ProudGrandma Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 We are going to buy Math Mammoth. I used the placement tests for my 3 kids...my 2 olders are still testing...but my youngest (3rd grade) is done testing. We need to start at 2A to fill in the gaps that he is missing...but since we are buying from the homeschooling CO-OP and the group rate isn't available until March 31st...what should I do between now and then? I don't really want to find some random worksheets that might further confuse him when we do make the switch...so I am not sure what my options might be. What would you do? I will also run into the same situation with my older kids once they stop testing and we place them. any good thoughts for me? thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alte Veste Academy Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Why not just call it spring break? You are moving into a powerful program. You don't need filler. Now, it is always helpful to play math games (war, SET, etc.), so why not jusy play math for the next two weeks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 I would see if your local library has a copy of Family Math and just do activities out of that until you get MM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 The main arithmetic village downloads are $10.99, and the supplements are free. The African Waldorf math pdfs are free. Skip counting? Math facts drill. Play with rulers, tape measures, scales, measuring cups and spoons. Does your library have math picture books? Books on money. Music: whole, half and quarter notes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Play Monopoly! :iagree: along with any other games that use math and money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Download the free samples of MM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niranut Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 You could buy book 2A over at currclick.com and start right away. The individual books are all less than $5 each, I think. You would end up with two copies of that book, but for $5 you could start now. We're also switching over and I bought one of the addition books at currclick to tide us over too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudGrandma Posted March 15, 2013 Author Share Posted March 15, 2013 Do you think I could take the test....look at the parts where he did poorly (some of it is just forgetting becasue at one point he knew some of this stuff...it's just not been reviewed for a long time) and find some worksheets to review those parts??? He is supposed to be in 3rd grade math and I could just kick myself if he truly needs to be put back into beginning of 2nd grade math...wow, did I fail my son horribly!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Woods Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Do you think I could take the test....look at the parts where he did poorly (some of it is just forgetting becasue at one point he knew some of this stuff...it's just not been reviewed for a long time) and find some worksheets to review those parts??? He is supposed to be in 3rd grade math and I could just kick myself if he truly needs to be put back into beginning of 2nd grade math...wow, did I fail my son horribly!!!! You didn't fail him. If he didn't miss that many parts in 2a/2b I would maybe take the time now to shore up those areas and start him in 3a? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Do you think I could take the test....look at the parts where he did poorly (some of it is just forgetting becasue at one point he knew some of this stuff...it's just not been reviewed for a long time) and find some worksheets to review those parts??? That would be good and worksheets are easy to find. My younger needs review of time and money every year, he forgets which "head" belongs to which coin on the worksheet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leav97 Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Work on learning addition facts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 I'd do nothing. Just give the kids a break, because Math Mammoth is not a lightweight program at all. They'll need to be mentally fresh to tackle it. If you must do something, play board games and watch Schoolhouse Rock videos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Here you go: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Do you think I could take the test....look at the parts where he did poorly (some of it is just forgetting becasue at one point he knew some of this stuff...it's just not been reviewed for a long time) and find some worksheets to review those parts??? He is supposed to be in 3rd grade math and I could just kick myself if he truly needs to be put back into beginning of 2nd grade math...wow, did I fail my son horribly!!!! (speaking in my best big sister voice) Stop that right now! You have NOT failed your son! Good grief, MM is NOT a light, easy program and there are many people who have kids around 3rd grade age who are using the 2a/2b books. It's not a big deal. There is no ahead. There is no behind. There is only meeting your son exactly where he is and helping him make progress at whatever pace makes sense to him. This is not a race. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trilliums Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Collect all your loose change in a big jar and count it. See how much you all can collect before the end of March. Then go out for ice cream with it. