MUS for high school

[Scout]

We are long time MUS users (my dd will be in pre-algebra w/ honors next year), but there is always that nagging feeling that maybe something else would be better for HS.

 

I am hoping to hear some success stories from people who have used MUS through HS. My dd is not looking to pursue a "high math" career.

 

Thanks.

 

(I am also hoping not to hear a lot from people who HATE MUS. I know they are out there... just looking for some positives. Thanks.)

[Lori D.]

My son who has some learning issues with spelling, writing, and the abstract (non-concrete) concepts of math (such as algebra concepts!), just finished MUS Pre-Algebra last year in 8th grade, and will be doing MUS Algebra this year in 9th grade.

 

However, I must add that we supplemented MUS -- but that is because we always have (with both the math struggler son AND the older "mathy" son) in order to help them see math from more than one point of view.

 

Last year we supplemented MUS Pre-Algebra with Singapore 5A/B and 6A/B (we finished MUS early, so the last 8 weeks of school he got through a "fast track" overview of Singapore 5A/B and 6A). To also keep him from forgetting Zeta concepts, while he was doing the MUS, I also had him do a page a day out of the Keys to Percents and the Keys to Decimals workbooks.

 

This year, we will start the school year by going through Singapore 6B, and then supplement MUS Algebra with Jacobs Algebra (which is what older brother used). Depending on how those 2 programs work for this younger son, we may end up "flip-flopping" that and making Jacobs Algebra the spine program and using MUS Algebra as a good, visual, different explanation of concepts if he gets stuck in Jacobs.

 

I know that's not the long-term picture you're looking for, but hopefully something there is of help -- even if it's just to know someone is just a step ahead of you on the same trail. : ) Warmest regards, Lori D.

[Veronica in VA]

I asked this question a month or so ago, so you might do a search. There were a few threads about math-u-see. The helped me make a decision and I ordered this for geometry. My ds did Chalkdust geometry but I knew my dd wouldn't like to watch the videos that much, and I didn't think my budget could handle teaching textbooks right now. The MUS looks very good and I did order the honors booklet. Most people said it was really an essential part of the program and not optional.

 

Hope that helps,

 

Veronica

[Scout]

:blush: I did a search for all my other questions except this one.

 

Wish I'd seen this link first:

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13972&highlight=MUS+high+school

[Alyce]

We started using MUS before the new editions came out and continued using MUS through Pre-Calculus with my dd. She test about average for her SAT's, which is what I expected and for her college math placement test she placed into Calculus but will be doing College Algebra because that's all she needs for her major. If your child likes MUS and has no doubt about her goals then I'd say stick with it but there are some concerns. Don't expect her to ace her SAT's, they are some blank spaces in their curriculum. We did well with their Alg 1 and Geometry but ran into some problems starting in Alg 2. Some of the lessons were not well explained with every step detailed as the lower levels had been so we had to do some figuring out. For Pre-Calculus my dd taught herself mostly from the teachers manual as it had more steps in it than the DVD showed. Knowing what I know now I probably wouldn't change because I know dd didn't want to be a math or engineer student and MUS she could understand. We have done something different for son but that's because he hasn't decided on a major yet and I want him to have the best. We tried TT Geometry but I thought it was alot easier than MUS and so did my son. We will not be using it again. With the concerns I've seen here and my personal use I don't trust that it will give him the level of math he needs. We will be using Lial's for Alg 2 and probably go back to MUS for pre-Calculus in the end. AGain for a non-math major I have no problems with MUS and from our experience can highly recommend it.

[Scout]

We started using MUS before the new editions came out and continued using MUS through Pre-Calculus with my dd. She test about average for her SAT's, which is what I expected and for her college math placement test she placed into Calculus but will be doing College Algebra because that's all she needs for her major. If your child likes MUS and has no doubt about her goals then I'd say stick with it but there are some concerns. Don't expect her to ace her SAT's, they are some blank spaces in their curriculum. We did well with their Alg 1 and Geometry but ran into some problems starting in Alg 2. Some of the lessons were not well explained with every step detailed as the lower levels had been so we had to do some figuring out. For Pre-Calculus my dd taught herself mostly from the teachers manual as it had more steps in it than the DVD showed. Knowing what I know now I probably wouldn't change because I know dd didn't want to be a math or engineer student and MUS she could understand. We have done something different for son but that's because he hasn't decided on a major yet and I want him to have the best. We tried TT Geometry but I thought it was alot easier than MUS and so did my son. We will not be using it again. With the concerns I've seen here and my personal use I don't trust that it will give him the level of math he needs. We will be using Lial's for Alg 2 and probably go back to MUS for pre-Calculus in the end. AGain for a non-math major I have no problems with MUS and from our experience can highly recommend it.

 

Thanks, this was very helpful. :)