Mizzchrissee-
I definitely think this depends upon how many math manipulatives you already have available!
Okay, so a cost/priority breakdown.
If I had to start all over again, and choose only those programs most useful based upon cost/value, what would I choose priority-wise…
Would definitely go for the RS basic kit, and spend the remainder of the cash buying Marshmallow Math book and the EuroTalk app from the App Store!
If you have any money left over, buy the MathTacular DVDs (or even just the 1st one!), and depending on how many manipulatives you currently have, purchase the manipulatives kit…
Wait a few months and save up to buy the EL kit from the digital JG kit, connecting literacy with math, reading,and memorization
Again, totally based upon my OWN opinion and experience with ONE child! Maybe others can recommend a breakdown based upon their experiences with multiple kiddos?..
I think it is very hard to choose one math program as your child might not be ready for what you choose for him. That is why many of us ended trying various math programs
I would try to use all free resources first and get inspiration from blogs,use math placemats and iPad apps.
We really like MEP math now.
Sorry, am on the ipad and somehow wrote in the quotation area, i repeat my question here:
Kerileanne99, I am writing from Europe. The eurotalk app maths 3-5 and 3-4 is free in the app store here. Were you talking about this app? What exactly is the name of the app please? Thanks in advance
Sorry for the confusion regarding the EuroTalk App!
Yes, you can download the Math, 3-5 app for free- however, it only comes with one topic for free. So then it will ask if you want to purchase the other topics either one-by-one or purchase all topics together-this is the $9.99 price!
Thanks for reminding me about Mathtacular. I am interested in that DVD also. I see that there is a Mathtacular kit, too. Does anyone have experience with this kit?
I understand parents buying many different kits. I would, too, but money is tight right now. I’m a stay at home mom and I’m expecting another baby in November. Since my husband is the only one working, we have to save some money for the baby. Everyone knows how expensive those little ones are!! Lol
So it seems I will buy the Rightstart basic A kit first. I will also try to buy my son a math DVD. He already has the Leapfrog ‘MathAdventure to the Moon,’ but it’s too advanced for him. So Mathtacular might be what I need.
I have a few counting and math apps on my iPad. I also show him counting videos on YouTube. In the future, I might incorporate more/other math programs (maybe in December, for Christmas) . Hopefully this will be enough to teach him for now! I’m excited!
I do indeed have the MathTacular manipulatives set-through a complete fluke! I ordered the videos, and the company sent me someone else’s order by mistake --the ENTIRE MathTacular package! Better yet, when I phoned to let them know, they just allowed me to keep it. Hooray!
So we haven’t used but a couple of things because we already had most of the items included…but, it seems to be a very-well rounded set, and is a GREAT deal if you don’t already have manipulatives. Plus, the kit mirrors the DVDs, so the kiddos can have hands on participation…it also comes with a DVD of real-world math, which is quite helpful.
One time when I visited our local teacher supply store I did a general pricing of the items included in the kit versus prices for those or very similar items–it really is a pretty good deal, as to buy all of the items separately you would spend a lot more buying more than you needed or partial kits to get those items you need!
One other option you might find helpful:
I only bought the RS A Manual, worksheets, and the printed appendices (they are sent on tagboard, so it was a convenience for me not to print them all), and of course, the AL Abacus. Oh, also the RS card games! A must have…
If you buy the Those RS items and the MathTacular kit, you will have everything you need to get started for months, the cheapest option. (you will eventually need a little plastic clock and coins)
I still don’t know whether I should get the rightstart basic kit or the mathtacular kit. The RS has lessons to follow, whereas the mathtacular kit just has manipulatives. I don’t think Mathtacular has lessons, unless they are on the DVD?
I also tried pricing all the RS items kerileann99 mentioned above. For some reason, I cannot find the RS A manual in the online store, but the other level manuals are $45. Altogether, the price of these separate items are very close to the price of the entire basic program (the price came to $100, but the whole package is $110). So unfortunately, I cannot afford to buy this and the Mathtacular kit. Thanks for the suggestion, though.
I might end up buying the RS basic kit and Mathtacular DVDs for now. Next month,hopefully, I can buy the Mathtacular kit to use along with the DVDs. The in a few months, I might incorporate jones Geniuses. Does this sound like a good plan?
I bought the RS book A for under $20 on eBay. And I have not bought any of the manipulatives yet. I bought tally sticks from a craft store cheaply. The Yellow is the Sun sheet music is in the back of the book. and you can find the son on YouTube if you can’t read sheet music.
So far I have not need to purchase any other manipulatives. I wing it. I will eventually make a cardboard clock at some point. And we will use real coins too. The base ten manipulatives can be found all over the Internet for competitive prices. Just look out for good deals. Place value cards are easy to make with index cards. I personally print on cardstock and laminate stuff like that.
