If MM isn't working well....

[Homemama2]

I've used MM as a supplement to Rightstart in the past and loved it as such. This year, I'm using it on its own and we're not loving it for either boy, but for different reasons.

 

DS1 (5thgr.) tested into 4B this year after completing Rightstart. He has been struggling with this b/c he doesn't think it explains things well. I also think he misses some of the manipulative use to explain concepts. I'd like to find something for him with more review and simple, clear step-by-step directions. Word problems are a HUGE struggle, but he knows his math facts well. I'm looking at Rod and Staff, BJU, Saxon, or Abeka. Any thoughts???? (color vrs black and white doesn't matter, but price does.) :)

 

DS2 (3rd) has the opposite problem. Rightstart D and MM 3 are both too easy. He flies through both (works in each daily) and never misses anything. He thinks it's "super easy" (his words) so I need to challenge him more. I was going to just accelerate the program, but we also use CWP from singapore and I was thinking of maybe just moving to that instead.

 

I just need some advice on what to use for these guys. Please help!

[Chrysalis Academy]

For your 3rd grader, how about Beast Academy? That would definitely be more challenging. I know it isn't cheap, but I'm sure the Guides at least will have a good resale value.

[wapiti]

DS1 (5thgr.) tested into 4B this year after completing Rightstart. He has been struggling with this b/c he doesn't think it explains things well. I also think he misses some of the manipulative use to explain concepts. I'd like to find something for him with more review and simple, clear step-by-step directions. Word problems are a HUGE struggle, but he knows his math facts well. I'm looking at Rod and Staff, BJU, Saxon, or Abeka. Any thoughts???? (color vrs black and white doesn't matter, but price does.)

 

 

Before abandoning MM, realize that word problems, especially using the bar diagram models, are usually explained in the first chapter of the level. So, I'd look at ch 1 of MM 4 or, perhaps better yet, ch 1 of MM5 (the word problem lessons there are much expanded compared to 4), and slowly work through those lessons pertaining to word problems, together.

 

Furthermore, IMO, a weakness with word problems is a reason to continue working on them specifically, apart from math concepts and without letting that difficulty hold him back from learning new concepts. Accordingly, I'd be particularly careful about choosing a different math program that treated word problems more lightly. The hard work will pay off in the long run.

 

I didn't know someone could place into B of a level. I tend to think of placement on a topic basis, so for example, if he's proficient with long division already, I'd only do any new topics contained within that chapter (e.g., averages or whatever) plus the chapter review.

 

By all means add in manipulatives. There might be suggestions in the notes at the start of each chapter (however, that may be more true of lower levels). You might use manipulatives, c-rods or other, to represent the bar models used for word problems.

[Clarkd]

For DS1 I would go with Saxon or Excel. For DS2 bump him up or go to Saxon?

[ErinE]

I agree with Wapiti. The word problem difficulty would raise a red flag for me. I think it indicates problems with conceptual understanding, even if the math facts are solid. Like Wapiti suggested, we work through difficult problems together. I ask leading questions to guide the child's work.

 

For the younger child, test him on sections and skip problems he can easily answer.

[wapiti]

I agree with Wapiti. The word problem difficulty would raise a red flag for me. I think it indicates problems with conceptual understanding, even if the math facts are solid. Like Wapiti suggested, we work through difficult problems together. I ask leading questions to guide the child's work.

 

For the younger child, test him on sections and skip problems he can easily answer.

 

 

I agree with this, especially about skipping material long ago mastered. To add to this, word problem difficulty can also be a language matter, either comprehension (what happened in our house) or familiarity with the wording or with word problems generally, which is what happened when a school I know started adding in MM. At first they were dismayed about placement test results, but time and effort have payed off (as it did in our house).

 

Occasionally trying a few word problems on math concepts previously mastered (e.g., from a lower level) can help.

[Homemama2]

Thank you for the advice on the word problems. I think I will print out those two chapters again for level 4 and 5 and go through them again. He can do the word problems if I talk through them with him, but if I just hand him the sheet, he will get lost.

 

Also, thanks for suggesting just testing my younger ds and moving him ahead. This time of year I tend to get "grass is greener" syndrome, which isn't always the solution.

[ErinE]

Thank you for the advice on the word problems. I think I will print out those two chapters again for level 4 and 5 and go through them again. He can do the word problems if I talk through them with him, but if I just hand him the sheet, he will get lost.

 

Also, thanks for suggesting just testing my younger ds and moving him ahead. This time of year I tend to get "grass is greener" syndrome, which isn't always the solution.

 

 

I think everyone, at one point or another, feels the same. I don't think MM is perfect,but if your child is so close to completing the curriculum, I tend to advocate for making adjustments instead of jumping to another series. Each math curriculum follows a different sequence and many veteran HSers on these boards have stressed the difficulties that come with curriculum hopping in math.

[Paige]

For the 5th grader, I would move MM to the floor, orally, with manipulatives and maybe a white board. There's no reason it has to be done on paper. I think it is probably a big stylistic switch between that and Right Start. My DS struggled significantly with the different language and style of MM when we started. I almost quit. He thought he should be able to move more quickly and didn't like the way it complicated things for him. I'm so glad we stuck with it. He is so good at math now. He's so quick and so much better than I was at that age (maybe a little better than me now in some things) and I'm very good in math. I think there's a learning curve.

 

For the 3rd grader, I agree with letting him test out if necessary or only do half the problems. Then you can supplement with extra word problems, logic games, Life of Fred, etc. The MM would make sure he's not skipping important concepts and the other programs would reduce boredom.

[Homemama2]

Thanks. I think trying to do MM in a more RS style might help. He tends to do better with visual/kin. programs ( like AAS for spelling) and it's encouraging to hear MM is worth the effort. :)

 

I think I'll grab some extra books for my little guy to help with boredom. I love the look of BA, just can't afford it right now...