Help! we all hate math : (

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  • kymom
    Member

    I read a post that someone does living math. Can those that do this please explain how you are teaching it? Please forgive my ignorance, I’m new to home schooling. We started with MUS, UGH my 4th grader hates it, my 5th grader doesn’t care much for it either. So we switched to Saxon 5/4. My 4th grader likes it but says it’s not challenging enough and of course my 5th grader HATES it. My 4th grader has read the Life with Fred Fractions book but it’s not a real curriculum, although he enjoyed it very much. We also have the pet store math offered through this site. My youngest loves it!! In our house math is SO boring, they hate it and I hate it. What should we do??? I feel like we are just putting in the time and not really learning. What are my options?

    Thanks for your suggestions,

    Becky

    Gem
    Participant

    Becky, I can suggest joining the living math yahoo email group’

    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/livingmathforum/

    It has certainly changed the way I think about math teaching.  I also recommend the book Family Math for math games.  We like the games and activities in this book more than the Right Start math games.  I recently bought Family Math used for less than $5 so it is also a good deal!

    Jenni
    Participant

    Oh the woes of math! I’m am such an english/grammar person, but my dh is an engineer so math takes center stage around here, right after family Bible time each day. We’re both confident the kids are getting their reading and writing and other LA stuff very well, so I do tend to feel like I have to really work hard on math. One benefit this year is that we are doing much shorter lessons.

    We love using Verbal Math (usually in the car) and my girls (4 and 7) really enjoy it, and are both remarkably good at it. It’s nice to have the pressure of texts and writing off. We love the word problems the most and it shows very clearly how math can be applied to every situation, every day. I highly recommend it! 🙂

    We do tons of math games as well and play a game in the car that my SIL made up called Make Ten. I call out a number and they call out whatever number we would add to it to make ten. Soon we’ll be moving on to the teens and to subtraction in this manner as well.

    I hestitate to even mention this, but we’re also using Math in Focus. Even though it’s a good series, I wouldn’t recommend it for strictly CM families. We’re kind of tapering off of it this year, with the idea of dropping it completely next year.

    Our custom-made “Math in The Car” is working the best for us, but I’m excited to move on to Life of Fred. My oldest dd will really enjoy them.

    Oh, one more thing – we’re about to start building a cabin/house so both girls will get to help with the measuring and calculations. We’re thinking they’ll have a great, practical grasp of so many concepts once this project is over.

    Sue
    Participant

    I  borrowed Family Math from one of our local libraries last fall, so if you can find it in a library, you could try it out before you buy it.

    Gem
    Participant

    Yes, in fact I originally found Family Math at the library!  There are a lot of good “living math” books for elem. ages to be had at the library.  We have particularly enjoyed the Sir Cumference series…

    LDIMom
    Participant

    Math on the Level.

     

    Yes it is pricey but it has all you need for PreK-PreAlgebra.

    You could consider the two extra books. They have tons of idea. Who knew Grocery Store Math could be so fun or such a great teaching tool??? I didn’t until I read about it in MOTL.

     

    http://mathonthelevel.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117&Itemid=36 (this is the math adventures book; we have the whole curriculum but this might be a good place to start)

    Monica
    Participant

    We’re doing Saxon with my 9YO (although we had to get the 7/6 to match his level, he is very good at math). Meh, it serves the purpose, but there’s nothing exciting about it.

    I must say, though, my kids have the most fun on Fridays when we do no formal math and just play games (Family Math or math-related board games).

    kymom
    Member

    I found Family Math at our library. We will check it out.

    Thanks ladies!

    kymom
    Member

    LDI mom,

    I researched MOTL and I LOVE IT!!!! is there anyone here that has a set to sell?

    Becky

    Monica
    Participant

    MOTL. Oh, wow, wow, wow. That looks great.

    Trying to convince myself NOT to buy it – for now.

    MamaWebb
    Participant

    i looked at MOTL and love it too.  i wonder if i would really prep what i needed to prep….

    oh how i wish my funds were not so limited…

    kymom
    Member

    I know, my funds are limited as well.  I’m thinking if I sell my “Extra” stuff like saxon 5/4 and MUS sets both the delta and gamma sets it would help us get it. I also have a set of wisdom books level A 1 – 4,  they are still in the package. I bought them because Michelle Duggar said the were great but I don’t need them.  

     Anyone interested??

     

    LDIMom
    Participant

    Keep in mind on MOTL it is significantly discounted if you buy the entire set at once. Yes $295 is a lot but you do not need anything else! I do have more prep time, but I feel my kids are actually learning and that once they get it they don’t forget it. And I always know where they need more practice. We do use IXL for drilling and I get that through Homeschool Buyer’s Co-op for half price.

    BTW, there is a yahoo group for MOTL and you do not have to own it to join. Lots of people come on to ask questions and decide if it is right for them. As for a used copy, they are RARE to come by from what I hear. None of us ever wants to part with it LOL!

    http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/mathonthelevel/

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