Teaching Textbooks ~ questions

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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  • May 29, 2011 at 10:24 pm
    havefaithplease
    Member

    Hello Everyone!

    I’m considering switching math programs for the fall.  I’ve looked over Teaching Textbooks and really like the looks of it.  I’ve also spoken to a couple of friends whose children use it in the older grades.  I’m wondering if anyone here has used it in the younger grades?  I’m looking at using it with my two sons.  We would be using grade 4.  

    Currently we have used MEP math for the last two years.  While we do really enjoy MEP, and my boys have learned a lot.  I’m looking for something more independant for them both.  They are very strong in math skills (thank you MEP!). I would like something though that would allow them to work more independantly.  Then they could each work seperately and I would work one on one with them on language arts.  

    So… anyone?

     

    Thanks so much!

    Carrie

    May 30, 2011 at 1:59 am
    grace4today
    Member

    Hi Carrie, I am not familiar with MEP math so I cant compare it to teaching textbooks however I can tell you about TT. My daughter is finishing up Teaching Textbooks Math 4 and we have liked it. It  does jump from one subject to another before she masters one. For example it covers multiplication and then moves on to geometry concepts and now temperature. I am not sure if that is normal for Math texts since we have always used Math U See which focuses on one concept at a time. She does do each lesson independently and then I check to see how many she had wrong that day(which is on the parent grade book on the computer) and if it is alot then I go over with her all the ones she had wrong. We have liked it and will be using level 5 next year. Feel free to ask me any more specific questions. I hope I helped you some!! Wendy

    May 30, 2011 at 11:35 am
    Rachel White
    Participant

    I had my dd, then 9, use the gr. 3 program last year. I was disappointed with the lack of review and mastery. It moved too quickly. Although she would get the problems correct on the screen, in her book, she wouldn’t, so it seemed that she was not learning it for the long haul and, for her anyway, she needed that extra practice to make things cement. She’s not a mathy person. She ended up getting further behind than she had been because she had to go back and learn over again with another program.

    I bought Math MAmmoth to supplement and it has turned out to be her main math. I recommend MM over TT; MM is mastery based, very independant and the price is substantially better. If she gets too many problems wrong, I can just print out the same page over again for her to re-do. I wish I had saved that money for other books; TT is the only thing in my HS’ling that I’ve ever regretted purchasing.

    HTH,

    Rachel

    May 30, 2011 at 11:46 am
    havefaithplease
    Member

    MEP is a spiral based math program, not mastery.  So my boys are used to that, and do well with it.  I was wondering about that with the program.  

    I’m sorry Rachel that your daughter had a hard time with it!  Thank you for your review of the program.  I will look at Math Mammouth to see what it looks like.  

    Since my boys have strong math skills to begin with and catch on very quickly I think that TT might be a good fit.  Why does it have to be so nerve-wracking to pick new curriculum??  

     

    Carrie

    May 30, 2011 at 8:26 pm
    csmamma
    Participant

    My 10yo son has used TT this year for 4th (almost finished with it) and has done most independantly, with only a little help on long division. We plan on continuing with it…as long as it continues to work for him. One of the most important things I’ve learned in our homeschooling journey is “If it aint broken, don’t try to fix it Wink“.

    Blessings ~ Heather

    June 21, 2011 at 6:03 pm
    cedargirl
    Participant

    My 9 year old just finished TT3 and it has turned her tears to joy! We struggled with Math U See, tried the simplicity of Rod & Staff (eek) and now having done TT3 al light has gone on! She is understanding so many more concepts and enjoys the pace of the gradual review in the lessons. They teach a topic, work on it, touch on it again for several lessons. I found it best to do the CD lecture and lessons first then work through the corresponding textbook lesson that day as recommended. I can not say enough good things about how this has blessed my daughter and made her happy and eager to do math. I am thankful to find Proffessor B for my younger son as he has seen how much his sister enjoys her math on computer and is eager to do the same. TT2 will not be out in time for him. I have all ready pestered them about it, sigh. Fully recommend TT!

    June 21, 2011 at 6:41 pm
    simple home
    Member

    We have tried a lot of math programs, and this is IT for our family. It is so easy to use, and my kids are learning it entirely without me…well, except for me checking it of course! 🙂

    HTH!

    June 21, 2011 at 6:50 pm
    missceegee
    Participant

    havefaithplease, I just sent you a pm

    ChristieSmile

    June 21, 2011 at 6:55 pm
    Polly
    Participant

    We switched my 10 year old to this so that he could be independent in math.  I love that he is independent and he is having a positive experience with math!  However, I do think it is behind by about 1 – 11/2 grade levels.  My son just finished 4th grade and he will start level 6 in September (and most of that he already knows we are just trying to give him confidence).  I have my “uncomfortableness” with the program.  I don’t think it’s the best planned out.  It bugs me that it is based on what is on the standardized tests.  But, it’s working for us for now.  If they had 2nd grade out, I’d put my 1st grader in it.  My oldest dd, 20 yrs old, used it from pre-algebra on up and it was a true blessing for us. 

    June 22, 2011 at 2:56 am
    Renelle
    Participant

    Hi Carrie,

    We switched from MEP to TT. Mainly for me because I wanted something much less teacher intensive. TT is the right balance for us along with games and living math. We love TT here and it does not overwhelm. I like to keep things simple and TT suits us well. I have no hesitation in recommending it as do I recommend MEP but I found that teacher intensive. I love both. We are midway through our school year and midway through TT right on track! Our son is 9 and using TT4. I do like that they start from the beginning and progresses with the concept as student goes along. We like spiral and the variety spiral programmes offer.

    All the best with your choices,

    Renelle

    June 22, 2011 at 6:55 pm
    havefaithplease
    Member

    Thank you everyone for you replies!  

    Renelle… yes we also have used MEP for the last two years.  We loved it!  I’m needing something now less teacher intensive also.  I like spiral based math.  Did you find it an easy transition from MEP to TT?

    We are definitely going to make the switch to TT.  We will also use games and living math along with it.

     

    Thank you all again!

    Blessings,

    Carrie

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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