Math has been the hardest subject for my oldest child. I don’t know about you, but when it comes to choosing homeschooling curriculum, choosing a math curriculum seems like it has been the most difficult decision.
There are so many things to weigh…
How long will it take to teach?
Will I have to teach it?
How much does it cost?
Will they test well using this curriculum?
Will my child even like this method of teaching?
I could go on and on and on, right?
What I have learned in researching math curriculum (well, any curriculum for that matter) is that first you must determine what you want and what fits your family best. In the beginning, I was quick to judge. Thinking things like “oh, that is a curriculum for the lazy mom” or “she just wants what is easiest, not what is best for her kids”. I learned very quickly that judging others does not benefit anyone. I don’t live a day in her shoes, and her decisions are based on what is best for her family. Often, those needs change by season.
Last year, we switched our math curriculum to RightStart. It was the best thing we ever did. Now, I am not going to lie, it was a bit of a transition for us. I felt like I needed to back up a bit to make sure she had her fundamentals down. By doing this, we needed to cover almost two years of math in one year. We covered both Levels B and C last year and throughout the summer, and this month we are finishing up Level C. We are hoping to begin Level D in mid-September!
I’m not going to sugar coat it. It was tough – both physically and emotionally.
However, after working so hard last year, I have never seen my child have so much confidence! We celebrated the fact that not only did she do well, but she persevered through it and caught up to where we felt she should be. That my friends, is worth so much!
That being said, before you pick a math curriculum, you need to think about what you need and want. What are you able to do in your current season of life? What do your children need? What are their learning styles? What are your main goals in learning math? There are so many questions to ask. Before choosing a math curriculum, you need to answer these questions first.
Here are some of the Pros and Cons I found in using RightStart Math Curriculum.
PROS:
- Solid foundation that works in a spiral approach. (Read more about what a spiral approach is here.)
- Fun and interactive method which incorporates LOTS of games. I love this part because they are learning while having fun and many times they don’t even realize it. The use of games helps them to see not only how math applies to ever day life, but also it gives them another medium in which to experience math.
- Lots of manipulatives. If you have a tactile learner, this is wonderful! I personally think most children learn best by experiencing. The manipulatives just give them one more way to experience the topic.
- Critical thinking skills. This is probably the reason we ended up sticking with RightStart again this year! I love, love, love that once she gets through a few lessons on a topic, she then uses her critical thinking skills and methods learned to approach a problem. She doesn’t just memorize and output, she has to think about how to find the answer. They are given multiple methods to solve problems and in the end they land on the method that fits their learning style or personal interest.
- Learned concepts, not wrote memorization. I love that my children have to actually learn the math concepts, not just memorize them. They understand the why behind the memorization.
- Detailed Lesson plans. I love that I don’t have to do anything. Aside from printing a few sheets off and cutting squares or something, it is all included and explicitly written out for me to say!
CONS:
- Teacher directed/intensive. There is not a lot of room for independent learning, so it is very teacher directed. In my opinion this is also a PRO because I always knew exactly where my children’s ability was. That was an issue we had with a previous curriculum.
- Lots of manipulatives. Again this one could also be a PRO, but if you want something quick and easy, this won’t be it!
- Time intensive. Most lessons take from 30 to 60 minutes after we play games. This can be a challenge, but I am learning that once they master a basic concept like addition, subtraction is a complete breeze!
- Expensive to start. RightStart curriculum is a bit pricey to get started, but after the first year, you only buy the teacher book and workbook. So there is an investment going in, but the price incrementally levels out.
What’s your favorite Math Curriculum? I would love to hear your thoughts on RightStart Math Curriculum and what you’re using in your homeschool.
If you’re interested in learning more about RightStart Math, you can read more reviews of RightStart Math HERE.
Because I am not strong in math and I have a large family, I needed a curriculum that could be both independent and informational in a way that my children would learn easily and be continuously engaged. With that said, I found that Teaching Textbooks is great. We used Horizons for two years and enjoyed it with its advanced spiral method, but entering into our 3rd year, I didn’t want to hold my son back with my limitations so I bought TT and am so glad that I did. I believe we’ll keep the program.
I have been homeschooling our four girls since pre-K. The oldest is now in 11th grade. We have used Alpha Omega throughout, switching between the Lifepacs and Switched on Schoolhouse. I’ve always enjoyed their math, until we hit Geometry last year. I would love to hear any recommendations for Geometry besides AOP. I have three more to teach Geometry to in the future and have decided I will not be using AOP for that subject again. Thanks for any information.