Name: Spreading the Feast Gathering
Start: 2025-07-11T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-07-12T23:59:59-05:00
Location: LaGrange, KY

Tagged: math, Math U See, teaching textbooks

This topic has 8 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 9 months ago by connollyhomeschool.

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

Author
Posts
August 22, 2018 at 1:00 pm
Twinsmomxtwo
Participant
Our family uses Math U See and we are very happy with it. My kids love it and love math. I want to add a more extensive supplemental review component to their independent work time since they go through the MUS practice pages/lesson tests pretty quickly and honestly these worksheets can get boring after a while.
We have used Math Seeds (online program) as a supplement but my older kids (age 10) don’t like it that much and actually have aged out of it. I plan to continue Math Seeds for my youngers (age 8).
So, I’m wondering…would supplementing with Teaching Textbooks work for my 10-year-olds? I know TT is more spiral and MUS more mastery but since our primary curriculum would be Math U See, would it work to use TT as a supplement?
Thank you!
August 22, 2018 at 3:48 pm
Kristen
Participant
Have you tried Khan Academy? It’s online and it’s free.
khanacademy.org
August 22, 2018 at 5:11 pm
Twinsmomxtwo
Participant
I have. For me it has been difficult and time consuming to set up the content I want them to have, difficult to navigate, and I found some of the word-problem content questionable.
I’m also not necessarily looking at cost. I am able to get TT 2.0 (book w/discs) at great price.
I’m just interested in opinions on how TT pairs with MUS.
August 28, 2018 at 10:57 am
connollyhomeschool
Participant
I use MUS as well. I don’t know about TT, so I apologize if this post is a waste of your time. I have always just printed out pages from the website for a supplement–I know. I’m the boring mom. I have been known to create my own word problems as well as have the kids create their own for each other, which is a fun challenge as they just want to stump each other. Creating their own was great because they didn’t think they were doing math work, but they were by coming up with questions and solutions
Now if you’re wanting to supplement because you think MUS may not be enough, I can attest that I, myself, had always wondered if MUS was enough. So when my oldest, for whom math is not her favorite subject, was helping friends at practice with their algebra homework and had people texting her for explanations, I realized MUS was enough!
August 28, 2018 at 2:20 pm
Twinsmomxtwo
Participant
I am not concerned that Math U See is not enough. We love MUS here as our core curriculum.
Honestly, I’m really looking at TT to supplement because I need to keep my older kids busy with something engaging for independent math practice while I work one-on-one with my other kids.
I’m seeking opinions about compatibility because I want to make sure TT doesn’t teach the concepts too differently and lead to confusion instead of the concept reinforcement I’m looking for.
August 28, 2018 at 3:20 pm
Bek
Participant
<p style=”text-align: left;”>To break up the monotony of MUS, we use Life of Fred. The two programs are completely different but I think that’s a good thing. Dont be put off by the first book or two where there are ridiculously easy sums to do – he also introduces advance math concepts in a very simple manner, and the volumes quickly get to things that the children have never encountered before. I like it because it IS so different and the children quickly see that mathematics is NOT just arithmetic. Theyre designed to be used independently and are non consumable. You could look at the scope and sequence in their web page.</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>I know you were asking about TT but just thought id mention LoF.</p>
August 28, 2018 at 6:02 pm
Valerie
Participant
I just saw a report that compared 10 of the more popular mainstream math choices. One of the top contenders was Zearn Math. It’s online, free, and the optional workbooks are the only cost ($30 per workbook). I’m going to be trying it out for my kids. Previously i’d used Jump Math which gets good reviews too, but Zearn was the best. The review of MUS was that the scope was too narrow and children in the upper levels were missing some important knowledge. Just another idea for you to look at!

August 28, 2018 at 6:03 pm
Valerie
Participant
https://www.edreports.org/math/reports/compare-k8.html Here is the report if anyone is interested in seeing it.

August 29, 2018 at 5:54 am
connollyhomeschool
Participant
Sorry to take you on a tangent then 🙂 I would get TT if you’re just looking for a supplement and are getting a great price. Math problems are math problems, and since you’re only looking to supplement your core with extra practice, why not? Your core is your teaching material and TT is just the supplement for practice.
Besides, in my daughter’s AP courses, she usually has more than one textbook (not talking math here yet), and she has discovered that some pieces of info are clearer in one than the other. So TT may do just that for you, too.
I looked at it online to see how it corresponds with the different MUS levels we’re doing, which I am sure you did already, and from the TOC, it’s easy to see what fits in and what doesn’t. Looks like you’ll just spend a tad bit of time putting your supplement into MUS order is all.
Hope you find the info you need and get the supplement that fits perfectly!