I will need to buy a balance. And eventually we will buy the card games. But we are far from that. I expect to be working through RS math over several years. So if money is tight (I completely understand) you might be able to just start with the book also.
Mizzchrisee-
After trying LOTs of programs! At the very minimum buy the RS A, the appendices for A And B, the AL abacus (and/or app!) and the card games…
Next, buy (or acquire!) the MathTacular DVDs, and corresponding manipulatives (whether you buy them or use DIY!)
Also feel that the Marshmallow Mathbook is a must as it puts parents in a proper mindset for teaching maths
This would be my absolute, bare bones recommendation!
Mizzchrisee-
After trying LOTs of programs! At the very minimum buy the RS A, the appendices for A And B, the AL abacus (and/or app!) and the card games…
Next, buy (or acquire!) the MathTacular DVDs, and corresponding manipulatives (whether you buy them or use DIY!)
Also feel that the Marshmallow Mathbook is a must as it puts parents in a proper mindset for teaching maths
This would be my absolute, bare bones recommendation!
Oh boy you lot talk ALOT in just one day! lol I was locked out of Brillkids yesterday, I think a server must have been down?
Anyway… In answer to the IXL questions
Nee1 regarding IXL , I don’t know of any similar program for English, but now that you have mentioned it I will certainly ask around the teachers circle!
For Math is is great for mastery practice and you could use it to show YOU as a teacher WHAT to teach your kids, then teach it, then use IXL to practice and master the concepts. I often have to show my kids how to do something as they choose a new topic, I just teach it while they play. It’s pretty easy to do.
There are various ways to pay for it. You can access it all for free, but only a few questions a day then it locks you out. You can pay on an automatic monthly basis ( about $10) or pay for a years subscription ( about $70)
If you pay you will get email alerts and progress charts to show you how much you kid is practicing and how much they know in certain areas. It has all sorts of graphs to show what they know in each math area. It also gives the kids ribbons which my 8 year old finds very motivating. They change from bronze to silver to gold as she masters a problem type. It is an intelligent program, that adjusts the difficulty level of each question based on how fast and correct the previous question was completed. My kids will spend ages on it at a time. Doing a surprising number of problems without realizing.
I am not convinced it is all that useful for under age 4…log in and try it out free first. Tell me what you think.
It’s PERFECT for homeschooling parents who don’t want to worry about making sure they cover everything. If they get 100 % done in a year they have mastered the year! ( not just covered the year, mastered it!) Not hard to do, my kids have done 30% of this year ( we are halfway throughout the school year now) and they attend school, with busy schedules afterschool!
Oh tight $$$ tip! Pay for one kid only! The others can use the same login and the graphs can all be viewed by year level anyway!
Saxon is the only other book based program that runs as closely to the school curriculum as IXL that I have found. But Saxon is boring for kids until they can work through independently ( level 5/4 ish).
So now back to the one program topic
Rightstart wins their are others that are more comprehensive ( IXL) there are others that are more academic ( Jones) there are others that use more mental math ( various Abacus programs) but rightstart wins because it is FUN for kids, EASY for parents and covers everything you need to cover!
To be honest, I think just buy the book level A, an abacus ( or the app) and the appendices. The manipulatives are so easy to find or substitute. The level A kit is good value…but check out the cost of postage before you decide! Wow! :mad: I haven’t needed anything other than what’s in a normal household yet. We needed a 100 cube, we made one from paper and grids. ( worked for my son, may not work for a toddler) We use paddle pop sticks, galss pebbles, the abacus and cerial mostly.! I have access to anything else I need through school…I just havnt needed it yet! A balance is really easy to make if you can use a drill too. I just don’t think you need to spend all that much to teach good math. No one said you can’t skip a lesson
So the big money ???
I would buy rightstart first. And if that’s all you ever can afford your kid will be fine!
Then Marshmellow math if there is a few dollars left, or as soon as possible.
Then mathtacular at some point. You don’t need all of them at once. Just get the first DVD. ( the second if your kids are 5/6) it isn’t essential at all but the kids just love it and watch it over and over!
Then add rightstart games.
This will keep you busy for about a year! Consolidate the ideas, don’t rush through it. Aim for mastery and complete understanding as a good foundation for later on. If you run out of sums use MEP, it’s free isn’t it?
I’m keen to get Rightstart but am also horrified by the shipping costs to the UK (will be around $50 plus import duty and taxes which could be another 20-30$ :ohmy: )
For those more familiar with the programme, will it do instead? Otherwise I guess I could buy a wooden one and try to paint the beads the correct colours. I know there is an rightstart app but I’d like something hands on as well.
