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Mastering Mathematics Complete Set
Letz Farmer has a sure talent for simplification and an unquestionable ability to instruct. This program is really all you need for teaching math from grades one to six. It includes manipulatives, drill tools, workbooks, games, and a very clear teacher’s manual. Manipulatives are provided for learning concepts, worksheets to practice them and increase competency, and games for motivational reinforcement. Drill tools, like fact wheels and flashcards, along with drill sheets in the workbook, help students achieve the program’s memorization goals - the ability to recall each fact in 3 seconds or less. It’s a common sense, self-pacing, no fluff, almost self-instructional program (for 2nd grade on) as well. If your child has finished Beginning Math at Home or another kindergarten curriculum, or has the equivalent skills, he is ready for Mastering Mathematics. This program is also particularly recommended for students with learning disabilities - high-functioning Down’s syndrome children, children with ADD or ADHD, as well as those with other types of learning challenges. Likewise, it is highly praised by parents of both gifted and “average” children. I can see why. The approach to sequential - children learn and master each skill before progressing to the next. Facts and skills within books are grouped into manageable units identified by object-coded pages (using little graphic symbols, like Bee, Cat, Dog, etc.). All corresponding materials to use in these units are similarly coded. The first page in each unit includes visual representations of the concepts, to prepare students before the abstract level. The second page is a drill page that will be used everyday the student works in the unit. Following pages include plenty of practice, reinforcement, and more advanced use of the facts. Asterisked pages in each unit can be skipped (more motivation for the excelling student) if work on previous pages is at least 90% accurate. Another thing that sets this program apart from other elementary programs is the philosophy that students can as easily work six-place problems as one-place. Not only do children get extra practice this way (while doing the same number of problems), but they feel so important and accomplished working “big” problems. It can be very motivating. The workbook pages are a thing of beauty to a claustrophobic like myself - but, more importantly, help students to focus and concentrate on what’s being taught. They are “clean” and uncluttered. No color, no pictures, no “busyness” to distract. Instructions are included on every page, and printing is large (20 pt). Each page contains no more than 20 problems, with generous spacing to record answers or do figuring (especially helpful to a child with some writing difficulties). Each page is deliberately blank on the opposite side, also, so facing pages cause no distraction and children aren’t tempted to look ahead to see what comes next. All of these “no nonsense” features help a child to maintain the concentration and self-discipline needed to learn. You can see how this would help a child who has trouble focusing.
There are six workbooks which, preferably, should be worked through sequentially. Because people aren’t always free to do what’s best or most effective (like when children are required to submit to standardized testing), Mrs. Farmer has provided alternate routings through the books, a general scope and sequence, and information on what skills are tested for at each grade level. This helps you to plan an alternate course through the program, if necessary. The books are: Attacking Addition, Subduing Subtraction, Mastering Multiplication, Defeating Division, Perfecting the Point (decimals, percents, and place value), and Finishing Fractions. While the name indicates the main concepts of each book, other skills are included. Some of these are integrated into the “regular” lessons, others are included in the back section of each book to be used at your discretion during the course (if your child hasn’t already acquired these skills from everyday life). Since younger children do three worksheets per week (M,W,F), Tuesdays and Thursdays are used to cover these concepts as well as for drill practice (with flash cards or fact wheels) and games. Older children should complete a worksheet each day. In general, lessons require about 20 minutes a day. All of the skills normally taught in grades 1-6 are covered in this curriculum, including some from even higher levels. Each workbook applies the skill taught through numbers with six places, emphasizes zeroes and zero place holders, teaches money skills and regrouping, presents problems in both horizontal and vertical formats, provides helpful hints, and includes application of the skill to everyday situations. Word problems are realistic; many have Christian overtones. Skills learned in the Attacking Addition level include: a review of counting skills, addition facts through 9 + 9, reading graphs, calendars, perimeter, numerical sequencing, number lines, temperature, adding change, telling time to the hour and linear measure. Subduing Subtraction continues with regrouping, subtraction (including checking of subtraction problems to practice addition), time and linear measure, Roman numerals, graphs, building number sentences, numerical sequencing, thermometers, time, and making change. Mastering Multiplication covers multiplication facts through 9 x 9, 1- through 3-place multipliers, exponents, pre-algebra variables, area of squares and rectangles. In Defeating Division, children learn to use 1-,2-, and 3-place divisors with whole number remainders (reviews multiplication, subtraction, and addition skills as well), rounding, estimating, unit pricing, comparative pricing, miles per gallon, time and measurement conversions, and equations (reviewing all four basic operations). Perfecting the Point teaches place value, decimals and percents, reviews all four basic operations with decimals, and covers rounding and percentages. Finally, Finishing Fractions presents fractions, practices all four basic operations using fractional numbers, and teaches equivalent fractions, converting fractions to decimals (and vice versa), converting fractions to percents (and vice versa), check writing and accounts, area of right triangles, and introduces ratio and proportion.
If your child already has some math ability, or is switching from another math program, pretests in each book will determine his placement in the course. Also included is a Skills Inventory that will diagnose any problems or reveal “holes” in instruction so you know what to concentrate on. This inventory includes both computational and non-computational skills from counting through geometry.
