question re Shiller math

[Terabith]

Okay, I've been deliberating between RightStart and Shiller for awhile and had pretty much decided on Right Start. Part of that was the glowing recommendations I read about it, and part of it was the cost. The initial start up costs for Shiller are just so high, especially if you're just not sure if it will work well long-term. Sure, if we use kit one for five years, it will be reasonable, but a) it seems a lot of people go through it much faster than that, and b) will we really like it? But then I was looking at the manipulative lists. Except for the number cards, we have pretty much all the manipulatives. They aren't currently in one convenient box, but I could consolidate. And I could make the number cards from poster board, I think, from looking at them. Then it would be getting the lesson books and answers and the song cd, or the lesson downloads. That would make it much more reasonable. Is that a possible thing to do? Would I be missing something? Any other people want to weigh in on Shiller vs. Right Start for my four yr old?

[Amy+2]

I cannot imagine why, if you have all of the manipulatives, it would do any harm in just getting the book(s). You could even buy just a copy of Book 1 to start out and test the water. That way if you find it does, or does not work for you, you only have a very minor investment in it. A mom in our Home school group uses Shiller (& loves it) and I am getting ready to invest in it~after lengthy feedback from the wonderful ladies on this board. Also, I don't think you would need to purchase the TM for starting out. I could be wrong here, maybe someone else will chime in and see if that is a possibility. Hope this helps!:)

[Chris in VA]

I don't know a whole lot about Shiller, but ds18 went to Montessori school for 3 years, and I know Shiller is based on their mathematics. Because of that, I'd say definitely get the teacher's guide. You need to see where you are going, and it's difficult to do all the exercises the "right" way without the guide. Plus, isn't it scripted? That would make your success much more likely. I would think so, anyway! lol

[Kathy in MD]

math concepts. I'm speaking as a former Montessori mom whose only looked briefly at Shiller. From my brief exam, Shiller does use color to teach math similarly to Montessori. In that case units are color 1, tens are color 2 and 100's are color 3. Then thousands are color 1, ten-thousands are color 2 and 100-thousands are color 3, etc.

I'd try find out the colors Shiller uses before making or adapting your own manipulatives.

[Lenora in MD]

The units are red, the tens are green, the hundreds are blue and the thousands are red. They coordinate with the number cards. There is not a separate student and teacher book for level 1, at least the edition I have. There is only one book that you go through with the child. That may be different now.

[Amy+2]

Just a note...the student books are scripted identical to the TM's. At least, that is what my friend who uses Shiller tells me! Maybe someone who owns the program can chime in here! AND, now that I read further, someone already has!!!