SCM Discussion Forum

1. 

   Megan
   Member

   Hi everyone,

   A couple of questions...

   I'm looking at buying the Right Start math level B starter kit, and I'm trying to make myself feel better about the price, lol.  For those of you who have used this program - if I go ahead and get the kit now, will I later only need to purchase the lessons and worksheets?  I guess I'll be able to use it with my son when I start him on it in the next yr. or so, as well....  Also, the kit seems to have everything I'll need, is there anything else any of you would recommend getting?

   Also - I had discovered Math u see and was planning on using it before I had ever heard of Right Start.  The thing that made me think I would especially like MUS was that I could watch the dvd (and my daughter could too, I suppose).  I thought it might help me better understand how to teach math to my kids, something I'm not feeling too confident about.  For those of you that use MUS, does the dvd help?  For those that use Right Start, do you feel like it adequately equips you to teach?  I'm not too worried about my kids getting it - I feel like, if it's explained well, they'll get it.  I'm more concerned about myself getting how to teach it!  :)

   Thanks!

   Megan

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
2. 

   SCMconvert
   Member

   I started Math U See this year and LOVE it!  The video is very helpful to me, I think that's why I fell in love with this program.  He clearly explains how to teach each lesson.  I love that he gives me the words to use.  I'm not a math minded person so it was hard for me to explain the new concepts to the kids.  Math U See has taken all the stress out of our math lessons.  I enjoy the mastery style of teaching math and the manipulatives are great!!  Best decision I made for our homeschooling so far.  We're very early in math years, I'm not sure what it'll be like further down the road.  All I know is that it's giving the kids a great math foundation for life:)

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
3. 

   Megan
   Member

   That's what I was wondering about - so now maybe I'm torn again...

   I really like the looks of MUS, but SCM recommended RS, so - what to do...

   They're both really CM friendly, right?  We're in the early years, too...Emma will be 7 this summer and starting yr. 1 in the fall.

    

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
4. 

   briedell
   Member

   I used Right Start for many years.  My eldest just finished Level E, and my 8 yr old daughter just stopped midway through Level C.  We switched to another curriculum for her. 

   I can say in all honesty, Right Start is a wonderful Math approach...BUT; Math-U-See might be a bit less teacher intensive.  Right Start is all scripted for you with explanations along the way.  Using Right Start, I understood math in a way in which I had never before.  Light bulbs went off in my head many times.  I stopped counting on my fingers to add and subtract; something I had been doing into my 30's.  This said volumes to me.  Because of that and much more, I am a huge Right Start fan!  I haven't had enough experience to give you any opinions with Math-U-See.

   My only issues with Right Start were the time it could take to go through a lesson.  I had to learn to do less.  There are warm-ups at the beginning, then perhaps some fact practice, then the lesson.  Some days, games.  My children are short attention spanned big time; as am I.  Anything beyond 15-20 minutes for my 8 yr old and there were tears.  Many months of tears, and I finally switched over to Math Mammoth.  She just needed something different.  Right Start also needs a lot of preparation for some of the lessons; esp. with the lower grades. 

   With all that being said, I love Right Start.  Thought you should see the whole picture.

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
5. 

   Megan
   Member

   Thanks for giving me the whole picture!  I really want to follow CM's idea of short lessons.  After all, she is just 6 (or 7)!  Sounds like Right Start might be hard to fit into a short lesson...I've heard that with MUS you can get it all done pretty quickly, including review...

   Thanks again!

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
6. 

   momto2blessings
   Member

   We've used MUS for 5 yrs. and I still love it.  Kids' and I watch the video together, then I may need to help with a couple problems of the new concept that week----but after that they are mostly independent! Gotta love that:)  A few things I've needed to help my eldest (4th) with, like long division, etc.---but overall I spendvery little time teaching math and they get it without lots of busy work.   :)Gina

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
7. 