The curriculum is easy for parents to use. One Teacher’s Manual contains all of the instructions, answer keys, tests, game instructions, manipulative instructions, and reproducible worksheets for the Additional Teaching Curriculum at each level. There is even a special section just for parents of special needs children, with advice and instructions for particular disabilities. After reading the general instructions and becoming familiar with the basic components (all of which is presented concisely and simply), the manual is broken into sections corresponding to the workbooks. Clear instruction is given for using each workbook along with a scope and sequence and instructions for teaching the Additional Skills. Because instructions are included on each student workbook page, you won’t have to constantly be flipping through your manual for directions. This program is flexible for the teacher because you can be very involved, or your student can work almost independently, depending on your situation. At a minimum, you should plan on helping your child with new material, participate in the games (which are more fun with another player), and monitor his progress (including memorization).
The complete program includes placement tests, 30 learning game boards, 16 self-checking fact wheels, flash cards, manipulatives, review games, Certificates of Achievement (in each workbook), erasable page protector, a Parent’s Manual (with teacher instructions, additional curriculum activity suggestions, worksheets, games, answer keys, and Math Skill Inventory), geometry and metric equivalents game cards, and the six workbooks. Workbooks are reproducible, but it may be just as cost-effective for you to purchase additional workbook sets.
Customer Reviews
Patricia M. from Japan wrote the following on 09/18/2006:
I love Mastering Mathematics! It's too bad more people don't try this program. It's very simple to use - at least so far. I am currently using the Attacking Addition book. I like how the author teaches four digit addition early on. It has given my son confidence in his ability to do math. He never complains about doing his work. And I never complain either since the teacher prep is simply to choose which problems my son will do. We spend time with flash cards/math facts. I think it will build a strong foundation that will not be forgotten. The only thing I think might need improving is the parent's manual. I've read this in other reviews and it really is true that the parent's manual is all over the place. I thought I was ADD while reading it. It was almost like the author didn't proofread or organize her thoughts after the rough draft. So I still have to bounce back and forth in the book several times. Nevertheless, I still love this math and the simplicity of it. My son has definitely taken off with Mastering Mathematics.
Angela P. from Fredericktown, Ohio wrote the following on 02/17/2007:
I have been using this program for one year. My daughter began using book one (Attacking Addition) last year (last half of second grade) and instead of testing in and skipping what she already knew we used it to review and improve her speed. Wow! I was amazed at how quickly she gained speed, memorization, and confidence at her addition facts! She very quickly quit using her fingers and was able to quickly adjust to subtraction as "bottom up addition." This year she is really enjoying learning her multiplication facts and actually asks to do math! My son began the program in 1st grade this school year and he loves this math! When the skill of regrouping was introduced (very early into the 1st grade), I was sure it would be way too hard for him. I was pleased to be proven wrong! My public school teacher friends are amazed at the level of addition he is accomplishing in 1st grade (regrouping with 4-digit numbers, using decimals, and understanding and completing word problems). The manipulatives are time-consuming to prepare; however, it is wonderful to have everything you need included in the program (games, maniupulatives, flash cards, fact wheels, answer key, parent manual - the works).
I wish more people were aware of this fantastic math program! It is very inexpensive - especially if you have several children (I bought the program and three additional workbook sets - all the math we need for all four children's 1st - 6th grades). If you calculate the cost of other math program kits plus extra workbooks for each child you\'d spend four times the cost of this program (not to mention all the extra manipulatives required for the early grades)!
Heather S. from Rhode Island wrote the following on 07/29/2008:
I also enjoy Mastering Mathematics. My kids love playing the review board games, and they really help with their speed. This series contains a great balance of drill and problem solving. I started with Attacking Addition, and now my son is in Perfecting the Point. We were originally using Horizons math, but the constant review was driving us nuts. Both my kids are a bit advanced, and it seemed pointless to continue to do problems over and over again when they already knew the stuff, and to wait for new concepts until the next year when they were already read to learn them. For example, if you can regroup in addition from the ones to the tens columns, then you can do it from tens to hundreds, and so forth. But in traditional books, you have to wait to do the bigger numbers. My kids had a good handle on place value, so they were ready to move on. That was the reason we began this series - to move at your own pace. When we started to use it, I was very impressed with the word problems. They are very interesting! They use all kinds of interesting facts from the Bible and from Guiness world records. In addition, they use many real-life situations such as ordering from menus, running a business, shopping, and so forth. I have found the series to be very practical.
There are only a couple of things I do not like about the series. One is that my kids do find it boring to only do one math skill at a time. The other is that while the problems are very useful and practical, I do find that this series is a bit lacking in introducing algebraic concepts. So, I use MCP math as well. I go back and forth between the two programs. MCP math's strongest point is the preparation for algebra.
Laura W. from Austin, Texas wrote the following on 01/01/2009:
We love using Mastering Mathematics for learning basic math facts and operations. The notes in the teacher's manual for adapting teaching to special needs and gifted were right on the money, and my children felt immediately successful without repeating problems over and over again. They still get plenty of practice with facts as they jump into five digit problems (using only the facts they already know) and play games until they are ready to challenge themselves to a timed test. The price tag looks high but when you divide it up per book it is reasonable, knowing that it is up to six years of instructional materials. There really is zero teacher prep...just grading and giving feedback and going over instructions when the children are younger. We like to go between this for practicing math facts, and Making Math Meaningful, which takes a more conceptual approach to learning math (and gives a wonderful base for doing algebra.) So far 4 of my six children have been successful using these materials. My 1 and 3 year old are yet to begin :)
