More Math U See questions

[momtolgd]

What is the difference between Foundations and Alpha/Beta? If I'm going to start out by supplementing Horizons with this, is it worth the investment to go ahead and buy Alpha and Beta? Of course if it works well, it may be used again in a few years with our now 2 year old, so maybe it is worth it? (If it works we may drop Horizons, but I don't want to drop something until I give something else a chance first, so I think I want to start by using it along with Horizons. Does that make any sense?)

 

Can I use regular Base 10 blocks that I already own or are their blocks essential? I don't want to spend that much on blocks if I can use the ones I bought last year.

 

Thanks for any insight! :001_smile:

[momtolgd]

Anyone?

[momtolgd]

Well, if it works for us, I wouldn't continue to use it as a supplement. We are already working through Horizons, and I will continue that for a while until we see if MUS is a better fit. That way if MUS isn't good for us, we can just continue on with Horizons.

 

The reason I'm looking to supplement (and possibly change curriculums) is because while 8yo ds can do the math problems in Horizons just fine, he doesn't have a firm grasp of his math facts and the why behind everything. He still often counts on his fingers. Also he says he hates math, and I'd like to see if a different approach would change his mind on that or if he just really hates math. (Is it the curriculum that makes him hate it or just his feelings about math over all?) Also because I (as a mathy person) am intrigued to see MUS at work.

 

I was asking about the blocks because my set of base 10 blocks appears to be the same as what they have except that it is all blue instead of different colors. So I didn't know if their blocks have something special about them that isn't evident in the picture of them.

 

Thanks.

[swellmomma]

I would skip alpha and go right into beta. I agree their blocks are essential. Regular base ten won't work, HOWEVER if you were so inclined you could make your own "blocks" out of cardstock for him. Base ten blocks only have 3 kinds of blocks(unit, tes and hundreds), the mus blocks have a different block for 1-10 plus the hundreds, so they are not the same at all. Alternatively you can use the online drill at the mus site for further practice if you don't want to switch programs completely.

[momtolgd]

I agree their blocks are essential. Regular base ten won't work, HOWEVER if you were so inclined you could make your own "blocks" out of cardstock for him. Base ten blocks only have 3 kinds of blocks(unit, tes and hundreds), the mus blocks have a different block for 1-10 plus the hundreds, so they are not the same at all.

 

 

Thank you! :001_smile: That is what I wanted to know about the blocks. It is difficult to see what their blocks really look like on their site, the picture is so small. And there really isn't a good description of them there.

 

I was also looking at starting Alpha with my 6yo dd. So you think I would be ok to go ahead to Beta with 8yo ds?

[Alison in KY]

You can go to the MUS website and print off worksheets that are associated with the lessons...so you can print off some alpha lessons and see what you think.

 

I switched from singapore to MUS (after trying like 4 diff. programs) and when I switched I did have my 8 yr old ds go to alpha...because he still seemed to miss some basic ideas, although he floated along okay. We were able to zip through it pretty rapidly...it covers the basic addition and subtraction, plus their counting style, some skip counting I think, and place value.

 

I like their blocks alot and it just seems easier to have them colored differently.

 

I used primer for my non common sense 6 yr old daughter. It has alot packed in there and I was glad I chose to do it, because we would have been crawling through alpha.

 

good luck

 

Alison in KY