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How do you do CM math successfully with multiple children?
- This topic has 9 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 2 months ago by
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I have seen and heard this question addressed both on A Delectable Education podcast and also on the CM math Facebook form, but I still don’t feel like I have an answer that makes sense. I have heard it suggested to possibly wait and combine certain children. I don’t think that would be wise in our family and makes more sense to keep each child at their own level. I understand that as they get older and progress in math ability, they will be able to do more independently, but it still seems like it would take quite a bit of a time. I have 4 children. I don’t want math to crowd out our other subjects. I’m currently using SCM math books 1 and 2 with my 6 and 7 year old boys (I also have a 4 year old and a 2 year old). It’s going okay, but I still don’t feel like I have a very good flow to our lessons. It seemed like it was much easier when I was using Math-U-See and I sometimes wonder if I should just go back to that. Has anyone implemented this method successfully with 3 or more children? Do they work independently at all? I really want this to work but I need some encouragement that it will be possible in the long term….By the way, yes, I have both the handbook and DVD and feel like I have a pretty good understanding on the method in general. My oldest boy also grasps math easily but I just feel like he needs and wants a little more independence. I don’t want to give up on this prematurely, but I am questioning where we are headed with this….
I am not a lot of help, your experience is why I stuck with MUS. I really enjoy the SCM materials and use almost all of them, but having a set math program for my kids has kept them and me on track. We have used MUS since the beginning and I always felt like it was a good mix of parent involvement (I watch the video with the kids and help as needed) and independence that I needed for schooling multiple children.
Something I have learned over the years is that while a method might be fantastic, that does not always make it a good fit for myself or children which is so hard to admit because sometimes it is a fantastic resource or learning style, but just does not work for us.
If your older son is ready for more, you might just set a timer and do math with him for a set time and math with your next oldest for a set time. That way they can each progress at their own pace individually. By the time your younger ones are ready for school your older ones will be becoming more independent. I do have to say that even with independence my help is needed for new concepts. With a child in Algebra 1, another in Pre Algebra, and the youngest in a different level of MUS, I am still spending quite a bit of time helping and encouraging them on their math lessons. 🙂
I bought the SCM book and DVD when they came out. I used the lessons with my then 6yo, and she had a great year! I 100% love the ideas of this method and think it’s amazing.
A couple years later, I tried to use the methods with all my kids (4 school aged at the time) and found it overwhelming, even with combining two. It took a lot of time to organize my lesson plans, and then I needed more time to teach them. I have a friend who homeschools his kids using no formal curriculum and they are ridiculously advanced, so I know it can be done in a large household. I’m just not the one to do it. 😂
My youngest will start first grade next fall, and I plan on using the series as long as I can. I’ll have to make a decision from there. We will likely switch to MUS at that point.
Thanks for the input so far. I’m planning to stick it out to the end of the year at least and re-evaluate from there. I’m hoping some others can chime in who have used it successfully with multiple children in the upper years….
HollyS, I read in an older post that you were supplementing MUS with CM math methods of oral drill and story problems. Are you still doing this? If so, can you explain more what that looks like. It sounds like a great idea for a large family.
We supplemented CLE Sunrise math with CM math methods. I used the teacher guide, a white board and occasional household manipulatives (grades 5 & up). I made up story problems to fit the math problem in the teacher guide. (I would use more household manipulatives for lower grades.)
Once a week, we use Strayer Upton story problems, orally with CM methods. Those problems are a real mental challenge for them. We keep these lessons short.
To the op, the answer for you might be to continue with MUS and change it or supplement it in some way with CM math methods. This might be only once per week for each student. Try different ways and see what works.
I used to read a lot of problems out loud for my daughter and have her skip much of the writing. I can’t remember what else I did. 😊 I probably turned some of them into story problems, as Richele does in the mathematics video. She’s currently using MUS Gamma and does fine with the lessons as is, but for awhile she complained about writing and dreaded her math. It helped a lot.
I am using the CM Elementary Math Series with two (soon to be three) children. Two more are using the Strayer Upton books while applying CM principles. It is time consuming. I also have two teens in Saxon and we work through any problems they have in the afternoons. Did I mention it was time consuming?
But my children do not do will with online options. Saxon was bringing children to tears. So I make the sacrifice of my time. For this season I am making it work. I do not combine my students for math. They are all at different levels.
I can basically do math in my sleep. But, and this is funny, I am learning to love math.
Sharon….your last comment intrigued me. What is making you learn to love math? I am so intrigued by the method that I really want to use it successfully and I also think I could learn to love math. I just don’t feel confident in my abilities. Are you using the Strayer Upton scope and sequence for the children who are in those books or are you coordinating it with Richele’s scope and sequence? I think I would feel more confident in continuing if I followed the S-U scope and sequence while introducing the concepts in a CM way. Also, do you feel that everything is covered in the Strayer Upton books? I haven’t seen anything on greater than/less than, graphing, tally marks, etc…….it seems that other curriculums seem to cover so many more concepts earlier on….
For my two children using Strayer Upton, I just follow the SU scope and sequence. I was going to line it up with Richele’s but decided to go with the easier option. So I follow their S & S but teach with CM principles/method.
For concepts such as tally marks, less/greater than, I find those things tend to teach themselves or are quick concepts to grasp. So I haven’t give much thought to them not being taught directly.
I never viewed myself as a “math person”. Math was a dreaded subject for me. But I have found in implementing the CM method with our math that I really do enjoy numbers and how they work. I think seeing my children succeeding at math and enjoying it has been huge. For so long it had been a struggle in our home. To finally see children doing well and enjoying it (most days, lol) has been a huge help in me learning to love math. It is time consuming but I feel it is worth it.
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