diamondintherough
06-15-2009, 10:34 AM
O.k.---I've not found a math curriculum that I love and have used a lot in my 13years of homeschooling. :shifty I'm looking for both dd12yo and dd5yo. I'll start with dd12yo.
Dd12yo had used A-beka for about 5 years and last year I switched her over to ALEKS (online program). We really liked ALEKS b/c the pages were not cluttered and you could hit the "explain" button and get an example of the type of problem. However, now that we're at the end of the year, it's getting harder and the explanations are not cutting it for either of us. ALEKS doesn't explain the "why". I LOVE that ALEKS is a mastery program and not a spiraling program and that dd can see her pieces of "pie" fill up as she works. I like how it can guage where she is at and what she needs to learn next. Dd is feeling like a complete failure even though she has done a great job this year.
Soo......while I was at the homeschool convention this weekend I took a peek at Math-U-see. dd12yo is at the Algebra 1 level and I really wonder if learning a whole new way of doing the math is going to be a problem for her with MUS. I like that I don't have to actually teach :shifty because Mr. Demme does it, but I don't know if it's too late for MUS with this child.
I also looked at Video Text Interactive which starts at Algebra 1 level and goes through 4 years of high school level math. It is EXPENSIVE, but it looks good. Anyone have any experience with this program? I had never heard of it before Friday last week. I'm going to see how much it costs used b/c there is no way I can afford it new.
Thoughts?
Now, on to dd5yo.
Anyone use Right Start Math? If so, what do you think? It also looks expensive, but it looks really good to me for my very tactile dd5yo. I like the Abacus idea a lot.
I'm also considering MUS for her. Maybe starting her earlier will be better than what I'm trying to do with dd12yo. What do you think?
(I'm proud of myself. I've got it down to 2 math programs for each of them).
Dd12yo had used A-beka for about 5 years and last year I switched her over to ALEKS (online program). We really liked ALEKS b/c the pages were not cluttered and you could hit the "explain" button and get an example of the type of problem. However, now that we're at the end of the year, it's getting harder and the explanations are not cutting it for either of us. ALEKS doesn't explain the "why". I LOVE that ALEKS is a mastery program and not a spiraling program and that dd can see her pieces of "pie" fill up as she works. I like how it can guage where she is at and what she needs to learn next. Dd is feeling like a complete failure even though she has done a great job this year.
Soo......while I was at the homeschool convention this weekend I took a peek at Math-U-see. dd12yo is at the Algebra 1 level and I really wonder if learning a whole new way of doing the math is going to be a problem for her with MUS. I like that I don't have to actually teach :shifty because Mr. Demme does it, but I don't know if it's too late for MUS with this child.
I also looked at Video Text Interactive which starts at Algebra 1 level and goes through 4 years of high school level math. It is EXPENSIVE, but it looks good. Anyone have any experience with this program? I had never heard of it before Friday last week. I'm going to see how much it costs used b/c there is no way I can afford it new.
Thoughts?
Now, on to dd5yo.
Anyone use Right Start Math? If so, what do you think? It also looks expensive, but it looks really good to me for my very tactile dd5yo. I like the Abacus idea a lot.
I'm also considering MUS for her. Maybe starting her earlier will be better than what I'm trying to do with dd12yo. What do you think?
(I'm proud of myself. I've got it down to 2 math programs for each of them).