There are two main ways to learn math - mastery and spiral. (At least those were the two main ways back when I started homeschooling - the first time - many years ago.... common core has changed some things, but the basic methods are still the same... I think? 😂) Mastery method has a child completely master (hence the name) a concept before moving on to the next. Spiral method introduces a new concept, and then has the child work on the new concept AND the previously taught concepts each day.
When Bug did preschool at home, we used some of the Calvert Kindergarten curriculum, which included Math in Focus workbooks. They were cute and straightforward, and we liked them. The next year, when Bug did half-day kindergarten, we used Oak Meadow first grade curriculum for some afternoon supplements. (Oak Meadow is SOOOO cute, btw! If I had homeschooled Lulu from day one, she would have loved their stuff I think.) Oak Meadow math is nature-based and uses stories to teach the basics. It's adorable and I absolutely loved it.
But, when we started homeschooling again for Bug in second grade, I wanted something a little more hard-core than the Oak Meadow stories (she was showing an aptitude for math and is more of a worksheets/lectures/books kinda girl, rather than stories and artsy nature stuff), so we got the 2nd grade Math in Focus since we had some experience with that. This is a Singapore/mastery approach curriculum - and it was a FLOP. While Kinder had been cute and fun, 2nd grade was not.We both were beyond bored. I did a little research and tried out Horizons. It was love at first sight and that is all we have used at home since.
We we love it:
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| Algebra 1 |
- The lessons are straightforward. There is a new concept laid out, a few samples to do with your child, and then they do the rest of the worksheet on their own. The worksheet includes some more of the new concept, as well as hitting on concepts from previous lessons. (I rarely have them do the entire worksheet. There are usually anywhere from 40-60 problems on each one, so I adjust each section's work based on what they need to work on. For example, Lulu is working on division, and still mastering some of those trickier times tables. So on her worksheets I focus more on those right now. For the sections with adding/subtracting money or distributive property stuff, etc. right now, I just have her do a couple of each of those so she can remember how, but not spend a ton of time doing busy work on things she already knows. I don't want them beaten down by things like that. My goal for them with math is mastery and remembering concepts - not just doing pages of the same thing over and over when they already know it!)
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| Horizons 3 |
- The lessons look fun. I mean, they aren't always *actually* fun, but the pages are colorful, even in Algebra 1! So that makes math a little more exciting.
- It's challenging. This is more why *I* love it - they are being engaged and challenged as they go. I have complete confidence that they are both above grade level with this curriculum. I have days I obsess about different subjects and whether what we are doing is working, but not math. It's nice to have that peace of mind.
What to be aware of:
- This curriculum assumes that the teacher/parent knows the concepts. I love math. It makes sense, I know what I'm doing, and so I am comfortable teaching it with minimal support from the teacher's manual. If you do not love math and need more support for your teaching, this may not be for you. There are some other great options out there though. If you want something that is more student-led where you aren't doing the teaching, Teaching Textbooks is supposed to be amazing. The kids watch a lesson and do their work online (most or all of it I think?). I have heard that this program may run a little behind other homeschool programs, so do a placement test first, and maybe go up a grade if necessary. Or - if you want something more advanced that is parent-led with more instruction in the kids and teachers manuals than Horizons provides, Saxon is a great choice too.
- Horizons math stops after Algebra 1. I discovered that this year and I am heartbroken! So I have done some research on high school math options, and we are going to use Saxon for 8th grade and up. Bug had Saxon at one of her schools, and it's also a really good curriculum - similar to Horizons, but different in a few small ways that made it not the *perfect* fit - but will be great going forward I'm sure. Our plan is to do (8th-12th grades): Algebra 2, Geometry, Advanced Math, AP Calc, and then maybe AP Statistics if she wants to do that. If anyone has experience with high school Saxon homeschool curriculum, I'd love input on whether that is a good lineup and progression!!
Extra Resources we use:
- Khan Academy - we used them last year for Pre-Algebra assistance. There was a new concept every day with Horizons (it's fast-paced!), and sometimes my explanations didn't quite cut it. So Bug would watch a Khan Academy video and just hearing someone else lay it out for her, in maybe a different way too, was really helpful.
- Times Tales - Lulu did the trial video a few weeks ago, and liked it a lot. We are going to get it for use over break to nail down the rest of her times tables. If your kid is struggling with having the times tables nailed down, check this out! Try the trial video and see if it works. (Update: I have had this blog post sitting here for a few weeks OOPS - and in the meantime we have gotten and used Times Tales. I am pleased to report that it works! It's fun and Lulu has happily been watching the videos. The stories stick, and she's now able to quickly remember the tougher times tables.)
So there you go - Math! I'll make my next post more exciting, I promise. 😊
