PRODUCTS WE USED: Math-U-See Primer
- Student Text
- Instruction Pack (Teacher’s Manual and DVD)
- Manipulative Block Set
- Skip Count CD and Book
TOTAL COST:
All materials were purchased new at a convention for $95 plus tax.
STUDENT BACKGROUND:
This curriculum was used to teach a 5 year old boy at the Kindergarten level. He began the year with some mathematical knowledge. He could count to 100 using 1:1 correspondence, skip count by 5s and 10s, do very basic addition, and identify basic shapes and numerals 0-9.
PROS:
- The DVD provides all of the teacher instruction necessary to teach the skill, so there is no need to worry that your own knowledge will fall short.
- Various learning methods (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) are used in each lesson.
- No number writing instruction included. Others may call this a con, but I don’t want handwriting cluttering up my math lessons.
- Not mastery based at this level. Just a fun introduction. All skills will be repeated in Alpha.
- Ample practice & review for this level.
- Downloadable supplements are available.
CONS:
- The teacher’s manual is not very useful. I was hoping it would have more activities and games, but it is pretty much a repeat of what is on the DVD.
- While I appreciate that there are not a ton of manipulatives needed, the dedication to using them for every single lesson was a bit ridiculous. Especially the elaborate clock that is built to teach time. A drawing of a regular clock would have been simpler.
- I felt that some Kindergarten skills were missing from this curriculum, namely an introduction to fractions, money, and measurements.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION:
We love Math-U-See Primer and I highly recommend it. I was drawn to the teaching style of Math-U-See right away and had a gut feeling that it would be a good match for Alex. The expense of it almost kept me away, and I actually purchased MCP Mathematics K first to see if it would work instead. I don’t have many good things to say about that workbook.
I also thought about skipping Primer since Alex already knew some of the skills taught and would see them again at the Alpha level. I’m glad I went with Primer though. Since Alpha begins the mastery based approach, I’m afraid we would be spending a long time on some of the new skills had he not already seen them at the Primer level this year.
I did not use the Skip Count CD when teaching the lessons, but Alex listens to it on his own. I’ve caught him singing some of the addition fact songs.
I was very nervous about buying a math curriculum. Most of them are pretty expensive, and I was worried about getting the ‘wrong’ one. That is pretty silly though as there is a robust used market out there for these materials so you can always resell. I have bought all of our Alpha products used. I am going to stick with what works, and we will continue to use Math-U-See for the foreseeable future.
I am not affiliated with Math-U-See in any way. All comments are my own opinion based on personal experience. Math-U-See did not provide any of the above materials to me for free and did not solicit a review.
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