COURSE NO. MAT-375
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 Beta
COURSE NOTES
At this level, math should be taught three or four days weekly, for about 20 to 25 minutes at a time, not including the time spent in math facts work. The goal is to master the material presented, not to finish a lesson at one sitting.
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: 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 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 91%, before corrections, then do the rest of the lesson page by page before doing the test again. If the student makes 91% 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 91% or more, before corrections, done independently (no eye contact, Mom)--"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.
An upgrade to this program would be RightStart Math, 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, standard textbook addresses 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: 5x/wk for 20 to 35 minutes
BOOKS AND MATERIALS
|
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.)
Keep this a self-paced program, doing as many of the worksheets as the student needs for deep and sure mastery of the new concept. There are extra worksheets to be found on the Math U See website, if needed. Don't be afraid to skip worksheets, though, and move on to the next lesson when your student can work a new-concept worksheet independently (no eye contact, Mom) and make 91% or above, before corrections, on that lesson's quiz.
In the text it instructs you to stop working through the lessons until your student has learned the assigned fact family for that section. Do spend a day or two if you would like to start learning those math facts, but after that, return to the lessons and keep moving through. Provide your student with a number line and a math facts chart to use with his lessons at all times. Sure mastery of addition facts (and, subsequently, subtraction facts) needs to be accomplished by the end of Grade 3; now is the time to start working on that earnestly and consistently.
|
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.
|
|
Math in a Flash Addition flashcards
Edupress
These are the Cadillacs of flashcards: they go from 0 to 12's; each fact family has its own color; the cards are drilled in the corners, to be threaded onto the metal snap-together book rings included in the box. Their crowning aspect, though, is that on the front of the cards are the stacked math fact problems, without the answer showing; on the back, in the same color, size and shape, is the same stacked math fact problem with the answer showing. This makes it so easy to build visual memory of the math facts! So…
Drill one fact family per day, rotating through the 0's through 12's, then start over again. Three back-to-back days weekly. About five to seven minutes at a time.
Have the student lay a single fact family out in order, answer side of the cards face up. Have the student read through the cards two or three times--problem and answer--out loud, tapping the numbers as he goes. Talk about the patterns and sequences he notices in the numbers. Now have him read through the answers only, very quickly, tapping the answers as he reads them. This is practicing "skip counting". Now scoop up the fact family in order and do flashcard work with the answer showing; have the student read the complete problem and answer to you. Next, mix up the fact family and do flashcard work with the answer showing. NOW flip the cards over and do standard flashcard work, withoutthe answer side showing, having the student respond with the answer only.
Learning Wrap-ups and Math Shark are other great enhancements for teaching math facts, also available from Rainbow Resource.
|
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.
