Curriculum

My lad has been working through the International Series (Light Blue Version) Grade 6 curriculum from Math Mammoth for the past several weeks.  Let me tell you how well this program is working for us.

Do you ever battle with your children over math?  Well, my son is GOOD at math, but that doesn’t mean he likes being TAUGHT math.  We have over the years started various math programs to the delight of my lad until he runs into a part of the teaching that he doesn’t like and it will quickly fall apart of from there…usually takes about 1-2 months to kick in.  Imagine now, my delight to have a program that is working well for my lad.  Oh.. it’s amazing!!!!   🙂  

Math Mammoth…I LOVE YOU!!!   (so does my lad).  🙂

What is Math Mammoth, International Grade 6 you ask?
 It is a complete
maths program for sixth grade. It
consists of two student worktexts (A and B), a separate answer key for
each, tests, mixed revisions, and in the download version, an additional
worksheet maker (Internet access required) to make extra practice
worksheets when needed.

Now I will admit there was a bit of a learning curve and a needing to figure out how we would do the program.   See Math Mammoth doesn’t set out and say “Day one do this, day two do that”.. WHICH I admit I love. I have a strong aversion to being told what to do and when to do it.  I like figuring things out on my own.  Ergo I printed off what I thought my lad could reasonably be expected to complete in a week.  10 pages, means 2 pages a day.

Uh..rebellion.  “Way too much work mom!   I can’t do ALL THIS”.  This was his shocked response to being handed that reef of papers. 

I broke it down for him… just two pages a day AND asked him this: What do we do when we run into a snag?   “We stop and figure it out mom”.   

To which I responded “Do you think just because we are starting a new math program that will change?”   No.

Off we set.

Admittedly there was some worries… do I have use their paper?   Do I have to write it all down there?  (Math Mammoth uses a grid to help learn long division).  No…but you might find it useful to write on something.   “Is my tablet okay?”  Sure.

You see, I don’t care what he write it on, his tablet, in the air, on paper, with a grid, without a grid…doesn’t matter.  What matters to me is this: Is he learning the material, does he understand it, AND can he explain to me how he got there?   That later is important to me because my lad often approaches math in a different direction than what I would do … so as long as he can explain his process and gets the correct answer using the process multiple times…it works for me.   This HAS been a problem for us.

Why do I tell you all this?

Math Mammoth links to a variety of sources to help children learn to do math.  Not all those math systems use the same way to do the math.   So when my son gets stuck, I just keep showing him how different people solve the problem until a method clicks with him and bam…. math is learned.   It means we don’t get stuck knocking heads over methodology when all we want is math learned and used.

Here he’s playing a game to remind him of how numbers make sense regardless of which way the math is done.

Doing math while mulling over why long division was so tough that particular day.

I was surprised that such a simple game made him think.   In the process of playing, he figured out what that problem with long division was (word usage and concern over bigger numbers).

Math Mammoth has shown us areas of weakness (like truly understanding how long division works and multiplication with really big numbers).   It’s also shown us areas of unknown strength like the ease of learning exponents when he’s never seen them before.

Now that we have gotten into a routine of 2 pages completely done everyday, my lad looks forward to doing his math.  To learning new math and being able to do it in a way that makes sense. He loves knowing that he can work on his math at his own speed, taking time where needed, and speeding through when he understands the concept. 

Math Mammoth has given us a logical way of doing homeschool math that is working for my lad without a lot of needless repetition, access to a variety of methods to learn, and just the right amount of work.   It provides extra worksheets to help with areas of struggle.

Should you get it?
YES!  Especially if you like the things we like:

If you have a child who dislikes images on his math pages.
If you have a child who likes straight-forward math programs.
If your student appreciates different ways of learning the same material.
If your student likes doing mental math.
If your child has an appreciation for working through material at his/her own pace. 
If you love excellent customer service.   We had a query with one question, asked about it, and got an answer within 24 hours.
If you like an affordable homeschool math curriculum. 

If you decide you too would like the Math Mammoth International Series (Light Blue Version)
this is what you get in your affordable downloadable link.

  Two student worktexts A & B along with answer keys for those books.  PDF’s.

A variety of tests, one for each chapters.

Some additional worksheets.

A bonus soft-pak, you can use these to make up additional question sheets as remedial or more difficult as you like.    This is a package that you download onto your computer.  The math maker that I used automatically printed.

The two parts of this program (A and B) sell for $18.75 each for the Worktext and answer key, soft-pak, revisions and tests.  Full Set for $37.50 and can be used with more than one child.  Affordable indeed.

Linked up at Hip Homeschoolers.