Math Curriculum: Math U See Program Review

One of the biggest bonuses for me, is that it is a Canadian math curriculum (please note they also have a US website and US curriculum that is the same, it just teaches US money/measurement, etc). This is such a huge benefit when dealing with the foundational years. I learned in inches and pounds with A Beka and I am constantly converting my kids’ weights at the doctors or their height, etc. I wanted my kids to understand the measurement system we use, to understand and learn with Canadian money, etc. I love that this math program does all that for me, I don’t have to worry about supplementing.

Math Curriculum that Works for All Learning Styles

With five children, it is very rare to find a program that works well for all the kids collectively. I am often found scouring the internet to find a more kinesthetic approach for Selah or a more visual program for Caleb. However, Math U See has me covered! It approaches learning from three different angles and targets the main learning styles. If you don’t know your child’s learning style, be sure to take the quiz!

Auditory/Visual Learners

Each lesson is broken up into 6 sub-lessons (ie. 1A-1F) and begins with a DVD instructional video to explain the lesson. The video is done in an interactive setting and the kids LOVE watching and hearing their lessons and feeling like they are a part of a virtual classroom. The combination of audio and visual learning works for all the kids and usually this is all they need to understand their lesson for the week (with minor helps from mom with reading word problems, etc.)

The blocks are another great tool for visual learners. Each number is a different color and very quickly the child is able to stop counting them and just use them based on their color “value”. This then translates to mental addition, etc. as they are seeing the blocks and colors in their minds as they figure out their problems.

Kinesthetic/Sensory Learners

I can concretely say that Selah is a kinesthetic/sensory learner, it is her strongest learning style for sure. She usually needs to approach a new concept from about 6 different angles to really grasp it, and for her, Math U See just works! After watching her lesson, she pulls out the blocks and gets to SEE her math problems, FEEL them, BUILD them. Whereas Caleb, my more visual learner watches his lesson and won’t use the blocks all week, Selah uses them every single day. She is very dependent on them and enjoys them so much that we ended up purchasing two sets and the beautiful wooden boxes to store them in.

Math U See is a very different program and can take a bit of getting used to if it is new to you. It teaches in a completely unique way, giving students strategies for solving problems that may seem totally out of the box to you. Although it takes some time to adjust, it is well worth it for the long term benefits… a child that not only understands math but has the tools and tricks for doing it quickly and effectively no matter how it is approached. Here is an example approach from the Alpha program:

She then takes a ten block and rearranges the problem.

So 9+8 is the SAME as 10+7=17.

Instead of just memorization (which definitely has its place), she is learning unique tips and tricks to make math FAST, effective, and fun!

It took me a while but all of a sudden, I am getting much faster at math myself! Who knew!

A Comprehensive Math Curriculum

When people ask about the “BEST” math curriculum, I always point them to Math U See. Please note I am receiving nothing for this review, this is purely my thoughts as a paying customer and how it is working for my family. I can’t say enough about how this is helping our family. My kids LOVE math. They are building not only an understanding of the concepts, but are mastering them. This program approaches a new concept in so many different forms and I am so impressed with the results. The fact that my kids love the program as much as I do is pretty much the biggest indicator for me of what to purchase at the convention this spring. I’ll be the first one lined up at the table this year and I hope to see you there!