Curriculum Review: Moving With Math
http://www.movingwithmath.com/

I reviewed the ‘Moving With Math’ curriculum for Kindergarten and Level B
for 3-4 grades. If you have a hands on learner then I would highly
recommend this math curriculum as opposed to say Saxon or ABeka. Not that
there is anything wrong with the aforementioned curriculums but they do
tend to be more for a more independent child who tends to be a ‘Competent
Carl’ learner. 

There are five levels for this program: Pre-K and Kindergarten, Level A is
K-2, Level B is 3-4, Level C is 5-6, and Level D is 7-8 or pre-algebra. To
use this curriculum you will need the teachers manual, student manual and
the manipulatives which are the heart of the program.

They have nice math kits that are put together for you that include the
teacher manual, student book(s) and manipulatives. Once you have the
manipulatives purchased for one child you can of course use them with the
other children. This helps when thinking of splitting the cost among
several children and over several years making this curriculum actually
very reasonable. If you started this program in K and went on through to
8th grade for instance, you would be purchasing manipulatives along the
way and not all at once. 

You can purchase with either a consumable or a reproducible license so you
could use the same program with several children for only $20 more. This
means you could freely copy the skill builders and math capsules. Costs
for the workbooks are $5.95 each for Levels A-D. For Level B, which
covered 3-4 grades, there are 3 student workbooks. For Kindergarten there
is only 1 workbook and it is $11.95.

This curriculum has some other benefits for the parent teacher where you
have a scripted lesson plans, games, and family math. The student book
connects the hands on learning to pencil and paper. This is not seatwork
or busy work as with some other math programs. The skill builder sheets
are activity sheets and games. The math capsules are tests and reviews to
make sure that the student is progressing.

If you have a hands-on learner then I would most definitely investigate
looking into this curriculum. Moving With Math suggests that all children
should be taught with manipulatives because they do not start to think
logically or abstractly until 12-14 years old. Even if you did not use
this but on one child and it made them love math it would be worth the
cost. (That coming from one of the most penny pinching homeschool moms in
the world!) Please review the website and do call to get a sample before
investing. The only thing I see that might throw a parent off is following
the objectives but it is laid out well enough to catch on in the 1-2 hours
when you first get it and go over it. 


They also have trained homeschool consultants to help you though I have
not spoken to one as yet to tell you about that. They also have a version
for Level A that uses stories that you can check out from the library.
Before I could put any stamp of approval on this version I would have to
see the book list first and could not find it on the website. I am using
this with Katheryne, my just turned 5 year old, to see how well she
responds and will report back later in the fall. 
Good luck and God Bless!
Leslie

(800) 852-2435 Request a free sampler with a diagnostic test or write to
the email address here at mtpckp@aol.com. The website is new and updating
daily and the sample form was not active when I visited. 

Costs: 
Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten 
Moving with Math Student Book consumable 11.95 
Teachers Resource Manual 49.95 
Essential Manipulative Kit Kgn 57.75
(Unifix Cubes 12.95; Unifix Number Stair 8.95; Teddy Bear Counters 8.95; 
Pattern Blocks 12.95; Attribute Blocks 12.95) 
TOTAL $119.65

Grades 3 and 4: Level B 
Home School Student Set 54.90 
Teacher Guides (in a 3 ring binder) 29.95 
Manipulatives: Basic Starter Set 38.00 
(Unifix Cubes 12.95, Fraction Circles 6.95, Geoboard 2.95)
TOTAL $145.70 

Math Teachers Press, Inc. 
5100 Gamble Drive 
Minneapolis, MN 55416 
800-852-2435
mtpckp@aol.com