Middle School Math Suggestions?

[Jenlaana]

I am just starting to homeschool my son, and am floored by the amount of options for every single course! We decided not to do anything too rigid in his other courses, choosing instead to focus on things that we, as a family, decided to do for science/social studies/etc. But I really want something more orderly for math. I'm looking for something without a lot of writing, fun, self studyish, maybe online or cd's? He seems to be much more of a verbal learner than a read and retain type when it comes to math. (though he has memorized every song written in "The Hobbit" after reading it only once) I'm not comfortable at this point doing my own curriculum with math because I am terrible with it and have no clue what 90% of the math I learned in school was about. lol

I've seen a lot of reccomendations for the beginning grades k-3 etc but not much beyond that. My son is 11 and would be starting 6th grade next year. He does have a few random holes in his math education because we've moved around a descent amount, so something that reviews past stuff would be helpful too. I'm hoping not to spend *too* much money, but figure I can probably get used materials or something off ebay or whatever? once I figure out what I'm looking for.

Any suggestions? Something that worked or didnt work at that age range?

[reedross]

We've used MathUSee for several years now and really like it. I think that it teaches all types of learners........ the main 'lesson' is on a DVD (which I choose to watch with them) and then there are worksheets and tests to develop the skill the lesson taught. It can be self-paced and you can move as fast or as slow as you need to. www.mathusee.com

- April C

[Dianna]

I've seen a lot of reccomendations for the beginning grades k-3 etc but not much beyond that. My son is 11 and would be starting 6th grade next year. He does have a few random holes in his math education because we've moved around a descent amount, so something that reviews past stuff would be helpful too. I'm hoping not to spend *too* much money, but figure I can probably get used materials or something off ebay or whatever? once I figure out what I'm looking for.

Any suggestions? Something that worked or didnt work at that age range?

Jenlaana, since you talked about gaps in his math skills, have you considered Margaret Lial's Basic College Mathematics? It's a text they use in a lot of community college's to cover math skills that students may have missed in high school. It covers all lower level math and prepares the student for Algebra I. I believe a lot of 6th-graders could handle it, but you may need to help him with some of the directions since they are written for college students. Here's a link to the previous edition on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0321064577/sr=8-4/qid=1145858110/ref=pd_bbs_4/102-4616684-1697713?%5Fencoding=UTF8

There is a newer edition, but don't get it because it's more expensive. Get this 6th edition either used at Amazon.com Marketplace, or ebay.com, or half.com. Use the "look inside" feature at the link above to see what it's like. Look around for the paperback version so your student can write in the book (a lot less headache), but make sure it's not written in. You should be able to get it for around $5 or less, plus shipping.

It's a huge text, so don't expect your student to finish it in a year. Give him two years and he'll be ready for Algebra I in 8th grade. Also, don't make him do every problem in the exercises - just the odd problems since they have the answers for those in the back. At this level, you won't need the teacher's text, or a solution's manual. If you end up not liking it, you won't feel bad chucking it since it was so inexpensive. If you end up liking it, your son can continue with the author all the way through high school, and the series has great teacher helps (a digital video tutor, solution's manual, and more).

Another alternative for this age level is the "Key to" series. It's a series of Math workbooks that focus on specific topics (decimals, fractions, percents, measurement, geometry, and algebra). Here are samples: http://www.sonlight.com/math-samples.html The workbooks have a lot of white space and are great to build math confidence.

If those two don't seem to fit the bill, let me know and I'll talk about more alternatives. :smile2:

Warmly,
Dianna

[mary helen]

I also thought of "Key's To..."

[Jenlaana]

I think that college textbook sounds great, but I think it would involve a lot more reading than he would be willing to do without a ton of encouragement. With a baby on hip, I have found math to be the one subject where I just can't find the time to help him like he needs. I can help him with one or two things (like in other subjects if he can't figure out the answer to something) but with math he tends to get lost on whole concepts (I think he forgets what he reads until its read back to him) and I just can't get enough uninterrupted time with him to help him "get it" because of the babe crying/laughing/distracting/etc. The "key to" series looks great. I think I'm going to get one of those workbooks and try it out. We're probably going to get Switched on Schoolhouse, but I've heard that its pretty weak in the math area, so I'm hoping that I can double up a bit and have him switch back and forth (one day on the SoS and the other with the "key to" workbook).

Thanks for the tips! :)

[Dianna]

I can help him with one or two things (like in other subjects if he can't figure out the answer to something) but with math he tends to get lost on whole concepts (I think he forgets what he reads until its read back to him) and I just can't get enough uninterrupted time with him to help him "get it" because of the babe crying/laughing/distracting/etc. The "key to" series looks great. I think I'm going to get one of those workbooks and try it out.

It sounds like the Key to workbooks may be just what you need. If they don't work for you, let us know and maybe we can help with something else.

Dianna