When In Doubt Ask Around
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Over the course of the last two years I have gone through several Math programs for my boys. Each one has been, in some way, flawed. Hooked on Math (from the Hooked on Phonics people) is good, but it isn’t a complete program. I’ve been using DK math which I like, but it is not comprehensive either. I really want a program that is an all in one program with a good teacher’s manual and top notch lessons. I thought I had found that in Saxon Math when I heard that so many homeschooling parents swear by it. But, no, it didn’t live up to my standards either. It’s overly repetitive and confusing, and the teacher’s manual looks like it was printed on scrap paper. For what I paid, it isn’t worth it.  What on earth, I asked myself, could be so difficult about making a competent math homeschooling program?
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I’m a reasonably talkative guy when I choose to be so I decided to ask the ladies in the bleachers at Neil’s gymnastics class. And who should answer but a mother who runs the gifted student math after school program at one of our local elementary schools. Bingo! She asked me all sorts of questions about what type of learner Neil is and how confident he is with math and how good my own math skills are. Then she gave me a recommendation – Singapore Math. I went to their website and checked it out. Unlike Saxon, Singapore has placement tests. I printed out the second grade test, and I’m going to administer it tomorrow. I’m hopeful that this will be the solution that I’ve been looking for.
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The moral of the story is clear. We might be great parents, but we don’t know everything. You never know who’s been sitting right next to you for the last 6 months with all the information you need, but you were too caught up with trying to figure it out for yourself to ask. I could have saved myself several hundreds of dollars and a whole bunch of headache if I had just put the question forth 6 months ago when I started looking. When in doubt Ask Around!
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Just to let you know, Saxon does have a placement test. I’m not sure how Singapore’s is so I can’t tell you the difference between them, but Saxon does have one. =-D
I would highly recommend using Math-U-See….we have honestly tried and hated just about everything out there. It has a video that you watch (or your kids can just watch it) that gives instruction for the lesson. The amount of problems is appropriate according to the development and level of the child…my youngest is in the primer and it started with 3 problems and adds more as they progress. Math-U-See has placement tests as well and a great website with additional (free) materials and help. I have even called them on the phone once and they were fantastic.
Sara. I must have totally missed their placement test I guess. I didn’t know that but thanks for correcting me. The one thing I’ll concede to Saxon is that it’s VERY thorough. It just seems to repetitive and overly complicated to me. I guess that can be attributed to my teaching style, and Neil’s learning style. I suspect that Saxon is probably a great program in the right hands. Those hands are clearly not mine though
Thanks so much for the visit!
Suburbangranola, Math-U-See. That’s one this lady touched on too. There was another she said that was sort of like that (and of course I can’t remember the name – it began with a “c”). Anyway, thanks for adding that. I would encourage anybody reading to check out all these various programs mentioned. It’s becoming clear to me that there are as many programs as there are personalities
I guess that’s good. But we do have our homework cut out for us!
So true, Keith. We all can learn from this post. Sometimes all it takes is asking someone question. Google can’t solve EVERY problem or answer EVERY question.
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Math has been a thorn in our sides too. Now I’m having to do ALGEBRA! GAH! We used Calvert Math, which you can purchase separate from the rest of the Calvert material. There is a placement test. It used multiple methods to approach each unit so that kids who learn in different ways could be engaged. Some I skipped knowing that either my kids don’t learn that way or I don’t teach that way. But since I hadn’t signed up for the the teacher support program (in which one of the teachers at the actual Calvert school grades their work and keeps records) I didn’t have to do what I didn’t want to do. Anyway, it’s just another option. You know, I think math is like reading literature in a way. Everyone gets it on a different level. Math either comes easy or it doesn’t. Me, I’ve always had to struggle. Hope you find the perfect program. (Also, try Brightstorm and Purplemath online for help with difficult concepts. I’ve found this very useful!)
Absolutely right. Help is often next door or a phone call away.
I’m curious though. My impression is that this is one of the ways in which men and women differ – women generally are more willing to ask for help (for directions when lost), or venture a question of another person.
Think that’s the case?
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I am not a huge fan of Saxon math myself, but it is built on the concept of spiral based instruction. This was really popular in the 1990’s when I got into teaching. The idea is that you are teaching to mastery over a long period of time, so you keep spiraling back to old concepts for review, adding new snippets of related information as you go. I looked into Singapore for my children, but I just couldn’t fall in love with it. I decided to go totally in the opposite direction from Saxon, and went with Right Start Math for this year. I love using the abacus with my kids. I am pleased with the foundational skills it teaches. We are only on Level A, so my daughter is not yet up to arithmetic, she is still working on number recognition and number sense with lots of geometry thrown in for good measure. Good luck with your search.
Wolf, that’s a great question. My opinion is that, yes, men don’t ask people for help enough. But, my personal experience is that I’m the opposite of that. I tend to ask people when I’m having a hard time with something (usually), while my wife is the one who refuses to ask anybody anything and insist she’s always right. The classic in the car asking for directions thing is reverse for us. But, generally speaking I’d say you’re spot on.
Hello, I am a big fan of Saxon. It does a placement test and is every accurate. I do like the idea of sprial learning in math, it allows for review of concepts. Saxon can get repeatative and if kids don’t need it – you can just do the “blue star” questions and you are not doing over kill.
Singapore math is great – but my son did the entire year’s curriculum in about 2 weeks. I don’t think it was thorough enough.
I like the way saxon has alot of story and real-world problems. The more exposure to those type questions the easier Algebra will be.
In my humble opinion.
Melissa, you’re right. Saxon does have a placement test. When I ordered the material months ago the test was not obvious. Almost like they were hiding it or something. I don’t like that. After I get my Singapore stuff I’ll do a review of it. Let’s hope I have more success there. Thanks for the comment!
Singapore Math. I’ll have to remember that when we “officially” start homeschooling in a few years.
I was homeschooled through 8th grade and used Saxon Math for most of those years. I don’t have anything particularly wonderful or horrible to say about it, but…I can say that math wasn’t/isn’t my favorite subject.
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Stephanie, that’s cool. I didn’t know you were home schooled. You seemed to have turned out pretty well balanced
I get that alot. People telling me my kids will be freaks. You aren’t, so that’s a good sign!