What is Math-U-See?
Math-U-See is a homeschool math curriculum that spans kindergarten thru high school utilizing a hands on approach to math.
What does it come with?
Each level comes with a book, workbook, DVD or online instruction, test book, and answer key except for primer (it doesn’t include a test book and key). You would also purchase manipulatives which are used for several years.
Do the levels correspond to grade levels?
No and I like that better because kids can advance at their pace without feeling the pressure of being “at grade level.” The focus becomes more about mastering the math than passing a grade level.
How do you do a lesson?
Each lesson begins with a brief DVD or online instruction to the child, about six practice pages, and a test at the higher levels. In the high school years they offer an honors page which I believe should be utilized. It is a valuable tool to get your kid thinking.
How long does a lesson take?
These lessons are extremely customizable. A lesson can last a few days or a couple of weeks. You can follow at your child’s pace. For a younger child, a lesson can take 20 minutes or less. For older children I plan for about 30-50 minutes. Usually I just tell my kids to either:
- Watch a video and complete 1 page
- Complete 2 pages a day
- Take a test
Then :
- Check their workbook pages (the older ones do this themselves). For tests I grade them.
- Correct their work (especially if it’s a test)
Do I need to buy the manipulatives to go with it?
Yes and No. You can complete the curriculum especially the older grades without the manipulatives, but it is a great way for kids to understand the concepts being taught in an easy to understand way.
Where I started with Math-U-See?
Math had gone really well for us until it didn’t one year. My oldest was transitioning to algebra and while she had previously loved math and it had come easy to her, it suddenly was very difficult. We were using the same publisher but the lesson was laid out and explained very differently.
In that same year my younger daughter was pulling at her hair from the stress of keeping up with the multiplication tables. That was not how I wanted her feel. Math is enjoyable, especially if it is explained well. So we decided it was time for a switch.
I ended up switching all four of my kids at that time. Since, I have added a fifth.
How does it compare to other high school math curriculum?
I looked into other programs and they were alright, but I got an opportunity to see a demonstration of the high school math concepts taught at a homeschool convention and I was blown away. This is what I wanted. For my kids to have an understanding of what they were learning and how it applied. Others tend to focus on memorization of concepts rather than an understanding of the concept being taught.
Do I use it Kindergarten thru high school?
I think there are many wonderful programs to teach your kids math up until Pre-algebra. I like to try other programs in the early years depending on the child. However, most often I do just start with Math-u-see and continue all the way thru high school. If I use a different elementary program, I still switch my child back to Math-u-see when they reach pre-algebra.
What I like about it
- My children tend to test well with it especially as they are testing for college.
- It is explained so well, they often don’t need any assistance from me at all, even the little ones.
- The fact that this is meant to be customized to the child, not the other way around.
What I wish was different
- Because it’s a mastery program vs a spiral program of learning, I would prefer more practice of the previous levels. They do provide practice pages online for each of the levels which is great because you can provide it if your kid struggles with a lesson. However, more built in practice of older concepts would be preferred especially in the younger years.
Is it enough?
Yes, even without the practice pages my kids have done very well. On the other hand if you want to add something to it like the extra pages for practice or another simple book you pick up from a store to work on a concept, it would be an easy addition.
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