Rhonda in TX Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 We've used CLE math for the past couple of years and I've like that it's more independent. However, I'm coming to the realization that my kids really need me to be actually teaching them math on a regular basis. I am good at math, but I lack the skills to be able to teach it well to others. So, I am looking at BJU Math for next year. I like how their teacher manuals have the information I would need to teach it to my kids. If you use BJU Math, how much time does it take to teach the lessons? I'm looking at BJU Math 6 and 7 for next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowWhite Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 I can't say about grades six and seven, but I have not found grade 2 BJU to be any more teacher intensive than CLE grade one seemed. I *do not* do each and every suggested exercise and activity. I use my knowledge of what ds knows and understands to determine what part of the class activity we will be doing. Because I pick and choose, the class length varies depending on difficulty of the concept. We spent 45 minutes one day working with liters and centimeters and meters, but that's because we got caught up in the fun of working with our measuring cups and measuring tape. It varies from 0 min (if I know he has the concept of the day "solid") to 30 min. for a new difficult concept (that has happened maybe once or twice a month?) Typical class is likely 15-20 min not counting ds's time spent working the workbook problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 We're doing BJU math 5 right now, and I like it a LOT. I'm not sure if Snow White is using the new editions (which look amazing btw), but 5 and up are still old edition I think. I should check my new catalog! Anyways, in these editions, for these upper grades, you have a student textbook, a tm, the doodads (which I totally skip in all honest, we have tons of manips and a whiteboard, so we make do), and the complementary workbooks (Spring, Stretch, Reviews, and Spread). The only one of those complementary workbooks I do not buy or use is Spread. That was all to explain how we do the lesson. My dd enjoys the stories and themes of the BJU math immensely, so I definitely read that part of the lesson. You could skip if your kids don't like it. :) I usually have her do the Reviews page (review problems on one side, fact drill on the other) or work on her Flashmaster while I read through the lesson to decide how I want to teach it. Then I read the story and teach the lesson using the whiteboard. I don't necessarily teach the lesson verbatim, kwim? I do it the way she needs. Then we go through the problems in the student text orally or using the whiteboard. Sometimes we do alternating problems (if they're easy), but if they're more challenging I actually go through all of them with her. Then I use my judgment as to how long that has taken us. If she has a short amount of attention span left, we do a Stretch Your Mind page for fun and leave the Spring Into Action page for homework after supper. Yes, I give her homework! But really, if you do all the problems in the student text, they just fly through the Spring page, making it no big deal, only 10-15 minutes of work max. And my dd is not exactly Speedy Gonzales. There aren't Stretch pages for every day, and we don't necessarily do them when there are. They're fun for us, more out of the box type problems, so we just do them when we can. By using Spring and Reviews, I'm making sure she gets enough practice. I know the amount of work kids need varies, but you might find you want to use them too. It's your call. When she says things like "this is easy!" I know I'm on track and doing what she needs. I think the amounts, when you do those supplemental workbooks, will equal the amount of work you were used to in CLE or would do in Horizons or another math program. Also, I'm not sure you need to do math 6 and math 7, since they overlap so much in content. Isn't 7 considered a repeat of 6 for those who aren't yet ready to move into pre-algebra? For the time spent, you might be happier combining your kids, doing both with math 6, then moving them into pre-algebra together after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhonda in TX Posted March 27, 2009 Author Share Posted March 27, 2009 Also, I'm not sure you need to do math 6 and math 7, since they overlap so much in content. Isn't 7 considered a repeat of 6 for those who aren't yet ready to move into pre-algebra? For the time spent, you might be happier combining your kids, doing both with math 6, then moving them into pre-algebra together after that. I had already looked at Math 7. DS is currently behind in math, so I was glad to see Math 7 seemed to be a review of everything. However, I was a bit concerned about things that he might be missing. Putting them both in Math 6 might work. He could definitely handle that and DD could, too. Plus, I would only have to prepare one lesson a day. That would be a definite advantage. Also, it would be cheaper. :) Thanks for explaining how you do BJU math. That helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRG Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 We are using BJU Math 5. It is very simple to use. It takes about 10-15 mins or sometimes even less to teach the lesson. It is very well laid out and there are plenty of options on how to teach the lesson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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