Math-U-See 2015-2016 Review

So for the next several blog posts I am planning on giving more details about what we used for our school year, what worked for us, and what didn't work for us. I know that I love to read other people's curriculum reviews. It has helped me to get a bird's eye view as well as helped me to decide if I really want to invest in that particular curriculum or not. I don't know about you, but around here there is more time than extra money to invest in expensive curriculum.

Math-U-See is a mastery-based, hands-on math curriculum that begins with Primer Level and continues into high school math. The complete set includes a Teacher's Manual, a Teaching DVD, Student Text, and Student Test Booklet except for the Primer Level. You can also purchase the integer block set, fraction overlays, and a CD with songs to help reinforce basic math memorization such as skip counting.

For this past school year we have been working through the Primer and Alpha Levels. I was able to get an older integer block set from my mom from when my younger brother used Math-U-See which worked for us. I did purchase the complete sets for the Primer and Alpha Levels. Some reviews that I read said that the Teacher's Manual and Teaching DVD were not necessary if you were comfortable teaching math. But I have to say that I am glad that I did because there are example problems, extra teaching hints, a basic script that tells you how to explain a math concept, and the teaching DVDs are great. The creator of Math-U-See is the teacher on the DVDs, and he makes math fun for the students. My kids love watching Mr. Demme.

Overall I love Math-U-See because it is mastery-based, includes hands-on learning, and there is online support if I need it. I think that it has been a good fit for both of my kids, even for my non-math kid who had rather not have to learn math. The manipulative blocks are great for visual and kinesthetic learners. As of today I am planning on continuing with Math-U-See in the fall. I will have three kids in a more structured math time then, and we would be using Primer, Alpha, and Beta Levels. For the summer I am planning on making sure that my kids review what they have learned in a more relaxed fashion, aka math games. This is where Pinterest will be my best friend...lol. The main thing that I want them to do is commit to memory their addition and subtraction fact families. Math is a building block subject, and before we can continue they will need to have that mastered.

For the record all opinions are my own. I am not a paid representative for Math-U-See. I just love talking about homeschooling, curriculum, methods and styles. I would love to hear which math curriculum that you use and why.