I need some advice on 3rd grade math. What curriculums are out there? I know I've been hs'ing for a while but we only used MUS and the big book from Sam's Club. Neither of those are an option this time around. I can't afford TT either. What else is there?
What type of learner? Do you want computer, workbooks, manipulative, or what? Is math a strong or weak area compared to other subjects you're doing?
Workbooks mainly. I have the entire set of manipulatives from MUS if she wants or needs to use them. Math is a strong subject for her.
Have you checked out Christian Light Education? I really like their L Arts, and they are inexpensive, too. They obviously have a religious slant, but I'm not sure how much of one in the math books. Also, Horizons is a very good program if your child enjoys covering multiple areas in each daily lesson.
We actually use CLE for science and reading this year. I totally forgot about Horizons! I will give that a look. Do you remember if CLE has a placement test for math? I know each curriculum is different and I want to make sure she is placed right.
Horizons is a good math program. I believe it is slightly ahead of most other curriculum. Each lesson is 2 pages, with a test every 10 lessons. Each page will have multiple topics, anything from adding, time, money, measurement, multiplication, etc.... basically a handful of each type of problem. The pages have a few colorful pictures on them, too. We used to use it, and DS loved it until this year. Something changed and now he only does well if he covers one topic per day/lesson, rather than having many different topics each day. There should be a placement test of sorts for both the CLE and Horizons.
I think that you would probably be happier with Horizons than Saxon for 3rd grade. Saxon looked to be very teacher centered for grades k-3 where Horizons is more of a workbook approach (where you can add other things in if needed). We are doing Horizons 3 this year and I love it. Next year we will be switching to Saxon for 54. For 4th grade the Saxon approach changes and it is more standard textbook but still using more of that spiral approach.
I love Singapore Math. Math Mammoth is another good program and can be downloaded and printed off for a great price. You can find it at currclick.com
We use Saxon, but we modify it a bit. We don't use the meeting book at all. So I just teach the lesson, and we do one side of the worksheet together and they complete the other side alone. They do a speed drill daily, but some days we skip that. I like Saxon, then again I like MUS too. I don't find that I spend much time on Math in a day. Maybe 15-20 minutes?
Is the reason you cant use MUS financial? If you really want to use it, I can check our local resale shop and maybe send it to you? I got ours with the teachers manual and DVD for $21. The only catch was the first 10 pages or so were written in. I just erased it now its good as new. Just throwing that out there. There is a BIG difference between Horizons and MUS. I guess the first question would be do you want to do a spiral approach or a mastery approach? MUS is mastery and Horizons is spiral.
I appreciate all the responses and plan to check into everything mentioned here. I had to leave and run errands and pick dd14 up from dance. I am goign to have Gracie do placements tests for each and see what we like. \ The reason we aren't using MUS isn't finacial. It doesn't work for her. I used it for 3 years with the oldest and two years with the youngest. By year two she was confused and frustrated over the teaching methods. She didn't get the way they explained it but when I explained it to her the way I learned it she got it. Thanks for all the links!
kumon books. I gotta say they are the best! my 6 year old is using then and hes already on 3rd grade level
Horizons is more advanced that Saxon. It has colorful pages, and Saxon does not. If math is a strong subject, I'd choose it over Saxon. You can purchase one of the two yearly workbooks at a time, if money is short. Each workbook is about $16. I'm assuming you won't need the TE. I can't remember how close to SA you are now, but the HS bookstore here keeps both of those in stock, if you wanted to look at them.
I'm still looking into things but if she does like the colorful pages. $16 is cheap! I like cheap! I am severl hours away from SA but close to Houston.
Just tossing this out there, but have you checked Spectrum? You can find elementary workbooks at stores like Staples. They might run around $6 or $7. It is made to be used as math for that entire grade level/year of school. It might not seem complete to some, but if your student learns math easily or even average, I'd think that Spectrum would be ok. It would be worth looking into at that price.
Check out Khan Academy. Even if you don't use it for your math program, it will help as an additional study aide.
