Math woes-I'm going to lose my mind..

[Stayseeliz]

Okay, seriously. Talk me off the ledge here.

 

We've been using MUS since my oldest was in first grade. He'll be in sixth in the fall. He's doing just fine with MUS. I was planning on continuing with this and adding the online MUS classes in middle school and up.

 

Then a trusted friend told me that her two high school children have struggled with their standardized testing the past two years in math and she's blaming MUS. She says it just doesn't give enough practice and teach the children to THINK so when they go to test they struggle.

 

Cue panic from me. We haven't done testing yet but we plan to. My kids want to go to college so it's a concern for me that they test well. They aren't really "math" kids. My 9yo is firmly right brain and will only go so far in math as she's forced to. My 11yo is a mix of left and right brain. He excels at math but doesn't love it.

 

A friend suggested that we try Fred as a spine. We gave it a month and DS11 went through fractions. It was okay and he'd get the majority of the bridges right but I don't feel like it sunk in and he really understood it. Argh.

 

Someone suggested Teaching Textbooks. I've been looking into it and I see a lot of the same complaints as MUS. It's not deep enough and kids sometimes don't test well with it.

 

I'm seriously about to lose my mind. I'd like to avoid Saxon since I know my kids won't like it. I just want them to understand and test well in math. Preferably without me losing my mind since I'm NOT a math person.

 

Would MUS with Fred a supplement be enough?? I'm open to other math programs but I don't want to bounce around anymore. This is too frustrating. Thanks for any advice.

[SorrelZG]

Even if MUS didn't provide what your friend's children needed, it doesn't necessitate that her problem will be yours. I would examine the situation with your own children more closely before jumping ship. Your choice of math program in and of itself will not guarantee mathematical success. It's more complicated than that - people are different (students AND teachers).

[EmilyGF]

I think SWB has some really good advice about this (but packed up the book so I'll paraphrase):

 

Use what works well for you. Then chose a second program and give tests (or word problems) from it. If your child can't answer the problems that aren't from your program, you know they aren't really understanding but just using a formula.

 

So, maybe use a Math Mammoth placement test about a year behind. See how your child does. Or choose a book of word problems and have your child work those. Maybe even get a book of practice standardized tests and see how your child does. Take it from there.

 

Emily

[Stayseeliz]

Thanks! My husband pointed out that I'm freaking out about ONE person's children not doing well. While my children are doing well right now and learning the material. I had my son take some placement tests for TT today and he aced them so it seems to be that he IS learning and not just doing a formula taught in MUS. I think I will continue to supplement with Fred or another "thinking" supplement. But I think I'm starting to calm down. :)

[GTJo1996]

I supplement our math with timed-drills. DD does not do well when given a set time limit. So for everyday math lessons we do it like a turtle. But she knows the drills have a time limit and she is doing better meeting the deadlines. We have used Calculadder Drills and now have Math Mammoth. Our math textbook is Saxon, which is dull, but she likes it. She likes that Calculadder has a progress sheet where she can see her progress.