COURSE NO. MAT-656
Would you like this course added to your child's academic packet? Send your request through Mavenlink. Be sure to mention the student, course number, and the quarter you wish to start the course.
COURSE OVERVIEW
Math U See Primer, Alpha, or Beta; see www.mathusee.com for placement tests, complete tables of contents, and scope & sequence lists.
COURSE NOTES
This program is a practical, hands-on math program that goes beyond teaching just math. It actually teaches us moms how to love our children through teaching—worth every cent you spend on it! Program components are: video/DVD presentations, teacher manual, student text, and basic manipulative set. Add the Bible skip counting tape/CD also. Each lesson starts with a five to seven minute video presentation, supposedly for teacher training, but the kids learn as much from it as Mom. So, at the beginning of each new lesson, watch the video/DVD together. Then work a few minutes together through the teacher manual presentation, then assign them a worksheet of the new lesson. If they look to have the new concept already, give them the test the next day orally (scratch/work paper is encouraged). If they make less than 89%/B+ before corrections, then do the rest of the lesson page by page before doing the test again. If the student makes 89%/B+ or more, then give him the test the next day to do independently, and then move to the next lesson. Indeed, the goal grade is always 89% or more, “mastery” level rather than “performance” level. Be patient, supportive and thorough.
Use the manipulatives as much as possible, and always have them open on the table whenever you are doing math, for easy access. Whenever a student refuses to use the manipulatives and really needs to, gently use them yourself, Mom: stand behind him and, reaching around his shoulders, work the manipulatives in front of him.
The three levels, Primer, Alpha and Beta, are clearly outlined on the Math U See website at www.mathusee.com . They have the tables of contents listed for the entire program, descriptions of the material that will be covered at each level, and even on-line placement tests if you need them. (For our old families, “Primer” is the old “Introductions” level, “Alpha” AND “Beta” together roughly equal the old “Foundations” level. Do you need to replace your original editions? It’s not necessary at these levels, just very handy.)
An up-grade to this program would be RightStart, from Rainbow Resource or www.alabacus.com, which uses an abacus as its primary manipulative AND has any number of games to add to the program to address any rough spots your student hits. An almost equivalent to Math U See would be Horizons Math or Abeka Math, a standard textbook address with lots of color and activities. A very inexpensive math program would be Modern Curriculum Press Math or MCP Math, a simple workbook approach that’s been around forever. This program covers all of the material recommended for this grade level with little wasted ink. You will need to remember to add regular review throughout the year. We usually recommend you give again the review quizzes and tests the student has already done, at the end of each quarter, one per day, as the review sequence. Horizons, Abeka and MCP are all available from Rainbow Resource.
Scheduling Suggestions: see notes
BOOKS AND MATERIALS
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Math U See Primer : Instruction Pack
Math U See Publ.; Contains the Teacher Manual/Answer Key, and the DVD set See www.mathusee.com for placement tests, complete tables of contents, and scope & sequence lists; teacher kits include instructional DVD/cassette and the teacher manual/answer keys/solutions; student kit includes student text and test booklet; starter block set/manipulatives are required. |
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Math U See Primer : Student Kit
Math U See Publ.; Student kit includes student text and test booklet; See www.mathusee.com for placement tests, complete tables of contents, and scope and sequence lists.
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Math U See Publ.; “The initial Starter Set is an 80-piece set of colorful, base 10, stacking blocks used to teach all aspects of arithmetic. These are also used with the Inserts to illustrate beginning algebra and decimals.” - www.mathusee.com
One set per family. This manipulative set is necessary to the Math U See program and is used from the first level through the Algebra 1 level of Math U See.
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Math U See Alpha : Instruction Pack
Math U See Publ.; Contains the Teacher Manual, and the video in either DVD or VHS format
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Math U See Alpha : Student Kit
Math U See Publ.; 2004; 30 lessons; student kit includes student text and test booklet; see www.mathusee.com for placement tests, complete tables of contents, and scope and sequence lists. Alpha or Beta level; see www.mathusee.com for placement tests, complete tables of contents, and scope & sequence lists; teacher kits include instructional DVD/cassette and the teacher manual/answer keys/solutions; student kit includes student text and test booklet; starter block set/manipulatives are required. |
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Math U See Beta : Level Up Set
Order this kit IF you ALREADY have the manipulative sets. This kit contains the instructional manual with complete solutions, the instructional DVD, the student workbook and its test booklet, and 12 months of online access to the MUS website, which includes the skip count songs and songbook. (IF, IF, IF you are ordering Math U See for the first time, order the $139 kit, that includes the manipulatives.)
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LESSON PLANNER
WEEK A
Preparatory Week A: Use this school week to gather the materials for this course and thoroughly read the book notes, course notes, and, if applicable, the weekly lesson plan in your St. Thomas Aquinas Academy curriculum guide.
WEEK B
Preparatory Week B: Use this school week to complete Preparatory Week A and explore the materials for this course. Flip through all of this course’s materials. Make mental notes about the design and organization the resources for the course (editor’s notes, table of contents, maps, charts, forms, appendices, glossaries, bibliographies, end notes, internet supports, etc.).
WEEK 1
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