Choosing Homeschool Math Curriculum
Need some help finding homeschool math curriculum? With all of the choices that there are it is not an easy task. There are several things that you need to consider when you look for math curriculum.
What to Consider
First consider how you view math should be taught. Some programs use a spiral method while other curriculum uses the mastery method.
The spiral method introduces math topics a little bit at a time. Each year more information is taught about the topic. So, a child might learn about multiplication and fractions in kindergarten or first grade then again in second grade. In third grade he is expected to master multiplication.
Some homeschool math curriculum uses the spiral method with each lesson. A new concept will be introduced, but the bulk of the problems will be from past lessons.
Other programs teach mastery of addition and subtraction before introducing multiplication and division.
When you are looking at homeschool math curriculum you need to consider teacher involvement. Some math books give good instructions and demonstrations right in the student book. Other textbooks require the teacher to present the information.
Another consideration in determining curriculum is the cost. On way to keep the cost down if you have more than one child with similar learning styles is to buy a non-consumable math book. That way the book can be passed down.
Ways to Improve Homeschool Math Curriculum
Sometimes you will buy a curriculum that looks like it will work for your child. But your child does not like the book. Or maybe he has difficulty with the problems. There are some things that you can do to make the curriculum fit the child.
If your child needs more practice with a concept, you can find worksheets online. There are several math worksheets generators that you can use to make worksheets.
If the homeschool math curriculum is too repetitious you can have your child do less of the problems.
If your child is not getting the concept you can use a manipulative to help teach him. You can also teach the concept in a different way that the book teaches
Reviews of Homeschool Math Curriculum
I liked Saxon math when my children were young. We used the first through third grade books. The teacher manual was scripted. It took a lot of teacher time. I had to present each lesson before they did the worksheet. Both my children and I liked the activities. My children did not like the 4/5 book. There was less teacher involvement and more problems to do. It was harder for my children to understand. Saxon uses the spiral method.
We have also used Lifepacs. My children seem to like it. It has a teacher manual, but I only use it to correct the worksheets. The explanations are in the workbooks. I go over each lesson before my children do the work. If your child is good at reading and understanding he could read the explanation and do the work himself. Lifepacs uses the mastery method.
I had one child that needed a lot of hands-on projects, so we used Miquon math with him. Miquon uses Cuisenaire rods to teach addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. My child liked the program. I got confused on what each rod was worth.
Math U See uses videos and interlocking multi-colored blocks to teach math in a systematic way. It was written for homeschoolers by a homeschool dad.
I used Touch Math when I worked with autistic children. It would be good for children, who are visual or Tactile/Kinesthetic learners, Each number is represented with a dot. The number one has one dot; the number two has two dots and so on. Touch Math uses the mastery approach.
Life of Fred is a new homeschool math curriculum. It is a story that teaches math concepts. The stories are for middle school and high school. The Life of Fred starts with fractions and goes to calculus. Most children like the self teaching books. I downloaded a sample to see if the curriculum will work for my family.
The curriculum that I have listed here I have used or have had friend that have used it. There is a lot more math programs. The best way to determine if a curriculum will work for your family is to try it. Most curriculums have websites where you can download free samples.
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