Math Question

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  • September 21, 2009 at 3:22 pm
    Julie
    Participant

    I have a question/questions about math and I hoping someone can help me.. 🙂

    I ordered MUS several months ago and we did not care for, so I sent it back. For a couple of months we worked out of workbooks from Wal-Mart and Target. I ordered Rightstart Math Level A and we are not happy with that either. I read on another forum that Rightstart is for auditory and kinetic learners, which my daughter is. We are following the CM method and I know MUS and RS are recommended. What should I do? Is there other curriculum that is CM “friendly”? 

    Does Rightstart take some getting used to before you really begin to like it? 

    Thanks for your input!!

    Julie

    September 21, 2009 at 3:43 pm
    Jimmie
    Member

    Have you researched the living math approach? You use living books and hands-on activities to teach math. The textbook is only a reference to the books and games.

    I’ve pulled a few introductory links from my long list of bookmarks tagged living math. After reading her own writings about math, I believe THIS is the way CM would have math be taught.

    http://theforestroom.blogspot.com/2009/08/rethinking-math.html

    http://carrhomeschool.blogspot.com/2009/08/our-first-full-week-of-living-math.html

    http://www.squidoo.com/charlotte-mason-math

    http://thecurriculumchoice.com/2009/06/living-math-curriculum-review

    http://heartkeepercommonroom.blogspot.com/2006/08/math-play-way-repost.html

    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090410143809.htm

    http://www.squidoo.com/transitioning-to-living-math

    http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Math/index.html

    September 21, 2009 at 5:46 pm
    Jodie Apple
    Participant

    It took some time for me to get comfortable teaching RightStart , but now I’m glad I stuck with it.   It was really important for me to take the time to go over the lesson myself before I tried presenting it to them because I didn’t learn math this way–so it was new to us all.  I love that they are understanding the why behind the math and not just memorizing facts and number families. 

    Some children just don’t care for math.  Our youngest two (ages 11 and 9) DO NOT like math in any form other than counting M&M’s and then eating them. Laughing  But now that they are getting used to the games in RightStart, they at least are enjoying math some.

    HTH,

    mj

     

    September 21, 2009 at 6:59 pm
    Cindie2dds
    Member

    We have done Miquon along with Right Start.  If you don’t like Right Start, you might want to try Miquon.  It only has rods as manipulatives.  My daughter likes Right Start better, but if we get to a point where she’s bored or frustrated, we’ll do Miquon for a while. 

    HTH!

    September 21, 2009 at 7:06 pm
    Mamasong
    Member

    We’re using Math on the Level and we’re very happy with it (thank you Shelly for telling me about it!!!).  http://www.mathonthelevel.com/

    Rachel Smile

    September 21, 2009 at 7:19 pm
    Julie
    Participant

    Thanks for the ideas. I didn’t learn math the way RS teaches, so maybe that’s my problem!! Laughing

    I have read that Level B is harder for the teacher than Level A, so that is worrying me to. I need to look at

    Miquon and Math on the Level. My dd loves the manipulatives!! 

    Julie

    September 21, 2009 at 7:42 pm
    crazy4boys
    Participant

    We’ve been using RightStart for almost 9 months now.  I have 1 in Level A and 2 in Level B.  Thus far I really like it and so do my kids.  I try to look over the lesson each night to make sure I understand it and can explain it to the kids.  And I make sure I have the games/cards/whatever ready.  During the lesson we just follow the plan and I love that!  I don’t follow it word for word, but I do follow the order and ideas.  My boys are enjoying it (most of the time) and retaining it.  Much, much better than they did with Singapore.  They are hands-on kind of kids and the abacus and games really help them “figure it out.”

    The first month or so took more ‘prep’ work for me, but now that we’ve been using it for a while I find it much easier to teach and I’m getting better at math too!  I honestly haven’t found it burdensome or difficult and Level B is not harder than Level A to teach – but that’s me and each person is different.  I also appreciate that each lesson takes 15 or so minutes and we can stretch it out longer if we want (by playing games) or keep it short.  Depends on the day here.  

    What do you not like about RightStart?

