MUS Epsilon

I think it depends upon the child. My son switched to MUS Epsilon a couple of months ago and after the first few lessons, hasn’t needed them. My gut tells me that if he didn’t need the others. he probably won’t need these. If I were in your shoes, I’d probably wait and see. If he struggles then get them then, but in the mean-time, see how he does without them.

I bought mine used, which made a huge difference cost wise.

My dd, on the other hand, will probably need them more. Different children…

They told me at the conference that I would need them, they were pretty convincing! I hope I didn’t buy them for nothing!!

I do think they are important.  I, myself, in school many years ago, got lost at EXACTLY this point in math.  I didn’t realize it at the time, but I did not internalize manipulating fractions.  I just “memorized the rules”, got good grades, APPEARED to understand, and then got to algebra and got totally lost.  I could not figure out how to manipulate equations properly because I didn’t really understand fractions.  I REALLY REALLY think that this SAME problem happens to MANY kids–they get to algebra and suddenly realize that they THOUGHT they knew what they were doing, but they don’t, and they struggle.  I have helped many kids who had this same issue.  I think the visuals are worth the expense and the time.  I made my “very math bright” boys do them, and when most people hit the wall in algebra, mine sailed right through.  I think being able to visualize manipulating fractions is essential in order to visualize certain things in algebra.  I like to save money–I have done 3 kids in MUS for 14 years with ONE starter set of blocks, stored in the original cardboard box—but I bought both the fraction kit and the algebra inserts, and I used them!!!!!  Well worth the $$, IMO, if it saves you tears in algebra, where many kids decide they don’t get or like math anymore.

I also had a friend who made her own, she just color coordinated them, used transparency sheets for the overlays and put them in a binder. We’ve used ours a few times and then not anymore.