Is Horizons Math hard to teach?

[AlisonK]

I am considering Horizons Math for DS who will be in 6th grade in September. A friend gave me the Horizons 6 book to look at. I don't really see clear instructions on how to teach. I also wondered if a child is having trouble with a problem not related to the new topic, how do you know which lesson to go back to to review?

 

I like the look of Horizons a lot. However, I am very concerned that I am going to be searching the internet to figure out how to teach the lessons properly. Am I missing something?

[AimeeM]

Do you have the TM? Absolutely essential, imo.

[SilverMoon]

I didn't find the 5 book difficult to teach this year. The TE covers what the student text doesn't, and reminds you when to hand out which extra practice sheets. I walk over the instruction in the student text with DS and we do a couple problems using the new concept on a white board before he starts the seatwork.

[Crimson Wife]

Agreeing with the PP to invest in the TM if you're going to go with Horizons.

 

The one negative I have found with Horizons is that neither the student book nor the TM give very good conceptual explanations. I'm using the Horizons Pre-Algebra book to add spiral review to Singapore Discovering Math and have run into a bit of difficulty with a handful of topics that are in Horizons but not Singapore. Khan Academy has been helpful.

[MerryAtHope]

Usually there is a half page or a full page of instruction to the student for each lesson. I would work a few examples with my kids if they got stuck, but otherwise they read that and did the work. When we did have questions, though, you're right--you'll probably be online asking. The TM's never seemed to answer the questions we had and really weren't all that helpful for us. I think with Horizons, you'll do better if you kind of like math and don't mind adding to the instruction given, or working through some problems with your child.

 

Also...I'm not sure I'd start a child at Horizons 6. That was my least-favorite book, and I found more gaps in teaching concepts and more struggles in that particular book than in others. I still liked it overall, but...I just think that one could use some tweaking.

 

If you want something where the teaching is easy and all laid out for you, I would look at Math-U-See or Teaching textbooks. We switched to MUS after Horizons 6 (starting in Pre-Algebra), and it's worked out well here. The teaching is on a 3-5 minute DVD and is very clear, and there is additional info and help in the TM if needed. If you are concerned whether you can teach Horizons after looking at the workbook and the TM, then check out some others. Get something that makes you feel you'll be equipped as teacher.

 

HTH some, Merry :-)

[Professormom]

Agreeing with the PP to invest in the TM if you're going to go with Horizons.

 

The one negative I have found with Horizons is that neither the student book nor the TM give very good conceptual explanations. I'm using the Horizons Pre-Algebra book to add spiral review to Singapore Discovering Math and have run into a bit of difficulty with a handful of topics that are in Horizons but not Singapore. Khan Academy has been helpful.

 

 

What she said:-)

 

Horizons is probably not a good choice if you want someone to teach you how to teach the math, even with the TM. On the flip side, if you are pretty confident in your math understanding, then it works well. We have used it through elem and are continuing with the Pre-Alg. If I come to something I can't explain (there is a lot of math I know how to do intuitively, but trying to break something down into steps the kids can understand can be challenging), I use Khan or another book.