How to use SCM living math with my curriculum

Hi Erika,

Great question!  If you are familiar with Charlotte Mason’s methods in reading, handwriting, and narration, you will see definite points of intersection with her methods in teaching mathematics.  If you have the SCM dvd’s you will see the rather deliberate and steady method of introducing writing into the child’s arithmetic lessons.  If you haven’t, you may see how writing was used in the introduction of numbers in this article I wrote.

In a subject such as History, we don’t hurry written narrations because it is the idea that is of significance and the same is so in mathematics.  We don’t want the labor-intensive act of handwriting to overshadow the idea. Written narration doesn’t begin before the age of nine in a CM education though handwriting does.  In arithmetic, children learn to write their numbers and will on occasion, write problems in their math notebook or on a slate.  Once the meanings of signs are learned, children may write on their dry erase board (or slate, or boogie board, jot board, etc.) the oral question posed:

“Two marbles plus four marbles equals ___ marbles” and the child writes 2+4=6 on their slate.  During the final lesson on a particular number, writing sums in the math notebook is a treat.  If a rule is “discovered” by the child then it is also written in their math notebook as well.

Erika, before I go on and on, please let me know if you have the SCM handbook and/or dvd’s so I can refer you to specific places to find the info.  Otherwise, I can continue…

Best,

Richele

Thanks Richele,

Yes, I do have the SCM handbook as well as the DVD. I also have Ray’s Arithmetic. I noticed you said placement in to Strayer-Upton book 1. How would this equate to Ray’s?

I feel like I own and have tried every math program under the sun. However, I’m coming to see, it’s more about the method than the means (books).

Now, I haven’t read all the replies, I’m just skipping ahead to add this: Charlotte’s methods are wonderful. BUT… math is a subject that it is very important not to keep jumping around a lot on a child, you can end up with gaps in their learning and actually hindering the student, as it sounds like you’re already learning.  So, if Singapore is working well for your son in that he’s making progress and doesn’t hate math, then I would urge you to stick with it, instead of trying to transfer him to something else.

Also, as much as we want children to *love* learning, most children are going to have likes and dislikes when it comes to certain subjects, and some children just *aren’t* going to like math, some will struggle with it, no matter how great of a program they use. So, at some point we have to accept that they’re not going to love it, and just stick with what is working with the least amount of resistance.  At 10 years old, I would be very cautious about continuing to switch curriculum, as you’re losing time with which to fill in the gaps before you really need start getting into pre-algebra material etc…

There comes a point in homeschooling where we have to let go of our ideals, and stick with what is working for our children, even if it’s not the method that we would prefer. I’ve been dealing with that myself, too. I think many of us do to some extent.

Now, you could likely add some CM-elements on the side: add some living books about math, and add some hands on manipulatives etc… when teaching the lesson, but again,  I wouldn’t try to change him completely over to something else now.  Not unless Singapore just flat out is not working at all. Also, while you may feel like he’s “behind”, typically Singapore runs a full grade behind, so a child would be working on 4A/B in grade 5, so he’s not that far off!

Hi Rachele,

I am reading through this thread over & over again, trying not to miss anything! First, I would like to say thank you for being so thorough & helpful!

A bit of background on our math journey: we started out with RightStart 11 years ago, used it up until 2 years ago when we switched our two bigger boys to Teaching Textbooks(kept the younger kiddos in RS) & now I’m exploring our options again. I do not want to continue with RS. I simply do not have enough time to do it with 4 kiddos, our other subjects, a 4 year old & 2 year old identical twinkies? Also after reading this thread & a few others I can see how it doesn’t ‘fit’! I think I need a mom/teacher tutor…

<span style=”line-height: 1.5;”>I have two questions so far lol</span>

– Why do you suggest Ray’s Arithmetic Book 1 & then switch to Strayer-Upton, instead of sticking with Ray’s?

– I looked at the third Strayer-Upton book & our current curriculum’s (Teaching Textbook) to compare them for pre algebra but they don’t look simular at all. I realize they are different curriculums but, honestly I’m just confused…would it be a bad idea to switch for pre algebra & then again for algebra?

More to come lol

Katie

Awwweeee Richele❤❤ Twins are so amazing! You are right hey and all my other kiddos have plenty of playmates ?

I’m not sure how part of my post got jumbled sorry if it was confusing!

Your replies are always so thoughtful, thank you! I’m going through as many threads as I can trying to get answers instead of asking those that have already been asked/answered!

Yes, you answered my first question. I didn’t realize Strayer-Upton started out more advanced so I understand now why you make that switch.

Your thoughts on pre algebra are interesting and helpful! Unfortunately we as a society often try to complicate things, while trying to make them ‘better’. I need as much simplicity in my life as possible. To me CM is that simplicity & peacefulness I’m craving! I don’t want any of those ‘stray pieces’ in our bigger picture❤

I need to clarify the second question though because I do not think I was clear enough for you to be able to answer lol…Right now my bigger boys are using Teaching Textbooks. My 14 year old is 2 lessons away from being done with there grade 7. So I what I am asking is would you switch your child to Strayer-Upton for just grade 8 (pre algebra) and then switch curriculums again for Algebra and Geometry? Lol although, I see that you are talking another look at Strayer-Upton III for those subjects now. I am glad you were pleasantly surprise and not overwhelmed with more to look at!

