What do you use for Math?

[MissRubyandKen]

What do you use for Math? That about sums it up! I'm curious what everyone is using, if you like it, if your kids like it, do you find it adequate, whatever you'd like to share. I've just recently 'found' Miquon and MEP Math. I've ordered Singapore to try after reading so much about it. I bought the Miquon Lab Sheet Annotations used. I love it! It shows little copies of ALL of the worksheets from all of the levels. I'm so inspired by the ideas in this book. I've been looking at the lessons and worksheets on MEP and I love it too. I can't wait to see the lightbulbs next school year.

[sbgrace]

We're using RightStart and I feel really good about it! My kids aren't "mathy" nor was I. But I love that they are learning the concepts behind/the why of math that I was never taught. I think there are several math programs that do that well including RightStart. What I also like about RightStart is that it takes no prep time and is scripted. It's also "quick" for the kids and very active/hands on so I don't lose my attention deficit child as easily as I might with a worksheet based or longer programs.

Today for example we worked with the abacus and reviewed before/after concepts for a warm up (2 minutes maybe). We talked about opposites which led to reviewing more/less concepts (2 minutes tops) and did a more/less acitivity that involved our fingers (3 minutes tops). Then we had a more/less game with cards (5 minutes).

At this point it's a different concept so I could have stopped if we needed to and split the lesson. But we used tiles to work on grouping things so that we didn't have to count to determine quantity (5 minutes I'd guess). Finally, we used blocks to build exact replicas and then mirror image items (5-7 minutes).

It's really good for his attention span. So we're happy!

[staceyshoe]

Ds is a very quick learner and is always pushing the envelope with math (wanting to do multiplication/division, fractions, negatives, etc before mastering addition/subtraction facts). Our main program is Singapore because it has less repetition which doesn't really need. We also use the Challenging Word Problems books from Singapore which have been incredibly helpful. In addition, we're doing Miquon 1-2 days/week so ds can work with the more exciting concepts at his own pace.

[kgianforti]

I have a very bright math kiddo and we started with Singapore and Horizons. Though she does well with Horizons, I also discovered MEP and Miquon recently. We are currently trying out these two programs over the summer to see if we like them. We are about a week into them and they are a complete hit. My big girl grasps math concepts quickly and intuitively so they both are working very well for her.

I also think Horizons is a very strong math program as well with a fast moving pace and slightly advanced materials. It is more of a "traditional" approach whereas MEP and Miquon are more conceptual/problem solving imo. Horizons did have a bit too much repetition for her though and there were times when we were skipping activities and entire lessons.

So we are probably ultimately going to end up working Singapore with MEP and Miquon as a supplement.

ETA: I emailed the MEP Year 1a lesson plan and practice book to Staples and they printed and bound them for me for under $25. I had the Practice Book single sided and the lesson plan book double sided and bound like workbooks (not spiral). I like workbooks not loose-leaf so I had it done.

[mom2ponygirl]

I think if I had to do elementary math again, I would do a combo of Singapore, MEP, and perhaps Miquon.

We used Singapore, some EPGY, toward middle school we supplemented with Zaccaro books and Creative Problem Solving by Lenchner. For secondary math we use primarily Art of Problem Solving books (we did read Life of Fred beginning algebra) We recently discovered MEP and we're using a few units of year 9 and moving on to GSCE level for some data analysis, statistics, and vector topics.

[MyLittleWonders]

We use Miquon and just added Singapore - I love them both. The boys do math drills most days during math, but for an actual curriculum, we wanted a strong conceptual program and feel we have that with both Miquon and SM.

[Neldavi]

I just started formally homeschooling my 6 year old a few months ago, and we're using Miquon, we're just about 1/3 of the way through the Orange book.'

Question for those who use Miquon and Singapore together .. does it ever feel like too much? I'm inclined to add Singapore as well, just to round out our curriculum but I don't want to overwhelm him or get bogged down in too much workbook time. I love math, but so far ds seems fairly neutral/average ... not a whiz, but not really struggling either.

[moominmamma]

Miquon to start, then Singapore. Love the fast pace, the conceptual approach, the lack of unnecessary drill. Kids love the unintimidating presentation. I've taken four kids through this approach; my youngest has 1-2 years of Singapore Primary left. It has worked well for all of them.

Miranda

[LauraLoo]

Originally Posted by Neldavi

Question for those who use Miquon and Singapore together .. does it ever feel like too much? I'm inclined to add Singapore as well, just to round out our curriculum but I don't want to overwhelm him or get bogged down in too much workbook time. I love math, but so far ds seems fairly neutral/average ... not a whiz, but not really struggling either.