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 I'd play math games with dice and cards. Pig is one of my favorites. I'd teach equivalent fractions with Hershey bars (conveniently divided into 12 sections, so you can show 6/12 = 1/2, 3/12 = 1/4, etc.). I'd have a day when you go grocery shopping and look for the best buys. I'd have a day of measuring things around the house such as furniture and area of their rooms to decide a way to rearrange them. I would have a bank play day where you issue checking accounts and have them pay bills. I would do a survey of people on some issue (favorite color, candy, etc.) and do statistical stuff with the data such as graphing. Probability is fun, too. You can put things in a bag (coins, colored blocks, etc.) and work on probability of drawing them out. You know my son is about a week from finishing his 4th grade book, and although, I already have the 5th grade book here, I'm wondering if I should take my own advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudGrandma Posted March 15, 2013 Author Share Posted March 15, 2013 (speaking in my best big sister voice) Stop that right now! You have NOT failed your son! Good grief, MM is NOT a light, easy program and there are many people who have kids around 3rd grade age who are using the 2a/2b books. It's not a big deal. There is no ahead. There is no behind. There is only meeting your son exactly where he is and helping him make progress at whatever pace makes sense to him. This is not a race. :grouphug: I know, I know...but it's so frustrating...I have switched math programs so many times in the last 3 years....I KNOW I won't' find the perfect math...but it just seems like I must be soing something wrong that I can't find a math program that fits my kids... thanks for your words of wisdom...I appreciate it. Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 You could work on math facts with xtramath.org or play around with Khan Academy www.khanacademy.org. That's what we did when we needed or had a break in a math program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Coast School Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 I echo everyone else! Play, play, play! Card games, store with money, telling time, measurement...MM is really intense. They will need to be ready to focus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudGrandma Posted March 16, 2013 Author Share Posted March 16, 2013 I keep hearing that MM is intense....what makes it so intense? I doesn't appear to be any more (or less) inctense than some of the other programs out there...so obviously I am missing something because I have heard many of you say that. So PLEASE tell me why...that way I know what I am getting myself into. thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi @ Mt Hope Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Do you have an ipad or iphone? How about free apps like Sushi Monster Math? Or fun math related books such as Why Pi?, Go Figure, or The Number Devil? Check your library to see what they have! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Do you think I could take the test....look at the parts where he did poorly (some of it is just forgetting becasue at one point he knew some of this stuff...it's just not been reviewed for a long time) and find some worksheets to review those parts??? FWIW, that is exactly what I would do. I think it's often a good idea to review a little before a placement test (or after, in this case). Kids forget stuff. The review doesn't have to be especially difficult or time-consuming to be helpful. (And no, you didn't fail him or any such thing.) Math games are always a good idea. I would not describe MM as intense. I'd describe it as involving some thought. It's not plug-and-chug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claluck Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 I agree math games and math facts. FWIW when I brought my guy home after 3rd grade he could not pass the MM3 end of year exam. We had to do all of year 3 with him. You could look closely at his test and see where his weaker areas are too and just see what needs to be filled in. There is a good chance he just needs to fill in some gaps. Or that he is just not used to the teaching style of MM so did not pass the test merely because MM and his previous programs used different termonology. With my guy it was obvious he needed to just do the whole year over. But we are now nearing the end of our second year and have done all of MM 3 and MM4 and are right about on track to finish MM 5 by the end of the school year (first of june). MM also has a number of free worksheets on her website that you can download if you want. Christina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koerarmoca Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 Lots of math games, when we are between programs I will do some Evan Moor daily practice stuff and maybe play some dice and card games, domino math.. just to stay sharp! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down_the_Rabbit_Hole Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 Here is a web site that gives weekly work in the form of games, logic, and using what they know to write and do math. http://mathlearnnc.sharpschool.com/cms/One.aspx?portalId=4507283&pageId=4993281 Click on the grade needed and look at weekly work. Great site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 That would be good and worksheets are easy to find. My younger needs review of time and money every year, he forgets which "head" belongs to which coin on the worksheet. Should I admit that I don't know which head is on which coin? Is that important? Interesting trivia perhaps, but critical? Definitely not. The important thing is being able to identify and actually use the money! How do you do that? Play store. I know, I know...but it's so frustrating...I have switched math programs so many times in the last 3 years....I KNOW I won't' find the perfect math...but it just seems like I must be soing something wrong that I can't find a math program that fits my kids... thanks for your words of wisdom...I appreciate it. Kathy Oops. Found the problem. Switching math programs a lot is just a bad idea. We homeschooling mamas often fall into that trap. Pretty much any of the programs will work for most kids if it is used regularly and long term. Solution, pick on and stick with it! Honestly, elementary math is not that complicated. My suggestion: get the 3rd grade book. Everything from the second grade book should be in it (just covered more quickly). If your dc hits an area where he struggles, slow down and find some supplemental materials (or make them up yourself) for that area. Then, move to the next thing. The truth about math: if you can add and subtract (pretty much with any positive whole numbers) by the end of second grade you are okay. If you can multiply and divide (positive whole numbers) by the end of third grade you are fine. Added into that should be some preliminary work with fractions, money, time, decimals, and very basic geometry. Math books today sometimes complicate things too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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