I've been using Math-U-See Beta with my 8 year old son this year. He's not loving it, but he is really mastering multiple digit addition and subtraction. He was in public school last year and came into this year not even close to knowing his basic addition and subtraction facts. We are close to finishing the Beta book and, now that my son has shown that he really understands it, we should finish the book in the next couple of weeks. What should I do now? Should I move onto Math-U-See Gamma and start multiplication? Should I spend the rest of the year cementing the addition and subtraction facts? Should I buy some of the Math Mammoth books for a change of pace and spend a little time on things like measurement or telling time or word problems? Maybe I should do a combination of things for the rest of the year. I can't decide and I need to do something soon.
It will depend on just how much he doesn't care for the curriculum. If he is tired of it, perhaps you can use math printables to reinforce what he has learned. You can give him a few problems a day on a white board to keep it fresh in his brain. I like the idea of working on time and measurements.
If he loved it and you wanted to stick with it, I'd say to get the next book. If you want a change, it would be a good time to check out other curriculum, samples if possible, and you'd be all set for next year. It would be nice to have a few extra months to explore.
I agree with Brooke - if he doesn't like it now is the perfect chance to try different things to see what may work next year. Good luck!!
I guess I should have been more clear. I don't plan to switch curriculum. I don't know if he'd *love* any math curriculum because it's just not his favorite subject. He is really getting a firm understanding with Math-U-See and I plan to stick with it and move on to Gamma. I'm just not sure what to do with the rest of this school year. I was wondering if I should just move onto the next book (Gamma) now or just use the next few months to review and reinforce a few other areas.
I would take another month or so to go over his addition and subtraction some more, then move on into the Gamma.
I would, and did, move on to the next book with my ds at that age. Eventually, he will hit a place where he slows down, but as long as he is moving forward, MUS is very good about easing into the next concept. As long as he has mastered addition and subtraction, there really isn't a need to reinforce with supplemental worksheets/books since MUS will have systematic reviews of those conepts built into each lesson anyway. Just my opinion. You can also take a look at what grade level he would be at by high school if he continues the one book a year pace. I think, if I calculated correctly, he would be at the pre-algebra level by 9th grade. My ds14 is doing pre-algebra now, but my dd11 is on course to be doing Algebra I by that time, which is where ds14 would have been if he had not gone back to public school in middle school and didn't advance in math for 2 years. Anyway, if you start in Gamma now, it would only help him advance in the long run at a typical pace. He might also appreciate starting a new concept now rather than reviewing everything again. Just my thoughts. My kids started in MUS Primer and are now in Epsilon and Pre-Algebra. Love it! (well, ds14 doesn't like math, but he's gotta do it one way or another! :lol: )
Thanks! I think I'll go ahead and start Gamma and continue to add in basic facts now and then to reinforce them. We have Hot Dots Math and he thinks it's fun when we need a lighter day.
If you are going to stick with it, then I would give him a break of sorts for a week or two or three. Maybe you could even have a few "math free" days in there somewhere. You could have him practice what he already know on Mon., Wed., and Fri.. Then let him just skip math on Tues. and Thurs. Also, you could let him work with M&M's or help you measure stuff for a recipe and call that math for a day or so.
I would move on, if he has mastered this level why not continue on. This comes in handy when they hit a wall, which eventually happens for most kids. At least it has for mine, then we have free feeling time to go back and find out why we are having a struggle at this point.
