For some, the idea of trying to choose a homeschool math curriculum can be incredibly daunting. They are expensive. You’re concerned whether your child will be reduced to tears like a lot of marketing would have you believe is the result of choosing the wrong one.
I’m going to start off by saying that I am totally biased when it comes to math education because I am a former high school maths teacher. I used to run my own tutoring business teaching maths and statistics. So I’ve seen the results of poor mathematics education. I think how you choose your homeschool math curriculum is incredibly important, no matter which field your student chooses to pursue in future.
So what IS the biggest mistake parents make when choosing a homeschool math curriculum?
Thinking a perfect math curriculum exists that will simultaneously be simple enough for a busy homeschool parent to teach and also cause your child to fall in love with mathematics. Or, at least not cry while doing his math homework. The truth is, this perfect math curriculum – homeschool or otherwise – does not exist.
Now you might be wondering, what do I do? If there’s no perfect homeschool math curriculum, I still need to choose one, so what’s the best option?
And here is where I would challenge you to think about this differently. There might not be ONE perfect homeschool math curriculum, but combining curricula actually gives you a huge advantage for three reasons.
1. The Power of Different Approaches
Different students grasp abstract concepts in different ways. It can be your choice of wording, a specific example – you never quite know what the winning combination will be. The more unique ways you can present the same challenging concept, the better chance your student will understand. For me, this is reason enough to use multiple curricula for homeschooling math. A student is not stuck with one particular wording or set up for a particular type of problem.
Believe it or not, excelling in mathematics requires creativity. And it’s difficult to approach a problem creatively when you have only ever used one type of math textbook. Don’t get me wrong, that one textbook may be great. But if a student cannot see that same type of problem written in a different format or using different wording and still recognise it, let alone solve it, then the textbook is useless. As homeschoolers, we shouldn’t be trying to teach our kids solely how to do well on exams. We should be teaching them how to do well in mathematics. They should understand the material so well that they can solve the problem no matter the format in which it is presented. Then the exam scores – which are important – will take care of themselves.
2. Spiral vs Mastery or Both?
There are two main methodologies used by math textbooks: the spiral approach and the mastery approach. A spiral approach is one that involves constant review of older material as new topics are introduced. The mastery approach involves very little review. Instead, a topic is introduced and repeated in different iterations until it is mastered. Then the student moves on to the next topic. Both of these methods have pros and cons. By combining curricula, you can get the best of both.
Repetition leads to mastery. Just like a musical instrument, the more quality time you put into practicing, the better you will be. And so the more problems you solve, the better you get at solving them. It’s important to master a mathematical concept before moving on. But it is just as important to practice the previously mastered concepts so that your foundation does not get weak. Principles of mathematics build on each other. So it’s very important to keep the foundation strong (continual review) while you continue to build on new layers (new concepts being mastered). This is why I love combining a spiral approach curriculum (like Saxon math) with a mastery-based curriculum (like Singapore math).
3. Multiple Math Curricula Solves the Summer Dilemma
If you’re homeschooling, you’ve probably already had to think about how you handle summers. Some homeschoolers do school year round to avoid the wasteland of summer. If you’re traditional, like me, you still like to take the summer off in some sense. There is just something about the academic calendar that is forever ingrained into my soul, for better or for worse. That being said, there are certain non-negotiables that have to be done during the summer even though our homeschool is not in session. One of those non-negotiables is math.
But here’s the dilemma: If you follow a typical curriculum’s schedule, the textbook will last the length of a school year. So do you start the next grade at the start of summer? You can. Especially if your student is mastering the material quickly and starting to get bored. This won’t be most students though. Even my daughter, who has a photographic memory, does not get bored quite that easily when it comes to math.
This is where having a secondary curriculum comes in handy. By doubling up on curriculum, you can make your material last a full year and not get too far ahead (or “ahead” at all if you don’t want). It solves the problem of having meaningful math work for your student to work on over the summer – as opposed to busy work like random worksheets.
A Math Teacher’s Thoughts on “Getting Ahead” in Math
Something to consider when you’re deciding whether or not to let your homeschooler get “ahead” in math is the scope and sequence of your chosen curriculum up through high school. A lot of students will not get to calculus let alone any other type of advanced mathematics before they graduate high school. I think this is a shame. If you’re a parent who hates math, you might not think this is a bad thing. I just want to say, as someone who went on to get an undergraduate degree in mathematics, the fun stuff doesn’t start until calculus. It’s when you finally get to see why you were doing what you were doing in algebra and trigonometry. The dots start to connect. You see the interplay between mathematics and science, especially physics. And I daresay it’s fun.
Homeschoolers have so many options when it comes to pursuing advanced subjects even if a parent isn’t comfortable teaching that subject. Homeschooled high schoolers can dual enrol in local universities to study a subject, simultaneously earning high school and university credits. There are also tutors who earn a living teaching their specialised subjects. So please don’t let the fear of a “scary subject” hold your child back when they can excel in mathematics.
But how do I actually combine homeschool math curricula?
If you’re reading this far, I hope I convinced you that doubling up on mathematics is a smart decision. By now though, you’re probably wondering, But how do I actually do that? And my answer is, you have to know your schedule and know the curriculum schedule. How many lessons are in a year? How many hours per week need to be scheduled if you want to get the course done in 12 months as opposed to 9 or 10 (taking a summer completely off of math).
When my daughter was doing a combination of Singapore math and Abeka math, we did Singapore math on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and did the more fun (according to her) Abeka math on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Obviously, we finished Singapore first and she finished Abeka over the summer. This is just an example of how it can be done. It will depend on how well your child does with a particular textbook and how the textbooks overlap and complement each other.
Even though there is a bit of extra planning required or your part, I genuinely believe that combining homeschool math curricula is the best way to give your student a well-rounded mathematics education. It slows down the pace of any one textbook and allows for lots of practice. It also takes the pressure off of you trying to choose that unicorn math curriculum that doesn’t exist – the one that checks all the boxes for your particular student.
If you’d like personalised help planning your homeschool math journey, I also offer one-on-one coaching sessions for homeschool parents. Whether you’re choosing a curriculum, wondering if your child is ready to accelerate, or trying to help a struggling learner, I’d be happy to help you create a plan that fits your family.
Keep Reading About…
Abeka Arithmetic 3 – math curriculum review
How to use your summer wisely as a homeschool mom: the Ultimate Summer Checklist (with printable)
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