   LindseyD.
   Member

   We use MUS and LOVE, LOVE it! We watch the DVD, and today we even watched a lesson again that we had watched yesterday. I needed to be sure my ds was "getting it". I've never even looked at Right Start, but we're so happy with MUS that I probably won't. It sure has taken the intimidation out of teaching math.

   Lindsey

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
8. 

   crazy4boys
   Member

   We do RS and have really enjoy it.  We keep lessons short by splitting them in half if necessary.  We just work for 15 to 20 minutes then stop and pick it up again the next day.  It's truly helped my boys think mathematically and understand math.  Me too!  I'm getting really good at 3rd grade math!!!!

   And to answer your original question - if you buy the starter set the only thing you would need to buy for the next child using that level is the workbook (which is $9 or so), not the lessons too.  So the cost for the next kid is $9 a year!!!!!

   Heather

    

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
9. 

   Megan
   Member

   OK, you guys are really talking right up my alley...I like the idea of the dvd helping me teach, use the right terminology, etc.  So let me ask one more question - 

   Let's say I go ahead and get MUS...what level do I start with?  She's finishing up at private K and we'll start yr. 1 SCM in the fall.  She really already knows how to add, subtract, and skip count by 5's, 10's and 2's.  We haven't done any other math facts yet.  Would you all recommend that I go ahead and start her with Alpha so that she gets the hang of their system?  In some ways it seems like she could do Beta...I'm not sure.  

   I was thinking of loosely starting with it this summer, so maybe I could kind of breeze through Alpha and start Beta at some point into this next school year...what would you guys do?

   And a HUGE thank you!!!! - for all of your help - math is THE thing that I've been stressing about...

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
10. 

    Megan
    Member

    Thanks Heather!  That's not bad at all!  That would definitely make shelling out $200 a little easier...  

    Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
11. 

    Hope
    Member

    We just pulled our son out of his private K program due to a move and wanting to go ahead start homeschooling.  We've only been at this for a few weeks, but are LOVING Math-U-See.  I too wasn't sure where to start either and bought Alpha. So far he knows everything we are doing but still is really enjoying it and it's helping us get used to this.  It's taught so differently that I think that even though he knows this stuff, it's a new way to him, if that makes sense. 

    Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
12. 

    SCMconvert
    Member

    I actually have the old Math U See curriculum so I don't know anything about Alpha/Beta etc. I found the old stuff at a used book sale.  All I know is that the Kindergarten (I guess it would be the Primer?) one is very basic, my son did it this year.  He learned to count by 2's, 5's, 10's, some basic addition and place value.  It was a good year, he liked it.

     My daughter had finished A Beka grade one math when I decided to switch to Math U See.  I called the Math U See people to see where I should place her and they said to start her at the beginning of grade one again (I guess that would be Alpha?) and let her go through it quickly until she reached her level.  Well, we took the whole year to do it!  

    Does your daughter have her addition facts memorized?  That's what took us so long this year- she knew how to add, just didn't have all the facts memorized.  I'm so happy that she's got the hang of her facts.. without counting on her fingers!  Even if it took us all year to do it:)

    You're probably right to start your daughter in Alpha from what I can see.  

    Tracy

    Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
13. 

    Megan
    Member

    Thanks Hope and Tracy, I think you're right - it's taught differently, I believe, than what she's used to and, no, she doesn't know her addition facts...wow - that's such an intimidating thought - all those math facts, yikes!  

    So, yes, I think Alpha if we go with MUS, and I'll just need to see how she does with it.  I can't thank you all enough for your help!  

    megan

    Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
14. 

    Karen Smith
    SCM Team

    You can determine which level of Math-U-See your child should start at by using the competency exams on the MUS Web site: http://www.mathusee.com/placement.php .

    Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
15. 

    Iamasahm
    Member

    I did not read everything above only the question so I will state that I love MUS and the DVD is very very helpful to my children who do not grasp math like I do.  It also teaches some things in a different way then I know how so it gives me 2 ways to teach the same thing, my way and there way!  I highly recommend MUS!  Misty

    Posted 1 year ago # Report Post

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