I did buy this program for dd last year and I have to say that she thought it was soooooo boring. I didn't. I thought overall it was a good program. I bought it thinking she would enjoy the change, using manipulatives and video. I gave up after about two weeks. We went back to Scott Foresman after that.
Maureen, I gave my dgs the Competency Exam for Epsilon and he was able to master that level, I then gave him the Zeta level and he was able to get about 80% of that level. Do you think I should teach him these math concepts now and then test him later after he learns the other part of the test and then go into Algebra? I would hate for him to get bored halfway through the year. Also, when you say one subject per level, how long does it take to do a level? One year, 2 levels in one year?
Hmmm, so much to contemplate! I will look up info. on Calvert (Thanks Sheila!), SF (Thanks Missy!) and MUC (Thanks Gma!). And, despite what I thought, I will be looking more into Saxon (thanks to all of you who wrote pros and cons about it!). I do have a friend that does MUC, and she said I could look at their stuff. She has used it for all their school years I believe, but isn't overly sold on it. She doesn't want to change cuz that will mess them up, she feels. I'm not sure I like the idea of one subject at a time though. That's sort of what LifePacs does, and we need a change, and with a little more review of all the subjects, I think they'll remember it better. Sheila, what do you like about Calvert? I will be going to the website right after this. I went to our Educator's store today. They had some Saxon math there. It seems pretty pricey, but doable if it was the best thing for the kids! I may not want to start Calvert with my ds since he'll be in 8th grade, then we'll have to switch again to another program the next year, since Calvert only goes to 8th grade. But I could start it with my dd cuz she could have 3 good years with it....
One more thing I have to say about Saxon (not trying to convince anyone that it's the best thing out there for them, because I don't know that, but just sharing what we experienced). My older brother took Saxon in high school, including Saxon calculus -- he is now majoring in electrical engineering at UT Arlington. He decided to take college Cal 1 and Cal 2 despite thinking he could probably test out of them because he thought it would good to make sure he got a firm grounding in math for his major. He has said that, with the exception of going a little deeper in certain areas, he pretty much knew all of the material covered in those two semesters from having taken high school Saxon calculus. We are both very happy with how we have been prepared for college math. Edit: My mom got our Saxon books from here: http://www.childrens-books.us That has been some time ago now (she only had to buy two of each for the twins -- they have been passed down from oldest to youngest), but this was the least expensive place she could find to get them at the time.
I suppose the real proof will be in the pudding. My daughter is taking the ACT in April. After five years of Saxon Math, I'm predicting she's going to do very well on the test. She's had no trouble at all with the ACT preparation book she's worked through. In our five years of homeschooling, we've switched curriculums here and there for various subjects. One exception: we've never abandoned Saxon Math. It works for us.
Homeschool classifieds always has a good number of Saxon books. I think Saxon 54 was running about $20-$40, depending on condition, etc. Deena, I think the difference with Life Pac is that you're doing more than one thing PER YEAR. From what I see of MUS, you're doing a whole year of addition or division or fractions. That doesn't make much sense to me.
Oooohhh, if that's a whole YEAR of one thing, then I don't want to do that! Is that what it seems to be Ohio Gma? I will go to the Homeschool Classifieds site later to see what all they have available. First I'll go to the math sites, and see what they're all about, to help narrow down the choices. What does anyone think about Singapore Math? How high does it go? Are my kids too old for it?
Deena, I printed the Competency Exam off today and my dgs took the test. Three were 17 fraction problems, 1 measurement problem and 7 fraction story problems. I then went to the next level test and it was adding, subtracting and multiplying decimal numbers, changing fractions to decimal and then percents, dividing to the thousandths place, plus rounding and then 7 story problems about money, kilometers, meal cost and the tip, and percents. I have the Student Text here (borrowed from a friend) and it's called Epsilon, Focus: Fractions. Although most of it is fractions, they do Quick Reviews, finding the perimeter of a rectangle, finding the perimeter of a square, finding a perimeter of a triangle, multiplication, rounding, division, finding volumn, Roman numerals, ruler, estimating. There does seem to be a variety, but the book has 30 lessons in it and is about 2 inches thick. I think it is very repetitous. I'm still confused.
