Math U see.. what do you like or dislike and when did you start

[Momma Aimee]

me again still working on researching math education / math programs.

I am intresed in hearing from people useing Math U see -- specically what you feel the strnght and weaknesses are and also when you started ..

once concern i have with ANY math curr is that it is not going to provide enough pratice / repeat time. I don't want to do one day / one page on a topice and them move on ... there are some things -- basic math, letters, etc that i personally feel you have to spend a good amount of time on, to know inside and out, to be a strong foundation ...

I like the idea -- with Math U see that the use of manulipative si PART of the program, not somehting I would be adding on myself to try to "assist" with the concept in the lesson. that may jsut me being lazty but i do like that.

I am also realing up on living math and plan -- somehow -- to incoperate that as i want to set the tone of our schooling as book based and also to show that math is more than math facts ... which i personally feel opens the though process to more advanced math when we get there.

Thoughts abotu Math U see??

thanks

Aimee

[MamaMonica]

I like Math U See because it offers enough practice pages if you want them, but if the child gets the concept, they can move on and take the assessment so it isn't boring busy work. I let them test out of sections they know.

Also, it is easy- they watch the guy on the DVD and then do the lesson. If they don't get it, they can re-watch the DVD. And the guy is kind of funny so they like to watch the lesson.

[kittywitty]

I liked it. It explained it really well, and I even learned some things. My kids found it dry and boring, though.

[ReadingMama]

It's so popular with families in my homeschool group that I had high hopes for it. I like the videos, since I worry about my ability to teach math concepts in ways that make sense to my math-phobic 9yo. Neither my son nor I were fans of the boring worksheets, so we mostly worked problems on a dry erase board. We used MUS for Alpha and Beta, and the blocks were only helpful for 2 concepts for us. Place value and the vacuum that sucks up a certain amount in addition facts. The rest of the time my son said the blocks made things MORE confusing.

I think it's a great program if it fits with how your child learns. I think there's plenty of practice. My son just struggles with math--and he wants to learn it through real life and games. Math U See was better for him than Modern Curriculum Press Math or Saxon, but still not a perfect fit for us.

[CariOfOz]

This is our 2nd year using MUS. My 7yo did alpha last year, and just started beta about 6weeks ago. My 5yo is doing primer as he was just not 'there' on recognizing and writing all of his numerals. Both of the boys like it very well, they watch the dvd lesson with me and we pause it & discuss if needed. Then we do a lesson page.

Sometimes we move through a lesson in one day if it's a concept I can see they clearly 'get'.. sometimes I stretch it out for a full week. There are 3 lesson pages, and then 3 systematic review (this lesson plus bits from all previous lessons) At this point, I've not had a single lesson where that many worksheets wasn't enough to master a concept for them . If that ever becomes an issue I believe the website has a sheet generator of some type

[jlpumkin]

We are in MUS Alpha. I originally purchased Beta not realizing that we hadn't totally mastered Alpha skills. So we are definitely staying with it until Beta =) It works for us though. We rarely use more than a few work sheets, mainly because I feel that it progresses in such small increments that it just builds easily in my dd's understanding. We do often go to their online drill page just to stay fresh on skills since we don't do as many of the review pages.

One thing that made me hesitate was that because it's mastery and not spiral, the scope and sequence hasn't covered everything in our ps scope and sequence. If I were planning on putting her back in school next year I might reconsider, but we are in this for at least 2 years - at which point I think it all evens out.

[LilyGrace]

We started MUS with Gamma (multiplication). If we had it to do from the beginning, I now think we still would have waited until Gamma to start the program and did Family Math and living math to cement addition and subtraction concepts.

I really like it for the most part. We're using Epsilon now and the way it presents fractions is very nice. It's been the perfect program for my son - he gets the practice he needs and the continual support until mastery.

What I don't like - we bought the new edition this year because that was all that was available from the company for us. It is riddled with errors that make math time slightly longer and more detective work. I got so fed up I wrote to the company about the changes and how poorly they were implemented. On their side, they have been working to fix this and subsequent printings will be corrected. For the moment there's a list of corrections on their website.

Would I buy it again? Yes. Do I think I got my money's worth this year? No. I wish I had hunted up the old student edition instead. But for an overall grade from the three years we've used it I'd give it a B+.

[elizawill]

we used MUS for a short time last year. i liked it well enough, but my dd didn't. i still use the blocks though as part of our current curriculum (rod & staff). there is a MUS yahoo swap board. i found everything i needed for very cheap.

[Momma Aimee]

Family Math

link?

whats this?

[LilyGrace]

Family Math

It's a series of books with ideas on how to incorporate math into life with adorable little lessons. They have one for younger children and a few for older ones. I think it's a great resource even if you go with a formal program; the activities help to cement the concepts they're working on and give a new way to play with numbers.

