Math questions - Right Start Math or Chalk Dust Basic Math

[momof165]

This is our 3rd year using Saxon Math (now Saxon Math 3) and my ds 9 still has a hard time to understand math concepts (especially decimal system and mutliplication). I do use hands on material - but still - it just doesn't stick. It seems, he is math phoebic!!! Don't get me started with mental math.....:tongue_smilie:

I have bought the Right Start Math game kit and ds really enjoys the games we are playing. Do you think, we just should switch to Right Start Math? Should we stay with Saxon Math and just try to add and use some more manipulatives and Right Start games?

Or should we switch to Right Start Math now? If so, what level?

To make things worse - Chalk Dust has a DVD program out called: Basic Math. I really like what I have seen. But the price tag..... :( AAAhhhhhhh - decisions, decisions :confused:

Can anyone help us???? I just want ds to NOT HATE math anymore. Math is a real turn off at our house. Is there hope for us?

Thanks for letting me rumble, and for reading my post.


Sonja
___________________________________________
Homeschooling JUST ONE - ds 9
Oak Meadow 3, GWG 3, Saxon Math 3, R.E.A.L. Science 1, PLL

[Ruthie]

Whe I hit that issue with decimals and fractions, I purchased MATH U SEE and used it, not as a spine, but rather as a tutor and it has worked wonderfully. I do not know about the other curricula you are asking about.

[momof165]

Thanks Ruthie for your reply.

Sonja

[Aurelia]

I don't have any experience with Chalkdust, but Right Start does have a placement questionnaire you can fill out to help figure out where he would be. My guess would probably be level C.

http://www.alabacus.com/questions/

[gratefulmother]

Rightstart games makes math very enjoyable, and I believe the way in which it is taught produces students that are very good math thinkers. Not only do they know the how of a problem, but they understand why. The most common complaint about it is that it is too teacher-intensive. Good luck deciding!

[eve]

I love Right start. It is very easy to use and effective (at least for our family :) ).

[eve]

RightStart is very easy to use and effective (for our family at least :) ). I have no complaints.

[ejeanes]

Have you considered Teaching Textbooks? They progress very logically, have a cd rom teacher, scoring, keeps track of how your kids are doing and starts out easy then progresses into new things. Many HSers love this program, not teacher intensive, a lot of elementary things are intensive for a teacher or a mom but this is pretty student independent and has wonderful reviews. Got it for my kids who were doing Singapore and were pretty advanced. We'll go through the curriculum I got and consider a lot of it review and reteaching the method as a classic way to problem solve instead of a program where there are many ways, confusing for me, to get to the answer.

[cornelia9805]

I don't have any actual experience with Chalkdust, but I know Basic Math is meant to be a 6th grade/the year before pre-algebra math book. I wouldn't think he would be ready for that level of math yet from what you describe. :)

[Crimson Wife]

What about having him work through some of the single-topic "blue" workbooks (http://www.mathmammoth.com/blue-series.php) from Math Mammoth? They are inexpensive and Maria Miller does a great job walking the student through the concepts step-by-step-by-step.

Key to Decimals (http://www.keypress.com/x5200.xml) might be another option to look into.

Life of Fred Decimals is probably too advanced for a kid having trouble with Saxon 3, but something to keep in mind for down the road.

[siloam]

I started Right Start when my oldest was 9, with level B. She did much of it at two lessons a day, but not all. We slowed down when she needed it. It has been a perfect fit here.

Now she doesn't love math, but she doesn't hate it anymore. She knows she can do it well and that is good enough for me.

Heather