Please review Horizon's 4th grade Math.

[BlessedMom]

If you have used Horizon's 4th grade Math can you please share you thoughts and opinions. Pros & cons, why.

 

Thanks

[BlessedMom]

Anyone?

[happyhomemaker]

Dd is currently using it so I can't give a full review. It's spiral, which is good for dd. We do skip stuff that she has down pat so she does about 2 lessons a day. We slow down to one lesson when we get to material she doesn't know. The word problems really need to be more challenging. We will definitely be supplementing in that area. I like all the review, but I wish the material were presented in multiple ways to reinforce concepts. I end up doing that myself through games and discussions. Honestly, I would switch to something else, but we have already tried a few other programs and I don't want her to feel unstable in math. So I think we will continue with Horizons and supplement with Singapore word problems, some games, etc. HTH

Edited November 13, 2011 by happyhomemaker

[MerryAtHope]

Are you already using Horizons and want to know how 4 compares to the earlier levels, or are you new to Horizons?

 

My oldest used levels 2-6 and my youngest has used 1-6 (she's in 6 now).

 

Levels 1-3 and 4-6 are written by two different authors, so if you are coming from L3, there is a change. L4 on up have a page of instruction written to the student right in the workbook, which I actually prefer (wish it was in the earlier levels and we could just teach from that!).

 

My kids used Horizons a level below their grade level & always tested high in math (and they've always had to work at math too). I feel it has given them a good, well-rounded math base, although I did think my son needed more help with fractions when he moved into pre-algebra (Horizon's version wasn't out yet, we used MUS). I picked up the MUS Epsilon dvd for the teaching methods when we reviewed fractions. Conceptually MUS was stronger on teaching fractions than Horizons was (or possibly my son just needed extra review, or maybe he just relates to Steve Demme, LOL!). My dd has always especially loved the puzzles and Bible verses in Horizons.

 

HTH some. Merry :-)

[wy_kid_wrangler04]

My 4th grader is currently using book 1. I like it. She needs spiral. :glare: We use the worksheets a couple months behind purposely because she just needs alot of spiral practice. That is just her. That being said, she consistently scores in the 90%-100% range. Before we did Horizons we were doing a non-spiral program and she did not score high. I love Horizons!

 

 

Now, next year I am debating switching to BCM and Key To, moving slowly through BCM. This move has nothing to do with Horizons. I love Horizons! Its simply to try to save money on curriculum next year. I already own most of the Key To series and BCM. Our budget as is is just under $3,000 and I HAVE to make cuts. I just have to. If it were not for that I would very happily keep going with Horizons!

[Cleopatra]

I have a love/hate relationship with Horizons. When we moved to Horizons, from Saxon, it was a breath of fresh air ...... at first. Then the honeymoon began to end ..... :tongue_smilie: My main beef with it is that, because of the spiral method, it does not stay with a new topic for long enough for the new skill to cement. I remember one skill it taught in one lesson, she got five problems of practice in that lesson, five the next lesson and then she didn't come across it for another 10 lessons, where it suddenly appeared on a test. :confused: We found in the upper grades, she needed more practice and Horizon's jumping-around-style was not working well. Right now I'm supplementing with some "Key To's"

 

Don't get me wrong. I know it works well for some people but it was frustrating for my dd. To be honest, I really think it depends on the child.

 

If I had it to do over again, I'd choose Singapore Math.