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RS or MUS primer for 6yo
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I’m thinking ahead a bit to what I want to use with my will be newly 6yo son. I have recently decided to switch my oldest two kids to MUS because I need to simplify my day. But for my 6yo, I figure I will have to sit with him no matter what I do, so as long as I am, I could use the more fun, hands on RS math. But I don’t think I’ll be sticking with it thru 5th grade, so maybe I should just go with MUS primer? How hard is it to transition from RS to MUS after B? Or C?
I would go with whichever program you plan on sticking with. I switched programs a few times with my oldest DD and came to regret it. We only used RS A, but the approach is very different than MUS. I would think it’d be best to continue with RS until the end.
You can add more fun into MUS Alpha. I’ve been studying the SCM Mathematics DVD & book and adding elements of it to our lessons. My 6yo is mostly just using the methods here, but I do add in the occasional workbook page (mostly to practice writing numbers). I think at some point we’ll add in some of the Alpha book, but for now we mostly study one number at a time, with ideas from the book.
Another idea would be to add in some of the RS games alongside the MUS lessons. I kept the RS Math Games and we still like to play with them.
We love MUS and you probably won’t need to be present the whole time while your child works. I usually get my daughter set up and have her do one page while I get snack made or something and then come back and we go over it.
He is doing the miquon orange book right now, and i could continue these for another year or two and then switch him into MUS beta. But maybe using similar but slightly different blocks would be confusing?
Maybe you’re right. I should go with MUS, rather than switch in mid elementary. It’s much simpler that way.
Looking at primer, it covers:
- Counting objects and developing numeracy
- Understanding place value
- Recognizing number names and symbols
- Reading and writing numerals
- Understanding addition and subtraction with concrete and representational models
- Understanding and writing the symbols +, – and =
- Addition and subtraction of select numbers
My son already knows these things, so I’m thinking I should start him in alpha but just go slowly so he isn’t overwhelmed by the amount of writing?
Rebekah,
With the younger levels, I often have them give me the answers orally. There are so few problems that it goes pretty quickly and they seem to enjoy the lesson more. We write out one or two of the story problems on a dry erase board or paper with a large grid.
My kids like primer, but I find it to be very simple, in a good way 🙂 my boys actually did it in preschool and started Alpha in kinder. They both have Nov&Dec birthdays so are “older” in their grade and it was a great fit, they were ready. My DD did primer in kindergarten but she is younger in her grade (late spring birthday) and it was a great fit for her.
Maybe start with Alpha and skip primer. Primer is not “necessary” IMO and my boys do it because they wanted “school” and the lessons are short and made them happy to be like their older sibling doing school.
oh and I don’t find there to be a lot of writing, but as said before you can easily have him answer outloud. The lessons are not long. We have pnly used MUS and have been very happy with it.
OK, thanks. I will go with alpha. I think he would have liked primer this year, but I’m just going to continue with miquon orange book for now and start him in MUS in the fall when he is officially in kindy.
The practical side of me says go with MUS alpha, but the idealistic side keeps thinking that RS would be more fun for my little guy.
We use MUS but bought the RS games. I didn’t use them as much as I would have liked so far because I am just bad at reading instructions but I still think it is a great supplement.
I really like the simplicity of MUS. Personally I like simple and to the point and not games when it comes to math, because I forget to do hand on things *blush*. I find it easy to teach and the kids like the videos, they think he is great, LOL.
I do have the RS games, so I will just have to try and schedule some of those into our week.
I do like how simple and straight forward MUS is. Gotta remind myself how RS annoyed me the one year I used it. Lol. I’m hoping since MUS is straight forward, I will have the time and energy to actually play some math games.
I already ordered MUS for my crew, so I need to stop thinking about this. Lol. Time to obsess about something else… Like history, that’s the only thing I haven’t figured out for next year. Maybe I should start a new thread. 🙂
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