I'm watching this over a year after you first posted it, but it's still fantastic! I appreciate how quickly and easily you ran through some of the curricula I've been researching! You saved me a tremendous amount of time trying to dissect them, so I THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! 🥰👏👏👏
We love masterbooks math. It is easy to build upon when needed. I have used level 1 and on level 2 now. I pair it with the school zone Big Math grade 1-2 for extra practice when needed and use xtramath online daily for math fact drills. It really has been perfect for a 1st year homeschooler who plans to be in it for long haul lol. This was a great video! Thank you for your insight!
Thank you for this video! I've never heard of Master Books but I looked into it. My 8-year-old has hit a bit of a wall with his math and we need to take a gentle step back.
Thank you for your video. To be generous, I'm going to start off positive about Masterbooks math: it IS a more gentle approach, and even with a slower math kid, you will be able to get a page or more done most days. I would recommend getting the teacher guide--I think it might have helped me better explain the new concepts to my child. Or better yet, the concepts introduced the previous year that were not refreshed (such as child-level instruction to solve problems). Masterbooks has NOT been a game changer for my math-hating child. Sadly, We've been camping out in Masterbooks math book 4 for two years. In MB level 4, once division was re-introduced (apparently it's begun in level 3), the kids were supposed to be able to apply multiplication facts in reverse to do division. With very little simple division practice, the book then quickly introduced division with remainder and then long division. (Apparently, division is introduced in level 3, which I didn't realize, because all through level 4 are charts and charts of multiplication review, so I assumed we were still learning multiplication in level 4. Placement test for 4 just asks kids to narrate the relationship between division and multiplication, not prove they can do it easily). Regarding stories--If this is the one thing keeping you from using MBs (because it's Christian), be assured you can skip the stories and still get almost all the concepts (I think there was one or two where you'd need to read about kitchen measurements--which are still repeated elsewhere in the book.) Even as a devout Christian, I think the stories are unrealistic, moralistic, and cringe-worthy. Example, the kids always treat each other well and don't complain, even though the family adopts two foster children. Family outings together always go perfectly as do road and camping trips. The stories also miss opportunities to get into math concepts, or if math concepts are worked in, it's kind of awkward. So although I have a right-brained learner who loves stories, we skip them; they aren't essential to the program, IMO. As stories, they aren't worth the breath wasted on them, nor the drain they are on my mood. I'd prefer to read aloud a missionary biography, the Bible, or classic children's literature instead. Even with two years of the 4th grade math book, we haven't been able to handle long division (included towards the end), or creating equivalent fractions, so I'm not sure what we are going to do. I don't think I can handle looking at the same book another year! Also, there are errors in the answer key at the back of the book. They are easy enough to figure out--it's just elementary math, after all. Just a bit annoying. (They do have a way to log in and find the revisions, that's just something I didn't find worth it.) I trust the answers key will be fixed in a way I don't trust the terrible stories will be revised.
Thoughts on horizons? We landed there after trying out masterbooks for our first year. I really like it so far but nervous about the older grades. I will.he using it with my 1st, 2nd, and 5th for next year.
I have browsed it at conventions in the past, but never used it because I found so many errors in the editing. Hopefully they’ve revised/fixed that by now. It is known for being more challenging than Masterbooks :)
Hi! I know this was posted a year ago, but I'm hoping you still might see this! My daughter is in 5th grade. She is struggling with math, especially her multiplication facts, which are essential for upper level math. You mentioned that your daughter was not math minded, but had graduated and gone on to college. I'm curious as to what you would recommend: staying on math fact practice, games, memorization, etc until mastered, or moving on and hoping she eventually internalizes them. I'm so conflicted. I hate for her to use a calculator or multiplication chart, but it takes foreeeever if she has to figure them out to do double digit multiplication or long division 😭😭 your thoughts?
I think this honestly depends on you and what you are most comfortable with. If you're okay with your child being "behind" the public school schedule, and taking the more scenic route to learn things slowly....then do that! But if that will keep you up at night and make you stressed, then move along and use aids/games as you are able. Every child is different and every parent too; if you pray and ask the Lord, He will guide you!
@@OfficialHomeschoolGems oh my goodness! Thank you for your quick reply! She does learn slowly in math. It is a bit scary to go at her place bc I fear that she will not be ready for upper maths until middle school 😟 but I was a child who was dragged along clueless in math for years, and developed such a phobia of math that it was paralyzing. I don't want that for her. Thank you for the encouragement to pray and ask God for the answer! He's the one that called us to homeschool, so it makes sense that he would have the answer 🙂
I'm looking at pairing SCM 1 with the new TGTB because my kids are workbook driven. I tried doing just SCM1 in January and it fell flat for my kids who are 5 and 4. They love doing school so I want to make sure I encourage them.
@@OfficialHomeschoolGems I hope that's a good fit for teaching with SCM because I don't know of another curriculum that would work well. So if you know of a better curriculum to help reinforce the concepts to my kids I am very open since this will be our first official year of homeschooling.
@@jennythomas3985 You might want to checkout Milestonebooks.com. They have lots of mini workbooks in their GHI Series for ages 4-5 that would go well with SCM math.
That really depends if you want common core aligned or not, if you want Christian based or not :) I would check out BJUPress for a more traditional route or Masterbooks for a non traditional gentle route.
I’ve never used Rays but I have looked at it. I think there may be some similarities and differences. SCM is just big on mental math and manipulatives…
I'm watching this over a year after you first posted it, but it's still fantastic! I appreciate how quickly and easily you ran through some of the curricula I've been researching! You saved me a tremendous amount of time trying to dissect them, so I THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! 🥰👏👏👏
I’m so glad! You’re welcome!