    Heather

     

    September 21, 2009 at 9:45 pm
    briedell
    Member

    We’ve been using Right Start Math for 3-4 yrs now with 2 girls.  I have a 6th grader finishing level E, and a 2nd grader starting level C.  For my eldest, this math was a God-send.  She tried MUS, Scott Foresman, ABeka, and then Right Start.  I wished we would have found it from the beginning.  The part I enjoy about it is that I am learning too.  There are moments when I absolutely LOVE the curriculum, and that is when a light bulb goes on in my head right along with hers:)

    My 2nd grader is auditory and she LOVES math period.  She finds it easy, no matter which approach we take.  She enjoys Right Start when I keep the lessons short.

    I remember that it did have a learning curve.  The first year, it took me awhile to understand how to use it, and preparing the day before helps me so much.  The next year using it wasn’t a problem.  Just an FYI…I found the younger levels had a lot more prep for some of the lessons than the upper levels do.  A lot of cutting out whatever from the back of the book, preparing manipulatives, etc..  As you get into level C and up, that seems to not be such a big deal. 

    All in all, I would say it is worth sticking with.  But, of course; you are the teacher.  That is the beauty of homeschooling:)

    I do credit Right Start and Mrs. Cotter though for my girls foundation in mathematics!  The way they teach place value, large subtraction, multiplication and division is wonderful.  Ok, I’ve said my piece:)

    September 22, 2009 at 5:10 pm
    Julie
    Participant

    Heather….We have been using Saxon and me dd LOVES it. We started Saxon after MUS and before RS. I started to feel unsure about Saxon, but my dd LOVES it and she enjoys math time and she’s getting it. I’m trying to follow the CM method and it suggests using MUS or RS, so I thought I may need to switch. My dd is an auditory learner and kinetic so I thought maybe RS may be a better fit. So, I wanted input…should I stick with Saxon if my dd loves it and is getting it or should I try and switch her…Math seems to be the hardest subject to figure out!! Tongue out

    September 22, 2009 at 11:29 pm
    lsacher
    Participant

    For some reason this is really hard to find on the site, but at this page, under Math, “making math meaningful” is recommended as well.

    http://simplycharlottemason.com/basics/started/charlotte-mason-method/#dictation

    i have looked at it and it looks very similar to right start in teaching the why behind it. (see the sample pages for the different level on their website, which you can google) we really like right start, esp all the games, but i think this curiculum would be really thourough as well. and it’s cheap!! 🙂

    hope this helps! Laura

    September 23, 2009 at 12:17 pm
    Julie
    Participant

    Thanks Laura….I’ll check it out 🙂

    September 23, 2009 at 2:11 pm
    meagan
    Participant

    Julie,

     

    We are also using Saxon math with our three sons this year.  They are progressing really nicely with it.  My feeling is, if you are using a program that is working for your child that she likes, don’t feel pressured to change it.  You know your daughter best and if she is learning and is content than I think that is all that matters.  That’s the beauty of homeschooling as well as using a method, not a set curriculum.  If at any point you feel she needs or desires the change than I would recommend MUS.  I don’t know much about the other math curriculums, but I know that my sister in law has been using this and progressing nicely.

     

    Meagan

    September 23, 2009 at 11:10 pm
    Julie
    Participant

    Thanks Meagan…I’m glad to know someone else is using Saxon and also following the CM method….Smile

    We levels are you using?

    Julie

    September 24, 2009 at 12:51 am
    meagan
    Participant

    We are using 7/6, 6/5, and 5/4 at the moment. Our oldest, because of several moves he had made in a short period of time (our boys were living with their mother and step-father-in the army) had fallen behind in math.  He should be at a pre-algebra level.  But this is just what he needed.  I love the spiral approach to Saxon ( which goes against what many CMers go for), with all the review sprinkled in over several lessons. 

     

    What levels are you on?

    September 24, 2009 at 8:07 pm
    Julie
    Participant

    I love the spiral approach too…yes it goes against the CM method Smile but my dd LOVES it. We are only in Saxon K and that could be why my dd loves it, all we are using are the manipulatives and she’s 4!!! We are taking it slow and she’s getting it. My dd begged for me to teach her how to read, and she’s reading beginner books, so here we are homeschooling slowly!!! (which goes against the CM method too) Laughing 

    Julie

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