Ray's Arithmetic or Strayer-Upton

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  • September 27, 2012 at 6:22 pm
    Heather
    Participant

    Does anyone have an opinion on these math approaches?  I am looking for an inexpensive alternative to Life of Fred.  I know these are not silly options like LOF, but I’ve been reading a bit and it looks like they both cover material using the same thinking appoach.  The price is very agreeable.

    I am asking for DS7 (almost 8).  My girls have found great success with MUS, but ds operates a bit differently I’ve found.  With him I’ve tried Christian Liberty Press, Christian Light Ed, Singapore, MUS and Miquon.  We’ve had the most success with LOF and I think it’s mostly the thinking and not writing approach that is working well.  

    I found this free option online as well…  http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=nietz;idno=00acz7992m;cc=nietz;rgn=full%20text;didno=00acz7992m;view=image;seq=0001;node=00acz7992m%3A1

    September 27, 2012 at 8:07 pm
    Laura.bora
    Participant

    We’ve only ever used Ray’s, so I can’t give you an “I like this over that because”, but we love our Ray’s.  We use http://www.xtramath.org with it to keep up on math facts, and as a fun extra.  I know there is some sort of guide that you can buy with it by Ruth someone, but we have never used it. Just gone lesson by lesson, and not moving onto the next lesson until they mastered the first. 

    September 27, 2012 at 9:56 pm
    pslively
    Participant

    Hi Heather,  We use Strayer Upton along with LOF.  I love the S.U. because it is inexpensive, non-consumable, and extremely thorough.  Since we started LOF last year, we basically use the SU for more practice on each of the concepts in Fred.  Before that, my kids just worked out of the SU.  We also threw in the SCM Pet Shop Business Math in there along the way for a bit.  I think the Strayer Upton is wonderful, but I bet Ray’s is also.  And I know that you can get Ray’s for free online.  The SU books are definitely not “fun” or “silly” and they are definitely textbooks.  My kids don’t love them, but they are effective and good.  I rarely make my kids do the entire page of problems unless it’s one of their pages that just has 7 or 8 story problems.  I think it works beautifully with LOF, but if LOF hadn’t come along, I would have been very happy to just continue on strictly using Strayer Upton.  I believe TimberDoodle recommends Strayer Upton and I think I remember them having a good and thorough review if you want to check that out.  

    Here is a link to some interesting information regarding a study that was done in the 30’s, I believe, where they tried some alternative ways of teaching math using the Strayer Upton books.  I don’t necessarily think it’s a testimonial for SU books, but still interesting reading.   http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/sanjoy/benezet/1.html

    September 27, 2012 at 11:58 pm
    Heather
    Participant

    @pslively, you have helped tremendously!  I checked out Rays online and it looks like it will be a good fit…and you sure can’t beat free!  Thank you so much for your help!

    @Laura.bora, thank you for the link to xtramath!  I’ve just signed up all of my dc and I think it will be great practice for all!

    You ladies make my job so much easier!Cool

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