lemonade2122 Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Last year, we used MCP Math and my then 1st and 2nd graders hated it. Page after page of addition followed by page after page of subtraction, drove them nuts. So, for this year, we switched to Saxon. I have one in Saxon K, one in Saxon 2 and one in Saxon 3. But now, I'm the one having a hard time, for several reasons: 1. I feel very scattered with the incremental approach, especially since it seems too incremental at times. For example, my kindergartner just learned today how to tell time to the hour (Lesson 40-something). He LOVED learning this! The sad thing is that it's covered one more time two lessons from now and then there isn't another clock lesson for the rest of the book! 2. My kids have already mastered some of the topics being covered, but I'm afraid of missing something seemingly small that will then be needed later for a related topic. For example, I didn't see the point of learning to count by 7's (seemed totally random), so I skipped this. I then discovered that later they use counting by 7's as part of the intro into multiplication! So we started memorizing counting by 7's. It's just frustrating that there wasn't a clear explanation of why this was being done in the first place. I looked at Rod & Staff's Math series and like how they cover one topic until it's done, while still including review, but I'm afraid of it being too much like MCP and the kids just ending up hating it. They haven't complained about Saxon (other than the lessons taking too long, which has led to us cutting out the daily "Meeting" portion)...do you think I should just continue with Saxon for next year or would a change be good even though it would mainly be for my own benefit?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Well, if they're not complaining about Saxon, I might stick with it. Otherwise, maybe look into McRuffy or, for your olders, Teaching Textbooks. Both are spiral and the lessons don't take long to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 If you're saying that you would prefer a mastery approach rather than spiral, you may want to look at MM. If you are saying you like spiral but just not the super-spiral-on-steroids of Saxon, then perhaps something like CLE (I know nothing of CLE but what I've read here). No need to be stumped; there are lots and lots of options ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloggermom Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 CLE Math is a great choice. You may also want to look into Teaching Textbooks if you want something more independent (and self-graded). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Well, one of the positive things about R&S is the scripted oral classtime in the R&S teacher manuals. You spend maybe 10 or 15 minutes doing the lesson, which is where the actual teaching is, then you assign the seatwork...only as much as you think is necessary. You can add in the black line masters, which provides extra practice but in a different format from the daily seatwork (you photocopy the masters that you want to use). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristinannie Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 If your kids like Saxon, it is a very solid program and I would stick with it. Otherwise, it seems like Math Mammoth might be a good fit for you. As for the clock, I highly suggest the Right Start Clock games. They are awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 If you're saying that you would prefer a mastery approach rather than spiral, you may want to look at MM. If you are saying you like spiral but just not the super-spiral-on-steroids of Saxon, then perhaps something like CLE. :iagree: I would not be able to teach Saxon. Just the homework sheets in grade 1 drive me nuts. I wouldn't have any problem teaching CLE. If my child needed a appeal curriculum, that'd be my first choice. My oldest is a more mastery type guy, so MM and Singapore work for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 I like Strayer-Upton arithmetic MUCH better after I ripped the cute little books apart, scanned the pages, and printed them, bigger and made into lots of short workbooks. The little books are adorable, but awkward to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misslissa Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 another vote for MM :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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