Annabel Lee Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I am curious to find out the answer to this from those of you with kids now in higher level maths: What in your experience (and that includes that 20/20 hindsight ;)) is the best math curriculum for preparing kids for higher maths? My sons are very bright when it comes to math, not officially gifted, but I want them to have the option to do Algebra 1 in Jr. High and higher maths in later hs years. What do you suggest is the best way to prepare for this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwen in VA Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I really like Miquon for the early elementary grades, followed by Singapore. I also really like the Scott Foresman "Exploring Mathematics" series. My kids started the Dolciani pre-algebra text after the 6th grade Foresman book without any trouble. (2 kids finished pre-algebra in 6th; two in 7th) I'll be curious to see what others say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB in NJ Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I am curious to find out the answer to this from those of you with kids now in higher level maths: What in your experience (and that includes that 20/20 hindsight ;)) is the best math curriculum for preparing kids for higher maths? My sons are very bright when it comes to math, not officially gifted, but I want them to have the option to do Algebra 1 in Jr. High and higher maths in later hs years. What do you suggest is the best way to prepare for this? No matter how much I have struggled with elementary math with my 3 kids (different learning styles and such), I keep coming back to Rod & Staff for 1st - 6th grades, followed by Teaching Textbooks for Algebra and up. Some background: Andrew (12th grade): started homeschooling him in 1st grade with Horizons (moved too quickly); then tried Making Math Meaningful, MCP, Miquon, Math U See, BJU, and Saxon. He just stumbled his way through his elementary years until we got to TT Algebra 1. He has continued to struggle (still does w/Algebra), but he did very well in Geometry. He's going to community college next year, majoring in communications (with radio emphasis) with a minor in political science. Plans to transfer for maybe Gettysburg to study Civil War and political science. He hates math. Emily (8th grade): homeschooling from day 1. Used R&S math 1st - 6th, with a few breaks here and there when she'd get burnt out (i.e. a short foray into BJU in 5th grade which had me RUNNING back to R&S. It just wasn't our cuppa). She's in 8th grade working through TT Algebra 1 and doing very well. She isn't quick with it, but she does *get* it, unlike my oldest. She plans to be a writer, although unlike her brother, she does not HATE math. Matthew (4th grade): homeschooling from day 1. Used R&S math exclusively from Grades 1 - the middle of 3. Tried MCP D this year, but it just falls short of R&S. He was capable of so much more in 2nd grade than he is now because we haven't kept up w/R&S. We have switched back to R&S 3 after a brief desire of mine to just go back to Saxon. I decided to check my shelves and see what I had and DUH!! LOL. It's going much better. I hope all of this rambling will help you in some way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I don't think it really matters. The math programs all teach the math. I think picking one and sticking with it (unless it is really a bad fit) is the best way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomsintheGarden Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 We use the ABeka Kindergarten-6th grade Arithmetic workbooks & TMs for K-6th for my 5 younger children. I teach concepts using the Math-U-See blocks and techniques. I don't like the way ABeka teaches addition with carrying, multiplication and division. I do like the books' layout, number and type of problems, and general colorful look. We also use Quarter Mile Math for drill. We taught with MUS when my two oldest (now 18 & 16) were in K-6, but at the time (a long time ago!) I felt it didn't have enough fact drill, review, and word problems. My oldest went right into Algebra I, and my second oldest switched to ABeka 5th grade. When my children are finished with ABeka Math 6, they are ready for Chalkdust Algebra I. HTH, GardenMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda in MA Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I have two sons. One of them used Saxon 54 - Advanced Math before switching to Chalkdust for PreCalc & Calc. While I thought Saxon was good fit for him during most of his school career because he did well on the tests, in hindsight, I've discovered that he really still has some "holes" in his Algebra knowledge that are a result of his using Saxon. The holes became really apparent when he was taking a math-intensive Physics class. Saxon is great for teaching the "procedures", but not so good at teaching the "whys". I know that some here recently have said that their children are thriving with Saxon, but that was not our experience. My son is interested in computers & engineering, and a strong math background is important. He was able to make up a lot of lost ground with Chalkdust and thankfully he scored very well on the math portion of the ACT. My second son used Singapore PM1-6, Saxon 