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simplyalethia

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Posts posted by simplyalethia

    Torn on math

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    On 09/02/2021 at 4:37 PM, MGS said:

    You can’t go wrong with Themeville.  It really is pretty good.  We love it and used it with zearn.org, it was a perfect fit.  (We had to level down in themeville for two of my kids FYI).  I’m just sad themeville only goes to grade 5.

    Oh wow that's great to know. Yes, it's a bummer that it only goes to grade 5. Thanks for telling me about the levels. I'm waiting on my new budget to purchase. 

    Torn on math

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    On 30/01/2021 at 7:02 PM, TK5004 said:

    Masers and simplyalethia- I hope you’ll keep us updated and let us know how math ends up working out for you! I was in your shoes about a year and a half ago and it really is so stressful not knowing what to do for math. It’s such a relief when you finally find a great program that clicks with your kids! 

     

    An update:

    I will be continuing with Singapore but as a supplement. I really do like the layout just not necessarily how it teaches some things.

    My spine and "drill" will be Themeville math.

    I bought the K5 and Grade 3 math manipulatives pack from BJU Press. I laminated them so all my children will be able to use them.

    I also will be purchasing a set of Cuisinare Rods to use for bar modeling, fractions etc.

    I was heavily considering Math Mammoth but it's too similar to Singapore and I prefer Singapore's layout.

    BJU MATH VS ROD AND STAFF MATH...vs Singapore

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    An update:

    I will be continuing with Singapore but as a supplement. I really do like the layout just not necessarily how it teaches some things.

    My spine and "drill" will be Themeville math.

    I bought the K5 and Grade 3 math manipulatives pack from BJU Press. I laminated them so all my children will be able to use them.

    I also will be purchasing a set of Cuisinare Rods to use for bar modeling, fractions etc.

    Thanks for all your input.

    I will give an update in a few months about this new routine.

    Math Curriculum Woes

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    On 30/01/2021 at 5:15 PM, Angela Mora said:

    I feel like I have looked at every curriculum under the sun and still am unable to choose a math curriculum for my 2nd grader.

    Some background: We used The Good and the Beautiful Math 1 for first grade, and overall I enjoyed the program and my daughter seemed ok with it. However, when we started 2nd grade with the same program, my daughter cried every day and seemed like she couldn't remember basic math facts. I decided because of her math anxiety that we would just focus on learning the basic addition/subtraction facts along with Life of Fred for the first half of the year (which we did). She has progressed some, but is still slow and still hates math. Now that it is the second half of the year, we are currently using Math Lessons for a Living Education because I wanted to introduce something gentle and more textbook-y (Life of Fred seemed too sporadic), but this curriculum is also all over the place (for me) and doesn't give enough instruction. She does seem to like the hands-on aspect of it, however.

    I have no idea what to purchase for her next year. She is likely going to repeat 2nd grade math just because I want her to be solid on concepts before moving on. But which math curriculum is good for a student who struggles and has a high-level of math anxiety? I feel mastery approach is best with some sort of kinesthetic learning. I am an English teacher, not a math instructor, so I do need a curriculum that spells things out for me and isn't too abstract.

    Any help is appreciated!

    -Angela

    I have also been on the hunt for a new math curriculum and posted about it in "BJU Press Vs Rod and Staff...Vs Singapore" for my 2nd grader.

    Here's what I've found out:

    1. BJU Press is great but goes at a slower pace than Singapore. It's also expensive.

    2. Rod and Staff is inexpensive but may be too much drill. It won't be the best if you want your child to have a STEM career.

    3. Singapore is great at mastery and mental math. However, you will have to learn how to teach it properly. Plus it is best in conjunction with manipulatives. There is not enough drill for some people and in general it seems to be a hit or miss.

    4. TGTB is beautiful but there are too many extras. Many STEM people believe that you're better off with Math Mammoth or Singapore Math.

    5. Math Mammoth is highly recommended. However, people complain that there are too many problems per page ( i.e. the page seems crowded) and it's not very pretty. But most agree that it's a solid program. Many people say that it's similar to Singapore Math but Rainbow Resources Center disagrees. They even have a PDF document comparing many math curricula. I'm still contemplating switching to Math Mammoth.

    6. Themeville Math is currently what I'm investigating because it's just one big worktext with Teacher's instructions included and a Solutions book. It's very detailed but minimal and has lots of mental math. Older versions are in the format of 1A, 1B, 1C and so on. It currently goes from Grade 1-5. It's the most affordable of all that I've listed.

    7. From what I've seen Math Lessons for a Living Education is all over the place and too gentle. It also seems like it would be a setback. Many people I know tend to switch during their second year of using it.

    I really wish that choosing and using a math curriculum would be soo much easier.

    But I hope my summary helps.

    Torn on math

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, Not_a_Number said:

    You could also let him do some Beast online? That often scans as "fun math" to mathy kids. 

    Yes I actually need to check that out for myself. I've heard mixed reviews but I've never actually looked at it.

