Review of Several Popular Curriculums that Teach Math

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Math Curricula for Homeschoolers
A Review of Several Popular Curriculums that Teach Math
© Jennifer Wagaman

Feb 11, 2009

There are many math curriculums available for home school families, and choosing the right one can be a complicated process for many.

Choosing the right math curriculum for any child takes research and some trial and error. Not all children will thrive on any one of the following math programs, but each program has it's benefits.

Math U See
This is a manipulatives based program that does not have a lot of repetition. It has a video for each lesson as well as teaching tips. It may be a bit easy for advanced learners. The idea is to help students understand the math. It does not use a spiral curriculum style and placement tests are available on the website.

Saxon Math
This program provides a lot of repetition and review, and is a spiral curriculum. Working the problems orally can help prevent the tedium of the extra practice. Placement tests are available on the website. Grades 1-3 are more simple and repetitive, so a child that catches on quickly may become bored.

Singapore Math
This program contains a lot of mental math, word problems and exercises for analytical skills. There is not a lot of teacher support for upper level math, but is good for students who are strong in math. There are placement tests available on website. Parents may need to supplement the material if the child needs additional practice practice.

Shiller Math
This is an excellent for younger children. It uses manipulatives and hands on approach to teaching. The scripted lessons give lots of ideas for using the manipulatives to teach young children the basic concepts of math in a fun way. The website provides extra practice materials that can be downloaded. This is an expensive program.

Right Start Mathematics
This program uses games to reinforce math concepts along with the use of manipulatives. It focuses on mental math, and has many different activities for each individual lesson. There is not a lot of independent work, but the detailed teachers manual tells parents what to say. The idea behind this program is to help students understand math instead of memorize, as there is no rote memorization. It tries to Teach new ways to think about math.

Math Mammoth
This is an inexpensive, simple math program. It provides a lot of variety to prevent students from becoming bored, and has recommended websites for additional practice. It teaches mental math while at the same time focuses on understanding math concepts. The font may be too small for young students,and as a result, the number of one problems on one page can be overwhelming. It is a mastery program so each topic is lumped together, with all skills related to telling time found in one chapter, for example. Parents may need to tweak the scope and sequence of the curriculum to fit the needs of individual child, and the program uses no manipulatives.

Knowing the learning style of a child before picking a curriculum would be very helpful. Parents may find that their child loves or hates math based on the curriculum, and they should be willing to make a change to find the best method for teaching their child math.

Read more: "Math Curricula for Homeschoolers: A Review of Several Popular Curriculums that Teach Math" - http://homeschool-curricula.suite101.com/article.cfm/math_curriculums_for_homeschoolers#ixzz09HE6aTQF