She has to keep reviewing things over and over and over for quite a while before something sticks.  Just mastery or mastery with a bit of review was useless to her.  I had to be willing to really cobble it all together myself from several resources.  It has not been an easy journey, especially since this is a very weak subject for me.  DD is also dyscalculic, though, not just dyslexic.  Your child's needs may be vastly different from mine. 

 

What have you been using so far?  Have you ever tried Math U See?  It is mastery based but many find there is not enough built in review and they have to add their own.  You could add your own, too, using material off the web.

 

Is your child doing well in math, just struggling with the reading part?  Or are there comorbid issues?  Answering those questions might help people give you a better answer to your question.

[Jess4879]

Your questions have really made me think this through!  Thank you! 

 

Up until this point she has done pretty well in math.  We've used TT for a few years and she's done well.  This year we added in Key To books for fractions, decimals and she's working through percents now.  She sometimes needs to see a concept presented a different way, but is *usually* pretty quick to pick it up.  She didn't struggle at all with long division, despite the multi-steps, but I think we were able to address it in a way that she could really see the "why".  She also was quick with fractions up until the point that we added in multiplying and dividing.  Then she struggled to remember - with different steps for different types of fractions, she definitely got a bit muddled.  This is when we added Key To books.  They definitely helped her cement fractions and she was doing well...but then we added TT back in and started with decimals.  Another tough topic...so we went back to Key To.  Ideally, moving on to a topic like geometry and reviewing fractions for awhile would have been best, but I found this tough to do with TT because so many of the questions are review in every lesson.  

 

I definitely think using more than one program could be key for her.  MUS is on my radar.  I am hesitant to continue with TT, only because I find it very hard to mesh with a 2nd program.  I do have Key To Algebra and Lial's....so I could use either of those with MUS. 

 

My mind is muddled with this right now...

 

 

 

 

[OneStepAtATime]

Have you looked at something like CLE paired with CTC?  The kids use CLE as the spine and CTC for targeted on-line review.  I do the new material in CLE with them on a dry erase board then they do select review problems from the rest of the lesson using the light unit workbook.  If they need additional explanation they can hop on CTC for a video and a different approach.  The two have paired well for us.  And Key to Fractions/Decimals/Percents helps solidify those particularly troublesome areas.  

 

CTC is a self-paced video on-line math program that can be mastery or spiral or both.  The student has access to all material from kindergarten through Calculus so if they need to review something at a lower level it is easy to do.  If they have an area of strength that they want to pursue at a higher level they can do that too.  Unlike TT, new problems are generated every time they do a lesson.  They can move around in the different topics and the lessons are fairly short.  A parent can assign different topics, too, so if you wanted specific areas targeted for review you can do so.  Also, the explanations, including the graphics, can be printed out and put in a math notebook.  When the section is graded, the student can see where they made the mistake and why and can go back and redo the section with new problems.

[Jess4879]

Have you looked at something like CLE paired with CTC?  The kids use CLE as the spine and CTC for targeted on-line review.  I do the new material in CLE with them on a dry erase board then they do select review problems from the rest of the lesson using the light unit workbook.  If they need additional explanation they can hop on CTC for a video and a different approach.  The two have paired well for us.  And Key to Fractions/Decimals/Percents helps solidify those particularly troublesome areas.  

 

CTC is a self-paced video on-line math program that can be mastery or spiral or both.  The student has access to all material from kindergarten through Calculus so if they need to review something at a lower level it is easy to do.  If they have an area of strength that they want to pursue at a higher level they can do that too.  Unlike TT, new problems are generated every time they do a lesson.  They can move around in the different topics and the lessons are fairly short.  A parent can assign different topics, too, so if you wanted specific areas targeted for review you can do so.  Also, the explanations, including the graphics, can be printed out and put in a math notebook.  When the section is graded, the student can see where they made the mistake and why and can go back and redo the section with new problems.

 

I have never heard of CTC.  Do you have a link?  I have looked at samples of CLE, but have never tried it.  Might have to grab a LU over the summer and give it a go.  :)

 

[OneStepAtATime]

CTC is usually on sale through Homeschool Buyer's Co-op.  Here is a link:

https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/ctc-math/

 

We used it last year and when the subscription came up for renewal both kids begged me to renew.  Since they were that enthusiastic I went ahead and got it again.  I got the family plan so both kids and I can do math lessons.  I knew I was needing a refresher in a lot of areas so I set up my own student profile as well.  It has been really nice to set up 3 profiles through the same system at no additional cost.  

 

I think right now it is 60% off through the co-op and if you order through them you get 6 months of additional access for free.  Also, I believe there is a full refund if you are unhappy with the product.

 

As for CLE, there is a placement test that is free.  It tends to introduce a lot of concepts a bit earlier than some other math systems so sometimes kids test into a lower grade level.  I just explained to the kids that it was a level, not a grade level, and you test into whatever level you need to start at so the grade number on the light unit wouldn't be an issue.  The first light unit of each level is a review of previous levels so those light units are great for review but not a good example of the program itself, by the way.

 

https://www.clp.org/store/by_grade/21

 

The placement test can be long.  There are also two levels.  Start with level 1, even though a lot of it will be review, and maybe break it up over two to three days.  Give just a few problems a day so she is able to focus and won't feel overwhelmed.  Stress that there may be topics she has not covered yet.  Encourage her to do what she can but don't stress over the stuff she hasn't been exposed to yet (if anything).

[Jess4879]

CTC is usually on sale through Homeschool Buyer's Co-op.  Here is a link:

https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/ctc-math/

 

We used it last year and when the subscription came up for renewal both kids begged me to renew.  Since they were that enthusiastic I went ahead and got it again.  I got the family plan so both kids and I can do math lessons.  I knew I was needing a refresher in a lot of areas so I set up my own student profile as well.  It has been really nice to set up 3 profiles through the same system at no additional cost.  

 

I think right now it is 60% off through the co-op and if you order through them you get 6 months of additional access for free.  Also, I believe there is a full refund if you are unhappy with the product.

 

As for CLE, there is a placement test that is free.  It tends to introduce a lot of concepts a bit earlier than some other math systems so sometimes kids test into a lower grade level.  I just explained to the kids that it was a level, not a grade level, and you test into whatever level you need to start at so the grade number on the light unit wouldn't be an issue.  The first light unit of each level is a review of previous levels so those light units are great for review but not a good example of the program itself, by the way.

 

https://www.clp.org/store/by_grade/21

 

The placement test can be long.  There are also two levels.  Start with level 1, even though a lot of it will be review, and maybe break it up over two to three days.  Give just a few problems a day so she is able to focus and won't feel overwhelmed.  Stress that there may be topics she has not covered yet.  Encourage her to do what she can but don't stress over the stuff she hasn't been exposed to yet (if anything).

 

HSBC price makes this so much more do-able!  Thanks! :)  I am going to start the trial and see how it goes.  Both DD and I liked the sample.

 

[OneStepAtATime]

The accent is Australian so it may take a bit of getting used to if your child is not familiar with that type of accent.

[Heathermomster]

We used a combo of MUS, Hands-on Equations, and a standard McDougal-Littell Pre-Algebra text.

 

https://www.amazon.com/McDougal-Littell-Pre-Algebra-Student-2005/dp/0618250034/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498345692&sr=8-1&keywords=mcdougal+littell+pre-algebra