BJU Math- I thought I had everything planned :(

[Kate in VA]

Then I realized that the program that I wanted to use didn't have somethings I was looking for... anyway....

Has anyone NOT liked BJU math? I would be interested in your thoughts on 3rd grade.... I saw the samples and how it showed step by step in the student text and I really liked this.... It looks like it is laid out to give the child a solid understanding on how/why to complete math problems.... How do you and your dc think about BJU math? It is teacher intensive? Around how long do you take each day to complete?

Thank you,
Kate;)

[Kate in VA]

2 more things.....

Do I need to purchase everything or only the worktext......

Also (silly question) are the pages those that are shinny and hard to write in pencil on.... (i hate those :D)
Thanks again

[Johanna]

hey,
I am teaching that to my dd 3rd this year,
Let me see, the pages are not shiny (i dont think anyways) and the TM is wonderful if you are at a lost for how to teach, I only use it when i have to. It is nice to have such wonderful instructions. I think that the lessons would take so much longer if you did EVERYTHING in the manual. But, i dont. I use the front side as the teaching session (sorta my blackboard in front of us) Alot of the time i fill in those answers as i am teaching to her. Then i let her go and do the back by herself.
I think it is imperative to get the REVIEWS book. As there is no review in the worksheets. THe review book is awesome. It has the front side as cummulative review and the back as drilling (*-,x, division). I love it!
I never use anything but the TM, Student worktext and review book.
I do love this curriculum and I may use it for 4th if TT isnt out with their 4th by then. I really want to move into TT! But, I love how BJU is conceptual!
Ok, so i hope i answered your questions! Oh, we never take more than 20-25 minutes to do math. Not counting her drilling in the morning before school.
By the way, I was told by a friend who got an email from a BJU rep that they would have the new edition of 3rd ready by next fall. The new editions are nice because they have more review in the worktext among other things.
HTH!

[Karen in CO]

Since you are talking about 3rd grade, the 3rd edition texts for the 3rd grade math are coming out soon - maybe summer. I have the 3rd edition of the 2nd grade and from what I have heard, it might be worth waiting for the new edition. The new edition of the teacher manual has a cd (at least my 2nd grade does and I assume it holds true for the other grades). The cd includes extra problems sets that are grouped into groups like reviews, extra teaching, extenders, thinking problems. There are drill sheets and things so you can print out "teacher helps."

There is enough information in each section to fully explain everything and for my child so far, there has been plenty of review without needing the extra pages, but I am keeping it handy just in case. There is also a page at the beginning of the chapter titled "To the parent" that gives an overview of the topics in the chapter, key points, and facts to drill during the chapter. Each lesson concludes with a short group of review problems. Each chapter has a chapter review and an overall review.

[Johanna]

Yeah, i sorta wish we were in the right cycle to get those new editions. We are exactly one year behind their updates::glare:

[Shari]

After bouncing around for years trying to settle on a program, I've found that BJU is the fit for us. Between two students, I have taught every level of BJU from K5 thru 4th grade, and we plan to stick with it through high school!

That said, here are some specific answers to your questions (btw, all my comments concern the 2nd editions, as I am one year ahead of the updates):

1) No, the pages in the 3rd grade workbook are not the shiny, hard-to-erase sort.

2) On average, the lessons take about 30 minutes: 10 minutes of teaching time plus 20 minutes of worktime. Some topics will take longer, though. When my 4th grader hit long division this year, we would sometimes spend an hour on math; ditto for fractions. For homework, I assign one page from the supplemental Reviews book that corresponds with the lesson of the day. These have been a boon to our Math learning this year, and serve to make the program more "spiral." My kids take 10 minutes tops in the evening to do the review page.

3) The TM is awesome -- if you follow it. Lots of people try to do BJU with just the student workbook, but you miss an incredible amount of the program if you do that. Really. Used TMs are available all over the 'net for around $12 for the 2nd editions, and the new TMs 3rd edition will have a high resale value.

4) Yes, I suppose this is on the "teacher intensive" side. The entire program is geared towards classroom learning, the 2nd ed Homeschool TMs focus on making the program adaptable for the homeschool setting. YOU will have to lead this Math program, no question about it.

A couple of pieces of advice: one, don't make a go of it without a TM; two, don't worry about purchasing the Student Materials Packet (manipulatives) buy the Reviews book instead.


