If you have a child that likes to read, thinks ‘outside the box’, or just wants to try math in a different way, I would definitely give these a try. What I’ve seen in flipping through them is impressive. While I haven’t used the newer, elementary books, I know several people who use them and love them. Much like Teaching Textbooks presented Algebra in a different way, Life of Fred teaches Geometry in a very different way than our core curriculum, so we didn’t end up using it much. Note: When we were doing Geometry a couple of years ago I picked up Life of Fred Geometry as a supplement, thinking it would be a nice help. I won’t argue with anyone who chooses to use Life of Fred as your sole math curriculum. We used Fractions, Decimals & Percents, and Pre-Algebra (with Biology). Life of Fredīecause I always felt that Teaching Textbooks was a little on the easy side, I instituted “Second Math” for my son that was using it. We had several good years with this, and I would definitely recommend it up through Pre-Algebra without hesitation. I made the decision to switch to a new math curriculum the following year. This made it difficult for me to come alongside and help him with his work when he struggled. Teaching Textbooks teaches Algebra in a way that is different from the way I learned it, and the way many other curriculums present it. He completed Algebra 1, though not terribly successfully. Teaching Textbooks was my younger son’s math curriculum of choice up through Algebra. The first versions of the upper level courses are not, but they’ve come out with “2.0” versions that are.) Easy peasy, and way cheaper! Just make sure you check if what you’re buying is self-grading. When you get a used copy, you need to contact the company and they will give you a new user code. (My buying tip is to check used curriculum sales, craigslist, and ebay first. The website has placement tests, though, so there’s not too much guesswork in knowing which level to order. For example, Math 6 we found to be more appropriate for a 4 th or 5 th grader. It is engaging and the fact that it is self-grading is so convenient! It was our experience, like others I’ve read, that the levels seem to be about one grade level behind other programs. There is a lot to like about Teaching Textbooks. You can click on the images to read more about each curriculum. Each one of these had pros and cons, things we liked and things we didn’t. When I was looking for things to try, I loved reading about other people’s experiences. With math, we have used a number of different curriculums (I know “curricula” is the correct plural, but it sounds funny, so I don’t say it). And if something doesn’t work… you can try something else! Math Curriculum One of the very best things about homeschooling is that you can pick and choose what will work for your family. Let me say clearly…I know lots of homeschool families that use and LOVE Saxon. The charter school they had attended used it and it was not their favorite. When we started homeschooling, the one thing my kids asked was that we not use Saxon Math curriculum. What worked & what we really wanted to work but just didn’t…pros, cons, hits, misses. Reviews of all of the math curriculum we’ve tried over 10 years of homeschooling. Video Text Math – From their website: With a primary focus on the “why” behind concepts, VideoText takes students on a complete journey through Basic and Advance Geometry using mastery-review techniques to fully explore the structure of geometry, fundamental terms, theorems, and concepts for 111 lessons! Each 4-15 minute video lesson is designed to capture and hold students’ attention through the use of computer-generated graphics, animation, and color-sequencing, while engaging them in the complete development and understanding of concepts.The ultimate review collection. Each hardcover textbook contains ALL of the material – more than most instructors cover in traditional classroom settings. Each section tells part of the life of Fred Gauss and how, in the course of his life, he encounters the need for math and then learns the methods. Each text is written in the style of a novel with a humorous story line. Life of Fred – From the website: Never again hear the question which many math students have: “When are we ever gonna use this stuff?” or “Math is boring!” No other textbooks are like these. Top High School Geometry Curriculums 4-5Ĥ. Students who have used this program receive consistently high scores on standardized math tests. This approach helps build students’ confidence in their ability to “do” math successfully. Saxon Geometry – From their website: Saxon takes an incremental (little by little) approach to math, introducing a new skill or principle each day, then reviewing these concepts and skills day after day for weeks.
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