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Marvelous Monday- MATH
By Kendra | March 30, 2009
Today marks the beginning of Marvelous Mondays. Be sure to check out Cheryl’s post on math curriculum in their home, too.
One ball
I’ll let you in on a little secret: I don’t do math. I mean, I am not in charge of the math in our home. I help as needed and make sure the work is being done, but ultimately my husband is in charge of the math and figures out what needs to be done each year and how to go about it. He’s a maths/sciences guy (who majored in English, then became a dentist 
). The choices we’ve made over the years tend to have been made with a particular child and or educational situation in mind, so realize that our list is varied because our children are varied, as well.
We began with SAXON. Straight-forward, traditional textbooks we remember having in school. The random letters on the cover spell “Atheist” which I find odd and slightly disturbing in a brainwashing/subliminal message sort of way. I guess the upside is that if your student gets bored, they can figure out what other words the letters spell. ** OK, everyone, don’t get all goofy on me. I was JOKING.**
Seriously, we ditched Saxon after the first two boys because it just sort of was. Our firstborn studious-type never complained, but our kinisthetic second born needed enough hands-on help that Saxon became cumbersome.
Ultimately, Saxon was designed for government school settings. ‘Nuf said?
We made the switch to ROD AND STAFF for the second-born when he was in 4th grade. By that time, we had already started the third-born in the first grade series and he continued using it until this year.
I really, really like Rod and Staff math in the elementary years. For one thing, the books are rigorous and very straightforward. I have a personal aversion to curriculum designed to look “cool”, and these Mennonite published books are- how shall I put it?- decidedly not cool.
Rod and Staff is also very thorough in scope. Measurement, money, life skills, math facts, and all elementary level math skills are covered and covered and covered again.
Lastly, and this may sound pathetically trite, Rod and Staff is extremely affordable. In fact, even when the books become hard-cover texts beginning in 4th grade, we just let the kids write right in them. The price of the hard-cover books is less than most math curricula’s consumable texts.
After Rod and Staff, our kids move into TEACHING TEXTBOOKS. At this level, the student tends to need more time than I can give them, and math isn’t my strongsuit. I was one of those high schoolers who questioned the usefulness of Algebra. To this day, I haven’t used it. Ever.
So, with Dad at work all day and mom needing to focus on all the students and not just one student’s tricky algebra or geometry problems, the format of Teaching Textbooks has been a perfect fit for us. We don’t have to be the teachers for upper level math, because Teaching Textbooks is a teacher and a textbook in one!
The set of computer CD-ROMs contains 129 lectures, step-by-step multimedia explanations to the 650 practice problems as well as for every single one of the almost 3,500 problems in the book, plus an additional CD-ROM with complete, step-by-step solutions for every test problem.
If the student gets the answer wrong, the CD acknowledges the mistake and tells the student where he was in error, then walks him through the process again. What a relief for mom and dad!
There has been copious discussion on The Well-Trained Mind Forums as to whether or not Teaching Textbooks is rigorous enough. Seems the real math-heads don’t think so. The way we see it, if we have a child who wants to pursue something in the advanced mathematics fields, we’ll turn to something college-level. Otherwise, so far we have one interested in law, one in lifeguarding, and one in dental hygiene. The jury is out on the rest, so we’ll stick with Teaching Textbooks.
Two jammies
And then along came our sweet fifth-born. This is the one who taught herself to read, is a natural speller, and has lovely handwriting. Those are her strong suits. Her weakpoints? Math and science.
Last year (her first grade year), Caroline was so frustrated with her Rod and Staff math that she cried every day. I told my husband what was going on and he said to put the books away. We are huge believers in “better late than early”, particularly when it comes to math. We couldn’t say it any better than Harvey Bluedorn. So, away went the math books and instead, I purchased a little math game called Tip Top Tally to help her get basic concepts down. She loved that game and begged anyone and everyone to play it with her!
This year, Caroline is slowly working on a page per day of a few KUMON WORKBOOKS that were given to us as gifts.
♥
A last few things that have served us well over the years:
CALCULADDER is an old stand-by worksheet drill program. Nothing fancy about it, but easy to pull out and photocopy when a child needs extra practice in math facts. Our copy is so old that I have all the pages in a binder, but Calculadder comes on a CD now.
QUARTER MILE MATH is a great, simple, and fun math facts drill computer game that our boys just loved. Sadly, it does not work on Macs.
Finally, when Caroline was struggling with place value last month, I borrowed Auntie Lisa’s MATH U SEE manipulative blocks. She explained to me how to use them by making a “Place Value Street” and having each set live in their own little house. An afternoon of playing this way and Caroline had place value down cold. How’s that for a stellar product review?
Three friends
Topics: Educating at Home, Resources, Reviews | 32 Comments »
March 30th, 2009 at 12:36 am
LOL…I never stopped to think about the random letters on the Saxon mathbooks. I LOATHED Saxon. I am a kinesthetic learner as well and there was no way to build a foundation the way the Saxon textbooks taught the subject! Unfortunately, I was stuck with Saxon for four years (my private school’s curriculum) and because of that I learned to hate math. I’m pretty sure I didn’t hate math in public school where I was a grade ahead in the subject…sigh.
