What math should I use for K & 1st

[1GirlTwinBoys]

My twin boy's will be in K and daughter in 1st. I will be switching to Saxon after 3rd grade so should I start with Saxon (read bad reviews about the early grades). I was thinking about Abeka too. Just wondering what would be the best for grades K-3 and then easily going to the switch to Saxon.

 

I am horrible at math and need something that is easy to teach and explain (scripted). :confused:

[Guest Alte Veste Academy]

This might help. You missed this love-fest. :lol:

 

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76406&highlight=love+saxon

[SnowWhite]

A program with a similar style to Saxon is CLE. Whoops, they don't have K though... maybe Horizons?

[AnnetteB]

We use both BJU and A Beka math K-3th (the dc work through the BJU book first and then the A Beka), then A Beka 4 before switching to Saxon 65. We supplement with Key to Fractions and Key to Decimals also around 4th grade. I don't purchase the teacher's manuals or answer keys until 4th grade. We use counting bears, sea shells, number lines drawn on paper during the winter months, number lines drawn on the driveway during the summer months, counting cubes, and objects found in the kitchen for measuring. There are a lot of cute math storybooks in our library system to incorporate into lessons.

Edited February 23, 2009 by AnnetteB
We used to use A Beka 5, but haven't in several years.

[sandra in va]

My twin boy's will be in K and daughter in 1st. I will be switching to Saxon after 3rd grade so should I start with Saxon (read bad reviews about the early grades). I was thinking about Abeka too. Just wondering what would be the best for grades K-3 and then easily going to the switch to Saxon.

 

I am horrible at math and need something that is easy to teach and explain (scripted). :confused:

 

 

I think if you are planning on using Saxon later on, then you should just use it for K-3. We're using it for grade 1 right now and like it. My daughter does well with the drill everyday (both with flashcards and drill sheets). She likes the activities and worksheets. It is definitely easy to teach and scripted - which are the two things you are looking for. :)

[arcara]

Wr're enjoying the early grades of Saxon, too. Just make sure you get your dc the right level, so that it's not too easy (= boring). Also, in the program, if there's a concept your dc knows well, you don't need to review it as much as suggested in the TM. Make it fit to your dc. Don't feel like you're a slave to the script. Sometimes, I think these are reasons people decide they don't like Saxon - either the level they tried was too easy or they felt that they had to do EVERYTHING in the meeting and lessons.

 

My dd finished Saxon 1 a couple of weeks ago and we started Saxon 2 right away. The beginning of the book has a lot of review, since they assume that you're beginning in September after a 3 month break. We're going through these early lessons quickly, often 2-3 per day (choosing only 1 meeting for each day), reviewing only what's necessary to make sure she got everything she was supposed to from Saxon 1.

 

Saxon has made fact memorization easy with the way they seperate them in groups and give lots of time to practice.

[Aurelia]

We use Right Start and I have found it to be enjoyable and well scripted. You could switch to Saxon after level C or D (roughly 2nd or 3rd grade) and be pretty well on level or ahead. It's very concrete. We are almost finished with level A (kindergarten level) and I am amazed at the understanding of math that my daughter has, and she actually enjoys math time, whereas with the programs I tried before, she was miserable. It's especially good for visual learners and the lower levels (A/B) are good for kids who don't like a lot of worksheets.