Switching from teaching textbooks to math-u-see

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  • April 17, 2014 at 2:39 pm
    poodlemama
    Participant

    My two older kids have been useing teaching textbooks for the past two years. Everything seemed to be going well, they were consistently getting high 90s on the assignments and test and they know the formulas etc. but recently I realized that they don’t have a good conceptual understanding of math. They are great at the formulas, following the steps but they don’t understand the why. I am coincidering switching to math u see for next year but I’m nervous that it will be difficult or confusing to switch methods. My 12 year old is finishing up pre-algebra and my 10 year old just finished grade 5. Advise would be appreciated.

    April 17, 2014 at 2:58 pm
    curlywhirly
    Participant

    I used MathUSee with my older kids with great success and it really does help with understanding the *why* part of math. However, it might be enough for you to do the Life of Fred series with your kids to help them get the *whys*. Have you seen LoF?

    April 19, 2014 at 11:27 am
    TailorMade
    Participant

    LoF is doing wonders for my TT 14yos.  I have considered MUS, but switched one time for our older children who couldn’t understand the MUS language…seemed too late.  That was many years ago and the MUS program has changed at least once.

    I’d like to hear from those who’ve switched at the Pre-Algebra, or later level to MUS and found a good fit.  TT has been much better than Saxon (even with DIVE added,) but LoF has been helping comprehension…yet, curious about MUS, too.

    BTW, I just ran across some very helpful Math journaling ideas yesterday.  We are going to add this into his weekly studies to come at it from a different angle.

    April 19, 2014 at 1:20 pm
    Kk
    Participant

    Many years ago we switched our son from Saxon algebra 1 to math u see and had him redo the algebra on up, it was a real turning point for him in understanding math and not taking hours to do a lesson, he also scored quite well on his SATs in math.

    Kk

    April 19, 2014 at 2:13 pm
    kerby
    Participant

    We’ve switched to MUS at the Pre-Algebra and Algebra levels because our texts only go through 8th.  Although I’m also starting my younger 2 in MUS now.  I have a good friend whose dd started w/ MUS at Geometry and ended up going back to do Alg 1 by choice.  She had struggled w/ Saxon and others.  Math was not her strength.  She did very well on the ACT and she accredits it to MUS.  She finally “got it.”  We’ll be taking the ACT’s this next yr so I can’t comment on that aspect from personal experience yet.  I don’t foresee a problem, though.   

    April 19, 2014 at 2:13 pm
    TailorMade
    Participant

    thanks.  I need to go back through my notes from math discussions with Richelle.  keeping your recommendation in my back pocket.

     

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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