If MUS doesn't work?

You know, our son hated Alpha when he was in first also.  We switched to Horizons, which he also didn’t like (neither did I).  We went back to MathUSee for third grade and it was a success – could it just be partly an age thing, I wonder?

I can’t say that my first grader loves MUS, but it’s working for him. He could probably use any math and comprehend its way of teaching. I have RS and it’s too much for me (for me, not for the majority, I’m sure). MUS is a good fit for us right now. On the other hand, my 9yo needs to use something more simplistic (not too many manipulatives, dialogue, etc.), and MUS is a fit for him, for now.

Your son would probably like RS, but if it’s the manipulatives, then he may/may not like that either. He may like the songs, and the variety that it provides, or it he won’t.

I’ve heard that Math mammoth is really good, maybe try that or MEP (free program)

Heather, I haven’t coordinated any of the lessons between Miquon and Life of Fred.  We started the first LOF book when we were about halfway through the Orange Miquon book.  The Orange is the first book.  I think there are some pretty good samples of the LOF books on their website at stanleyschmidt.com.  We do one page of Miquon and one chapter of Fred every day.  As we are nearing the end of the second Fred book, I think I will have to slow the pace because some of the concepts are beyond my daughter.  (not the math concepts, but the other things that Fred talks about – astronomy, quotation marks, etc.)  So we will probably complete the Red Miquon (2nd book) and then add Fred back in.  If you start Fred, I would definitely recommend having all of your kids go through them, even if they are technically “too old” because it teaches a lot of mathematical real-life thinking skills.  Even my 11 and 10 year old like doing them.

Hi Heather,  my dd hated MUS also.  I really think it is a great program, it just didn’t work for her.  We are finishing up our first year of Right Start and it has been a success.  It is great for my dd who is a very hands on learner.  I like that it switches up manipulatives.  You are not always using only the colored blocks.  I also like that the abacus is divided up into the two colors in sets of five.  I think for younger ages it is more concrete than having to memorize a color to represent a number as in MUS.  If you choose to go the RS route, my advice would be to realize that you don’t have to finish an entire level in one school year.  There are lots of games and they can be played as review anytime you feel that your child needs a change of pace.  Once I figured that out, RS became the perfect program for us.  There is a great yahoo group for RS if you would like to research it.