Have you ever wanted to make math more fun and easier to understand? Well, that’s exactly what Math-U-See is all about! It’s like a toolbox filled with exciting ways to learn math. Using videos that show how to solve problems, books to practice with, and colorful blocks to play and learn, Math-U-See makes math not just something you have to do but something you might actually enjoy doing! Let’s do a Math-U-See review and take a closer look at how this program helps us explore and master math in a super cool way!
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What is Math-U-See?
Math-U-See is a math program that helps students really understand math before moving on. It works for different learning methods like visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.
It uses videos and workbooks so kids can learn at their own speed.
The Math-U-See curriculum uses things like blocks to help them learn.
There are 13 levels, from preschool to university-level math. It also offers extra activities if kids need more practice and a test to find the right starting point for each child.
How Much Does Math U See Cost?
Each level costs a different price. The higher the level, the more the cost. See below primary, middle and high school costings.
Primary School Level Costs
The whole primer set costs $156 AUD or $103USD(see picture above).
Alpha costs $182 AUD or $120USD.
Zeta is $207 AUD or $136USD.
Secondary School Costs (Middle and High School)
Pre-Algebra costs $207 or $136USD.
Calculus costs $151 AUD or $100USD.
Where to Buy?
You can sometimes buy it on special from here.
Math-U-See Reviews
After reading many Math-U-See reviews, I was excited to learn almost every review I read was positive. The only complaints I saw were about the cost. For a math curriculum, that’s pretty impressive.
After reading these reviews, I compiled a list of pros and cons below.
Pros from Reviews
- Abundance of Practice Pages: Many reviewers appreciated the numerous practice pages available within the curriculum. This provides ample opportunity for students to reinforce their learning.
- Ease of Teaching and Management: The curriculum is designed to be easy to teach and manage, making it convenient for homeschooling parents to stay on track without excessive preparation.
- Video Lessons and Physical Worksheets: The combination of video lessons and physical worksheets caters to different learning styles, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience where students see, hear, and physically engage with the concepts using manipulatives.
- Mastery-Based Approach: The curriculum’s mastery-based approach allows students to thoroughly understand each concept before progressing, ensuring a strong foundation in mathematics.
- Support for Different Learning Styles: By incorporating visual, auditory, and tactile elements through video lessons, hearing the material, and using blocks with worksheets, Math-U-See accommodates various learning styles.
- Flexible Worksheet Usage: Although many worksheets are provided, they are not considered excessive busywork. Users mentioned the ability to skip worksheets when necessary, providing flexibility in usage.
- Increased Interest in Mathematics: Many reviewers found the curriculum to be engaging and fun, sparking more significant interest in the subject among students.
- Ease of Use with Little Prep Time: The curriculum is praised for its user-friendly nature, requiring minimal preparation time for teachers or parents, which is especially beneficial for younger grades.
Cons From Reviews
- Higher Cost: Some consider the curriculum quite expensive, but reviewers frequently note that the quality and effectiveness justify the cost.
- Mixed Reviews for Higher Grades: While Math-U-See received high praise for younger grades, some reviewers mentioned that the quality might decrease for high school algebra and beyond. This discrepancy in quality was noted by certain users.
- Warning Against Frequent Program Switching: Reviewers emphasized the uniqueness of Math-U-See, cautioning against frequent switches to other programs as this might disrupt the effectiveness of the curriculum.
Overall, the Math-U-See Homeschool Curriculum garnered plenty of positive feedback, especially for its thoroughness, adaptability to different learning styles, and engaging approach for younger students.
What Grades Does Math-U-See cover?
Math-U-See spans from preschool all the way through high school and even offers content suitable for university-level math.
However, while it caters to various levels, many parents express a particular fondness for the curriculum’s effectiveness in the younger grade levels.
Is It Mastery or Spiral?
Math-U-See is a mastery-based course.
A mastery-based approach refers to ensuring students thoroughly understand a concept before progressing to the next.
For instance, when teaching addition, students would extensively work on addition problems until they demonstrate a solid grasp of the concept, showcasing accuracy and understanding consistently.
Mastery isn’t merely about completing a certain number of exercises but about achieving a deep comprehension and proficiency in the topic at hand.
This method allows students the time needed to solidify their understanding before moving forward, fostering a stronger foundation in mathematics.
If you’d like to learn more about the mastery vs spiral approach see the video below.
What Learning Styles Does It Cater For?
This math curriculum caters to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles. This means students can learn in different ways:
- See it (visual): They use pictures and blocks to help you understand.
- Hear it (auditory): You can listen to lessons and explanations in videos.
- Do it (kinesthetic): You can solve problems using blocks and worksheets, so you can learn by doing. This is a fun, hands-on approach.
By using these different ways to learn, it helps everyone understand better.
Does Math-U-See Ever Go on Sale?
Math U See is expensive. So the question, ‘Does Math U See ever go on sale?” gets asked often.
Math-U-See occasionally goes on sale on special occasions. You can watch their Facebook page for info about when it’s on sale.
Or I like Christianbooks.com, which sells Math-U-See. They often have site-wide sales on here.
Does Math-U-See Teach About Currency?
Yes, different versions around the world teach different currencies.
I asked Demme learning about this and this was their reply:
The international versions of Math-U-See are similar to the US version. The instruction videos are the same. You will notice differences with currency, measurement (metric vs. imperial), and cultural references (Ex. biscuit vs. cookie), especially in word problems.
Hope that’s helpful!
Math-U-See Manipulatives
The Integer Block Kit stands as the cornerstone of the Math-U-See Curriculum (see picture below of all the blocks).
They serve as vital manipulatives used extensively from the introductory level (Primer) to Algebra 1.
Comprising 133 pieces, this colorful set includes:
- 20 ones and tens blocks,
- 13 five blocks, and
- 10 blocks each of
- twos,
- threes,
- fours,
- sixes,
- sevens,
- eights,
- nines, and
- hundreds blocks.
The clever use of color coding aids students in visualizing various math operations and showcasing fundamental concepts effectively.
These blocks enable learners to grasp mathematical ideas by offering a hands-on approach, making abstract concepts tangible and easier to understand.
Additionally, the set comes with the Decimal Street™/Block Clock poster, enhancing the learning experience by providing additional visual support for students as they explore mathematical concepts.
Math-U-See Levels
The Math U See levels consist of the following:
Primary levels
- Primer
- Alpha
- Beta
- Gamma
- Delta
- Epsilon
- Zeta
Secondary (middle and high school)
- Pre-Algebra
- Algebra 1
- Geometry
- Algebra 2
- Pre-Calculus
- Calculus
The Bottom Line…
So there you have it! Math doesn’t have to be hard! Math-U-See can be like a friend who helps our kids learn math step by step. With its videos, books, and fun activities using blocks, it makes learning math so much better. Whether you’re just starting out in preschool or tackling tough university-level math, Math-U-See has tools for everyone. It’s like a journey through math that’s both fun and educational. So, get ready to dive into the world of math with Math-U-See and discover how awesome math learning can be!