[vbactivist]

Originally Posted by LilyGrace

We started MUS with Gamma (multiplication). If we had it to do from the beginning, I now think we still would have waited until Gamma to start the program and did Family Math and living math to cement addition and subtraction concepts.

I really like it for the most part. We're using Epsilon now and the way it presents fractions is very nice. It's been the perfect program for my son - he gets the practice he needs and the continual support until mastery.

What I don't like - we bought the new edition this year because that was all that was available from the company for us. It is riddled with errors that make math time slightly longer and more detective work. I got so fed up I wrote to the company about the changes and how poorly they were implemented. On their side, they have been working to fix this and subsequent printings will be corrected. For the moment there's a list of corrections on their website.

Would I buy it again? Yes. Do I think I got my money's worth this year? No. I wish I had hunted up the old student edition instead. But for an overall grade from the three years we've used it I'd give it a B+.

I bought epsilon this past summer, and about 3 weeks ago I received an email offering to replace (or if I'd already written in most of the corrections) to give me a credit towards future purchases. It was only good for certain editions (not mine). you should call your distributor about that.

[vbactivist]

Originally Posted by vbactivist

I bought epsilon this past summer, and about 3 weeks ago I received an email offering to replace (or if I'd already written in most of the corrections) to give me a credit towards future purchases. It was only good for certain editions (not mine). you should call your distributor about that.

Dear Math-U-See Customer,

As you know, in 2009 we published new books with better solutions, a cleaner look, and new binding. But in this revision process there were many errors in the first printing of several of the books.

On September 23 I sent out the following letter via the MathUSee email newsletter which many of you receive. A portion of this letter is reproduced below. Since not all of our current customers receive this letter, we are reaching out via our customer database. As far as we can tell, you have purchased one of the earlier printings which had most of the errors.

As you know, the new books have been on the market since this spring. This was a major revision project for us. In the process of changing the look of the pages, making more complete solutions, and upgrading the binding, some errors were made.

These errors can be a source of aggravation, take precious time away from your schooling, and make unnecessary work for you. We are heartsick when we hear of your anxiety and agitation. I apologize for each one of these mistakes and any angst they have subsequently introduced into your home.

We have made available for you on our web site the corrections for each of your books. Click on this link http://www.mathusee.com/revisiontracking/search.php and select the level (Beta, Gamma, etc.), choose which title (Instruction Manual, Student Text, Test Booklet) and type in the 4 digit revision code found on the last page of each book opposite the page number, e.g. "0409."

The majority of responses that reached me from customers after reading the letter, were wonderfully gracious. Thank you. But I want to make sure you are satisfied with your purchase and our service to you our customer. To that end I am making the following offers.

If you purchased one the first printings of these books with these revision codes, I would like to offer you a free replacement book.

Algebra 1 Instruction
Algebra 1 Student
Zeta Instruction
Pre-Algebra Instruction
Geometry Instruction
Epsilon Student
Algebra 1 Solutions Supplement Rev. Code 0209
Rev. Code 0209
Rev. Code 0309
Rev. Code 0109
Rev. Code 0209
Rev. Code 0109

But many of you have already entered the corrections into your book and don’t need a replacement book. To you, I am offering a coupon for $10.00 to be redeemed on your next order, as a way of compensating you for this extra effort on your part. If you have more than one book on the list let us know. (The coupon for the Algebra 1 Solutions is 5.00. All of the complete solutions in this book are online at http://mathusee.com/2009solutions.html)

If you have any of these editions and would like to receive either a replacement book or a coupon, you have two options.
Go to http://www.mathusee.com/revisiontracking/offer.php and fill out the information listing the book and your address, etc


Or contact the rep where you made your initial purchase and give them your information. You may find your rep by calling 888.854.6284 or by going to this link http://www.mathusee.com/reps.html and selecting your state.
After we have a few weeks to process this data, we will send you the new book or a coupon. This offer is good until December 31, 2009 and the coupons will be redeemable after Jan 2010.

Earnestly,

Steve Demme

[vbactivist]

I like it for the most part. If my kids ned more practice computing, I print more worksheets from here -

http://themathworksheetsite.com/

[LilyGrace]

Thank you for that.

[Momma Aimee]

sorry it has taken me so long to get back

I like it for the most part. If my kids ned more practice computing, I print more worksheets from here -

http://themathworksheetsite.com/

what is the cost like for that site?

and re: family math books -- looks like a good seris ... are they all good? I would assume Family Math for Young Children: Comparing (Equals Series)) by Jean Kerr Stenmark and Grace Davila Coates is for teh youngest .. ie the most basic math, or am i wrong? what about Family Math (Equals Series) by Jean Kerr Stenmark, Virginia Thompson, Ruth Cossey, and Marilyn Hill

thanks

it is all so mind boggling -- so many choices and options

[NarualHealing]

Started MUS ten years ago.  Using it with all four kids.  No worries on not enough practice, if anything, too much practice.  GREAT program, easy to understand and do.  Even mom and dad have learned some concepts that make math much easier and fun!