hawkward
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Post by hawkward on Jan 14, 2019 7:26:29 GMT -6
What do you use? Do you like it? Are you planning anything different for next year?
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hawkward
Global Moderator
Loss, Infertility
Posts: 19,637 Likes: 123,085
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Post by hawkward on Jan 14, 2019 7:30:40 GMT -6
We switched Spectrum to Kumon when he completed all the second grade workbooks in just a few months. I like the Kumon workbooks a lot better, but I think next year, we're going to go with an actual system because the workbooks are too easy. I think maybe Beast Academy. Does anyone use it? It's more of an investment than what we're currently doing, but if we like it, we can buy a second set of the practice books at less cost for DS2.
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Post by catlady22 on Jan 14, 2019 8:10:42 GMT -6
Thanks for starting this thread/board. I'm just starting to research math curriculum. DS1 is young enough to possibly do the good and the beautiful math for K, but then they don't have any math beyond that. Looking for suggestions as well.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2019 9:16:26 GMT -6
I like teaching textbooks. It starts around 2nd grade and goes through HS.
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Post by bunnyfungo on Jan 14, 2019 9:31:26 GMT -6
We switched Spectrum to Kumon when he completed all the second grade workbooks in just a few months. I like the Kumon workbooks a lot better, but I think next year, we're going to go with an actual system because the workbooks are too easy. I think maybe Beast Academy. Does anyone use it? It's more of an investment than what we're currently doing, but if we like it, we can buy a second set of the practice books at less cost for DS2. I keep almost pulling the trigger on beast academy. So if you get it, give me a review 😂
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Post by bunnyfungo on Jan 14, 2019 9:35:00 GMT -6
For math, I’m using MEP. It’s free from the British government. cimt.org.uk/projects/mepres/primary/index.htmI’m using it to really cement the addition and subtraction facts for DD1 and because girl loves a damn worksheet. I’m considering Right Start for DD2 because it is super games based and she loves that aspect of our English program but it is $$$. And I would have to pay for level B for DD1 too because I don’t think I can combine them there. So that’s where I’m thinking of KOKO with MEP for DD1 and then switching to Beast Academy. Idk.
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hawkward
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Loss, Infertility
Posts: 19,637 Likes: 123,085
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Post by hawkward on Jan 14, 2019 9:44:08 GMT -6
We switched Spectrum to Kumon when he completed all the second grade workbooks in just a few months. I like the Kumon workbooks a lot better, but I think next year, we're going to go with an actual system because the workbooks are too easy. I think maybe Beast Academy. Does anyone use it? It's more of an investment than what we're currently doing, but if we like it, we can buy a second set of the practice books at less cost for DS2. I keep almost pulling the trigger on beast academy. So if you get it, give me a review 😂 Have you seen My Little Poppies' blog? She uses tons of games with her kids, and she recommended BA. DS1 is so into comic books right now, I'm hoping he'll find it more fun. I'm learning that I'm attracted to the very "pretty" curricula over traditional stuff. That surprises me about me
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Post by bunnyfungo on Feb 13, 2019 20:38:34 GMT -6
I just bought Right Start. I got level A and B because it’s working so well for DD2 to tag along with DD1 and DD1 is struggling with math. I asked her which level she wanted to try because she placed into level B, but she said A because, “she wanted to feel smart.” It broke my heart, guys. I don’t want her to feel like she’s bad at math. I’m just trying different curricula until something clicks for her. She is so intelligent and some things she is super good at, like logic problems, but she just can’t get and remember basic addition. So maybe I’m being dumb anyway. But this program is supposed to be good for number sense. So I’ll let you all know how it works for us.
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hawkward
Global Moderator
Loss, Infertility
Posts: 19,637 Likes: 123,085
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Post by hawkward on Feb 15, 2019 12:28:21 GMT -6
bunnyfungo DS1 grasps math concepts so well but kinda stinks at remembering basic facts. His confidence was completely shot earlier in the school year because of this, and I started him a grade behind when we started HSing just to build his confidence back up. It turned out to be a good thing- he flew through the “easy” stuff and then continued that pace through the rest of his grade level work, and now we’re well into what I had planned for next year. Something simple that helps DS1 is to emphasize how hard he works and how proud we are of him when he struggles. He’s smart enough that math concepts come easily to him and when he hits a road block, he falls apart because he thinks “smart” people just *get* it.
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Post by bunnyfungo on Feb 15, 2019 12:37:35 GMT -6
bunnyfungo DS1 grasps math concepts so well but kinda stinks at remembering basic facts. His confidence was completely shot earlier in the school year because of this, and I started him a grade behind when we started HSing just to build his confidence back up. It turned out to be a good thing- he flew through the “easy” stuff and then continued that pace through the rest of his grade level work, and now we’re well into what I had planned for next year. Something simple that helps DS1 is to emphasize how hard he works and how proud we are of him when he struggles. He’s smart enough that math concepts come easily to him and when he hits a road block, he falls apart because he thinks “smart” people just *get* it. I definitely try to tell her that working through it is just part of how you learn. Math is like a fun puzzle. I talked to her about how she learned to read and first she had to learn the letters, then putting them together to sound out, and sometimes she still didn’t know so she would have to ask for help or guess from the context and that seemed to be a big light bulb for her. Because she didn’t just throw down the book and declare reading to be too hard. But there’s not as big of a “reward” for math as there is for the ability to read. She really really loves the games aspect of Logic of English. Like begs me to do it everyday. So I’m hoping Right Start will be a good math fit since it is so game/manipulative heavy. That also meant it’s $$$ but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Post by bunnyfungo on Feb 15, 2019 12:52:08 GMT -6
hawkward Did you end up getting beast academy? It’s still on my radar because I really think that it’s the way DD thinks: logic and puzzles. But I also know it’s a more advanced curriculum and I’m trying to avoid breaking her spirit lol. So, I’m still on the fence about it.
