This was a question from my friend, Joycelyn.

What math do you use with your children?
God Bless!
Joycelyn

Hi Joycelyn!
Mainly, for beginner math, we use the kitchen, money, objects and flash cards. That goes for all the beginner concepts of counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, etc… we use clocks on the wall and actual time – appts, etc. – for teaching time.

We used to use A Beka, and I do like it for up until about 7th-8th grade. When we got to Algebra I, I thought it was a big time-waster, as we spent 4 weeks on graphs, and that was just the beginning of the book. I sold that one asap. It wasn’t good for the teacher or either of the 2 students!
I then switched to Saxon, but they only had to do the odds or evens as long as they understood the concept.

I do like the A Beka 7th gr. Basic Mathematics for above basics, older math skills.

Recommended Math Resources

[You may be wondering why I am not just giving you one answer of what we are using...]

I honestly believe that there is no set type of curriculum for every child, and we use what fits the child’s learning. Some great programs don’t work well for all, and some cheap, basic curriculum are just what some students need.
That said, we have the A Beka Basic Mathematics, and Saxon Math for the older children. I am using some [very] old leftover worksheets from A Beka for K, 1, 2, 3 for my younger children right now.

I did review Kumon math, and I would only recommend those as a supplement. There is not the teaching as there is on a regular worksheet. However, if your child needs some extra problems to work on, something like that might work.

I have also seen the Developmental Math books. They come in separate books according to different concepts and are good to get a student grounded in specific concepts.

Most of our school books are packed, and I honestly cannot remember what I kept and what I had to get rid of! I kept as much as I could keep that I knew I would need for the several ages we have!

I am also going to be using some worksheets from online sites. I need to check into that, because I have found them before, but haven’t looked in some time. I also usually check into http://donnayoung.org too, for worksheets and such, too.

Shalom friend!

p.s. I wanted to add that I have heard a lot about Jacobs Mathematics books and also the Teaching Textbooks, and I have always wanted to try them, but I haven’t been able to yet. If anyone has, and you would like to share, please feel free to about those or any other curriculum you would recommend.