If you started with horizons math and switched to something else...

[momtolgd]

What did you switch to?

 

We tried MUS, but didn't go far with it. We brought Horizons back out.

 

DS gets all the concepts already, just needed more cementing of the addition facts. He's doing much better now...

 

Trying to decide the course we need to take. DS's currently finishing Horizons 2 (book 1) and DD is in Horizons K (book 2). The concepts come easy to them both, but I get complaints about the work being hard and DS has been known to take forever to get a lesson finished, sometimes with lots of tears (even though he understands what he's supposed to do.) I can't help but wonder if another program would be a better fit?

 

I've asked a similar question before when we decided to try MUS...Looking for more suggestions. Thanks.

[Brindee]

For my ds now 15 we used A Beka math for the younger (K-3) grades. We didn't like it after that, but ds LOVED especially the K-2 books!

[3byzaz]

Christian Light Education (CLE)...like Horizons, but much better instruction...written to the student. Much better review - more frequent and less problems. Still very solid and a great, great math program. My favorite ever!!

[Chloe]

We switched to CLE also. Love it!

[Ellie]

Rod and Staff.

[Guest aquiverfull]

We are currently doing Horizons book 4. We've been using Horizons since grade 2. For various reasons, we are switching. I chose to go with CLE, I just ordered it yesterday though, so we have no experience with it as yet. Many people recommended it over Horizons when I was searching.

[Guest 4boys]

I just ditched Horizons math for the same reasons you are. My 5yo is still using the K book with no issues but my 7yo was having a hard time with it. I had already bought Math Mammoth for next year so we are going to start into that and just take it slow. I chose Math Mammoth because they offer some Canadian math, like Cdn money and metric measuring, etc. Their website is http://www.mathmammoth.com if you want to peek at it.

 

Thank you 3byzaz for the review of CLE; I might use that in future since they have Canadian stuff as well.

[sandalwood]

Rod & Staff, and we are really enjoying it.

[kgreenaz]

Two of my boys, ages 6 & 7, started Horizons 1 for first grade last year. We are almost finished. 6yo is 'mathy' and does great. 7yo not so great. Horizons did not provide enough explanation or concept development for him.

 

I just switched to Singapore. I bought first grade (1AB) for 7yo. We're flying through it trying to discover his gaps in learning and fill them in. I will start 2AB with both boys in the fall.

 

When I received Singapore, I actually cried tears. SO much explanation in various ways, colorful textbooks, fun ways to approach problems. My 7yo asked me, after four pages of math, when we were starting "real" math because he was having too much fun!

 

I bought the CA Standards edition for earlybird kindergarten for my 3yo (he, too, is 'mathy') and 1AB for 7yo and 2AB for both older boys. You can look at sample pages on singaporemath dot com for more info. We couldn't be happier!

 

I think Horizons is great for 'mathy' kids who 'get it' without much help. I think that's a gift from God. But for those who struggle, I would never recommend it. I was going to go with MUS for 7yo but I just realized that that would put him so far behind his 6yo brother in math skills that he might not catch up for some time.

 

IMO. : )

[tillie]

My ds did Horizons K - 3 and then switched to Saxon 5/4 without any gliches. My dd has done Horizons K and is finishing Grade 1. She has also done well with it and I anticipate she will transition to Saxon 5/4 after she finishes Grade 3.

 

The hardest part of the transition for my ds was not having a workbook and using regular paper to work problems. Once we passed that minor moment, he hasn't looked back. He is now in Saxon 6/5 and we have no plans to shift programs at this point.

[Mamabyrd]

I will be switching from Horizons to CLE next year. I like that CLE has better explanations and more hand holding for the teacher.

[MerryAtHope]

The concepts come easy to them both, but I get complaints about the work being hard and DS has been known to take forever to get a lesson finished, sometimes with lots of tears (even though he understands what he's supposed to do.) I can't help but wonder if another program would be a better fit?

.

 

As you are finishing out this year, try cutting down the problem sets and see if that makes a difference for them. I routinely cut the # of problems in half or even do fewer. I try to aim for about 20 problems total for a 2nd-3rd grader, and if you have one of those flower puzzles, that's a bunch of problems right there. I usually do all of section 1 if it's new content, then half of anything that is review that they might need work on, and less than half (1-2 problems) of any area they are strong in, just to refresh their mind with the topic.

 

Maybe that will help you for this year at least & then you can see if you need to switch or if cutting the # of problems would solve the issues for you.

 

One other benefit--if they don't get the ones you assign correct, you still have more problems to work through with them.

 

Oh, one other thing I do--if it's a new concept, I fill in the first problem for them so they have an example to follow.

 

Merry :-)

[Tiramisu]

I have one using Horizons 1 and another using CLE 403. I would second (third, fourth?) the CLE recommendation. As a pp already noted, the instruction in CLE is much better. CLE also offers more opportunity to cement those facts right in the workbook, in both the lessons and the speed drills. It's so convenient and really does the job.