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hawkward
Global Moderator
Loss, Infertility
Posts: 19,637 Likes: 123,085
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Post by hawkward on Feb 15, 2019 15:40:49 GMT -6
hawkward Did you end up getting beast academy? It’s still on my radar because I really think that it’s the way DD thinks: logic and puzzles. But I also know it’s a more advanced curriculum and I’m trying to avoid breaking her spirit lol. So, I’m still on the fence about it. We haven’t started it yet! We’re finishing up the Kumon stuff we have first. I skimmed through and I like it though- it’s less drill and more thinking. I think it’s going to be different enough to feel like it’s *supposed* to be a challenge.
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Post by bunnyfungo on Feb 15, 2019 16:15:55 GMT -6
hawkward Did you end up getting beast academy? It’s still on my radar because I really think that it’s the way DD thinks: logic and puzzles. But I also know it’s a more advanced curriculum and I’m trying to avoid breaking her spirit lol. So, I’m still on the fence about it. We haven’t started it yet! We’re finishing up the Kumon stuff we have first. I skimmed through and I like it though- it’s less drill and more thinking. I think it’s going to be different enough to feel like it’s *supposed* to be a challenge. I’m interested to see how it goes. I think the comic book style is so great. I can’t wait to hear how it works for you.
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Radley
Sapphire
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Post by Radley on Feb 23, 2019 21:11:32 GMT -6
We’re using spectrum math right now and DS1 seems to like it. It’s at a good pace for him. I may look into something else as he gets older, I don’t know.
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hawkward
Global Moderator
Loss, Infertility
Posts: 19,637 Likes: 123,085
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Post by hawkward on Aug 10, 2019 11:40:36 GMT -6
Bumping this to say Beast Academy is awesome. We started out a grade below where DS1 was like recommended, and at first I thought it was a mistake because it was too easy, but it’s already giving him some challenges and he loves it. It’s like a deep dive into an “easy” concept and he says it’s more like puzzles than math. It’s also laying the foundations for much harder concepts which I like.
If you have a math geeky kid, it’s wonderful.
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Post by bunnyfungo on Aug 10, 2019 19:44:02 GMT -6
Bumping this to say Beast Academy is awesome. We started out a grade below where DS1 was like recommended, and at first I thought it was a mistake because it was too easy, but it’s already giving him some challenges and he loves it. It’s like a deep dive into an “easy” concept and he says it’s more like puzzles than math. It’s also laying the foundations for much harder concepts which I like. If you have a math geeky kid, it’s wonderful. I think I’m going to bite the bullet and finally get this because of you. Is he able to do it somewhat independently? I’m wondering if I can have DD1 read the graphic novel part to herself while I do right start with DD2. Even if that’s not an option, I still want to get it. But I’m 🤞🤞🤞 about that bit lol. How has it been doing two for you? We start Kindergarten for DD2 next month.
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hawkward
Global Moderator
Loss, Infertility
Posts: 19,637 Likes: 123,085
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Post by hawkward on Aug 14, 2019 11:10:19 GMT -6
Bumping this to say Beast Academy is awesome. We started out a grade below where DS1 was like recommended, and at first I thought it was a mistake because it was too easy, but it’s already giving him some challenges and he loves it. It’s like a deep dive into an “easy” concept and he says it’s more like puzzles than math. It’s also laying the foundations for much harder concepts which I like. If you have a math geeky kid, it’s wonderful. I think I’m going to bite the bullet and finally get this because of you. Is he able to do it somewhat independently? I’m wondering if I can have DD1 read the graphic novel part to herself while I do right start with DD2. Even if that’s not an option, I still want to get it. But I’m 🤞🤞🤞 about that bit lol. How has it been doing two for you? We start Kindergarten for DD2 next month. I think my phone ate my answer to this! He is able to do it very independently. It's pretty different from what he's used to, so we usually do it as I do the first problem to show him, we do the second problem together, and then he talks the third problem out without my help. Then he works independently from there until he gets to the challenge problems. The challenge problems are sometimes legitimately hard- I even had to look up the answer on one of them to make sure I was doing it right. We always do those together. We actually haven't even used the text yet, he's only used the workbook. So far, it's working out well. DS1 mostly does math and reads independently, so I get him started on something and then work on counting and letter sounds with DS2. We're trying a looping schedule this year with science, history/geography, and art, so we do that together as DS2 comes and goes as he pleases. We're very very loosely following the classical cycling of history, etc. and their four year age gap lends itself well to that.
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