TracyR Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Okay. I'm definitely a person who once finds a curriculum that works likes to stick with it. But my oldest is driving me nuts with math. I've used Bob Jones math in the past until she was about 8 and we switched with a cyberschool that used Calvert, then for a few months an curriculum the school created. I had to pull her out of cyberschool this year after being with them for 5yrs and chose to use CLE math(which I really like by the way) to finish out our year. She did well with it and her math improved but she fought me when it came to getting it done. She wanted to use the Bob Jones math. Well we are coming upon a new school year and I'm finding myself in a quandry with math for my oldest daughter. I had bought the BJU 6th grade math only to find out that most of the CLE 400 level has covered what is in the BJU 6 (except for the last three chapters which are an optional prealgebra). I could get BJU 7th but still looks like a lot of review. She isn't ready for BJU's prealgebra quite yet though.. after reviewing it seems to move a bit to fast(if this makes any sense). So today I recieved a catalog in the mail from Christian Book distributors and she was looking through it and saw Singapore math and said that she thought that looked interesting. But I've looked at the placement tests and I'm just not sure if we should take a leap and use it or not. I hate jumping around with curriculums . My oldest is the type of child that 'get's math so a mastery math program works for her. I don't know. This is tough. I don't usually go by what my children ask for all of the time . I've always been the one to make the curriculum decisions,but my daughter is getting to that stage where she just is digging her heels in when I tell her I'd rather go with the CLE math and stick with it. She did this with the CLE reading and made our last half of homeschooling very miserable. I bought the BJU reading and now she is happy. I know there are some families here that just buy the curriculum and say " That's it .This is what we are using." My oldest though takes after me and can be VERY stubborn. Anyone out there with a child like that and what do you do? Is this too much curriculum hopping for math, going from BJU to Calvert to Lincoln Interactive (cyberschool curriculum), to CLE and to ... whatever it is we chose? Why does chosing curriculum have to be so difficult? LOL:tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 I can't answer everything, but, I do want to say that one of the reasons we homeschool is so we can use what works best for our children. For me, if that means some hopping, then that's what I'll do, if one thing is not working for some reason. Yes, they have to work hard, and sometimes don't like it, but if they hate the program, then it's doing none of us any good and we move on to something they enjoy and can work with more. My kids have been farely easy so far (starting 12th year of homeschooling next year), however, dd is struggling with Grammar, so I'm switching her this year, and trying other things to try to find a good fit so she truly gets it without hating it! BJU is a strong math program, so I'd be willing to go with that if that's what she'd be willing to work with. What is it that she DOESN'T like about CLE? What is it she DOES like about BJU? Maybe you can have her do a little research on them and make a pros and cons list of each one, so SHE knows what she likes and doesn't like about each one. Best wishes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 (edited) :iagree: :iagree: :iagree:...with Brindee's philosophy and suggestions. The fact that your daughter has an opinion about the style in which she wants to learn is a sign she hasn't become passive and disinterested....yet. By saying that I mean, she could just shut down and hate it all, never becoming an engaged learner. It would be pro-active at this point to start letting her become increasingly involved in curriculum decisions. This is a healthy "problem" to have. Be encouraged, Geo homeschooling 22 years 6 kids, ages 7-34 (not a typo) Edited July 7, 2009 by Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyAberlin Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 If she has done most of the 6th grade BJU why not put her in the 7th grade? If only the last couple of chapters are new material it will probably be reintroduced at the beginning of the 7th grade math book. Is there a BJU placement test that she could take? BJU is an excellent program. my friend's mom used all Bju with her from K-12th and she was a national merit scholar and while English was her thing the university she attended tried to get her to be a math major since she had outstanding math scored as well. You can't go wrong with it, especially since that is what she wants to use anyways, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 I could get BJU 7th but still looks like a lot of review. She isn't ready for BJU's prealgebra quite yet though.. after reviewing it seems to move a bit to fast(if this makes any sense). So today I recieved a catalog in the mail from Christian Book distributors and she was looking through it and saw Singapore math and said that she thought that looked interesting. But I've looked at the placement tests and I'm just not sure if we should take a leap and use it or not. I hate jumping around with curriculums Tracy, we use Singapore, and I have to admit, Singapore is more advanced than BJU in the elementary grades, you would definitely want to use the placement test for it. In addition, Singapore is heavy on mathematical thinking, especially with mental math. It may or may not work out. It also depends on what program you want to see through Algebra. Singapore is cheap enough to try out, but be ready to have the funds for BJU if it's a wash. BJU 7 sounds like a good final review of basic operations before pre-algebra. Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in CA Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Tracy, Before you decide to go with BJU's 7th grade math, be sure you are viewing the correct one. There is the old version of 7th, and then there is the new version that just came out in the last couple of months. I have both, and I can tell you that the new version is much more advanced than the old one. The old version of 7th is very close to the 6th grade text....so close that many choose one or the other instead of both. This cannot be said of the newer version. One thing about BJU that you need to keep in mind is that it has a traditional scope and sequence teaching each concept every year. So you are not going to find a huge difference between the 5th & 6th grade texts, except that they use larger numbers, and go a bit deeper in the concepts already covered, etc. As for Singapore...many like to use Singapore and BJU together. I use BJU and Singapore Challenging Word Problem books. As the other poster mentioned though, Singapore is harder. Well, wait, I don't know if I'd say harder, but that Singapore has a totally different scope and sequence. I've tried Singapore regular math books SEVERAL times and they were always just 'meh' to me. Not sure what all the hoopla is.:confused: But their Word Problem books are quite good and definitely worth adding to your math program. (Of course I've heard they may be being discontinued?) Anyhow, I hope you get it all figured out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jwraimee Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 I'm not a seasoned home educater, but I can say last year we did Chistian Liberty Press and it was not good for my 1st grader! We are doing Saxon math and its great! It moves slow, and reviews alot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 I would not flip to Singapore at this stage. Of your options, I would go with BJU 7th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela&4boys Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 ... She wanted to use the Bob Jones math. I bought the BJU reading and now she is happy. Based on your dd's comments and agreeing with many pps, I'd go with BJU. It does seem as if she understands her own learning style. my 2 cents, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2fiveboysnc Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 last year was my 1st year homeschooling and i chose singapore math for my 5th grader. he did not do well with it and he is a very mathy kid. this year i found a saxon math book at a garage sale and he tried it out for a few weeks and then i bought the whole 3rd edition package with the dive CD. he is loving it! since your dd is older, i wouldn't try singapore with her. it may be too different. my younger son is not having trouble with it but he was 1st grade last year. if she is comfortable with the bju, i would continue with that instead of the cle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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