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Are there other discovery math programs out there?


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My 8 yro son seems to really prefer Miquon and the discovery math realm. :glare:

 

Are there other good discovery math programs out there? Something we could continue with after Miquon ends?

 

Would he be a good candidate for AoPS in a few years?

 

Thank-you for any advice!

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AoPS is working to prepare their new elementary school math program called "Beast Academy." The first book (3rd Grade) is scheduled for release this summer. The style is nothing like Miquon, the textbook is in colorful comic book style, but the sample chapter is very intriguing.

 

The "Key to...." books (on fractions, percents, etc) are very similar in style to Miquon, and were written by the Miquon author's son.

 

Bill

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Have you looked at Calculus for and by Young People?

http://rainbowresource.com/product/sku/000859/95b650982fa180d33a036bd8

 

I wouldn't use it as your math program but it would be a great supplement for kids preferring the discovery method. We did some parts of it a few years ago.

 

I think the Key to books are very straightforward instruction with tons of practice.

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Thanks for the ideas. I did hear about Beast Academy (and that sounds right down our alley), but it looks like it won't be out in time for the 8 yro. My 6 yro and 4 yro might be able to use it.

 

I have seen the Key To books, but...was looking for something more in depth, but maybe I should look at those again.

 

I'll definitely look at the Calculus for Young People (but 8 yro skaterdude is not ready for calculus yet). :lol:

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Jen is right about "Key to..." not being so much "discovery style," they just resemble the hand-drawn friendly style of Miquon. And are ordinary used as a "supplement."

 

I've been long curious about the Calculus for Young People materials, but have never pulled the trigger :bigear:

 

Bill

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Here and there along the way, there are some discovery aspects to MM (upper grades) but it's kind of snuck in there, not particularly obvious. There may also be some discovery aspects to Montessori math, though those materials tend to top out around long division.

 

If you don't mind doing your own tweaking, it might be possible to have your student work on problems before giving the lesson, to see if they can "discover" the lesson. You could try that with the example problems contained in the lesson. That's not quite the same as a curriculum designed that way, because the particular problems, and the order, may make a difference, but it might be worth a try. (e.g., IMO, part of the genius of AoPS lies in the sequence of the lesson problems, and that would be difficult to replicate using a curriculum that wasn't designed for it.)

 

Alternatively, you could take a look at some of the public school curricula designed to use a discovery method (e.g. Everyday Math? eek :tongue_smilie:; I don't know what the choices would be), take some discovery pieces from it, and combine it with practice and instruction from a more solid curriculum.

 

ETA, yes to AoPS, when the time comes.

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Thanks for the ideas. I did hear about Beast Academy (and that sounds right down our alley), but it looks like it won't be out in time for the 8 yro. My 6 yro and 4 yro might be able to use it.

 

Don't be too sure yet about BA. My son is doing Singapore 3A/B this year and the Beast Academy sample was plenty challenging for him (and me). So I personally wouldn't hesitate to "re-do" Third Grade math if the finished book matches the challenge of the samples.

 

Bill

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Take a look at MEP. There have been plenty of problems in there that have required a "discovery" approach. MEP is very good at "thinking outside the box" kind of problems. They are not just fill-in-the-blank worksheets. MEP does suggest the the use of number strips or c-rods in some of their lessons. I've enjoyed using a MEP/Miquon/Singapore combo for a few years now.

 

And you can't beat the price...

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Take a look at MEP. There have been plenty of problems in there that have required a "discovery" approach. MEP is very good at "thinking outside the box" kind of problems. They are not just fill-in-the-blank worksheets. MEP does suggest the the use of number strips or c-rods in some of their lessons. I've enjoyed using a MEP/Miquon/Singapore combo for a few years now.

 

And you can't beat the price...

 

:thumbup1: Yeah, the price is awesome.

 

Would using MEP + Miquon be enough math for an 8 yro?

 

 

As far as Math Mammoth, my 4th grader is using MM and she loves it. It was a perfect fit for her. My 8 yro seems to really like the Miquon-ish stuff, tho.

 

There have been some great math threads lately. I'm need to do more reading. I plan to buy some of the Horrible Math books, too.

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Nope.:glare:

 

..but I'm :bigear: in hope anyway...

 

Math Mammoth is the antithesis of discovery method, though it's a solid math and I truly like it for my other dc.

 

Giving him some CWP and letting him "have at it" before making him go through the steps of showing work works well.

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:thumbup1: Yeah, the price is awesome.

 

Would using MEP + Miquon be enough math for an 8 yro?

 

 

MEP and Miquon would be plenty. Even just one of them would probably be enough, depending on the child and/or the teacher. I happen to be not-so-mathy myself. I knew that I needed all the help I could get in teaching it. I layer different math programs because I think the slightly different perspectives that each program brings helps to give a fuller understanding of math itself, instead of just "do this, do that, that's it. Repeat." And by using multiple programs, my math lover gets to explore math more, and the one-who-endures math gets the review he needs, without it being endless pages of the same program.

 

Not everyone has to do it this way, but it works for us. :)

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...

I've been long curious about the Calculus for Young People materials, but have never pulled the trigger :bigear:

 

Explore Don Cohen's Map to Calculus -- just click, browse, enjoy! Lots of interesting ideas to play with. The items are numbered in the order they show up in the book, I think. At any rate, the book starts with Infinite Series (which is #1 on the map), and a lot of the later activities refer back to that.

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