We used Miquon and Singapore together. The approach that worked well for us was to start with Miquon and then weave Singapore in -- mostly to give practice with word problems and to see concepts presented in a different way. DS is more of a visual learner so starting with Miquon really clicked with him, and then practicing and reinforcing with the SM really seemed to fly.

[SoCaliMommy]

We plan on using Math U See

My daughter doesn't grasp math very well and this seems like a program that would help her since it's more hands on.

[kgianforti]

Here is a nice chart that shows where the SM and Miquon topics "flow" together:

http://web.archive.org/web/200803070.../SM_Miquon.htm

We started Miquon last week with rod play and it's really clicking. My big girl has asked to use some of the lab sheets as well. After we use the rods a bit more then I'm going to begin to incorporate SM. My plan is to work with Miquon up to the chapter we are on in SM 1a then start using the two together.

[AAK]

We currently use Singapore and it works really well for us.

Next year, my 2nd grader will continue with Singapore, but my fifth grader will be using the Life of Fred (Fractions and Decimals) and Real Life Math. She wanted to try something without the "workbook" feel.

Amy

[zjande]

We're working on making our way through the Zaccaro books for my 12 yr old ds. We also use a regular college pre-algebra text, Real Life Math Mysteries, and we're just finishing Saxon 67.

My pre-ker is working on a math text from Rod & Staff that I really enjoy.

My 2 yr old likes to count sticks.

[shoefairy3]

Jump Math http://jumpmath.org/publications
the first 40 or so pages of each book are printable from their site so you can try before you buy. Amazon carries many of the work books as well.

[MyLittleWonders]

Originally Posted by Neldavi

I just started formally homeschooling my 6 year old a few months ago, and we're using Miquon, we're just about 1/3 of the way through the Orange book.'

Question for those who use Miquon and Singapore together .. does it ever feel like too much? I'm inclined to add Singapore as well, just to round out our curriculum but I don't want to overwhelm him or get bogged down in too much workbook time. I love math, but so far ds seems fairly neutral/average ... not a whiz, but not really struggling either.

I was originally going to just switch back and forth during the week, not worrying about lining up the concepts. But, I think what I'm going to end up doing is working in one (for right now, it's Singapore) either until we are at the end of a unit (or units), or hit a brick wall, and then pulling out the Miquon for a change of pace. I use the SM Standards Edition, so I would rather skip stuff in Miquon that is repetitive of the SM, and make sure to cover as much of the SM as possible (not that we test or worry about meeting state standards, but the standards for math in CA, at least, are pretty strong). So, after our brief "summer break" ends in July, we'll probably pull out the Miquon for a while and then go back to the SM (I think I have it timed that both my older two will be at the end of a unit when we go on break).

[ChinaDoll]

Math Mammoth and Math U See

[moominmamma]

Originally Posted by Neldavi

Question for those who use Miquon and Singapore together .. does it ever feel like too much? I'm inclined to add Singapore as well, just to round out our curriculum but I don't want to overwhelm him or get bogged down in too much workbook time. I love math, but so far ds seems fairly neutral/average ... not a whiz, but not really struggling either.

We started with Miquon, and later moved to Singapore; however all my kids went through a 3 to 6-month transition between the two programs where they did a bit of one and a bit of the other. Far from being too much it actually made things easier and more enjoyable. That's because they could work away at one program, and when it began to seem tedious or frustrating they could switch to the other for a new perspective and a change of pace. In our case the pacing through the programs, and the choice of which to do, was entirely up to my kids, and I had no expectation that they'd move through things at any particular pace or do diligent daily work or any such thing. They did as much as they wanted from whatever program they wanted, and so the variety was great and there was no question of it being too much. It worked for us, and they ended up moving quite quickly, enjoying math a lot.

Miranda

[meetoo]

We are using McRuffy 1st grade and will move to the second grade next year. I was a little nervous to use it because not many people do, but it has been wonderful for my DD. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, easy to use, hands on math program. Topics are explained/practiced using manipulatives then you move on to 1 worksheet. Some days there is a short timed test, auditory problems they must solve, or a game. There are also logic/problem solving activities built into the program. Example they have to build structures out of cubes using pictures of all the views. These have been challenging for my DD and not the type of activity she would gravitate to on her own. All and all I'm happy with it and after much consideration will be continuing with it next year.

[jrcronewillis]

We use a combination of Math Mammoth & Time-4-Learning. We have found that they are a great match!

[theretohere]

We're using Singapore and Math Mammoth and I really love the combo!