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A different twist on the MATH question … placing children in the "right" levels?!?
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I loved reading through the thread on Math programs … I too am trying to join the mayhem and get a Math program this term. But here is my question: How on earth do you place them correctly? I bought MM and Life of Fred and I’m almost sure after a week that I’ve purchased the wrong levels! I can make them work but still without purchasing the whole program … does anyone have any experience they would share?
My children went to school for several years, then we created our own Math program for two years by following the national standards for Math and using free practice from all over the web, etc. But in doing so they learned a lot “out of order” and that’s my problem! I don’t want to insist they repeat things they’ve mastered but what do I do? So in taking the “tests” provided by most Math programs they don’t fit very well … knowing some things well and having not even seen others.
Should I purchase whole Math programs A to Z to “catch” them were they are? This is sort of where I feel I’m heading.
I envy (wrong, I know) moms who started with one program and kept it up.
Neat question. I think you really have to decide if backing up too far is going to frustrate your child. Or be willing to adapt by skimming over the things they already know really well and spending more time on things they’ve never seen before.
My oldest went backwards in 3rd grade and started completely over. It was the right decision for her (we went from Saxon to Math U See). She’s finishing 5th now and we bought the Life of Fred books in the last few months. We got all 10 of the elementary books because even though she can fly through several, it’s fun, and I have younger children who can begin slowly at the beginning.
How old are the children you’re trying to get into a math program that fits?
Are you using MM Blue or Light Blue series? The Blue series is more topical, I believe. I find it’s easy to skim through things already mastered in both the MM Light Blue series and MUS Gamma. If I feel the material has already been mastered I skip to the test page and back track only if needed. It is frustrating though if you buy a whole curiculum and only use a quarter of it.
I really appreciate you asking this question! I am having this exact problem! My daughter did Saxon math in ps for K and 1st, we used Saxon for 2nd grade thinking it would be one less thing I would have to worry about. Saxon was not a good fit for our homeschool, while she learned a lot, there were a lot of tears in the process. I am looking to switch her for 3rd grade, but I am having a hard time finding where to place her in the different programs/levels! We are looking at Teaching Textbooks. She has been doing the Math 3 sample lessons, and has breezed right through them. She did the Math 4 sample lessons and only missed a few, and the Math 5 lessons were hit and miss as to whether or not she got them right! Math 5!?!? After Math 7 it goes to Pre-Algebra, and I don’t know about a her doing that in 3 years!?
I don’t mind my daughter reviewing the foundations of mathematics, and I plan on using Math Copywork from Queen Homeschool to get those facts solid, but I need a program that won’t have my daughter in Algebra in 3 years while not reviewing everything she already knows for 2 years (she gets antsy and frustrated having to do things she already knows). Otherwise, it is back to Saxon *sigh*
I’ll be interested in seeing everyones advise here! Thanks for asking this question!
I have a daughter 11 and a son 9. In our two years “winging” it I think we moved him up and her laterally because we did so much in a more relaxed group setting with short lessons and drill together.
I would really rather not buy whole curriculums just to use a part or even a quarter. I have never gone online and not found completely free explanations, questions, tests, games, worksheets, etc. etc. for any skill yet. It just seems frustrating all the way around.
Well, I know for RightStart, they have a placement test to help you place what level your child should go into. For my son this year, who would be “3rd grade”, he placed into level B, which is basically “1st grade”. At the beginning, we zoomed through a few lessons each day (and I explained that this program did some things differently, so that was why the review.” I think the program over-all worked quite well for him. He was close to placing in level C (one question off), and he probably could have started there…. but level B worked well for him.
So – does the program you want to use have placement tests?
@4myboys – I am using the Blue series. I wish I had purchased the real books vs. the download now but I can print them free at hubby’s work so not too much of a problem.
@mariahk – thanks for the support of my question! I feel your frustration. I try to remind myself how very, very, very much more that both my children are getting at home vs. school and that helps me relax a little.
@Tristan – I think it frustrates me more!
But I have noticed that they’re both sort of saying “what’s up?” and I’m trying to just be easy going and say it’s new and we might need to review some too. With my oldest we’ve run in to things she didn’t know yet and we’ve just sat down together and learned them then let her go on.
But I have noticed that they’re both sort of saying “what’s up?” and I’m trying to just be easy going and say it’s new and we might need to review some too. With my oldest we’ve run in to things she didn’t know yet and we’ve just sat down together and learned them then let her go on. Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
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