Beast academy for 3rd grade question

[sunshineslp]

I've been considering something to supplement SM for my 3rd grader. Is beast ok as a supplement? Can it be don't somewhat independently at all? Or is parent needed the whole while?

 

 

Homeschooling mama of 4... Preschool 3, preschool 4, 1st, and 2nd:)

[Raifta]

We started using BA in addition to SM last year when we got to SM 3B.  It was definitely a supplement as we did it only once or twice a week and we were still finishing up the Miquon series.

 

I found that DD wanted me there for the guidebook (because it was fun and we could each read some of the character's scripts in different funny voices) and then needed me there for guidance for the problems with stars.  The problems without stars she was mostly able to do independently.  She could handle some of the single starred problems on her own but none of the double starred problems.

 

I would consider her to be competent in math but not particularly math focused (as in, she understands it just fine but doesn't love it or find it interesting) but I did find her attitude towards BA was much better than any other program we have done, which helped her to do those parts she could independently.

[sunshineslp]

That's helpful! Thanks!

 

 

Homeschooling mama of 4... Preschool 3, preschool 4, 1st, and 2nd:)

[bibiche]

I think BA would be great as a supplement.  As for independent work, I think it depends on the child. I know mine did it (and loved it) completely independently.

[Coco_Clark]

I think it works as a supplement if you either skip parts, go year round, or have a kiddo that can complete 2 years of math in a year. It's not supplemental in length, is what I'm getting at.

 

I find it more independent than Singapore. It's designed to be a self-teaching program. My son occasionally needs help, ediecislly on starred problems, as people have said. But I'm not teaching a lesson everyday.

[UCF612]

Mine does it as a full curriculum.  He does it mostly independently but calls me for help when he gets stuck (usually on the star problems!).  

[sweetpea3829]

We use it as a supplement, but it is far more than just a supplement, kwim? I am trying to use Beast as a follow for Singapore. Still playing with how we use it. We've done it as summer bridge, we've done it while taking a break from Singapore, and right now, we are using it concurrently with Singapore. We are working on the 4A Geometry chapter, which we recently finished in Singapore. He is in Singapore's decimal chapter and will pick that up in Beast in a couple of weeks.

 

 

As far as it being independent....we have found it to be mostly so. But, Beast is hard, and most kids will need help. Plus, I like to sit with DS and go over his solutions and talk about other possible approaches. So in that sense, yeah, I work with him. But rarely do I have to do any "teaching" with Beast. The guide and WB pages do a pretty good job of that.

[My4arrows]

We use it along with MM to challenge my first grader.  Having not used SM previously, I can't comment on how they are used together, but as others have said it can be used as a supplement.  We use BA for a week or two and then MM for a week or a few days, then go back to BA.  Since DS moves very quickly through MM (he's going to be beginning the grade 4 curriculum here), BA is a nice way for me to slow him down and get him to think.  He can do it on his own, but I've enjoyed sitting down with him, hearing his thoughts and solving them myself...but I also enjoy math :) We started BA in December and I expect we will finish 3A and B by May working at the pace we are.

[Nart]

The answer section in the back of the book is fantastic in BA. It not only provides the answer it shows all the steps in how to solve the problem and at times gives more than one way to solve the problem. So I find it beneficial (and fun for me!)  to sit there with my son while he does BA. I check his answers in the back and we discuss other ways of solving the problem. I feel like I have learned different approaches to how to solve problems because it so different than how I learned math in elementary school.  So I am not exactly teaching but discussing the problems with him every few problems - and some of those problems take a while. I absolutely love BA and if my son told me he didn't want to do it anymore I would be really disappointed because I really enjoy figuring out some of the problems.