When I first started homeschooling I had no idea there were different ways to teach math. I just assumed math was math. Oh how wrong was I! There are in fact to main contenders in the running for how math is taught, spiral and mastery.
What is Spiral Math?
Spiral math is an approach to teaching math where the concepts are visited over and over again throughout the course. Each time the concept is revisited a little more is added on to increase knowledge.
The subject matter is kept in constant rotation and continually reviewed.
What are the Benefits of Spiral Math?
- Continued review. The content that is learnt is kept in the mind and reviewed constantly so it is much less likely to be forgotten.
- More immediate feeling of success. I really like this part of spiral math. If a child is learning a difficult concept such as multiplication for example, that will take up the greatest part of the lesson. It would be easy for the child to become discouraged and lack enthusiasm when tackling such a huge concept and not having much success straight away. Spiral math will always include review of what has been previously taught. So this tough multiplication lesson may also include some addition work they had done already, which they were now fully competent at. The child will then at least leave the lesson having had some success.
- Variety. This is one of the big selling points for me because I know how bored my kids would get with only learning one concept until it was fully mastered. It would drive both of us crazy. The variety keeps things fresh and interesting.
- Mastery could never happen. I remember being taught long division when I was 11. I never ever mastered it and could not, to this day tell you how it is done. Although I want my children to be able to master all concepts I need to be fully prepared for that not being the case. Like myself they may just need to use a calculator to figure it out.
- Integration of different concepts. Spiral math pulls from different areas to show how math works in lots of different ways. Skip counting, telling time and counting money all go hand in hand. In spiral math these are all taught at similar times where as in a mastery approach they could be spread out and a child may not link the two together.
Spiral Math Curriculums
- Bob Jones University Press: This a christian curriculum which goes from kindergarten to twelfth grade. The cost of this course for each year is roughly $90-130. You are able to reuse the teacher guide and manipulative which will decrease the cost for future students.
- Calvert: A secular program which also provide a full curriculum or individual courses and a high level of support for parents. High school levels are delivered online.
- Saxon: Saxon math is a very highly regarded and thorough math curriculum that is often used in schools. It is a paper based curriculum
- Switched on Schoolhouse: This is another program that is done via computer. It is a christian based program which also has all other basic subjects if you so wish.
- Horizons and Lifepac: These programs are both offered by Alpha and Omega which are a christian company.
- Teaching Texbooks: This program is also very popular and widely praised. Teaching Textbooks is a secular course and is delivered via CD’s for the computer or they have recently introduce an online membership option.
What is Mastery Math?
In the mastery math approach a child learns a concept in depth and masters it before moving on the the next concept.
Mastery math has only in the last 20 years or so become more mainstream in western culture. It wasn’t until the 90’s when international testing was done that the results showed American students performing at a much lower level of math compared to their Asian counterparts in countries such as Singapore and China.
The way that students were being taught was then analysed and the results showed it wasn’t that the Asian students were simply smarter, it was that they had been taught differently. Students in Singapore were taught math via the mastery approach and not the spiral way that was being taught in American schools.
When American schools began to adopt a mastery approach they quickly saw students begin to level out with their Asian counterparts. It is now the generally preferred method of instruction in schools today.
Benefits of Mastery Math
- Students can go at a slower pace. Full mastery doesn’t happen overnight but with continued attention and effort the understanding of a concept deepens. If you have an entire year to master addition you can take your time knowing that there will be no other concept vying for your attention. Once a concept is covered and mastered to an appropriate level it does not need to be retaught….much like riding a bike, once you know, you know for life.
- The evidence that surrounds this approach to teaching math is indisputable. Time and time again children who have been taught in this way out perform spiral based students.
- If you intend to put your child back into school this type of math program will likely be what the school is using and therefore the transition would be much easier
- Slow and steady wins the race. I love how the concepts are developed upon by adding tiny pieces. There are no big hurdles to overcome. It is a gentle but entirely thorough way to teach math.
- Teaching for mastery allows the children to be able to really understand math and how and why it works instead of just simply learning it. When a child is able to go in depth with something in is solidified in their mind and it becomes so much easier to pull that knowledge and apply it in a multitude of different scenarios. Children who have learnt this way don’t just know how to do math they understand the how and they why of math.
Mastery Math Curriculum
There are far more mastery math curriculums than there are spiral curriculums, almost all math curriculum offered are mastery based. I will therefore list all the most popular and well supported programs available.
- Math U See: If you ask on any homeschooling forum for math advice this will be without a doubt the top curriculum suggested. It is expensive to buy new but you can pick it up second hand a bit cheaper. It is in such hot demand that you can resell it for a very good price when you are done with it.
- Singapore Math: This curriculum is based off the programs used in Singapore which have produced some of the most mathematically proficient students. This is the program we are currently using and have zero complaints.
- Life of Fred: These books are brilliant. We use them as a supplement because they are so fun. They teach math through funny stories which is so engaging for children.
- Math Mammoth: Another very good and well used curriculum choice. You will be well supported and a well rounded math education here.
- Right Start Math: This is a highly engaging and hands on math curriculum. It is used in many schools but the company also has a well supported homeschooling program.
- Abeka: This is a christian math program which also has a full homeschooling curriculum to go along with it if you so choose.
There really is no wrong or right math program. In the end the best program is the one that your child enjoys and is motivated to do. If you are trying to decide on which to choose from I would suggest going to a curriculum fair or homeschool conference if you can make it. If you can’t make it to one of those my next best suggestion is to look up reviews on YouTube. That way you can see the books and hear other parents thoughts and opinions.
We have used three math curriculums before finding what works for us. My main challenge is that most curriculums don’t teach the metric system in depth. We live in Australia where that is kind of important! Inches and feet don’t mean anything to us unless we are ordering Subway!
