Please, Help Me Pick...

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by mom24boys!, Jan 5, 2011.

  1. mom24boys!

    mom24boys! New Member

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    between Horizon Math, McRuffy Math, Singapore Math or something you like better. It's for my Kinder. Thanks!
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2011
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  3. gardenturtle

    gardenturtle New Member

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    I can't chime in on those, but I can add...we're enjoying My Father's World A-Z (kinder program). You can see some samples online; or I'd be happy to answer any specific questions you have! ;)
     
  4. pecangrove

    pecangrove New Member

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    My son loved Horizons in K-2, then for this year we switched to Teaching Textbooks (his way of learning changed, I guess. LOL). I always thought Horizons was a great program, myself.
    I have also heard good things about McRuffy math, but we have only used the science (and like it) so I can't give my own opinion of that.
     
  5. kristinannie

    kristinannie New Member

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    I am trying to decide between Singapore and Math U See so I am looking forward to hearing peoples' opinions!
     
  6. shelby

    shelby New Member

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    friend of mine said that math u see changed the way her kids looked at math... they enjoyed it!
     
  7. jakk

    jakk New Member

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    Math U See didn't work for us after the Primer level. I switched to CLE (Christian Light Publications) and my daughter loves it.
     
  8. rymatt

    rymatt New Member

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    We also use My Father's World for kindergarten. I love it!
     
  9. mom24boys!

    mom24boys! New Member

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    do you use the whole curriculum or just the math? Is it as outdated as it looks? Does it come planned out for you with a schedule? Thanks!
     
  10. traceycm1

    traceycm1 New Member

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    I'm interested too, they all look so good. Horizons looks really fun:)
     
  11. AngeC325

    AngeC325 New Member

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    Horizons is a great program, but moves very fast. Most people I have talked to think it is at least half a year to a year ahead of mot programs. That works great for some kids, but not all. I have switched my boys to BJU math and it seems to be a good fit for us. My youngest is really enjoying the farm theme of teh kindergarten book. http://www.christianbook.com/math-k...de=WW&netp_id=355180&event=ESRCN&view=details
     
  12. twogirlsmommy

    twogirlsmommy New Member

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    I am using McRuffy Math for my DD4 (almost 5). It is wonderful. Very easy to teach, very hands on, pick-up and go. After level K I am planning on switching to Singapore 1A.
     
  13. sahmof2

    sahmof2 New Member

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    We love using McRuffy math (for K) here...I'm planning on adding McRuffy science next year. It involves minimal teacher prep...maybe 5 minutes per week to organize what manipulatives are needed. Everything else is laid out for you. We are loving it and my dd usually asks to do 2 or more lessons a day!
     
  14. gardenturtle

    gardenturtle New Member

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    I do use the whole curriculum - MFW K is an integrated program so you don't really do math as a separate part.

    I'm not sure what you mean by outdated? I find it simple, but clear and flexible. I like being able to change here and there, but still be aligned with the program. You also can skip a day or two and then pick it up with little prob.

    It does come with a schedule. The TM is divided into two sections: Daily work stuff and Science/Nature stuff. I usually draw up my own daily plan to avoid having to flip back and forth during the lesson itself.

    Our day today was like this:

    We did the date: added the number 6 to the Jan. calendar.
    Said/discussed our weekly scripture (something we added)
    Did our prayer (something we added)
    Did the Straw Jar - we're up to number 63

    Today was Blend Ladder 1 day: we've studied AIOU vowels. I've laminated the blend ladder (literally a pic of a ladder with one vowel on each rung) and we just add in the letters for the day (I use a dry erase marker.). Today we added D (making da, di, do and du), g, w, h, and t. DD says the sound each "blend" of letters makes and then we talk about words that we know that match that (like dad, did, dog, etc...) She's getting really good at this - we're really close to reading!

    She did the math page - which included choosing two numbers (at this point I do the choosing, because she's a young k'er), writing or tracing them and then drawing a pic with that many objects in it. We did 8 and 2: eight balloons for dad's upcoming birthday and two kids holding the balloons! :)

    The backside of the math page is a cut/paste style. She cuts out the words (with some help - she just turned 4) and reads them. Then I let her see the page and she glues them under the correct pics.

    That takes care of the daily work for today.

    We then move on to the Science theme with at the moment is H for Horse. The Bible Point (our term for it) is "I Obey Right Away!" And boy do we need to learn that! LOL!

    We look at some great books about Horses (such as the Eyewitness one and the Encyclopedia), talking about what they're use for, what we have now (cars) by compare and contrast.

