So...reviews... I've never used a K math before - just did stuff off the internet. My youngest will be K next year, and I wanted to see if the K math would be too easy for her? My older two have been playing "school" with her and she's learned a lot of easy addition, subtraction and stuff. I was going to go with Lifepac K BUT, I'm wondering if Horizon K would be a better fit for her. Oh....and do you need the teachers guide? I mean, it's K, right???
i was kinda wondering the same thing... I have horizons math 6th grade that I got a great price. Its looks like something my daughter would like...she HATES math so i was looking at horizons 2nd grade for my other dd and was trying to decide whether i really needed the teachers book or not..... Have you looked on ebay.. pretty good prices for horizons math.
I would suggest yes you both try Horizon K, it is a great place to start with Math. You do not have to rush through it either as it kind of brings you into first grade level by the time you are in the middle of the second book! The kids loved Horizon here! Only one of my dc did not continue using it once we started it because he had to work a bit more detailed from 3rd on. OH! ANd AOP has a 30 return on thier stuff I believe still, so that means order it take it home look it over in your hands if you dont like it send it back free of charge!
do you think i really need the teachers book? My 6th grade came up a teachers hand book... i kinda looked thru it trying to decide if I really NEED one for 2nd grade. KWIM?
only if you want to make printables to go with the lessons.. we used them for one not with the other so much. It has ideas in it for games to play to enhance the lessons but.. its nto a nessecity if you cant do the cost right now. Id send you mine but dont have it anymore that I can find.
I didn't use the TM for Horizons kindergarten. The only use for the math TM's I have is to have the answers, and with K, I can figure it out, lol! If you're a person that feels you need to know absolutely step-by-step what to do, then you'll want it. Horizons moves fairly quickly; having "played school" will make things go easier, I think!
I'm thinking for my youngest using it for K, 1st & 2nd. I'm buying Teaching Textbooks 3 for my son, and will (hopefully) be buying it each successive year, and since those are reusable, I'm just trying to get her to the point where she'd do that - whether it be early or late. I KNOW from experience that the AOP Lifepacs Kinder is NOT hard...and would probably bore her. ...I considered getting the AOP Lifepacs 1st Grade - but I don't want my husband having any grand ideas about her really being a 1st grader (he'd like it if all of our kids were geniuses that graduated HS at 14 - not happening). Anyway....I thought since maybe Horizons is more advanced that Lifepacs that maybe the K would be good and challenging for her - build on what she's already learned, sorta. Hmmmmm.....
Definately would get it for the challenge, its colorful and fun too! She may not find the first month a challenge but I liked how it was set up in 10s, ten lessons and a test. or quiz?
I am doing a giveaway in June for the full Horizons K Math set at my website www.heartsathomestore.com I will post it on HS Spot to remind you. I have experience with Lifepac and Horizons. Lifepac was TOO slow and boring to us, and Horizons is great and moves quickly and is more advanced. The TM for 3rd grade did not teach you how to "teach" lessons like division and multiplication very well and if you are not strong in those, I would recommend Teaching Textbooks for 3rd and up, which is what we use now. But for K, I would say it is not necessary for the TM....unless you "win" it and get it for free!
Heartsathome, I have trouble with how Horizons teaches division/fractions. I'll see if I can get this straight. You have ten pieces of candy. You want to see how many are 1/2. So you put them in groups of two, and see that there are five groups. So 1/2 is five. However, the denominator tells how many parts (or groups). So you should be dividing the candies into two groups and seeing how many are in ONE of those groups. They are teaching you to divide the candy into fifths instead of half, with 2 being equal to 1/5. I'm not sure if that's in the second or third grade book.
I will post the info on HS Spot when I do the giveaway. Basically you will create an account on our site and do a review of something you already have! Then I will do a random pick of all entries for 2 winners. One will win the Horizons K Math entire SET and the other will win K Phonics books 1 for teacher and student with book 1 reader. We did Horizons for the first half of the year. My daughter did well, but I was worried about how to teach the stuff you were talking about Jackie! So we switched to Teaching Textbooks and she loves it! For the K curriculum, it is fast paced and has a lot of material. By the end of K, they would prob pass for a 1st grade level! If you have an advanced student or a quick learner, this would prob work for you.
I have used all the levels of Horizons Math (K-6th) between by 3 kids in our 3+ years of homeschooling. K is my FAVORITE!!!!!! They learn so many concepts that my girls didn't see until 1st grade (maybe 2nd) BUT they're so gentle that the kids don't realize it. For example, introducing coins when they intro skip counting. Some folks might intro a nickel when counting by 5s. I doubt that I would have thought about it....lol (esp. as a new homeschooler at the time). I just remember being SO HAPPY with K. Now, I've been pleased with all the levels but K has always been my favorite.
I am really excited abut this thread. My daughter is starting her K stuff (early...but whatever) and I was considering this particular program. I wanted her to be challenged but to have fun. Sounds like this is the way to go!! Carrie (heartathome)-looking forward to entering the contest-I just love your website!!!