HTH!

[OhElizabeth]

Well it does sound like they're changing things a lot! We don't use the tm, but I'd definitely get it with the new editions in order to have that cd. Like the others, I like the Reviews workbook, Stretch Your Mind, etc. Having it all on one cd will be even handier! I do side one with her and she does side two. Like the others, the lessons seem to vary. Each chapter is a different main topic, so of course some chapters are easier and faster than others. (Geometry stuff flies at our house while division is slow, hehe.)

The feedback I've seen where people were unhappy with BJU usually revolved around not enough practice. Often those people don't realize there are *4* extra workbooks in the current editions to give you tons of practice at different levels (spiral review, repeat of the main lesson in homework fashion, extension/challenge problems, and even a remedial workbook). Now that they're changing it and putting all that on a cd, from what the others are saying, that will be even handier. I think if you ONLY do the student worktext and don't add some fact drill or do their optional worksheets, you're not going to be happy. But if you do the things they mean for you to do with it, it's very well-rounded and should work great. I like that it's been a great transition from RS for us, very similar conceptually. The visual element was a hugely welcome change for dd. We went from the middle of D into the BJU4, where she was really slow. I got the BJU3 and had her work through it quickly. It's such an adorable level, with puzzles, codes, all sorts of fun stuff. You're going to love it!! :)

[TracyR]

I'll have to echo everyone's thoughts . I've used BJU math for K-3rd grade . It was a great fit for my oldest daughter . I wished I would of just stuck with it . I switched to a cyberschool and they use Calvert and their math , even for my math loving child is horrible after grade 2 ( at least it has been for us ) .

Anyways no shiny pages . Easy to erase .
Yes your going to have to teach the lessons . But it never took me that long . I just took out of the manual what I felt we needed to teach the lesson . Most times I was comfortable teaching a concept on my own . But it took me a bit to get my groove .
I wouldn't do everything in the manual otherwise you'll be spending all day on math .
Its not student lead. You need to teach the lesson . Though there were pages that my daughter could do on her own if the concept was easy .
I felt that the Student Materials Packet is a MUST for grades 1 and up . You need the teacher's manual , and the Reveiws book .
All in all it was a good fit for my oldest as she is good with math , and the different ways BJU teaches math appealed to her . Not a good fit for my daughter who only wants to know 2+2=4 and wants to move on . She gets easily frustrated with math and showing her different ways to solve a problem only sets her into tears because she just doesn't understand it .
I liked BJU math alot .

[HollyDay]

I also have liked BJU 3 this year. We started the year with Sax 3 but really hated it before too long. I did not get the TM as the local homeschool supply store does not stock it. I also did not get a review text - again, the store did not stock it. We did very well with just the TM. Dd enjoyed the text - just enough - not too cluttered either.

For the person who is interested in TT, dd did the placement test last week and scored well enough for TT 5th grade. I called to be sure but they said if she successfully complete BJU 3, she should easily go into TT 5.

I thinkg the review book would have been nice to have. But, I made review questions for her. I would go back through chapter reviews and pull out a few problems from several chapters. We will finish the 3rd grade book this month. I have 4th grade BJU and will go into it for the rest of March, April, May.

It is a solid program and I wish I had of listened to everyone who encouraged me to use it instead of Sax. I would have saved money, time, and effort!!

[HappyGrace]

I haven't used BJU yet so I can't comment much, but I'm researching it for next year. I did find out that the new 3rd editions use the same TM for schools AND homeschools-it's not different TMs like it was in the 2nd editions. It looks like a nicer layout though and it's four-color, plus has the CD of printable worksheets, etc., someone else mentioned. You can see an example of the layout if you look on BJUpress.com under the 1st grade TM.

[Johanna]

For the person who is interested in TT, dd did the placement test last week and scored well enough for TT 5th grade. I called to be sure but they said if she successfully complete BJU 3, she should easily go into TT 5.

Really?? :bigear:I had never thought about that? I wonder if she could do 5th. Seems crazy because she is a young 3rd grader now so the thought of putting her in a 5th seems crazy. But, i also dont want her to be bored and re-do a year that we just did. Thanks for the tip. I will research it further.

[BizyPenguin]

He used it for 2 mos. before entering PS in 3rd grade. It was just okay for us. We use and love CLE math now.