    We're supposed to make a list about ways horses are helpful, useful animals, but she's fading fast, so we just verbally do this as we look through the books together. The Eyewitness one really catches her attention and backs up the info from World Book.

    A good lesson - we both enjoyed the journey today! :)
     
  15. kbabe1968

    kbabe1968 New Member

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    Horizons! :) I'm using the kinder with my 5 year old this year and she's loving it!!!
     
  16. mom24boys!

    mom24boys! New Member

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    Gardenturtle~Thanks for taking the time to tell me about MFW and your day. It helps.:D
     
  17. gardenturtle

    gardenturtle New Member

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    You're welcome! :) It's kinda fun to write out what we do so I can see it too! ;) Seems more "official" somehow! LOL!
     
  18. hsmom_2gr8kids

    hsmom_2gr8kids New Member

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    For Kindy-math, we focused on properly writing numbers and using basic household manipulatives to teach concepts through play. My favorite was simple lego blocks -- you can count, add, subtract, do grouping and division, do basic fractions, and teach place value with it. Another one we always used was a random dixie cup full of coins for each day (first pennies, then add in nickels, and then the others later) -- we used it to learn counting, money value, skip counting with a purpose, and eventually things like decimals. I also used a pack of stencils to make all the basic shapes in 3 sizes and 8 colors for comparing sizes, grouping, etc. We used the kitchen scale and a basic ruler and paperclips for measuring.

    Math is both my kids' favorite subject because from the beginning it was fun. After that they went onto Singapore. They were good at math and there wasn't too much busy work to it.
     
  19. Meghan

    Meghan New Member

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    I didn't 'do' math when dd was in Kindergarten since she was in ps, but pulled her in first. Still- she learned very little in K.

    We aren't using a specific program yet.

    To start her... we used cheap workbooks from Wally World, and she had a collection of pennies for counters. This was SUPER important for my dd since ps hadn't given her a good understanding of number permanence, and although she could count, she had a really hard time adding or really UNDERSTANDING why 2 + 2 = 4, or anything else. She progressed from there to counting on her fingers occasionally, and now usually nothing unless I'm challenging her with something a little bigger or more complex than usual. We still have the pennies, and she knows she can pull them out anytime she needs to. I mention this mostly because it was frowned on completely in her ps, but it is super important for my dd to SEE it, not just to hear it or memorize what the 'math facts' are. I also don't like number lines for the same reason- with my dd, it removed her from the actual number of objects, which means 1/2 of the lesson is completely lost. I did show her how to use a number line, but I don't expect her to do any math that way. They are obviously important in higher mathematics, but for someone just learning well.. it doesn't make any sense to have her skip steps imho.

    I also print extra worksheets offline when I need them to practice whatever we are doing, or occasionally make up my own (have had to do this right now for measuring). Love publisher ;)

    We will be trying Singapore on for size soon, I think. I'm not completely sold on it, but I've heard it is a mastery approach- which my dd needs- with plenty of practice. I've read the reviews and USUALLY they have been very positive. I can't comment on the others. Mostly thinking of switching because I'd like a bit more hand-holding. I love controlling what we learn and when, but it would be nice to have something as a guide.

    For ds, 3rd, I'm going to try Singapore but I'm less convinced it'll be successful. He's a quick-study for math and gets really bored easily. Although I disagree with the entire concept of spiralling, I think it *might* work better for his fast-past mind. We'll see!
     
  20. jenlaw31

    jenlaw31 New Member

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    My dd used bob jones math for kindergarden and we liked it alot. It has a farm theme throughout the book with very colorfull workbook pages. The lessons are short and to the point, and come with cute manipulatives. There was very little prep work, you basically just open the book and go. We switched to Saxon for 2nd grade because I like Saxon's program better for the older grades, but for K, BJP worked well.
     
  21. tuzor

    tuzor New Member

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    Currently using a mixture of K math. CLP, McRuffy and Singapore. I know its overkill but that's my personality. I think next year I will use Saxon and Singapore.
    McRuffy is easy prep but as I started using it I see that there was not a lot of focus on math facts. So I purchased the CLP book and I use that for our drills. I like the way Singapore presents math but I don't use it as our main curricula I use it to supplement or see if my son can catch the information when it is presented differently. Also, I think it depends on how old your K student is. My son is now 6 so he is older K and our K is more like first grade. Horizons and BJU give more meat so to speak than McRuffy. I am rambling here but another way to determine what you should use is once you look at the samples pick the one you are comfortable with. Manipulatives are good at this stage and McRuffy and BJU come with manipulatives and games that kids enjoy.
     

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