Horizons Math vs Bob Jones Math?

Question

Can anyone give me any information on which one is a better program? I currently use Horizons math for my daughter who will be in 3rd grade. I am going with Bob Jones next year, but I am still unsure I want to switch the math? If anyone can give me advice it would help. Thanks

Answer 1

It's been a long time since my homeschoolers were in elementary, but I'll share with you my impressions.  My kids are now 17 and 15.  Both are taking dual-enrollment classes in a local community college.  Both have done well in math.

I started them in Bob Jones math from the beginning (Pre-K4).  They loved the characters and themes for each year.  They would ask to do more because they enjoyed the character/themes so much.  

Bob Jones provided a good basic curriculum.  I appreciated the fact that only one math topic is covered per chapter.  (It does not review every day like Abeka).  It is not an accelerated curriculum.  At the time, it was not an enriched curriculum unless you purchase an optional additional workbook.

This curriculum is solid.  If you have a math superstar, they can go faster.  If you have an average math student, they will learn strong basic math skills.  If you have a struggling math student, they won't be overwhelmed by multiple topics per chapter.

Looking back, developing strong basic math skills is all you really want to do in elementary grades.  As their brains mature, they will naturally be able to tackle harder, more abstract ideas.  The goal is still "Slow and steady wins the race".  

By the way, the fact that my kids loved their math books was more than half the battle in getting them to "do" math.  If I could go back in time, I would de-stress about making sure I did everything right and just let them move along consistently.

Okay, so now I've told you something about Bob Jones math.  I never used Horizons, but let me share this with you:

I have homeschooled for 13 years now.  My biggest mistake was when I tried to change math curriculums in 6th grade. Saxon Math was such the rage back then that I tried switching my older student to Saxon since he is so strong in math.  What a mistake!  He didn't like it.  We switched back and forth and lost an ENTIRE YEAR of math trying to make it work!  My neighbors were both school teachers, and they told me, NEVER change what works.  Those are very wise words.  I wish I had understood it then.

If your student is doing well in Horizon math and enjoys it, I wouldn't advise you to change.

Oh, yeah, one more thing, you will be surprised at how quickly time is going to go by.  My kids will both leave to college within the next two years (sigh).  I have loved knowing them and growing them.  Enjoy the time with your daughter.  It will pass oh too quickly.

Answer 2

Math programs are always heavily debated in homeschool circles.  What is the perfect curriculum for one child may not work at all for another child, and that might even be in the same family!  Both of these programs are well thought of by some.  Horizons is fairly advanced.  Some people use it a grade below where their child would normally be.   BJU takes more teacher time in preparing the work than some other programs.  I think Horizons is a spiral approach where BJU is more mastery, but that might have changed over time.  

We use a combination of Sinapore and Saxon....  It is difficult to find one math program that did everything we wanted, so we ended up having to combine programs.  Like I said, what works for our family might not work for others.

You might want to go to homeschoolreviews.com.  Both these programs I would think would have a lot of reviews both pro and con on them.  Then you can compare what they say, with the way your child learns to determine which one would be a better match for them.