Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

Tagged: elementary math

This topic has 6 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 2 months ago by Doug Smith.

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

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March 14, 2016 at 6:32 pm
AFthfulJrney
Participant
We have been using Singapore math this year with my 3rd and 1st grader. Both are only a few pages away from finishing workbook “b” and I’m stumped on what to do next. My daughter (3rd grade) would probably do fine moving on to the next level, but my son (1st grade) definitely would not. So, I’m wondering what would be best to use from this point on? We’ve been playing some math games and are using flash cards, but I think once the workbook is done, he will still need something in its place.
What is life of Fred like? Would it be good to use in a situation like this?
Honestly, I don’t think I want to push my daughter ahead either…a little more review would be beneficial to her as well, so anything you can recommend for both would be so appreciated!
And while I am at it, I’m not real happy with Singapore Math. The way things were presented to be taught and explained were, at times, confusing even to me. So, going forward for next school year, what might be a good math curriculum to use coming from Singapore?
I’m open to any and all suggestions and advice!
Thanks so much!
March 14, 2016 at 7:06 pm
retrofam
Participant
Life of Fred may work. Our public library has it. Check your local library for math literature too, such as the Math Start series. Livingmath.net has book lists.
You have many options for the rest of this year, including computer games, card games, fact practice, real life math through cooking, shopping, etc.
For next year, my favorite is Christian Light math. I prefer it because it is traditional math, which I do best teaching. My girls like that it is spiral.
Math U See is another option. It is a mastery program (not spiral).
March 15, 2016 at 5:05 am
Melanie32
Participant
I love Math U See! 🙂 They have placement tests on their website.

March 15, 2016 at 6:56 am
AFthfulJrney
Participant
@retrofam – thanks for the Math Start recommendations as well as Christian Light Math. I have never heard of either and will definitely look into both. I never thought to check my library for life of Fred…such a great idea!

March 15, 2016 at 8:26 am
Julie
Participant
We love Math U See!!!
March 15, 2016 at 3:40 pm
jenni33
Participant
Math U See was our choice for our oldest. He worked from Alpha through Pre-Algebra. But just a word of caution- if it’s important to you- they are following Common Core now. If it doesn’t matter to you, then I would check it out.
We also loved CLE (Christian Light Education), but it was not a good fit for my daughter. It is very thorough and provides plenty of review.
We just switched our daughter over to Horizons math and so far, so good. She has some learning difficulties, and comprehension issues so she is “behind” in math. Hopefully this will continue to be a good fit for her.
Life of Fred is good as a supplement, but in my opinion, not the best as a main curriculum. If you want to provide something to bridge the gap before you move them up to their next math, I would look into Math Rider (a fun math program), TimesTales, and Mad Dog Math. All great supplements for fact memorization. We also enjoy using Mega Fun Math Card Games. We bought the book from Rainbow Resource. You just need a deck of cards to play the games. It is fun and provides great review.
March 15, 2016 at 3:54 pm
Doug Smith
Keymaster
Regarding Math U See and Common Core… They did not change how they teach math. They were way above and beyond any government standards before and they still are. They pretty much just added some extra practice problems to the end of each section.