Through the assessment process your advisor will help you...

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Choose a Historical Cycle

Cycle selection based on your child's composition and reading skills, and aligning your family's studies.

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Choose a Science

Science selection based on math skills, any course prerequisites, and aligning your family's studies.

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Choose a Math Program

Program selection based on math skills mastered, learning style, and your student's goals.

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Select English Mechanics

Personalize the study of skills that complement composition instruction: punctuation, grammar, spelling, and penmanship.

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Select a Language

We prefer students study Latin for at least two years in high school, but gladly accept German, Italian, French, or Spanish.

BEGINNING MATHEMATICS

COURSE NO. MAT-514

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

COURSE NOTES

Math U See Primer.  You will need the Primer Instruction Pack (teacher manual/answer key and DVD set), the Primer Student Workbook, and the Manipulative Block Set (just one block set per family). About 20-25 minutes of formal math daily, three days weekly.  The other days of the week have the child play board, card and dice games, hopscotch (very important!), sort and stack mixed coins—any and many different kinds of math experiences.
       Math U See Primer 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: lessons-by-lesson DVD presentations, teacher manual, student text, and basic manipulative set.  (Add the Bible skip counting CD if you would like, though we get more serious about math facts in Grades 2 through 6.)  Each lesson starts with a five to seven minute DVD 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 DVD together.  Then work a few minutes together through the teacher manual presentation.  Then start assigning the worksheets.  When your child proves to you that he has the new concept (i.e., he achieves 91% or above, before corrections, on two consecutive attempts of new-concept worksheets), then move him on to the next lesson.  This keeps Math-U-See self-paced—one of its most valuable strengths!  Be patient.  Be supportive.  Be thorough.
       Use the manipulatives as much as possible, and always have them strewn out in the 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.  

Scheduling Suggestions: 3x/wk for 20-30min



BOOKS AND MATERIALS

 

Math U See Primer : Student Kit

  • Author: Math U See
  • ISBN:        
  • Supplier: Math U See

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.

 
 

Math U See Primer : Instruction Pack

  • Author: Math U See
  • ISBN:        
  • Supplier: Math U See

Math U See Publ.; Contains the Teacher Manual/Answer Key, and the DVD set

 
 

Starter Set 1 (Manipulatives)

  • Author: Math U See
  • ISBN:        
  • Supplier: Math U See

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.  (We recommend tossing them into a cake pan or strewing them across a dishtowel for math time, so students are not reluctant to break up the neat array in the storage trays.)
 

 

 
An upgrade to Math U See would be Singapore Math: see their website for best placement and how to use it.  Almost equivalents to Math U See would be Horizons Math or ABeka Math, standard workbook address with lots of color and activities.  A very inexpensive math program would be Modern Curriculum Press Math (aka 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 recommend you make copies of all reviews, quizzes, and tests as you come to them, and have the student work them again as workbook pages at the end of each quarter.  We recommend against Saxon K: it can grow to fill up to two hours daily if you aren’t careful, burning out Moms and students. An enrichment to Math U See would be Miquon Math Orange with its Cuisenaire Rods manipulative set and Teacher Annotations book, or Peggy Kaye’s Games for Math.  Our very favorite enrichment of all, always, is Ruth Beechick's The Three R's with its teaching tips, attitude adjustments and awareness points regarding math (--and composition, and reading).
 



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

 

WEEK 2

 

WEEK 3

 

WEEK 4

 

WEEK 5

 

WEEK 6

 

WEEK 7

 

WEEK 8

[ ] Select a work sample from this quarter to submit in your semester reporting packet. See the sixteenth week of this semester for more details.

WEEK 9

 

WEEK 10

 

WEEK 11

 

WEEK 12

 

WEEK 13

 

WEEK 14

 

WEEK 15

 

WEEK 16

[ ] Select a work sample from this quarter to submit with your semester reporting packet. Your Semester 1 reporting packet should include work samples from Quarters 1 and 2 and is due before February 28. The Semester 2 packet should include work samples from Quarters 3 and 4 and is due before June 30.

