"The Plan" - Part 2: Math

I love math, I'm a retired CPA, remember EXCEL is where I find my solace but teaching math is different.  I finally think I have "how to teach math" figured out... well at least for now.  It wasn't easy, it may change again, heck if you had asked me about our math program a couple months ago I might have cried.  Anyway, that disclaimer aside here's what we are doing today.

For introducing math and new math concepts I use "Math-U-See".  In the beginning, I used to use this exclusively with my oldest son.  In First grade he was already in Gamma doing multi-digit multiplication and scoring well on his tests.  Then I noticed a problem, he was getting the muliplication but missing the addition.  He hadn't mastered addition.  He also didn't like doing the work, and I was getting more push back every day.  I think mastery is paramount in math.  For us "Math-U-See" didn't provide mastery, the work was either too little for mastery or so much it was drudgery.  And I'm sure it had nothing to do with me being a bit over zealous having a First Grader doing multiplication.  I have a way of messing with poor Lance that way.  However, there is no other curriculum I've found better for teaching/introducing a concept.  So what we do is watch the appropriate episodes from their teaching DVDs, print out a couple pages of from their Free Worksheet generator to learn the concept.  Then we move back to our core math curriculum, the one we use for mastery.

A trick I learned recently, is that math should be done twice a day a couple hours apart for mastery.  This theory has to do with brain research on how the brain moves information from short-term to long-term memory.  I also believe in the value of flashcards and timed speed drills each day, and I've seen the results.  That said, this is how we accomplish all that.

Our core curriculum comes from Christian Light Education (CLE) (You can see sample pages by going to the "teacher manual" detail link).  God led me to this curriculum at the first Homeschool Convention I ever went to but I turned it aside for a while.  I tried out some of the "prettier" and more expensive alternatives but a couple years later I was back (someday I'll listen the first time).  This curriculum is more complete than anything else I've seen.  I like the variety of work each day that keeps things interesting, the word problems are awesome, the constant review imperative, speed drills are part of each days lessons and so is flashcard review.  The flashcard review is very unique and each day is done in a specific order for each grade (don't worry they make it easy you just have to set up the box and follow the directions).  Most importantly, my boys enjoy doing it!  I compared the program to "Teaching Textbooks" this year.  Lance was half-way through CLE 3 Math, and tested to start "Teaching Textbooks 5".  This reinforced my faith in the depth of CLE.  In CLE 1 Jared does need a teacher's help but by CLE 3 Lance works on his own, like the teaching textbooks.  CLE also has the option of Answer Key books instead of Teacher Manuals so they can correct their own work.  I allow Lance to do this some days but I like to see what he's missing so I correct it most days.

We use CLE in two sessions during the day.  In the first session, I have them do the "new work", to include part of the review to total the "first two pages" of a lesson and the "Fact Focus" at the back of each lesson.  Then we do their flash card review, speed drill and take a break till later.  In the second session, we do the rest of the lesson and another speed drill.  This time the speed drill is from "Calculadder".  If you choose to incorporate this component also, I highly suggest buying the CD version not the printed version.  The CD has neat reporting and software extras.  Plus if you have multiple kids its saves money in the long run. 

I try to keep the each session to 20 minutes a day but I must admit I don't time them, it stresses us all out.  And of all the subjects we do, I'm sure this is where we go a little over the time Miss Charlotte Mason would like but I believe if you break it up much further its too disjointed to really learn.  Finally, I believe that whenever possible math should be practiced five days a week for mastery and I don't feel that way about any other subject.