That is the major struggle for me right now with my kids is finding a math curriculum or concept that won’t be cumbersome and boring. (I have very bright boys and after a concept is mastered they get bored with repetition) Thanks for the ideas of other curriculum/methods for math
March 30th, 2009 at 5:53 am
thanks soo much, Kendra!! Thanks for sharing your experience with the different math curriculum.
I like math. Finished a teaching math degree in college:) But when it comes to which curriculum fits best with my kids, it seems 1st hand experience of other moms is very helpful!!
I look forward to MOndays again… LOL
March 30th, 2009 at 7:05 am
I love reviews! Here is my review of a little heard math program that has been a life saver in our house.
LIFE OF FRED
http://fromthenarrows.blogspot.com/2009/02/school-time-2.html
March 30th, 2009 at 7:10 am
Kenj, for us it wasn’t a matter of whether or not Teaching Textbooks is rigorous enough. What I found was that their explanations aren’t thorough enough. They pass over key concepts on their way to show the student how to make the computation. And for someone who is most interested in having her students understand “why”, I kept growing more and more discontent with the program.
Oh, but I loved the automatic grading in TT7! I hated to give that up, but the more advanced courses don’t have that feature, anyway.
We’re using Harold Jacob’s algebra book and finding it to be very good. Its text is approachable, even enjoyable. I’m very pleased with it.
March 30th, 2009 at 7:25 am
I wanted to add that I don’t say that from a super-schooler’s perspective, as though my students need the rigor of taking trigonometry and calculus.
My concern grows out of the philosophy that my math students need to understand what they’re doing, or the calculations they’re doing now won’t effectively stick. If my students only get as far as geometry, fine. But I’d like them to be able to demonstrate later in life that they *have* gotten as far as geometry. Skimping on the explanations isn’t as likely to get them there.
But, even as I wouldn’t encourage anyone to use Teaching Textbooks, I don’t get uppity about it with people who already do. We share the same goal: that God be honored in our homes and daily instruction. To God be the glory!
March 30th, 2009 at 7:26 am
Thanks for the input. It will be helpful for me this summer. I think I am taking the plunge and homeschooling my 3ed grader. Where I am stuck is…he is a 3ed grader in public school, but is quite a bit behind. He is probably at a middle to end 2nd grade. Do I try for 3ed grade curriculum next year, or do I review 3ed grade this summer and hit 4th grade next school year?
Also my son loves a game on the computer called Timez Attack. You can buy it, or download a free version. It has really helped him with his times tables! It is kind of boyish, but your daughter might like it!
March 30th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Oooh, I just have to put in another plug for Math-U-See! My oldest is 7 (six kids), and it has been a lifesaver for me. We watch the DVD lesson together, he does the work, and I check it. And he GETS it!! I think it’s a great program for those of us strapped for time and with lots of littles.
I loved your explanations of the different programs. Very helpful — thank you for all your time doing that!
March 30th, 2009 at 9:14 am
That is quite interesting about the letters on the Saxon book!
Great information here! I look forward to more Marvelous Monday’s!!!!
March 30th, 2009 at 9:58 am
This is a terrific review! I love the Bluedorn’s advice as well!
March 30th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Ummm, a comment about Saxon and it spelling “Atheist” on the front cover. The letters actually spell “Mathmatics”, you can spell several words by using the letters on the front cover, but I do not think it is trying to send subliminal messages.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Oh Dani, don’t be so serious ;D I was joking
March 30th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
What happened with the 4th kid? Sounds like you’ve really put effort into making math work for your kids. I’ve been putting worksheets together for my girls to help them get stronger in multiplication and word problems. Practice makes perfect and they can do these in the car on a long trip. There are also a couple of cool free interactive multiplication game sites that help kids really work on their memorization. If they don’t know their tables division and algebra become harder to grasp.
Feel free to use what I’ve found. Thanks!
multiplication worksheets:
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=920
4th grade word problems:
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=1686
March 30th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
I think it doesn’t matter what is spelled out…if your kid is bored enough to spell out words using the mixed up letters on the cover of the book, they need a different program.
I have heard there is a HUGE difference in Saxon 1-4 and then the high level Saxon. Is that true? We have only used Saxon k-4….my 2nd grader is bored with it, though he is a wiz at math.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I can’t help you there, Bren. We’ve only used Saxon in the lower grades.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I just wanted to clarify as some people were taking it seriously. I LOVE SAXON MATH and don’t want it getting a bad rap!
March 30th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
So YOU’RE the sister who loved Saxon! I won’t tell
Oh golly, this is one of the negative things about internet communication. It was a JOKE!
March 30th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Thanks for the reviews! I’m loving this series already and sooo looking forward to some of the other subjects… going to look at the cover of our Saxon book now.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Whoops, let that one slip
Yes, I am one of the weirdos who actually liked Saxon, there are very few of us around.
March 30th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Well, I must say I’m delighted than Dani enjoyed Saxon math! I knew you were okey dokey!
