Which Math is best for a 5 and 7 yrs old MIQUON , MATH-U-SEE or SAXON?

Question

One is more a visual learner the other visual-kine . Can someone explain the difference + and - of each ?

Answer 1

I used both Math-u-see and saxon (combined as my mum, who taught me, thought best to my personal learning needs) in my younger years, and then graduated to the upper level Saxon books through elementary and middle school. Saxon prepared me very well for my Freshman year algebra 1-2 class when i started public school (again in 9th grade).

then again i'm more of a combined style learner with visual tendencies. Its been too long ago for me to remember the exact formats of  math-u-see and saxon, plus the curriculum has probably changed somewhat since i was at those age levels, but if i recall math-u-see was a visual method (?).

Answer 2

Math U See is hands on which would be great for your kinesthetic learner.  It also includes videos which would appeal to the visual learner.

Here are some tips for teaching to different learning styles:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Here is a place you can find reviews of different curricula:

http://www.homeschoolreviews.com

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

I don't know about those, but my 2 kids are doing great with Horizons Math(AOP)...They are both a grade level ahead in it, it is so great with colorful pictures and pages to keep there attention on the page...And I love it, it isn't busy work and it is very detailed...Give it a look...

It's also in Cathy Duffy's top 100 picks!

Answer 4

We use Math U See. Its a very visuial program and my daughter is doing very well with it. She had a hard time learning subtraction so I asked here what others recommend and someone turned me on to it. We ordered the free dvd and my daughter watched it with us. She was so excited by the end of it. She told us "Mom I get that!" My husband and I were sold on that statement alone. We ordered the Beta book in November and she has worked through it and is ready for the next one.

Our son is finishing the primer and getting ready for Alpha. He has a much better grasp for numbers than his sister did at the same age. I don't know if that is Math U See of if he is just a numbers kid but it seems to be working.

For my youngest (2) we are starting to count the blocks. I know she has no idea what a number is at this point but she loves to count with me and is counting to 5. All because I can keep her attention with the blocks. She loves the colors!

We haven't tried Miquion or Saxon. So far we are sticking with what works for us!

Answer 5

Of those choices I would either do Math U See, or I would do Miquon, but supplement it with a few traditional problems each day.  The reason I say to supplement is that Miquon teaches SO differently, that when a kid approaches a problem written in the normal way they often do not know what to do.

For example, my daughter used Miquon in the early grades, on her first standardized test she scored VERY low in math computation, but VERY high in math concepts.  The reason was what I described above.  When she came to a problem like  257-168=  her answer looked like this:  1  -1  -1, because Miquon hadn't taught borrowing yet, but it had taught negative numbers.

Combining Miquon with just 1 or 2 traditional problems every day would probably be the best of both worlds.

Horizons is good too.

Saxon is okay, but in the earlier grades is very repetitive and not very advanced compared to other curriculum.  Once the child is old enough for Saxon 5/4 it is fine.

Answer 6

Saxon I found to be very helpful

Answer 7

Visual and Visual/Kinesthetic, I'd definitely pick Math U See.  It's interesting, not a lot of distractions, and it teaches the concepts and facts without overloading the kids.  It also goes all the way through and requires very little help from mom...so they learn to learn independently.

There are still games that you can do with them, and the teachers manuals give excellent ideas and helps, but Steve Demme teaches it all - I can't say enough great things about it.

You might find that your visual kid doesn't need to build everything out, or that your kinesthetic kid gets it after building it out a few times.  If they can do it without the blocks, let them :)

Also - I love MUS because it's self-paced.  It gives 6 lesson sheets for every lesson, but that doesn't mean that you have to use all 6.  If your child shows mastery after 2 or 3, great - let them move on without having to finish the others.

MUS, definitely!