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I attended the parent seminar at my son's CTD class this past weekend. The speaker was Dr. Noreen Winningham, who is at the Univ. of Chicago where they developed "Everyday Math" also known as Univ. of Chicago Math or sometimes called Chicago Math. Does anyone have any experience using this curriculum?

Dr. Winningham spoke about what parents should expect from a math curriculum and emphasized the child's ability to converse mathematically. Focus should be on process, not just procedure. She suggested Everyday Math for us to use in homeschooling, but there is no specific format for homeschooling - it is designed for group instruction and requires teacher training.

She also suggested Singapore math, but NOT the US version. Also mentioned Trailblazers. Anyone have thoughts or comments on any particular curriculum, especially used for homeschooling?

Sidenote: Dr. Winningham HATES Saxon Math - says it is all procedural and the kids don't learn how to think. That pretty much confirmed our thoughts (DH and I). I doubt that our son will return to the school's math program until perhaps high school.

Hi Debbie,
Math is a bit of a political issue right now. My son used Trailblazers and I liked it - provided that he could have been radically accelerated it would have been very fun and useful. I am not sold on this "procedures bad, communication good" view of math. I think that procedures, communication, and memorization all have their place in Math. Where does this leave you?

My advice is to try some different approaches and see what works best for your son. Don't worry about what the experts are saying at this time, just "feel around" and you'll know when your child is engaged and learning. I really like experts in general, but it's important to recognise when a battle that doesn't really concern you is being fought, and to steer clear!

Best Wishes in all your endeavors!
Trinity

Rite has used both Everyday Math and Saxon Math. Neither were very good, ime. They do a lot of repetition and very little in developing critical thinking skills, ime, too.

Mite did the Dive Into Math Saxon cd program. It worked to some degree, but it was strong on rote and repetition.

Both boys are excellent in concept, but poor in rote memory. So, these programs were not helpful to them.

Willa Gayle,

My DS7 is also excellent in concept but poor (impatient with) in rote memory. Have your boys used anything that was a good match for this?

Remember the idea that the other children are bunnies, happily crunching on blades of educational grass, while your child is an elephant, starving, educationally, if it can't gobble down whole trees?

I figured out for my son, that if I want him to eat the grass (memorise math facts) then I had better make garlands of it and string it on the trees that he is inclined to much on, so he'll digest them and never know it!

Best example is: Needing to firm up the math facts - I introduced him to a long hand multiplication of triple digit numbers. He got to practice the math facts (blades of grass) while chomping on the triple digit mulitplication problems (tree.) Just make to teach him short hand multiplication as soon as possible!

Another way of saying the same thing, is to try to get the upper level thinking to create a need for the rote memorization.

And -
There's always computer games!
Of course, in an idea world, I'd like to get the kid to program their own math drill game, then use it one themself! Perhaps possible with powerpoint, but I never pulled that off!
Trinity

Jill - my kids use their dad!!! lol

Trin - those are good ideas. I've been having some success with that with Mite with addition and subtraction. His other limitation is that he KNOWS and has a lot of it in rote, but sometimes he'll still fall back on the fingers. Then his little fingers don't move right--he counts them against his chin--and he'll double count 1 or drop 1 in the process and get it all wrong.

We let him use a multiplication chart while munching on the trees. He still likes square roots and DH has given him lots of things to do with those.

But still, wouldn't it be nice if we could just plug them in and charge them up!!!

Thanks! I've got him figuring out the prime factorization of the number of the day for school (instead of making up an addition problem), which does encourage him to practice the multiplication facts. It sounds like a similar approach.

On the topic of making your own computer games... DH recently started teaching DS7 to program in a language called KPL - Kid's Programming Language. For more info see: http://www.kidsprogramminglanguage.com/

DS7 is absolutely captivated! The program he wrote last week is half way there to usable as a drill program. I calculates mutiplication facts instead of asking for the correct answers. Hmmm... I see a programming project in his future.

I like this card game set: Primepak, although DS10 is cool on it: http://lawrencehallofscience.stores.yahoo.net/primepak.html

for addition and subtraction, my family has always used the card game called "Casino." Except we let the jack equal 11, Queen =12, King = 13, and Ace = 1 or 14

Trin

Great resources! Thanks to everyone. I really need to start a list somewhere. The post-its are cluttering up the computer area! I have a hard time remembering what I like/don't like about different links.

Anyway, I have gotten some really interesting feedback on the whole math thing. I guess I didn't realize how controversial the whole "math reform" thing is. I'm really just looking for a "system" that works for our son to learn what he needs to know. Here's what we've got going so far:

1)I have ordered the Singapore program to try as a basic structure. 2)We have a bunch of workbooks, from 1st to 3rd grade level, (basic skills, math games and problem solving, time/money/fractions type books) to pull from as needed. 3) We still have access to ALEKS with a program in place. 4) I've ordered Ed Zaccaro's book Primary Math Challenges for supplement ideas. 5)DS absolutely LOVES Math Blasters - which is a great way for him to build his computation skills/speed. We have a chart set up where he can put stickers on as he masters each level in each subject area. Oh, and 6) I am armed with the NCTM's list of what a child needs to learn in math.

So, I'm thinking we are covered for homeschooling in math. Heck, we learned about congruency and symmetry while sitting in McDonald's over the weekend. I'm taking advantage of the flexibility!

I'm also planning for the long haul. I doubt that DS will be able to return to our local school for math until HS. Maybe. Time will tell.

You will get there Debbie! Just remember to keep an eye on your son! That will make the rest fall into place. Sounds like your preliminary plan is very good.

Trinity