Math-u-See blocks

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by jennyb, Jul 2, 2011.

  1. jennyb

    jennyb New Member

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    i noticed in the demo video on math u see that the blocks he uses are magnetic, yet i dont think it says anything in the product description about them being magnetic... has anyone ordered these or does anyone know?
     
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  3. Brooke

    Brooke New Member

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    The blocks you purchase are not magnetic. He uses larger, custom made blocks (if memory serves) for the DVDs. I am not so sure that you could effectively insert magnets in the ones for home use, either, since you need them to be hollow in the back when you do subtraction.

    Maybe another MUS user has some ideas for you. :)
     
  4. Meghan

    Meghan New Member

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    I don't use Math-u-see, but depending on what you want to do with them, you might be able to do something else with them.

    For my dd, I had printed 100's blocks offline and pasted them to cardboard. I could just have easily pasted them to a sheet of magnet though and cut them out.

    LOL- my daughter used her 'set' of 100's, 10's, and 1's for about a week. Then she BEGGED me to just let her do it in her head instead LOL. I think she found all the block shuffling annoying instead of helpful. (OTOH, I had a blast with glue and scissors making them for her...).
     
  5. jennyb

    jennyb New Member

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    well i found a much cheaper set of blocks on amazon.. so i'm going to order those. glad i realized the blocks weren't magnetic before i ordered them for like 35 bucks!!
     
  6. Brooke

    Brooke New Member

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    Yes, I wish I had known about cheaper sets when my kids were starting out on MUS. Live 'n learn.
     
  7. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    We made our own out of foam board? You know the ones you make art stuff with? We just got some of those in appropriate colors and dd took over measuring out exact size amount etc, and that what we used for Algebra.. ds did much better when he used them during his lessons too!
     
  8. jennyb

    jennyb New Member

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    im very excited to start MUS!
     
  9. teachingmomky

    teachingmomky New Member

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    Need Gamma Math u see

    I am hoping to find a used Gamma set. This is our first year homeschooling and it is getting a little pricey and was hoping some dear sole might have one I could buy. Thanks
     
  10. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    check out homeschool classifieds
    and craigs list and amazon
     
  11. Actressdancer

    Actressdancer New Member

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    Just make sure that whatever blocks you buy are
    - the right color (yes, it matters. Or you spend a lot of time with a confused kid)
    - the right size (This also matters for a lot of the book work)
    - hollow
     
  12. dalynnrmc

    dalynnrmc New Member

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    Ditto. Hard to use other than MUS blocks with MUS books, but they are findable used.

    The ones he uses on the DVD are MUCH larger, for teacher demonstration only. The regular blocks have units that the end just about fits on the end of my pinkie finger.

    But the color is super important, and especially for the youngers the right size for the book definitely matters. Their method for teaching subtraction utilizes the hollow sides of the blocks, but we haven't found that a necessary tool here... yet. ;)

    There's a yahoogroup JUST for reselling of MUS items though. MUSswap, I believe it's called. :cool:
     
  13. Samantha

    Samantha New Member

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    I LOVE this idea. I think I just added another thing onto my summer project list.
     
  14. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    Very cool ! I just found out there are online classes in the fall at MUS! It would be 400 for my kid cause he is in high school but we already do what they will do pretty much, it did give me a wake up on reading through the text with him more even though he claims he has it lol.

    I still have my foam, it fit into a zip lock freezer bag for safe keeping and so we have it for when we need it again in alg2!
    we only used it a little in Geo this year. Maybe once I see what we will need for fall s math I will get rid of mine? My dd measured it out perfectly for us too.
     
  15. cabsmom40

    cabsmom40 Active Member

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    There is also a place just to sell and buy used MUS. You could probably google it.
     
  16. Kathy

    Kathy New Member

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    I was going to mention this too. It is MUSSwap. I'm not sure if it's important that the 2nd "s" is capitalized or not. I'm a member of that group.
     
  17. homeschooler06

    homeschooler06 Active Member

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    I bought the blocks from Math U See, just easier that way. No like everyone else said they are not magnetic. I have used Math U See From Primer to now Zeta. We are moving onto Teaching Textbooks for 7th grade due to hubby's request for a new math program.
     
  18. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    Homeschooler06 that was why we started MUS at high school was for a different program. We did Horizon then Life paks ( not a good choice for high school maths unless you are a MAth teacher already) then switched to MUS and wishing i had started sooner, so enjoy the changes at the levels when kids would have changed as school I think its a great idea!
     

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