Posted in Math

I would have to say that Math-U-See is the one curriculum we have used consistently for several years now (after trial and error with several others) and have seen wonderful results!  It is very easy on me and the kids enjoy math!  We watch the video lesson together with their book open to the new lesson and the math blocks right there with us.  We go over anything in the teacher's book to make sure they undertand the new concept and then they go do a lesson page.  It really is that simple!  This isn't a colorful and flashy workbook and it doesn't have 50 problems in a lesson, but it also doesn't take an hour a day to do math!     You also have to be able to get past the fact that for the earlier years it may look like they are behind in math on standardized tests.  By the time they get to algebra, it all evens out.  I have started letting my older two watch their video lesson on their own and go over the lesson in the teacher book.  If they have any questions about the new concept, they ask.  If they don't, they go do their lesson page and we check it together.  If they have any errors, we go over why they missed it and they work that problem again.  I have never been one to "grade papers" -- we just work things out until they are 100% correct and they have learned it.  We have been trying out the new updated version of Math-U-See this year and I am really considering going back to the classic version (which I already have everything for except student books).  Besides being more economical for us, I haven't seen any real benefits of switching.  I would love feedback from anyone about this who uses or used Math-U-See.

My oldest son is getting ready to start Algebra 1 and for that we are actually switching to something different.  I am really, really hoping it's as good as it looks because that's really the only way I can justify spending the higher price for it -- that all four of our kids will be able to use it! It's called Teaching Textbooks Algebra and is written specifically for homeschoolers whose parents aren't necessarily "math-minded."  I'll keep you updated on how we like it once we have time to really get into it for a while.