Deena, not sure how long this book would take to do, but it is $65.00 to buy the DVD, student book, test booklet and teacher book. How many levels can a student go through in 1 year. It could get pricey.
I like Calvert math because it's real gentle and explains things in small pieces. They give kids the visual of what they are doing before the "math" - if that makes any sense. It's not real repetitive and if you need more practice you use the practice book. The younger grades are colorful (not sure about the 4th grade textbook...it's on it's way so...I'll let you know in a day or two). Besides if you buy from Calvert...they are a phone call away if you need help or the kiddo needs help. It's pricey...no doubt about that but...sometimes...you pay for what you get and others...you just over pay. :wink: Singapore math http://www.singaporemath.com/ I do use it and like it but...there is more I don't like than do like. :wink: General points.... Bad - The don't give much room for writing for the younger kids. Good - They push on forward in teaching concepts. Good - The wording gives a variation so the child can figure out different problems. AWESOME - It's cheap! It's very much a mastery do it and move on type math. Plan to take the placement test that you can find online. Usually to make sure you get all the concepts covered you drop down have a level so...if the kid is 4th grade you might drop to 3B and then pick up 4A. Not always just depends. I wouldn't recommend using as my spine but...supplemental I love it. I think My Father's World curriculum uses it for their math. I will throw in Singapore when it's different than our Calvert so...if we are zooming through with money then I'll grab Singapore and do addition 1-2 days a week. If he's doing the addition/subtraction with Calvert and needs a mental "rest" then I'll throw in time/measurement type stuff from Singapore. It works real nice that way because it's sort of this nice mixture. Have you checked on ebay for Saxon prices??? Ole' Tina has turned me into an ebay junkie. ROFL :laugh: I also buy things from www.abebooks.com and www.academicbooks.com I'll just shop around to see who has it and for the best price. Didn't verify my typing on websites...sooooo let me know if they aren't right.
But with Calvert, don't you have to buy the whole curriculum, and not just pick the subjects? I was interested in other Calvert stuff, but didn't want the whole thing.
This is all so helpful, but things are still clear as mud! But it's clearer mud than it used to be! :lol: If I have to use the whole Calvert curriculum then I wouldn't be able to do Calvert Math either. Which would actually make one less thing to research! I'll see what Sheila says. Gma, I think based on what I've heard and seen that I'm leaning away from MUS. Not for sure, that's just my general feeling at the moment. I still need to go see my friend's books and manipulatives so I have a picture of what we're talking about! Jackie, are you going to go with Saxon next year for Rachael, or will your husband not let you use that? I think I'll go ahead and go to the Saxon site and give them the test and see where they would be. The 65 was $69.99 at our local ed. store. The Algebra was more than that! That's a chunk! What if it doesn't work?! I'd have to find it on ebay or somewhere else for cheaper, at least I hope I could find it cheaper!
Deena, I'm so thankful for this forum. I have researched this all day. I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet either. I talked to my friend tonight and she said that she does one book a year with MUS. I checked out our homeschool group. About 90% use Saxon Math. I am going to keep reading this forum, talk with my hs group and then make a decision before August. I also need to look into other subjects anyone have some advice on that, let me know. Thanks.
The Saxon 65 was Over $75 on the Saxon site! Hopefully I can get it cheaper, but you know, if you find something that helps them have a concrete base and do well later because of it, then the price is well worth it! I printed off the test, it'll be the same one for both of them, but my dd won't go very far in it probably. I'll be giving it to them tomorrow (Feb. 28).
