SWITCHING TO OLD SCHOOL MATH
Traditional math was the answer for my son. After a disappointing year of first grade math with Math-U-See, my husband the math guy decided to switch our son to a traditional method that was described on Ron Paul’s website. It was an approach to math that we used in the 70’s and it served us well. Why couldn’t that approach work now?
RON PAUL’S ENDORSED METHOD
This method involves committing the math facts to memory by rote learning. That’s it. No other math. No costs. The logic is that math facts build a strong foundation for future math concepts. The process begins in the first grade and ends in the second grade. In the third grade, Saxon 5/4 begins. Note: We used the original Saxon books.
METHOD DETAILS
In the first grade, a student commits addition and subtraction facts 1 -10 to memory. In the second grade, the multiplication and division facts 1 – 10 are committed to memory. We used handmade flashcards and handmade worksheets. The exercises took about 20 minutes a day.
In the third grade, assuming all the math facts have been hard wired into a child’s brain, the student begins Saxon 5/4. Yes, Saxon 5/4 in the third grade.
WHY SKIP SAXON 3?
Ron Paul suggested that this level is not challenging enough for a student who has the math facts committed to memory. After looking through the book, my husband agreed.
THE RESULTS OF THIS APPROACH
Believe it or not, this approach worked for our son. Because he had developed such a strong foundation of math facts, he was able to manage Saxon 5/4 in the third grade and tackle a higher-level Saxon book each year thereafter. By the 6th grade, he was studying pre-Algebra. He went on to successfully take advanced math courses at the community college in high school. Traditional math methods worked for our son as they did for us in the 70’s and 80’s. Don’t be afraid to use the methods that worked for previous generations.
Musing: a period of reflection or thought. As such this post reflects my thoughts, opinions, and experiences on the topic. The choice to home school and the methods you choose are yours to determine.