starting w/ Horizons math K in K or 1st?

[Ann in IA]

I've read that Horizons is advanced compared to many other math programs. I feel this is accurate based on my experience with the Math 2 that we're using.
I need to start my Ker with some formal math and wondering if she'll be able to handle the K level or if I should wait until the fall and use something else more basic first?
She can count to 20, but not able to identify all the teen numbers by sight. She can add basic numbers together to 10 and knows all shapes, colors, and things like 1st, 2nd, 3rd to order things.

I got MCP math K to use but overall I think that's too easy for her. We did some pages verbally and she whizzed thru almost all the pages I showed her until the last 25% of the book.

Thoughts?

[Victoria]

to go through my K books. I am in much the same boat. My dd is starting K, but I just don't think she is as far along as my other three children were at the same age, and I've been wondering if I should do Horizon's K or Pre-K. I must say, I wish Horizon's gave more samples of the lessons for Pre-K math. Anyway, I just pulled out my kids' old Horizon K book to get a better idea. The first 20 or so lessons in Horizons work with counting to 10, tracing numbers, counting pennies. Lesson 26 starts with matching shapes and simple addition (3 + 1, 3 + 2). By lesson 57, the kids are doing 9 + 8. Earlier lessons have counting dimes, tally marks, telling time (only on the hour). By lessson 72, the student is doing addition with carrying over.

For me, looking at this now, I think it is going to be too much too soon for my dd, who is turning 5 a couple of weeks before K. But I kind of think that a few months of some preschool or K workbooks from Walmart or Target, will get her up to speed. Horizons is kind of pricey and without sample pages, it is hard to tell if it is worth it. I'm not a big believer in spending $$ on preschool curriculum. I hope someone else has Horizon's Pre-K Math and can give a better of idea of what is included.

HTH!

[Ann in IA]

Yikes, addition with carrying in K?! That sounds way advanced to me. The first part sounds good but then I think she'd get overwhelmed.
My son did great with grade 2 until we hit multiplication then it sped up and he got frustrated when he was asked to do 9x7 within a few weeks of 2x2 KWIM?

Not sure if we'll start the Horizons and then just slow down or what.... :confused:

[one l michele]

I am using Horizons Pre-K with my youngest, who just turned 4 in January. I bought the whole package, I stuck with it daily for 4 weeks, he doesn't like the "fluff", I now wish I would have just bought the two workbooks since that is what we are using. Those he does enjoy and you don't need the teachers manual to use them.

The "math" is mixed in the two workbooks with lessons from writing, phonics, shapes, colors. I do like that it is scheduled, so we simply do the worksheets marked lesson XX, add a Kumon coloring page, arts & crafts, and read together. We are on our 6th week of the program. So far he's counted to 6, matched up shadows to animals, done pre-writing strokes, cut out numbers and glued them to that number of animals, matched numbers to the animals, traced the numbers, circled the correct number, counted pennies, and dot to dots. Time starts in lesson 80 along with addition. Lesson 132 starts subtraction. The workbook is in color and he enjoys it.

My middle is is technically a K'er this year, and did Horizon K math, he's now on L30 something of Horizons 1 math.

[Mrs Mungo]

I used Horizons K with each of my kids. It starts out slowly and is a nice progression. If you go all the way through to sixth they will be ready for pre-Algebra in seventh grade. I therefore wouldn't use K for first grade unless I intended to school year-round and play catch-up along the way so I could still have them finish Horizons 6 by the end of sixth grade.

[Tonia]

I don't have any experience with Horizons math, but I have heard it said on "the board" that it is a good idea to go through the Kumon workbooks - 'My Book of Numbers 1-30' and 'My Book of Numbers 1-120' to solidify counting, number recognition, etc. before starting Horizons K

[Ann in IA]

I don't have any experience with Horizons math, but I have heard it said on "the board" that it is a good idea to go through the Kumon workbooks - 'My Book of Numbers 1-30' and 'My Book of Numbers 1-120' to solidify counting, number recognition, etc. before starting Horizons K

Thanks, that sounds like a good idea! I bet she can move thru those quickly and then we can start K this summer. We'll still be a little "behind schedule" but going year round should even things out.

[Calming Tea]

You don't have to use it a whole year back...

What I did is use Classic Curriculum from Mott Media which laid an *awesome* foundation in numbers, numbers, numbers- lots and lots of writing numbers, and using numbers!

Then I moved into HOrizons K in February and now we are done lesson 80. Thinking of it, we ended up moving faster, often doing 2 lessons per day. So we "caught up" a little but not totally.

I don't think it's a full year ahead. It's definitely very advanced.

It's a great program! If you just work on something very solid for numbers, then I think it'll work out.

[Rhesa]

I am currently having this problem with my 5 yo. We are using Horizons K, but I am finding that I have to "re-explain" some sections when we go over a lesson. (We are currently on lesson #38)

Some of it is super simple. Lesson #38, for example:

1-Put an X on the object that is long. No problem there.

2-Circle the one that is tall. No problem.

3-Trace and write the numbers (20-29). She's just ok with this, although the constant review is helping her get better.

4-Draw lines to match the dimes with the number. No clue. She just is not ready for the counting by tens (although she can do it by rote). Every time we come across this type of problem, it's like she's never seen it before.

5-Add (1+8, 6+3, 2+7, 8+0, 4+2) The only one she'll get in that set without my help is 4+2.

I'm deciding to still plug away at it, although we take breaks a lot and try other methods. So this is just our experience!