    So thanks again for your help here and on my topic I started yesterday.

    • Like 1

    Torn on math

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    6 hours ago, Masers said:


    i May end up just buying it and going for it, since it’s not very expensive. It definitely seems like a strong program, and that’s really important! I don’t know that I would use it for my second son,though. I’d rather do something with games and stories for him, since he’s so drawn to that. And then I feel like if I do TGTB or right start or whatever with him, my oldest will freak out because his brother gets to do fun math, and why does he have to always do hard stuff, and life isn’t fair, waaaahhhhh! 

    I just saw this after posting lol.

    Is this a 2nd son thing? My 2nd son is the same.

    But what I plan to do if I really buy Math Mammoth is to get manipulatives specific to him.

    So I'm thinking of STEM blocks, popsicle sticks and even cheap Matchbox cars as counters. He's obsessed with action figures so maybe toy soldiers? Not sure but I'm planning it out.

    Thanks to @TK5004 I'm really considering it now. 

     

    Torn on math

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    12 hours ago, Masers said:

    I have not decided. If anything, I feel more confused than when I first posted. 😝 
    for my older son, I’m currently thinking either math mammoth or TGTB, but I’m not sure. I don’t think he would like math mammoth, but I could always supplement with “Fun math”. But then I think, “would I actually DO the supplements?” Because I was going to supplement more this year, too, but by the time we’re done with what “needs” to be done, nobody really has the time or energy or desire to do more. (Especially my son.) I think he would prefer TGTB, but I have concerns about the rigor and also about the “fluff”....that it’s time consuming without adding much. However, they are supposedly streamlining it...trying to keep the good and get rid of the “meh“. I Am anxious to look at their samples of the new materials before I make a decision. Ultimately, I want him to be a strong math student, but I also want him to enjoy math and I want to enjoy doing it, too!

    for my second son, I have even more choices. I’m looking at math mammoth, TGTB, right start, and Kate snow’s new line, “math with confidence.” I would go with hers, as it seems to hit everything I’m looking for, but I need to see the first grade samples, which haven’t been released yet. I suspect it will be too easy for him, but I’m not sure . I think he’ll be somewhere between first and second grade for next year. 
     

    I may order “learn math fast” to do over the summer, to hopefully get them up to speed on any gaps they may have, but also to give me a refresher course in middle school math! 
     

    So are you leaning towards BJU? 

    I totally understand and relate to everything you said!

    I was leaning towards BJU. A friend of mine showed me Math Mammoth and I've rewatched YouTube flip throughs and it really does look like it's everything I'm looking for.

    I guess it just doesn't look very pretty but the colored version seems doable. It seems straight forward that even if you don't like Math, you could still teach it.

    So I've added the 2 sets in my cart on Rainbow Resources. The set has the work texts, answer keys and reviews. I know that I could buy the CD and print but since I would need to print for my 7 and 5 (soon to be 6) year olds, I think the set is cheaper. Or maybe I just love books?!😁

    If I do buy it, I'm going to start them both at 1a ( go quicker with my 7 ) and then just move on to the next level when either is finished. But since both would be using it then I would just need to buy the extra books not the set twice.

    Oh and she suggested that I could use Mathematical Reasoning by Critical Thinking Co and Singapore word problems occasionally.

    That's where I'm at as of this afternoon. 😀

    How does this sound to you?

    Torn on math

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    @Masers Have you decided yet? 

    I want to switch from Singapore and I posted about that today in a new topic.

    Lots of people (in real life) say Math Mammoth but I don't know why I'm hesitant. 

    I too looked into Horizons.

    I had narrowed it to BJU PRESS math and Rod and Staff but I got an excellent comment today which made me scratch Rod and Staff. 

    I would love to hear what you decided.

    Thanks.

    BJU MATH VS ROD AND STAFF MATH...vs Singapore

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    @Not_a_Number Ooohhh! I think you've cracked it. 

    Ok he says he knows the expansion of hundreds tens and ones but apparently sometimes he sees the numbers separately or like spaces between?! So not 500 but 5 0 0. 

    And then he treats it as five zero zero. That seems to happen when he's doing practice problems and sometimes with his word problems.

    But I'm going to let him use manipulatives more and practice more.

    With the Prime Mathematics book, there is heavy emphasis on word problems. Not necessarily lots of practice.

    So even topics such as number patterns in sequence we had to really hone in on the relevant pattern. The book didn't dive into explanation other than numbers on the number line. But because we have charts he was able to visualize and understand. For example the number line has 6, 8, 10, 12, ___ but if there was space on the line then he'll add as many as possible instead of just 14. And I would have to remind him that he does not need to do so. And he does not need to get caught up on ALL the possible patterns.

    So I'm really not sure that Singapore is going to be great long term.

     

    • Like 1

    BJU MATH VS ROD AND STAFF MATH...vs Singapore

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Oh that's great that you're a mathematician.

    Honestly, it's hard for me to explain. I've tried my best to condense his stories and explanations.

