Homeschool moms - I need help w/ math curriculum

[gumpsgirl]

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Thank you! I will look at that.

 

[tpflabs]

Here is a question for you.. I don't homeschool, but my daughter has major math issues, would any of these help her to NOT have such big issues at school? she has a learning disability, and has been screened for such, has an aide that takes her out for an hour a day out of the regular classroom to help her with math, but I know it will be the same as last year and the fighting is just something I cannot do again.
She is in 4th grade.. they started yesterday..

 

[gumpsgirl]

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I would recommend that you do something to supplement what she is already doing. There is usually a reason for children hating math and it usually is that they haven't mastered a concept somewhere along the lines and have been left behind. The public school system is set up to where they have decided what and when your child will learn certain concepts and sometimes the child hasn't had enough time to grasp the concept they have been working on before they are pushed on to something else. That has been my sons main problem with the Saxon. It goes to fast for him. What I would do at this point for your daughter is to get her some workbooks that go back to just plain old basic math. It wouldn't even hurt her to start out with basic addition and subtraction. That might help to build her confidence level, which at this point needs to be built back up. Then move on to mutiplication. Once you are certain that those facts are mastered, move on to division. Practice, practice, practice! I was looking at the books they have at Sam's Club yesterday and they have some neat books that would be perfect for that right now! I think they were only in the $5 range also. If you can't get to a Sam's Club, try your local bookstore. They always have good education sections. Good luck!

 

[Cetawin]

I used Singapore and my DD absolutely hated it so in 3rd grade we switched to Saxon and she is doing great...it can get on the kids' nerves because of the repetition but then again, it is Math and they do need that repetition to a point to stay fresh on it. especially if it is a subject the child dislikes, like my DD.

 

[nautical_bouy]

Just some FYI comming from someone who has tutored a few children and adults in algebra and trig,,,if they hate moving on usually they have a tough time with the basics, it's hard to advance when a calculator is needed for basic times tables and division.

 

[gumpsgirl]

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EXACTLY!!! Calculators are not allowed for math at my house. I realize that once we hit some Algebra stuff then a calculator will be needed but that is the only thing it will be used for. When I pulled my kids out of school 3 years ago, my oldest son was in the 7th grade. When we sat down to do math together, he freaked out because I wouldn't let him use a calculator. He had completely forgot how to do multiplication and how to divide. We spent the rest of the year memorizing for the second time, all of his multiplication tables and then learning how to divide all over again. My husband also works with a lot of fire fighters who can't do basic math. It really is sad. He has sat and worked with them so they can learn how to do the basics so they can learn how to pump the fire trucks. The school systems are doing a huge injustice to these kids by allowing them to do all of their math with a calculator.

Sorry! I didn't mean to rant, but that issue really burns me up!

 

[BettyR]

My kids used Abeca and did very well on it. 3 of my 4 kids have collage degrees. The oldest is a CPA and the twins both have degrees in Biology and are starting their masters program this fall in Organism Biology. The curriculum served them very well.

http://www.homeschoolreviews.com/reviews/curriculum/reviews.aspx?id=11

http://www.time4learning.com/homeschool/abeka.shtml

http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkwZabekaQ20mathQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZ

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080713180103AAJy339

 

[Chirpy]

We also did not like Saxon, though I know many who do like it. We use Abeka and have really liked it.

It's so hard sometimes to find just that right curriculum for our children huh? Start by asking yourself how your child learns best... hands on? auditory learner, visual learner, etc. Then, ask people (like you are doing here) which curriculum addresses that type of learning style.

 

[BowChickaBowMow]

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We're another family who uses Time 4 Learning. Some parents use it as a supplement to their children's public school education. We use it for homeschooling. My son also has learning disabilities and math (at school) was a huge weakness. W/ the time 4 learning, the way it's presented (audio and visual) and the way the concepts are put before them.. it makes it SOOOOO easy for them to "get" it. I was blown away by how well my son does w/ it. It's his favorite subject now!

I'm pretty sure you can try it out for free for a month. We just tried the free sample lessons listed on their website and were hooked. But I have a friend who did a 30 day trial period first. Not sure how she went about that, but I'm sure you could email them off their site and find out! It's worth a try! It's been a huge help to our son!

 

[chicksgalore]

Those of you who've mentioned you do Abeka and like it, do you use this for other subjects as well? I am doing the K-5 Numbers book this year with my son and so far so good, although basically we just use the workbook for reinforcement and we try to do our learning with other "fun" activities. The Phonics workbook though has been nothing but frustration. I've put it away and left it there for a while because frankly, we were learning more before we started with that. I want it to be only a reinforcement anyway, like the math, and not our main learning source. I think maybe he's just not quite ready for that? He knows his sounds pretty well, but he gets confused when I'm asking him to listen to a sound in the "middle" of the word even though he understands the term beginning, middle, end. Just wondering how anyone else has made out with the K-5 Abeka Phonics ...

By the way, it's good to see some other homeschoolers on here!!