Help me choose a math program for 2nd.

[mo2]

We are using MUS Alpha for 1st, and it is going okay. Not spectacular, but okay. My daughter understands it, and I guess my only complaint is that she gets distracted playing with the blocks and then it takes forever to complete a lesson because I have to keep reminding her to stay on task. But in any case, I can't afford MUS for next year. I know someone is going to tell me not to choose a math program based on price, but the fact is, the economy has hit us hard and my husband is unemployed, so cost is definitely a major factor.

 

So, ideally, I need to find a program that is cheap, effective, and I would like for it to be nonconsumable so that I can use it again with my next kiddo (just in case things don't get better for us financially by then). I guess I can pretty much make it nonconsumable by having her recopy the problems onto another paper to work them if we do end up with something that contains a workbook. Any suggestions?

[chiguirre]

Here's a free math curriculu. It's from the UK so you will have to look it over to see where to start. MEP has a good reputation as a rigorous program, so you won't be short-changing your dd. You'll just have to spend more time understanding the program and printing out pages.

 

http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mepres/primary/default.htm

 

Another option is Ray's Arithmetic, a 19th century math curriculum that's also popular in hsing.

 

http://books.google.com/books?id=eopZHDoOTMMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=ray%27s+arithmetic#PPA6,M1

[riada]

I think the economy has hit most families hard and I disagree with those that say you have to pay more for good curricula. Curricula is a tool, you are the teacher.

 

I will second that Ray's looks good. I don't have first hand experience with it to give a review though. It was the first to pop into my head when I read your post about not wanting consumable.

 

I use CLE (Christian Light Education) and find it to be highly effective. Have you checked into that as an option? It is inexpensive, although consumable. You can reuse the teacher guides so they would be a one time expense and they aren't very expensive. The student books cost $29 per year and are a consumable workbook format. They are not flashy or easily distracting for children. You can see samples at christianlightfamilies yahoo group.

 

Good luck finding one that works.

[Marylou]

This article might be helpful for you

http://www.triviumpursuit.com/articles/early_academics_and_unschooling.php

 

Also visit www.systemath.com

[Jami]

My 2nd graders are happily using Rod and Staff here. It's certainly distraction free to look at as well as cheap and effective. It's not non-consumable for 2nd grade (workbooks), but is for 3rd grade and up. :001_smile:

[AngieW in Texas]

Miquon is pretty cheap. The workbooks are just $5.45 each (two for each grade level). The Lab Sheet Annotations is $13.25. The big set of Cuisenaire rods is $17.95. That's less than $65 for 1st-3rd grades and only half of that is consumable.

 

Singapore is also pretty reasonable. The textbooks and workbooks are $8.55 each (two textbooks and workbooks for each grade level). The home instructor guides are $16.57 each (two for each grade level). That works out to about $70/year, but only $17/year of that is consumable. The rest can be reused for each of your kids and then sold when you're done with all your kids. The home instructor guides aren't strictly necessary (especially for 1st and 2nd grade levels), but they are very nice to have.