    Because of his ADHD and just his awesome (lol) brain his stories are all over the place. Plus he's easily distracted, loves to rush his work just so he can move on to the next thing. When it comes to word problems he thinks very detailed and tries to add possibilities to the already long or 2 part question. 

    And he doesn't keep still.

    But then, when he loves something, he'll diligently write, practice and make up his own stuff. And he'll even draw and colour his own manipulatives.

    So I'm not really sure what else to say other than, I just wanted to ensure that I have a great curriculum to satisfy State and personal (his) requirements. 

    BJU MATH VS ROD AND STAFF MATH...vs Singapore

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted · Edited by simplyalethia
    To add number bonds

    Ok, I looked at it again.

    It says "When 0 is added to a number, the answer is the number itself." 

    "When 0 is subtracted from a number, the answer is the number itself" 

    So I just asked him and his issue was when the zero is at the end, he thought that he should apply that principle. And he was thinking of number bonds. So for example 500-195, he got 315 instead of 305.

    I would say that I was taught procedural from K to grade 3 and then conceptual from 4-6.

    Which math curriculum is your go to?

     

     

    • Like 1

    BJU MATH VS ROD AND STAFF MATH...vs Singapore

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    14 minutes ago, Not_a_Number said:

     

    Zero minus a number doesn't give you back the number. It gives you the negative number. 

    I know. 

    It's how it's worded in the book that confused him.

    Where I live you have to do official year end testing. You also have to register your homeschool. Things aren't so strict at the moment because of the pandemic, so I just want to ensure that everything is great in the long term.

    Singapore, BJU and Abeka are just a few that are popular here.

    And you're right about conceptual math. 

    Thanks for responding.

    • Like 1

    BJU MATH VS ROD AND STAFF MATH...vs Singapore

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    7 minutes ago, Enigma6 said:

    I have used both. BJU is excellent and worth every penny— especially Mrs. Walker teaching Grade 2, if you use the distance learning option. (Used copies of the TM are around for about $30-$40. I have a local store I can check for you, if you choose it as teach yourself.) It has all the pluses of Singapore and traditional to me. 

    R&S is strictly arithmetic. It drove my gifted kid nuts because it lacks variety and drills every concept into the ground. Amish aren’t prepping their kids for higher maths, you know. Also, be aware if you have to do State testing, your child will not do well because of the narrow scope. Memoria Press sells lesson plans for every grade through 6th.

    I like what the previous poster said about using it as a review set as needed.

    So all that to say if I were in your spot, I would buy BJU with distance learning and books (cheapest way to buy the texts) and call it done.

    I totally have to do testing.

    I'm glad I started this topic. I didn't even really think about the testing. I was more focused on ensuring that he'll understand and won't be left behind.

    And yes I really do love the look and positive feedback from most people about BJU.

    So I guess the price was my only qualm.

    Hmmm.

    So right now, BJU is leading and I can incorporate Rod and Staff for drill, if I insist on buying it.

    And I guess I'd use the rest of Singapore occasionally.

    Great response. Thank you.

    BJU MATH VS ROD AND STAFF MATH...vs Singapore

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I've been lurking on these boards and I just had to create a topic because I just can't decide.

    I have a 7 year old son (Gifted+ ADHD), an almost 6 year old son (ADHD hates lots of writing) and a 2 year old girl.

    My eldest was doing Singapore Prime Math at his private Catholic school and when the pandemic hit, we chose to homeschool instead of online learning. He has always excelled at math. Always at the top of his class, 100% or 98% semester average for math and just seems to get it naturally because he loves it. Well since he seemed to love it so much, I bought the 2nd book (2A/Coursebook 2 depending on where you live), everything seemed to be going ok until we hit adding/subtracting with zero. So for example 509-273 or 800-198. He kept on making lots of mistakes. He knows he should borrow and all the steps etc. But for some reason he would get it wrong. On closer inspection I realized that in 1A it only says something like "zero minus a number gives you back the number and zero plus a number gives you back the number". Plus the emphasis of counting/adding by tens kept on tripping him up in HTO regrouping.

    So then I had to explain and teach him the traditional way (like how most of us were taught). Plus I asked his father to help since he's excellent at math. Long story short, I realized that while Singapore was pretty and has great word problems, it's not the math for our family. We are very academic in our household and math is important. I'm more of an allrounder but prefers Languages and Arts. 

    Now, I read through these boards and watched countless YouTube reviews and have narrowed it down to BJU Press Math and Rod and Staff Math.

    I just would like the opinions of experienced homeschoolers who have used both and why as well as, which do you prefer?

    Additionally, one of my main concerns is that BJU is so expensive and I wonder if Rod and Staff would be boring or too much drill. I ultimately would like to find a foundational programme that could work for all my children. And yes, I do know that everyone learns differently but I need a spine. 

    Also lots of people have recommended Math Mammoth but I know my boys would complain about it and I just don't like how it looks.

    Someone please HELP! Thanks.

     

     

     

     

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