We love masterbooks math. It is easy to build upon when needed. I have used level 1 and on level 2 now. I pair it with the school zone Big Math grade 1-2 for extra practice when needed and use xtramath online daily for math fact drills. It really has been perfect for a 1st year homeschooler who plans to be in it for long haul lol. This was a great video! Thank you for your insight!
That’s a great idea to pair those two! 👏🏻
Thanks for the support 🤍
Thank you for this video! I've never heard of Master Books but I looked into it. My 8-year-old has hit a bit of a wall with his math and we need to take a gentle step back.
You’re welcome!
Thank you for your video. To be generous, I'm going to start off positive about Masterbooks math: it IS a more gentle approach, and even with a slower math kid, you will be able to get a page or more done most days. I would recommend getting the teacher guide--I think it might have helped me better explain the new concepts to my child. Or better yet, the concepts introduced the previous year that were not refreshed (such as child-level instruction to solve problems).
Masterbooks has NOT been a game changer for my math-hating child. Sadly, We've been camping out in Masterbooks math book 4 for two years. In MB level 4, once division was re-introduced (apparently it's begun in level 3), the kids were supposed to be able to apply multiplication facts in reverse to do division. With very little simple division practice, the book then quickly introduced division with remainder and then long division. (Apparently, division is introduced in level 3, which I didn't realize, because all through level 4 are charts and charts of multiplication review, so I assumed we were still learning multiplication in level 4. Placement test for 4 just asks kids to narrate the relationship between division and multiplication, not prove they can do it easily).
Regarding stories--If this is the one thing keeping you from using MBs (because it's Christian), be assured you can skip the stories and still get almost all the concepts (I think there was one or two where you'd need to read about kitchen measurements--which are still repeated elsewhere in the book.) Even as a devout Christian, I think the stories are unrealistic, moralistic, and cringe-worthy. Example, the kids always treat each other well and don't complain, even though the family adopts two foster children. Family outings together always go perfectly as do road and camping trips. The stories also miss opportunities to get into math concepts, or if math concepts are worked in, it's kind of awkward. So although I have a right-brained learner who loves stories, we skip them; they aren't essential to the program, IMO. As stories, they aren't worth the breath wasted on them, nor the drain they are on my mood. I'd prefer to read aloud a missionary biography, the Bible, or classic children's literature instead.
Even with two years of the 4th grade math book, we haven't been able to handle long division (included towards the end), or creating equivalent fractions, so I'm not sure what we are going to do. I don't think I can handle looking at the same book another year!
Also, there are errors in the answer key at the back of the book. They are easy enough to figure out--it's just elementary math, after all. Just a bit annoying. (They do have a way to log in and find the revisions, that's just something I didn't find worth it.) I trust the answers key will be fixed in a way I don't trust the terrible stories will be revised.
It sounds like you’ve figured out that you don’t like Masterbooks. I hope you’ve found something else that you do like :)
This was really helpful. Thank you for sharing! I always really appreciate your videos 😊
Oh I’m so glad! 🤍
Thoughts on horizons? We landed there after trying out masterbooks for our first year. I really like it so far but nervous about the older grades. I will.he using it with my 1st, 2nd, and 5th for next year.
I have browsed it at conventions in the past, but never used it because I found so many errors in the editing. Hopefully they’ve revised/fixed that by now. It is known for being more challenging than Masterbooks :)
Hi! I know this was posted a year ago, but I'm hoping you still might see this! My daughter is in 5th grade. She is struggling with math, especially her multiplication facts, which are essential for upper level math. You mentioned that your daughter was not math minded, but had graduated and gone on to college. I'm curious as to what you would recommend: staying on math fact practice, games, memorization, etc until mastered, or moving on and hoping she eventually internalizes them. I'm so conflicted. I hate for her to use a calculator or multiplication chart, but it takes foreeeever if she has to figure them out to do double digit multiplication or long division 😭😭 your thoughts?
I think this honestly depends on you and what you are most comfortable with. If you're okay with your child being "behind" the public school schedule, and taking the more scenic route to learn things slowly....then do that! But if that will keep you up at night and make you stressed, then move along and use aids/games as you are able. Every child is different and every parent too; if you pray and ask the Lord, He will guide you!
@@OfficialHomeschoolGems oh my goodness! Thank you for your quick reply! She does learn slowly in math. It is a bit scary to go at her place bc I fear that she will not be ready for upper maths until middle school 😟 but I was a child who was dragged along clueless in math for years, and developed such a phobia of math that it was paralyzing. I don't want that for her. Thank you for the encouragement to pray and ask God for the answer! He's the one that called us to homeschool, so it makes sense that he would have the answer 🙂
I'm looking at pairing SCM 1 with the new TGTB because my kids are workbook driven. I tried doing just SCM1 in January and it fell flat for my kids who are 5 and 4. They love doing school so I want to make sure I encourage them.
That’s great you’ve figured out what works for them!
@@OfficialHomeschoolGems I hope that's a good fit for teaching with SCM because I don't know of another curriculum that would work well. So if you know of a better curriculum to help reinforce the concepts to my kids I am very open since this will be our first official year of homeschooling.
@@jennythomas3985 You might want to checkout Milestonebooks.com. They have lots of mini workbooks in their GHI Series for ages 4-5 that would go well with SCM math.
Wow you sound so much like me. So glad I found this video
What math did you find successful for a 6yo? Sorry if you mentioned it already have three kids screaming lol
That really depends if you want common core aligned or not, if you want Christian based or not :) I would check out BJUPress for a more traditional route or Masterbooks for a non traditional gentle route.
I have PTSD from Saxon too!
The struggle is real!
Would you say that SCM is comparable to Rays arithmetic?
I’ve never used Rays but I have looked at it. I think there may be some similarities and differences. SCM is just big on mental math and manipulatives…