Math-U-See Review

Math-U-See

Math-U-See is a mastery based math program.  This means that it teaches math concepts to mastery.  This is very different from the spiral approach, which spirals through math concepts adding harder equations as the years progress.  (Saxon would be a good example of a spiral approach).  Understanding the difference between the two approaches can be key to picking the right math curriculum for your student.

The great thing about MUS is that each book teaches one math concept from beginning to end, meaning that in the addition book, Alpha, your student will be adding multiple rows and learning place value extensively.  Next, Beta teaches subtraction.  Gamma is multiplication.  Delta teaches division, then Epsilon covers fractions and Epsilon decimals.  As the years progress they do cover previously learned concepts.

Division requires a student to be able to multiply and subtract, so why teach division until the student masters the previous concepts?  That’s something I never understood about traditional textbooks.

Other things I like about MUS:

• DVD lessons for you to watch or student
• enough practice per lesson to master the concept yet not overwhelm the child
• review pages for previously learned concepts
• great price
• time, money, measurement, geometry are woven into the lessons
• word problems on every worksheet

I’ve used MUS from Primer – Zeta and have never thought twice about switching because of content.  I think MUS is a wonderful math curriculum and my children have liked it also. Please visit the site for more information on placement.

Written by Brenda