Question: RightStart, Singapore, or Math Mammoth?

I was asked this kind of curriculum question recently, and I thought I'd post it here too in case there are others who will get helped...

I am torn between using Right Start, Singapore, or Math Mammoth with my daughter who is just starting her schooling journey. Do you have any insight to share that might help?

Yes. If you are torn, try Singapore with Math Mammoth (if you can afford both). I've heard from people who use both and say they go well together, because Singapore is somewhat lacking in practice exercises.

There are lots of folks who use two curricula for math. You would basically use one of them as your "spine" that you go by, and then for each topic, check the corresponding lesson in the other, if it has good explanations or problems. You wouldn't do all problems in both.

Then, if you like RightStart, buy their math games book (but not the whole curriculum), which allows you to incorporate their games into your math lessons here and there.

Comments

Rebecca K. said…
interesting... is there a reason you say not to buy their curriculum? My second child is struggling like crazy in math and i was considering buying RS. Either that or MUS
4:17 PM, June 26, 2008
Maria Miller said…
Actually, I'm not saying not to buy their curriculum... Above I'm just trying to give advice to someone who is "torn" between three, or in other words would like to have all three curricula.

These curricula are all different from each other, and people's needs and preferences are SO different, for example when it comes to price or whether it is scripted, how it handles testing, what topics are covered etc.

I've just tried to write mine to deliver conceptual understanding and with the help of visual models, be easy to use, and as self-teaching as possible so the child can read and study on their own. I've tried to stay close to a traditional scope and sequence so that the curriculum is usable to a broad audience. I'm not emphasizing manipulatives nearly to the degree as MUS and RightStart, but strive to quickly move the child from manipulative use to a visual model, and then towards the abstract.

RightStart may be a good choice for your child; you'll have to try it out and see!
10:00 PM, June 26, 2008
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