Oh yeah, I was going to ask a question: Those of you who use or have used Saxon, do you use the DIVE cd's? Are they good? What do they do? Are they worth the cost? Choc. Bunny, I went to the website you posted, and they do have lower prices! They don't have descriptions of what's included in the books or the grade levels for say, advanced math, or Apologia Advanced Biology, etc. though, so I'll have to figure that stuff out before I go back. Thanks for the site! Missy, I went to the sites you posted, and I couldn't find much info. on how that math works. They didn't have sample pages or anything. Wish I could see some of the pages. Our local ed. store didn't have any Scott Foresman, so I can't see it in person either. Do you have any other sites that have better info.? Or did I not head the right direction once on their site? I found the 5th grade mathbook, but not a description more than a general statement. Sheila, I wenet to the Singapore Math site. It looks much more advanced than what we were using, and it seems that the ones using it are learning the concepts well to be able to be that advanced. Is that true, in your opinion, that it IS more advanced? My 4th grade dd has always done well in math, and is nearing completion of the LifePac 4th grade math, but it looks like she'd need to start in 3B. Are the books huge? It sounds like it--the one my ds would get has over 400 pages. I'd love my kids to have a good base, we just got sort of sidetracked for a couple of years I guess. The LifePac math just isn't cutting it!
Ohio Grandma, When I started MUS my daughter was just coming out of PS. She was about half way through the Epsilon level on the tests but I chose to start her at the beginning of Epsilon. I wanted her to get used to the MUS program with concepts she already knew. This has been a blessing because although she knew adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions, she never really understood the WHY of it. Now she had a strong base on which to build as we move into unknown territory for her. As to how fast you progress...that is up to you. When your grandchild understands the concept you move on. For us that ranges from one day to one week depending on the concept. This book has 28 or so lessons. We are on Lesson 12 and we started in December. Up till now I have moved more slowly then I probablu needed to. I just wanted to give her some time to enjoy understanding math and feeling successful for the first time EVER! You may be better off starting him a bit behind to give him time to get used to the program and the manipulatives. I will tell you that this program has been easy for us to do. I am terrible with math so I sit with my daughter and learn the lessons right along with her. Good Luck!!
I just ordered some curriculum from a lady on ebay she is a McGraw hill distributer, also carries Saxon. I should be getting my books in any day now. I have ordered from her in the past, but this order was 22 items and cost about $130 shipping and all. things4kings is the store name.
Deena, I promised Carl we would give his Algebra book a try again next year. I'm hoping Rachael will understand it better now that she's had Pre-Algebra. But he has promised that if I absolutely hate it again, I can get "whatever I think best". So for now, it's out of my hands as far as Rachael goes. If I need to, I know my one friend finished Saxon Algebra last summer, and may have the book still. I borrowed it last year to have Carl look at, but her son was still using it at the time and I could only have it for the weekend, so we really didn't get to look at it very well. Faythe is the one I'm not sure with, but will probably go with Saxon 54 with her. I like MUS, but am not excited about covering just one concept. She can divide with remainders, but she can't multiply two double digit numbers together yet. I'm afraid if I put her in the multiplication book, I'd need to give her additional work to keep her up with what division she can already do. Plus it's pricey. Phillip will start Horizons First Grade. I will probably buy it at our conference from Rainbow Resources and get free shipping.
Maureen, thanks for the info. That has helped me alot. I think I need to start, like you said, with Epsilon so he gets the Why down and then continue on. I'm not very good in math, and I will be learning right along with him. He seems to get in a hurry when doing math and makes alot of errors. We will be working on that the rest of the year. I have a bid on e-bay for the epsilon books. If I win and depending on when it arrives, I will probably start him on that right away. I was very confused last night and prayed about it and reading your post this a.m. has helped me alot. I will be going with MUS for now and then later review my options. I am a type of person that needs to know the why and not just how. Again, thanks everyone for all your input.
Deena... I think you're right about not really getting some good samples from the SF website. I think in the beginning I went on instinct that they were a good company (I thought so because of what I had seen previewing curriculum when I taught ps). I ordered one or two books and just took a chance on them being good. I really liked them. If you order something SF from www.academicbookservices.com then you can return them. Check out their return policy. I have never returned anything to them though.
