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• Nov. 14, 2006 - Need feedback regarding math curriculums for upper elementary
My daughter is doing fourth grade math but she
is having a terrible time memorizing her times tables. She is certainly
a visual learner so I am considering Math U See, Mortensen or something
of that nature. However, I am afraid that she will quickly outgrow this
manipulative-based learning because she is already in upper elementary.
I know she needs to master these concepts so it leads me to lean toward
making the investment regardless of how quickly she will "outgrow" it.
I would like to know if there are families with older children who are
continuing use of programs like Math U See and Mortensen, or if most
families continue on in other curriculums after 5th or 6th grade. If
you have chosen to change curriculums, would you please share what
programs you have found most beneficial to your children who started
with the manipulative based programs?
Thanks so much!
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• Nov. 14, 2006 - I don't know if this helps, but...
I really like it because it focuses so much on the basic skills. The kids aren't totally in love with drills, but I don't think any kids are, and they really do learn. You do flashcards everyday, and time sheets everyday. The kids improve awfully quickly.
We do have manipulatives, too. I found that Cuisenaire rods worked really well for teaching patterns and multiplication, and I just found extra stuff on the web to do to supplement Saxon. We did Saxon for four days, and then one day a week of manipulatives and playing.
It really has worked well. Math is the girls' strongest subject, and I think it's because the curriculum is so rigorous. They don't spend that much time on math now, because they really get it. It's a great grounding. I don't think it's as important to make math really fun for the kids as it is to teach the fundamentals well, and with math, that means drills drills drills. There's no way around it, I don't think.
Anyway, I'm not sure if that helps, because I've never used Math U See. But that's my two cents! I hope that helps.