Here is the short story: 1st grader has been working/struggling through our Singapore US ed 1A since July (we have completed it this past week), her joy of math is fizzling as her challenges with it grows. Diagnosed recently ADHD, being tested for further neurological issues (has a neuro-based speech disorder and exhibits various "issues" with conceptual thinking, memory, etc.). A friend's Horizons Math book has me wondering if it might work for DD - the spiral is a good thing for her memory, to keep things fresh. She has no issues with colorful pages (in fact, they seem to be more of a motivator to her). However, online I am finding parents warning against using Horizons with children who experience learning challenges. I am not quite sure how to proceed - we need to find something with which to complete our year, and bring the joy of math back to her. Any suggestions VERY welcome and appreciated!
The spiral worked for my kids, my ds probably woudl have been diagnosed add in kindergarden but has so changed his personality through the years. I would not worry too much on that but for the math I would for sure switch if its not working! ACSI has a good set too, but Horizon was our fav here! ( 15th year I think? Of home schooling, uh maybe 16? )
I have to say, I have two children one with ADD and the other with ADHD. I have tried many different ways of teaching, hands on, literature, computer, the list goes on and on. I find that my kids simply LOVE the colorful books especially work sheets. They are quick and to the point. Especially for children with neurological problems. There is repetition to reinforce things as they go along. I have had my kids tested and they score there best with colorful workbooks like BJU. That is what works best for us. I wanted to use many other things that they say work great for kids with neurological problems but it didn't compare. Plus, they test off the charts. I am kicking myself for using Story of the World instead of BJU for history. Even though they enjoy the reading the coloring pages that were fun in the beginning wore off. I feel that don't want to do the projects. Yes, they will listen if I say we have to do them. But, truly they retain the information better from the colorful pages and work that goes along with it. I think what helps them the best is I take the pages out that we have to work on that day. They don't get the work book and they simply work on what has to be done and its not overwhelming because its just a few pages. Yes they have to read in their text books but they are fine with that. I think it helps that they are taught bits and pieces at a time and then they have time for it to settle in and digest.
My 1st grader is actually doing fine with Singapore, but I'm not that happy with it. Right now he is on book 1B, and there are pages and pages of addition, but I dont see much else. I dont know abt Horizons,but I'mplanning on completing this and starting Saxon with him,as my 3rd grader likes it too.. I read others talking abt how Horizons has exciting colorful pictures, so that's a definite contrast with Saxon..which is rather drab.
I am using Horizons K with my DD and she likes it for the colourful pictures - because it is spiral even when it seems to work fast if she doesn't get it at first they keep coming back to it - in fact sometimes they come back top it a bit too much! My DD has also had some exposure to Singapore 1a but she needed to learn to write the numbers first which is why I stopped.
My first grader uses Horizons 1, I plan on using horizons until I can switch to Teaching Textbooks. She LOVES Horizons.
Wow! Thank you, everyone! The input and commiserations are wonderful to hear! After seeing a Horizons workbook, I was pleased with the color, and the variety of problems (hence, the spiraling) - for kiddos like mine, who might get overwhelmed with a bunch of one type of problem, Horizons looks wonderful. I was thinking of switching my 3rd grader from Singapore to TT...but since math is his strong point and reviews mentioned it being best suited for those who are not math-ie types, I am also thinking of going from Horizons to TT in a couple of years. TT looks fantastic!
Happyfamily, I agree whole-heartedly with TT being good for non-math types. I switched my youngest to TT because he simply doesn't like math AT ALL, and is much more agreeable to doing it on the computer. HOWEVER, my oldest is a math geek; I am not. She has done all the upper-lever TT (starting with Geometry), and has done very well. She's currently pulling a 99% in her college Calculus class (which she's taking as a high school Senior). The upper level TTs are written for a young person to do independently, for example if there's no one around who can explain it. So please don't just dismiss it as being fluff at the higher levels!
We are using Horizons! Love it! It's a bit of this and a bit of that each day. Today my first grader worked on some money problems, some clock problems, some subtraction, and one word problem. It took her about 20 minutes and it was no problem for her. My fourth grader did some 3x2 digit multiplication, some 3x1 digit multiplication, some rounding, some simple division, and a story problem. It took him an hour becuase he dawdled, but he could have done it in half that easily if he applied himself.
Jackie, I appreciate your input! I am torn really...Singapore is such a fantastic program, especially for my son who is gifted in math; however, I feel that I may do him a disservice in coming years with my confidence in Singapore at higher levels. The way TT was described to me, the scope and sequence is a bit different, maybe a bit slower which may get boring to him. Also, I worry about TT not quenching his thirst for higher level and more conceptual math, if that makes sense? I would love to hear your take on it. I was excited about TT for him to begin with, but after hearing what others had to say, began rethinking the decision.
Like I said, the higher math really worked well for my oldest one. Phillip likes the lower levels. I personally think they're a bit slower than I'd like, but since I've switched, I'm no longer fighting him over math. And right now, that's the big thing for me!
I like that, too! I went ahead and ordered Horizons for my 1st grader...going to finish the year out with Singapore with the 3rd grader. Hopefully we will not need to change directions again, hee hee!