87, and now is using Dolciani Algebra. He has a much, much deeper understanding of math, and I credit Singapore with that. The way Singapore structures problems and comes at things from different angles really facilitates a deeper understanding of math. He used Singapore before the current "helps" (teacher's manuals and guides) were available, so I did have supplement it with math facts practice and mixed review (we used the Daily Math Practice books). The other advice I would give moms with younger kids is to be consistent with math over the years. The dc need to work on math every school day, and they need to learn the number facts along the way so they are not hindered in their progress. From K - 4th grade, my younger son spent at least 5 minutes a day reviewing number fact flashcards. We started with the addition facts in K and then slowly phased them out and added in subtraction, multiplication, and division as he was ready. Slow and steady wins the race. HTH, Brenda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan in Mass Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I do, too. Just make sure your children are thinking about the problems the same way the bubble children in the book do. We did the textbook orally together, and then they did the workbook themselves, written. I discovered that we needed to do math in the traditional way: once in the morning, and again at night for "homework". Otherwise, it didn't stick. (Foreign languages are like this, too, for us, and anything we want to straight memorize has to be done every few hours for a few days at the beginning.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
langfam Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Ditto Brenda in MA....my experience exactly! I'm curious though why Saxon 87 after Singapore 1-6? With my youngest..... I'm thinking Chalkdust Prealgebra after Singapore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Marple Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I would say Singapore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Singapore. Ria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra in FL Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I like the combination of Singapore Math with Rod & Staff 1-3 (selected problems for math fact drill) and then Keys to Fractions, Decimals and Percents. Dd (7th grade) is now doing Dolciani's Algebra: Structure and Method. She did skim through Dolciani's Pre-Algebra between SM and Dolciani's Algebra. I am very happy with the foundation laid by SM and her 2 brothers are following the same path. HTH, Sandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth in Canada Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 We supplemented with Singapore. Dd started algebra I in grade 6 (probably too young, for her), Ds started algebra I in grade 7 (seems to be doing well). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda in MA Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Ditto Brenda in MA....my experience exactly! I'm curious though why Saxon 87 after Singapore 1-6? With my youngest..... I'm thinking Chalkdust Prealgebra after Singapore. Mainly, I had my youngest use Saxon 87 in 6th grade because I thought he was too young to start Algebra, and I wanted a filler course with lots of practice on things he had learned with Singapore. I had Saxon 87 on my shelf, having used it with my older son, so that was the deciding factor. If I didn't have Saxon 87 available, I would have picked something else. I haven't seen a CD PreAlgebra book, but if it's similar to their PreCalc & Calc, I suspect it would be an excellent choice. Brenda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Singapore is excellent. We used it through 6b and then started on a traditional algebra program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca in VA Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 We've been very happy using Rod & Staff up through Level 8, then switching to Dolciani's Pre-Algebra: An Accelerated Course. My daughter's halfway through the book now. She's also using Right Start hands-on Geometry for middle schoolers. I tentatively plan to have her use Dolciani's Algebra: Structure and Method, Book 1, followed by the Art of Problem Solving's Introduction to Algebra. She's so young that I would feel safer having her take algebra twice. She sporadically used the Singapore Intensive Problems book when she was younger as a way of earning money (she'd earn $1 per page). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jld Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Dh's company hired a young engineer from Grove City College in Pennsylvania last year, and he said he had been entirely homeschooled before going to college. He told dh his parents had used Saxon math with him, and he had really liked it. He said he did it on his own, and just went to his parents with any questions he had. He said what he liked about Saxon was that it was very methodical, and he could work on it independently, going at his own speed. We're planning to buy Saxon Algebra I for dd13, so we'll see how it goes for her. For ds6, who seems very interested in math and engineering, I'm buying Singapore, after hearing for years what a great program it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.