So excited that we were able to review Math U See’s Algebra 1. It came at the world’s best time for us.

Here is what we received:

• Manipulative Block Set – $38.00
• Algebra/Decimal Inserts – $22.00

• Algebra 1 Instruction Pack – Hard Bound Instructional Manual and the DVD video for each lesson. – $57.00
• Algebra 1 Student Pack – Student Workbook that has the Lesson Worksheets, Review Pages, Honors Pages and Tests – $32.00

Nathan was half way through the school year for Algebra 1.  We had been using a combination of two programs to help teach both of us Algebra. If Nate ran into a question, I’d have to spend a couple of hours researching to figure out how to work the problem, then really listen to him to figure out his exact question, and the work out the problems together. This was taking about 2 hours per day. No Bueno.

What we needed in a math curriculum:

• Informative video
  • that showed a couple of different ways to work the problem
  • gave time to work it on paper
  • engaged the student
  • sparked Ah-Ha moments.
• Student Workbook
  • that was clear with black and white text,
  • did not require reading to understand concepts,
  • focused on problems to practice new skills
  • provided review questions of prior skills
  • and gave challenging questions if desired.
• Teacher’s Text
  • that could help me explain skills verbally or
  • be used by Nate to understand the concepts.
• Answers
  • that were written out showing how problems were solved.
• Community Resources
  • with Forums and ways to contact the vendor with personal specific questions.

After taking the placement tests, watching the overview and sample videos, and reading the Table of Contents on the Algebra 1 page, I was certain that Math U See would be the perfect fit for all of our needs.

When I would ask a question on line about our Algebra struggle so far – it was always a mom who had been working with Math U See that could answer us correctly.

When I asked families that did well in math what program they used –the only confident answers with smiles I received were from Math U See families.

We only had one question left to answer – Would it be a fit for Nate as a student – and Me as the leader?

The first day – we jumped into where we were – Coin Problems. Coin problems gave ways to use the Solving Simultaneous Equation problems, and it wasn’t ‘easy’. So we backed up three lessons:

• Solving Simultaneous Equations by Graphing
• Solving Simultaneous Equations by Substitution
• Solving Simultaneous Equations by Elimination
• Coin Problems
• Consecutive Integers
• Multiplication and Division with Exponents
• Negative Exponents and Raising Exponents to a Power

We watch the videos on the DVD on either the TV, desktop computer or Laptop. I prefer the TV so that it is easy for me to watch along too. Then we work on Lesson A – problems that focus on the skill learned. There was a slight learning curve to figure out the teacher’s questions and how he wanted them answered, but our answers were correct, and reading through the answers written out – showed how they wanted it broken down. This was a quick and easy beginning. The biggest thing? For the first time – ALL YEAR – he did all of the questions alone, without requiring help, and got ALL of the problems solved correctly.

I was overjoyed.

Today we started Lesson 20 – Negative Exponents and Raising Exponents to a Power. I just love watching the videos now and getting the ah-ha moments. After watching quite a few we have gotten to know the teacher a bit more. I like it when I get the answer correct along with the class and he says, “Ok, You’re getting this!”  I want to pause the DVD and clap. He’ll ask another question and Nate and I will answer him and he’ll respond with, “Where did you figure that out?” and Nate will explain, and then he’ll explain to the class. It’s very interactive. I giggle when he says, “I have a funny little mind” and then goes to show how he’d solve the problem a different way than he just showed us. Today’s lesson started out foreign to me. I’ve had troubles with negatives and positives. A few minutes into the question I was solving correctly and understanding!

But this isn’t really about me. Wait – It IS about me, because we are homeschoolers. The bottom line is – I need to know the math enough to help my boys – or know enough to know when to get help. I asked Nate if he enjoyed Math U See and what he liked or didn’t like.

He responded that he likes how the guy teaches. Nate likes to understand, really understand why in problems and solutions. We both get snagged when we are being taught “what” but not “why”. In today’s video – he didn’t share the what until the end – how to make a formula to represent what we were doing.

For Nate’s cons – he wishes we could hear the students better when they answer questions. I’m the chatty one, so I answer out loud when he asks a question, but Nate is a thinker/listener so it bothers him when he can’t hear. He says it is distracting in the video, knowing that there are kids in the room that you can not see or hear.

He said that there was too much review. Today – we switched up our learning to match what was suggested on the site.  There are 2-3 days of New Concept Review – then 2 days of Year Long Review – then a day of Honors Math. Now that I feel he has ‘caught up’ and filled in a few gaps from the first half of the year we will –

Watch the video – work on a skill worksheet A. If he answers quickly and with mastery, then he can move to the Review Sheet – and then move up a lesson. If this goes smoothly with mastery, we will continue on, if there are mistakes, we will take advantage of the extra worksheets.

Nate grasps math quickly and fully when he understands it. My second son, Jon, can use a full worksheet of problems before he understands the concept. He is a learn by do. I’d use the second and maybe third concept review for him each time. Nate is a learn by watching and hearing – and once he has it – it is set. Review is frustrating for him.

In the text and videos helping you with the curriculum, Math U See agrees that they do not intend for students to be bogged down with extra review for mastered skills either. Nate was glad to hear that.

I can’t tell you the peace we have in the home with math right now. It makes the rest of our day more enjoyable for sure.  I asked Nate – If we had 200 dollars – and needed to purchase Algebra 2 right this minute – thinking of all of the curriculum you have used – and you had the sole power of purchase – What would you buy? He said and XBox. Sigh. And then he said with a smile – Math U See for sure – this has been the best math ever.

What about the Manipulatives?  I am thinking that since we jumped into the second half of the book, that we may have missed using them. However, in the video on their Algebra 1 website – it shows using the manipulatives and I think we use them in the next lesson with Polynomials. It was from watching him use the manipulatives that helped me see this is what would work for us. Both boys used a curriculum that was based on rods for pre-3rd grade. (Update – we have been using the manipulatives to factor Polynomals and can see from the book that they are key to quite a few concepts to come.)

My only – only – regret – so far in Homeschooling – is that we did not switch to Math U See in the 3rd grade – or the 2nd grade. I regret that we tried  used or free or hand me down books for all of these years. It all worked out ok – but it is my single homeschool regret. At least it made me a math curriculum expert! ha!

(UPDATE) I’m now on a bandwagon to try to get all of my friends switched to MUS. We are almost done with Algebra 1. I thought it would take all summer to get through it, but with the skills so easy to grasp with this teacher – it is moving along quickly, with mastery, and smiles. Now I will be one of those moms with a peaceful smile when the other moms cmoplain about math.

Disclaimer: I received all of the above products for Free from the Schoolhouse Review Crew. I choose to be on the list that may be selected, I chose the level of product. I agreed to use it in our home for several weeks and to write an honest review that contained what the product is and how we used it. I am disclosing this in accordance with the ever changing FTC regulations.