WEEK C

Preparatory Week C: This is a bonus week. Use it for Semester 1 catch-up, corrections, review, assessment testing, standardized testing, or semester reporting.

WEEK D

Preparatory Week D: This is a second bonus week. Complete Preparatory Week C or begin the Semester 2 course plan.

WEEK 17

 

WEEK 18

 

WEEK 19

 

WEEK 20

 

WEEK 21

 

WEEK 22

 

WEEK 23

 

WEEK 24

[ ] Select a work sample from this quarter to submit in your semester reporting packet. See the sixteenth week of this semester for more details.

WEEK 25

 

WEEK 26

 

WEEK 27

 

WEEK 28

 

WEEK 29

 

WEEK 30

 

WEEK 31

 

WEEK 32

[ ] Select a work sample from this quarter to submit with your semester reporting packet. Your Semester 1 reporting packet should include work samples from Quarters 1 and 2 and is due before February 28. The Semester 2 packet should include work samples from Quarters 3 and 4 and is due before June 30.



ATTACHMENTS AND COMMENTS

What questions can we answer for you?

We would love to hear from you!  Please reach out with your questions by phone or email, schedule a courtesy telephone consultation with an advisor, or submit an enrollment application if you are ready to start planning for the upcoming school year.

 

Free Telephone Consultation Send an Email Call us at 209-863-8400 Enroll Today

We have all enjoyed the way STAA ties the courses together for the whole family.

Alyse M.

California

Thanks for all you do on your end to help make our homeschooling academically, intellectually, spiritually, and morally enriching!!

Denise

Michigan

My advisor helps me to understand what needs to be done and how to make it really fun for the kids. What I really like are the tips she gives me for dealing with the little ones while trying to school the older ones.

Amber

Texas

This is our first year homeschooling. STAA and [our advisor] have made this a very easy transition. We have had a great year!

Gwen H.

Kansas

I really don't know what I would do without your kindness, and very helpful advice. You are a blessing to our family.

Pat

Idaho

The assessment testing was quick and easy to do, so I didn't expect much valuable feedback. Boy was I wrong!!! It was like my advisor had met my kids and spent hours/days with them.

Mary Ellen

Maryland

We have been so very happy with our first year with STAA! Thank you for walking me through it and for all the fantastic resources and materials we are using. There is not one we don't like!

Elizabeth

California

Our family so enjoyed our wonderful relationship with STAA as our [son] worked his way through high school. It was a wonderful and outstanding experience for him and we continue to suggest your program to all those who are looking for an excellent homeschool experience.

Debra S.

Colorado

Since I am writing, I will also sing more praises of the Greek Studies plan. [My daughter] moaned over the timed-essay and then did very well. So easy to implement with the choose one reflection topic from each subject and then get ready, get set, go! Apparently the school also gave suggestions for the process essay in "Format Writing." Thank you! For a mom of many this is real time saver.

Alisa from Indiana

mother of 9th grade daughter and several STAA graduates

The academy works as a team to accomplish for your family specific ideas or needs for education, but more importantly, what each individual in your family needs, even Mom.

Anne

Illinois

God bless you for the job you are doing -- the peace you have helped us find as a family is priceless!

Cerita

Texas

We can’t imagine going without these wonderful, enhanced lesson plans! Thank you!

On the STAA Study Guides

Anonymous

I especially appreciate the advice and wise counsel I receive from the St. Thomas Aquinas Academy staff during our phone appointments and their understanding of my children's needs.

Stephen T.

Illinois

It is a thrill to receive the delightfully arranged weekly guidelines from STAA that keep us on track but allow for flexibility.

Dee Dee C.

Florida

I can honestly say that our children have blossomed into well rounded individuals because of your program.

Diane B.

California