I feel that way right now. I should have been better prepared, and had him prepared to start high school this year! Right now I’m focusing on math, know I have so much more to figure out.

Richele

I’m sorry I didn’t mean for you to review TT. I know you can’t review everything & that part of your book shows us how to do it ourselves. I do not own your book/DVD yet but it is on my list! Thank you though for taking the to do so & sharing your thoughts with me, I really do appreciate it all!

I agree that it is straightforward, no frills.

Most lessons take about 30 minutes for my son who is nearing the end of TT7, but not all. He does not like stopping when the timer goes off! He says he wants to finish what he is doing if it is math, writing or really anything he is doing on his own, because he doesn’t want to forget what he is doing. Have you dealt with this with one of your children? I see the benefits of short lessons & for the most part we are embracing it fully!

There is built in review. I am hoping to go over TT’s pre-algebra & Algebra I scope and squence this week to see if he has had enough instruction to were possibly I could start him with Harold Jacob’s books. I really am unsure of what to use…but I know I want it to line up with so many of the points you have made/shared! Both of my bigger boys have really enjoyed TT, mainly because they can get it done no matter what it going on outside of the computer room ? But I have had more than one person tell me recently that TT did not prepare their child enough for college math ?

In June you said you were reviewing a newly published curriculum, do you have anything to share on that topic?

Sort of related,just sharing – I saw in another thread you were talking about rotating Business Math,  Algebra & Geometry through out the week. I really like that idea to help keep it all fresh in your mind!

Well that’s enough for tonight. I look forward to continue this conversation!

Katie

Hello simplemom,

Let’s take a deep breath in and out before we set to work.  Remember, fear can pull and push but Love leads and guides.  We read in Jeremiah 33: 25, 26 that God created the fixed laws of heaven and earth.  The same One who created and sustains mathematical principles created you and your son and will sustain you.

Every part of math is a practical tool given by Him to explore the universe and gives us insight into His consistent, steadfast character.  Even the fact that we can rely on the multiplication table working shows His great love for us.  In Him are infinite stores of learning, wisdom, and virtue, graciously placed at our disposal.

Have you read the previous posts in this thread then?  The same words of encouragement apply to you.

I need to know if you have 1/2 hour daily to sit with your son during math?  If so, I am confident that he can make sure and steady progress.  It will have to be at his pace but if he can give math his attention and be diligent for the full thirty minutes then it should move quickly enough.

I have to attend to the rest of our school day here and then meet my husband at his business.  My hope is to be able to write more to you tonight about what it would take to implement CM math.  If there is any other pertinent information please let me know.

Warmly,

Richele

Hi simplemom,

I have a questions so bear with me:

You said your son knows addition and subtraction.   Does this mean double-digit, triple-digit, etc.?

Have you looked over the posts regarding Charlotte Mason’s living teaching of math?

Have you looked at the SCM materials available in the bookstore?

Is Charlotte Mason’s living approach to math something you want to pursue?  It will require you to sit with your son for half an hour each day.   Personally, I find it just as relationship building to be sitting with my 9th grader in Algebra as it was sitting with him for a read-aloud in his younger years.  It doesn’t require you to be a math major but you will need to put in some time and effort in order to guide him but your son will do the actual math by his own power.

I’m not here to sell you anything but if you are going to start with “Introduction to Multiplication” and continue with the CM method for construction of multiplication tables, advanced multiplication, division, and fractions then you would want the Living Math DVD-set as Sonya and I demonstrate exactly how to go about it.  The handbook is a pretty quick 99-page read that lays out the methods but goes deeper into the philosophy which undergirds them.  Here’s Cathy Duffy’s non-biased review of the dvd set.  The book is good to have on hand as a ready reference.  You could use Ray’s Primary Arithmetic –which is in the public domain for free– for questions related to each number in the multiplication table and simple division.

I shy away from reviewing math curriculum but I do like to share when I find a book that makes it simple to implement CM’s methods that rest upon her sound philosophy.  For our family that has been (and you’ve already seen it if you’ve read through all the conversation in this post) Ray’s and Strayer-Upton.  I’ve been able to take my eldest through  elementary arithmetic to pre-algebra for about $55 total.

You may have something at home already that you can use for this though.  If I were more imaginative I probably wouldn’t have needed to have books to glean the oral questions from but I felt most comfortable having them by my side.

Not knowing you or your son but thinking generally of a 14-year-old boy of average intelligence, I do think one could reach a happy understanding and true mathematical thinking in multiplication, division, fractions, decimals and percents in a school year.  It would require consistency on both your parts of 30 minutes a day in the morning and a 5 minute mental review of facts scheduled later in the day.  Would you be happy with that much progress?

Best,

Richele