Math curriculum recommendations for accelerated homeschooler?

Question

My son is very strong in his math skills and finished his second grade Saxon math in three months. He is six years old. I am looking into a different curriculum because Saxon was too repetitious for him. He needs one or two exposures to a concept and "gets" it. I am looking for a book that streamlines the concepts and provides lots of critical thinking skills practice (like word problems).

He is really excited about moving on to third grade math and I want him to keep his love and excitement and not burden him with a boring book.

I have read about Singapore math, and am especially looking at it, have you any experience with that curriculum?

Answer 1

I don't really have a curriculum to suggest. I just wanted to offer the fact that no matter what you decide on, once your son has mastered the concept you can always skip the rest of the problems and move on to something new. You can use the problems you skip as review or for testing purposes.

Good luck

Answer 2

The problem/advantage I found with Saxon is that besides the repetition within a course, there is much repetition from one course to the next.  We actually skipped entire books because the vast majority of the information was covered in either the previous or next book.  You might consider skipping the third grade level altogether and going to 5/4, or even testing him (with their placement test) to see where to put him.

Once in the Middle Grades books, DON'T make him do all the problems.  I usually pick 10-15 problems for my son to complete (all the problems from the current lesson and several from previous lessons that he may need more practice on).  If he's got the concept, only reinforce it every week or two with one problem.

Singapore is a great program if you don't need the repetition (which it sounds like you don't).  Singapore also has a series of "word problem" books that you can purchase (separate from the textbooks/workbooks) for each level.  You might also consider Math U See or Teaching Textbooks.  Again, with both of these programs, you can choose how much he does - with MUS it could be 1 page, 3 pages, 1/2 the problems on a page, a review page...

I think, of all the subject areas, math is the one with the most choices.  Check out the Rainbow Resource online catalog (link below), Cathy Duffy Reviews (link below), or just do a Google search for "homeschool math".  You'll be amazed at the number of choices available.  And most programs have placement tests to help you decide where to start him in the new program.

Answer 3

I would consider this:

http://www.criticalthinking.com/getProdu...

Although it is targeted at 2nd and 3rd graders, and so early portions of the book may be redundant for your child, it is very engaging and teaches a broad spectrum of analytic skills that a "pure" 3rd grade math book might leave out.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

My son is a math whiz, too.  He's 9 and in Algebra I.

I would look into using K12, or at least the base program (publisher) they use, Sadlier-Oxford.  However S-O w/o all the great problem solving tools and early algebraic functions that K12 adds in would be lost, so I suggest doing K12.  If you sign a one-course contract for 12 months and he finishes Math 3 in 4 months, you can then move on to Math 4, then 5, etc. as long as you have a contract.  Of course each course change requires new materials.  Many people sell the texts on the K12 Used Stuff group in Yahoo Groups.

My son would DIE if he had to do Saxon.  Singapore is good and many people use it, but it has some serious gaps that have to be filled in with other curricula.

K12 has math placement tests to place your child into the system.  You can even start at the 2nd semester of a grade level.

http://www.k12.com

Here's the link to their samples page:

http://www.k12.com/get_a_taste_of_k12/k1...

Answer 5

You can try EPGY.  It's an on-line program offered by Stanford and some other places.  It is a computer program that adjusts to your child's ability.  You can easily do a grade level in 6 weeks.  If your child knows the answers, it ups the level until your child knows that.

We had some problems with it and quit though.  Went back to CLE- sort of like Saxon.  Here's what I would recommend if you want to try EPGY.  You have to be there with him in case there is any question.  Also, try to get an instructor who is instantly available by phone or e-mail if you have a question- get one who works at the office- not at home.  Otherwise, EPGY can be extremely frustrating if you don't understand what they are asking or how to use their graphics problem or there is some other hitch.  There are still some technical problems with EPGY.  

But, for gifted kids, it is fantastic because they can progress at their own speed.  It is a very good, comprehensive program.  It is expensive, but there is financial assitance available.  

If you have more questions, just ask me.

Best wishes.

Answer 6

How wonderful for your son to have this ability.

You mention that you are  looking for a book that streamlines the concepts and provides lots of critical thinking skills practise (like word problems).

I use books from the following people and they cover all that you are looking for and more.

Their Contact Details are as follow:

Phone

Overseas - [phone]

Australia  -   [phone]

Fax

Overseas -  [phone]

Australia -  [phone]

Email

[e-mail]

When contacting us by email please give your surname and, if for the first time, the state in which you live.

Mail

Homeschooling Supplies

P.O. Box 688

Werribee , Vic , 3030

Australia



Hope you find what you are looking for and all the best.

Answer 7

I have had a great experience with Alpha Omega Math It is Challenging with Lots of word problems! Here is the website

http://www.aop.com