My daughter homeschooled through high school and for math used Saxon almost exclusively although she did Geometry using Math-U-See.
I must first say that Lizzie *loves* math (and science). While it was pulling teeth to get her to read and write, math was happily anticipated. Sick girl. ;o) I’m not a math person.
She **loved** Saxon, said it was a straight-forward no-nonsense approach without the silly colors and wing dings other texts boasted. We found that Algebra 2 was actually algebra and some geometry up to about lesson 70. After that pre-calc and pre-trig took over.
On the flip side, she absolutely detested Math-U-See. Or, maybe that was geometry in general and since Math-U-See was used, she holds hard feelings toward that particular curriculum. Hm.
It’s my understanding that one is either a geometry person or an algebra person. I am neither. I preferred and continue to prefer English. ;o)
Because I’m not a math person – I find no thrill in formulas or theorums (?) – I ensured that whatever Lizzie successfully responded to, would be the winning curriculum. Her father helped in this decision as well. He *is* most definitely a math person, as was his father (a real rocket scientist). Rocky tutored Lizzie when she needed the extra help but overall she flew through the books.
March 31st, 2009 at 5:26 am
Thank you Kendra for your insightful reviews. I am going to be homeschooling my kids (ds11, dd7, ds3) for the first time this summer/fall. The thought of teaching math just makes me sick to my stomach. I don’t get math. I still can’t turn a fraction into a decimal. I’m 34 and I have trouble with basic math. What’s to happen when my oldest starts Algebra? Aaahhh. (done running and screaming now)
Thank you for your reviews. You have been such a help!
Melody
March 31st, 2009 at 5:57 am
Hmmm, Saxon? I liked the picture of the three friends.
Oh, and I liked Saxon all the way up to Algebra 2, but then I’m one of those Math-heads.
Colleen
March 31st, 2009 at 7:57 am
Thanks for the review Kendra! It is always helpful to hear what did/didn’t work for other families. We are using Saxon, and are less than thrilled. In the words of my five year old “This is silly Mama”. He doesn’t like the repetition, once he has “it” he is done! Needless to say we are looking into other options for next year. Have you heard anything (good or bad) about Singapore math?
March 31st, 2009 at 8:05 am
I have no experience with Singapore but it is a program I am highly interested in. Anyone else want to chime in?
March 31st, 2009 at 8:14 am
I’m a Math-U-See fan. When the kids get done with a level, I have them work through a Singapore Math Word Problem book. (Sindapore has a placement test you can download on line.) This stretches their thinking.
March 31st, 2009 at 8:21 am
I learn something new EVERY TIME I read your posts.
thank you thank you! Algebra II IS thoroughly useless, but nobody has to agree with me (or tell my kids that).
March 31st, 2009 at 10:19 am
Kendra, I have just spent some time catching up on your blog posts, as I’ve been out of town and occupied with other things for awhile. It just blessed me tremendously, as always, and I wanted to be sure to communicate to you how much I appreciate you!!! What I’d give to sit down with you for lunch one day…of course, I’m in Florida, so that’s a bit tough.
I’m just so grateful for your willingness to take the time to share with us less-experienced mommies. I always learn a great deal from you here at P&P! May you be blessed in His grace today, Sister! Thanks for everything.
March 31st, 2009 at 11:09 am
We love Making Math Meaningful and have seen great results with it!!!
March 31st, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Thank you, Kendra!
I fear this series may end up costing us some money. ~grin~
April 2nd, 2009 at 11:39 am
Did you invest in the rod and staff teacher guides? I like math but wondered if you thought they were worth it if you hadnused them…looking forward to knowing what other things worked and didn’t work for your family.
Alicia B
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Alicia- I haven’t thought the teacher’s manuals were necessary in the elementary levels. Maybe if you don’t feel confident and want the answers, then they’d be very helpful to you.
April 6th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
I have a Bachelors of Arts degree in Math … don’t like Saxon at all – at any grade. Every text I’ve used or taught through has left a sour taste behind.
We’ve used the Alpha Omega Lifepacs and SOS – though we didn’t really like math on the computer, it was cumbersome and got more so as the grades progressed.
2 years ago, we found Rod and Staff, and have loved it. But it tops at 8th grade. So my 14 year old is back in lifepacs for Alg. 1 (wanted a different curriculum, but couldn’t find a copy to review nor could we afford it at th time).
This next year, she’ll do Geometry from a Bob Jones textbook – I’m hoping it is good.
We come from a huge family of Math minded people – both sides of the family – quite a few Math teachers in the bunch.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:50 am
This is our 1st year homeschooling. My son is in 3rd grade w/ math being his strong subject. We started w/ Math-U-See and tossed it after about 12 weeks. It was TOOO repetitive for him – he was bored stiff! I switched him to Horizons 3 and he LOVES it and is flying thru it. We are going to do Saxon 5/4 next year. I’ve heard it is quite comprehensive, which is what I’m thinking he really enjoys. Thanks for all the input (not just in math) – I really appreciate your reviews.