A dear reader, Tracy, asked a question about how we use Teaching Textbooks in our homeschool.
Hi Tracy, I understand the need to be in many places at once as a homeschool mom. Especially when it comes to math!
For the 2013-2014 year with our five children we are currently using Saxon Math for kindergarten and 2nd grade as well as Teaching Textbooks Math 6, Algebra I and Geometry.
We use Saxon Math through 2nd grade then switch to TT. Saxon has offered that basic grounding in the mathematical operations and learning multiplication.
We used Saxon Math through 6th grade with my older two then switched to Teaching Textbooks with them. Oh hooray for Teaching Textbooks! The earlier grades were not available for my eldest two children at that age.
The earliest we have used TT is 3th grade – with my fourth child.
I don’t have any experience with A Beka math though I have heard it is very thorough.
I have heard about the criticisms about TT. However, my older two struggled with math in middle school until we found TT. It was truly an answer to a prayer! Plus, at the time my older two started using TT, I was helping my younger ones with Saxon Math. So it helped me to be able to oversee them while I was teaching the younger ones.
I am not concerned about the criticisms because TT has offered success to us. We excel in fine arts, language arts and sciences. Math is our ‘challenge’ area. Basically, if they have a B average in math I am happy. We are getting it done. And since I have high schoolers – I have the end in mind. Picturing what the goal is for them as adults. Tailoring their learning towards their interests.
**Update 2016: My eldest children have now successfully taken the SAT and ACT. Our eldest was accepted to her first choice college. We have proof of Teaching Textbooks.
However, I don’t want to steer you wrong if you are concerned about testing with a state-approved proctor. We are required to test at 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th grade and keep the results on file. So I do not have the performance pressure that you do.
Have you tried the sample lessons on the Teaching Textbooks site?
Find Teaching Textbooks and try their online placement tests.
May I also offer some time management help? No matter what curriculum you use, this helpful habit saved our days while we had small ones – and older ones needing to work on math.
Here’s a question I’ve heard a few times lately as well: How can I get math done with my older ones with my toddlers roaming about? We sit down to do our math lesson and my little ones crawl on the table!
I hope Tracy’s question and our discussion will help other homeschoolers. What curriculum choices are you facing?
My son just started using TT 7, 2 weeks ago, and he is enjoying it. I know he is getting a complete math lesson, completing the problems and the problems are graded for me. Each set of problems ask questions regarding past and present lessons, which is great for my son who has an issue retaining. He is doing great so far!
That is awesome Christa! And I agree – it’s that same spiraling approach that Saxon Math uses. A bit of review. And introduction of new concepts along with plenty of practice. A full lecture! I vividly remember when my son started Math 6 Teaching Textbooks – he stood up and skipped across the room he was so happy! Skipping with math? Now that was an answer to a prayer! (He is an auditory learner so it also fits his learning style.) Plus they love the little buddy characters that cheer them along too.
We are loving TT, too. It changed my struggling with math child to a math successful child, so I am hooked, too. Wish I had switched to it earlier. I like other math programs for Elementary school age, and start with TT at Pre-Algebra stage. It was very interesting hearing your thoughts and experiences with TT.
As a former Abeka user, I can say without a doubt our switch to TT has been a good one. My oldest did Abeka math through 4th grade and we made the switch for 5th grade. The biggest difference I have noticed is the lack of busy work. This has been very freeing for my hard-to-focus child. TT reviews, presents the lesson, then practices each concept; any more would be too much for him to stay interested and any less would not be enough. I always said that I would assign some extra (busy work) in the case of him not getting something, but there has not been a need. It was always a struggle to get him to sit down for math, not anymore! I do not have to present the lesson to him with TT and now I can focus on my younger 2 during that time. I hope this helps anyone that is considering the switch from Abeka to TT.
Heidi – thank you SO much for your insight and wisdom with your A Beka background. And I am right with you on all you said about TT!
Oh I am so happy to hear that Teaching Textbooks is blessing your family too!
I just wanted to comment about the “below level” issue. If you, like we, are switching from another curriculum to TT I HIGHLY recommend taking the placement test at both their current “grade level” and the next up. For us, switching from Horizons for 2nd grade to TT we ended up in TT 4 instead of TT 3. This was our first full year of using TT and my third grader did TT 4 and finished the year with a 96 average which is a miracle! So in TT curriculum she’s a year ahead of her “grade level”. For child #2 we completed Horizons 1st grade and are preparing to go into TT 3 with her in the fall. So next year BOTH kids will be in TT, one in 3 and one in 5 (but 2nd and 4th graders).
I just came across your blog as I am looking for reviews for TT vs. Saxon. My concern with TT is the much needed mastery and practice for multiplication facts which leads into and supports division problems. I have been using TT since grade 3 with my daughter who is entering 5th and my son will be in 3rd. I am considering switching to Saxon for both kiddos. TT definitely needs additional supplements for multiplication facts for grades 3 and 4. I am curious about grade 5 and multiplication exposure? Since TT seems to be a grade level below (IMO), does the program catch up as the years progress? Any guidance would be appreciated!
Karen, TT has been such an answer for our visual and auditory learners! My 5th grader just finished Math 5 and felt it had plenty of multiplication practice as well as division.(I did too!) She’s about to begin Math 6. She is also the fourth child in our family to complete Math 5 and move on. We’ve now used all levels of TT – from Math 3 through Pre-Calc and graduated two. In the high school years, in addition to TT, we did SAT and ACT prep and study practice.(Scores were good for both my now high school grads) For us, we have felt it was perfect for our family and meet such a need for our age range. Maybe if one of my students was pursuing a specific math career I would double up on math studies. However, Teaching Textbooks brings the math fun learning to our days and I have nothing but praise!