Alternative to Right Start

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  • March 9, 2008 at 12:17 pm
    CindyS
    Participant

    Could someone recommend a less expensive alternative to Right Start math for a soon to be 6 year old? We’ve not done much at all, except what happens naturally. She is the bouncy one that I need to ‘catch’ in order to teach.

    Thanks,

    Cindy

    March 10, 2008 at 1:29 am
    BlessedMama
    Member

    Have you read Ruth Beechik’s 3 R’s series? It gives a lot of hands on math ideas, also giving the usual things taught in each grade. It’s simple, inexpensive (the whole set for Reading, Writing and Arithmetic is $12 or so) and so nice and relaxing! I’m reading her book, A Biblical Home Education, and it is excellent!

    Also, on another forum I’m on, a mom talked about how she doesn’t do formal book math until around 5th grade. I had heard a mom years ago talk about how she focused on reading the first years of elementary, then focused on math (not to the exclusion of the other, but the main focus). I find my dc fly through and “catch up” pretty easily. Lots of concrete examples help form a good foundation, I’ve found.

    I use Mastering Mathematics, but I’m not sure how it compares price-wise. Right Start sounds neat, too! Here’s a link to MM’s website:

    http://www.masterypublications.com

    Anyway, at age 6, I’d vote for lots of real life math–and money is a lot of fun! 😉

    HTH!

    Trisch

    March 10, 2008 at 3:35 pm
    Shanna
    Participant

    Have you look at Math U See? http://www.mathusee.com

    March 10, 2008 at 8:00 pm
    CindyS
    Participant

    Thanks for the suggestions; I’ll check into them all!

    Cindy

    March 11, 2008 at 3:49 am
    hvfth99
    Member

    Trisch, I think you were the one who said she uses the Pet Store Math as an incentive. What age did you start to use it? I have a dd7 1/2 who would probably love it. Is she too young?

    Faith 🙂

    March 11, 2008 at 6:24 pm
    BlessedMama
    Member

    Faith,

    My girls were older when they started the Pet Store Math (like middle school!) I looked it over and it has some multiplication fairly soon in the exercises. In the Start Up they explain percentage mark-up and you have to mark-up your merchandise. If you look at the sample, you’ll see what I mean.

    So I guess it would depend on her math skills! Sonya would obviously be able to answer that better than me! Maybe if you didn’t mind helping her–and who knows? I’ve had my dc learn some awesome things I didn’t think they were “ready for” just because they really liked and wanted to learn something! 😉

    Hope that helps!

    Blessings on your day! (The sun is shining here! YAY!)

    Trisch

    March 11, 2008 at 7:45 pm
    Sonya Shafer
    Moderator

    Faith, you know your daughter best (obviously). With a typical 7.5yo, my first reaction would be to hold off. It’s more fun (and thus, more of an incentive) if she already knows how to do the majority of the skills and can concentrate on “running her business.” The process does include multiplication of decimals, addition and subtraction of numbers in the thousands, and rounding with decimals. There are some practice sheets in the back of the teacher book to use for any skills that need support, but I’m wondering if both of you would enjoy it more if you wait a year.

    Of course, if you think she’s ready for it, you can always get it now. And if it turns out to be a bit of a challenge, set it aside for a year.

    Hope this helps.

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