Horizons vs MUS

[Chloe]

I don't understand why finding a math curriculum for my ds8 has always been such a struggle. His big sister has always used R & S supplemented with Singapore, but both of these brought ds to tears. We tried MUS, which was better, but he still loathed math. I wanted to find something that would help him enjoy math, so in the process we've tried many things. Not good, I know. He's been using Horizons this year and seems to do well with it, however, we do use it a half year behind his grade level. He usually has no problem doing the work, but I really don't think he understands the concepts very well. I can do math well enough, but I'm terrible at teaching it. I can't explain why something is done a certain way or make him see the reasoning behind the concepts.

I'm wondering if we should go back to and stick with MUS. He prefers Horizons, but is OK with doing MUS if that is what I decide. He knows that I will keep his opinion in mind, but that it is ultimately my decision. Another reason I'm considering MUS again is because my sister pulled her then 4th grader out of school last year due to math problems. She has been doing MUS with her dd for over a year now, and she's doing great and really GETS it now. Her dd and my ds have very similar personalities (very scatterbrained; smart, but a little ditsy with short attention spans: daydreamy). I keep thinking that if MUS is working so well for her, then it should work well for my ds too. I also can't help but think that a mastery-type curriculum is a better way to learn math.

Anyway, should we stick it out with Horizons until we have to go into pre-algebra, or should we switch now to MUS and stay with it for the long-haul? It has to be one or the other. Please don't recommend any other curriculum. I am choosing now between these two, and then that is it. We are stuck with it until it's time for upper-level math.

TIA for your help with this decision.

[Sue G in PA]

I say that b/c I'm in the same boat w/ math and my ds9 and after MONTHS of trying to decide what to do...I'm finally going w/ my original "gut" feeling...MUS. For me, it was never a question of "do you LIKE math". That is really irrelevant. Some kids will just never LIKE math. I never liked math, but I "got" math. Always frustrated my father...he always said I was wasting an incredible mind. Oh well. Go with what WORKS. Was MUS working for him? Was he getting the concepts? Did it make sense to him? If so, then go back to MUS and stick with it until it is no longer working. I wish I could use the same math curriculum with all my dc, but they are all so different. 2 of them do well w/ Saxon. 1 does okay with MUS and I'm hoping ds9 will do well with MUS, too. Not sure what will work with my little ones, yet!

[kRenee]

If you are "terrible at teaching math" then I would not go with Horizons. Horizons is great, but has very little teaching help in the manuals. There were only a couple of times when I looked for help and the manual says "work through the problems with the child" - no explanation at all.

[Chloe]

Yes, the lack of teaching help in the manuals is a problem with Horizons. I can imagine it will only get worse as we get up there in the levels.

[Kate CA]

I also can't help but think that a mastery-type curriculum is a better way to learn math.


I have written this before, but it bears repeating. I still firmly believe that math is a language that must be learned incrementally just like reading. You would never teach your short-vowel-only (cat, dog, rat) reading children the word “discombobulate” before they were ready to read it. Math programs do that all the time. They have to work up to reading such a word. MUS builds upon itself to teach by mastery and I agree with you that it is the better way to learn.

I have used both Horizons and MUS and I can tell you that Horizons does not teach for mastery - it teaches by memorization and the spiral method. If you want your child to understand the "why" of math then I cannot recommend MUS enough. :)

[Chloe]

The funny thing is.....my ds thinks MUS is hard, not Horizons. It's because he doesn't understand what he's doing, he just knows how to do it. He doesn't even care that he doesn't understand, as long as he's getting the problems right. I'd rather he really GET math, so I think MUS is what we need to do. I have a feeling it's going to be rough sailing for a while though.

[Donna T.]

You would never teach your short-vowel-only (cat, dog, rat) reading children the word “discombobulate” before they were ready to read it. Math programs do that all the time. They have to work up to reading such a word. MUS builds upon itself to teach by mastery and I agree with you that it is the better way to learn.




I so agree with that. That exactly describes my thoughts during our first attempts at using a math curriculum. I eventually tossed several things out because the instruction was not systematic. I like a precept upon precept approach... especially with math. I like math and I'm not intimidated by it at all, but I continually found myself scratching my head at the instruction given in first and second grade level math courses. I want math to mean something to my children... not just throw numbers at them or bog them down with too much information.

My children are doing very well with MUS.

I haven't used Horizons.

If you decide to go back to MUS and you are worried he may not understand it, you could consider having him work in a level that is "behind" his grade level. With MUS, he will definately catch up and it's not meant to be a graded curriculum anyways. My oldest son is in third grade but he is just now finishing Beta. He would appear to be a grade level behind but I don't mind one bit because he has really mastered the material. We can go days at a time and do no math at all, then when he comes back to it, he is able to go forward with no problem... because of the mastery approach, they don't forget the material quickly. Working a level "behind" has allowed my son to work very, very independently. That frees me up to work with my younger son and it helps my oldest son to feel very accomplished. It's been a big confidence booster for him.

[Kate CA]

The funny thing is.....my ds thinks MUS is hard, not Horizons. It's because he doesn't understand what he's doing, he just knows how to do it. He doesn't even care that he doesn't understand, as long as he's getting the problems right. I'd rather he really GET math, so I think MUS is what we need to do. I have a feeling it's going to be rough sailing for a while though.

If he does not understand what he is doing then I would go back to where he does and progress as he gets it. There is no point in moving on until he does. Do you use the blocks? They are absolutely essential I think. :)