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There's a whole lot to like about this well-conceived and inexpensive math program. The main features of this program, according to author Maria Miller, are:

  • " Focus is on conceptual understanding rather than rote problem-solving
  • " Teacher instructions are right in the book; no need to buy a separate teacher book
  • " Clear explanations are written for the student, so the lessons are virtually self-teaching
  • " Lessons use lots of visual and pattern exercises
  • " Curriculum is mastery oriented; it concentrates on each specific topic for a long time studying fewer topics per grade than a spiral curricula
  • " Emphasis is on mental math and number sense
  • " Very little teacher preparation is required
  • " Content is aligned to Common Core Standards

These are all valid claims and sum up this approach nicely. It's linear approach is similar to that of the MCP Math program. Topics are introduced, studied in depth, then the student proceeds to the next topic. Visually, it reminds me of Developmental Math because of the extensive use of pictorial representations. Users posting online have compared the course to Singapore Math, but I don't really see much similarity. While they both emphasize conceptual learning and mental computation skills, Math Mammoth has a much more traditional feel. A distinguishing feature of this program is the author's amazing ability to simplify and clarify math processes so children can understand them easily. Even in printed form, this course is the easiest on the budget using a strictly by-grade comparison. And for those purchasing the complete program on CD (or download), the savings are even greater. Imagine getting a complete, masterfully taught math curriculum for grades 1-6 for less than $150. I would call that frugal - and smart.

Each grade level set consists of four components: two student workbooks an (optional) set of Tests and Cumulative Reviews and an Answer Key containing answers to both workbooks and tests. Currently, we carry the curriculum in print format by the grade level and the entire course on CD. The course is also available as a download (go to mathmammoth.com site) for slightly less than the CD price. Both download and CD have colored student pages whereas the printed versions are only available in black and white.

Student Workbooks A and B for each level have varying numbers of chapters, each focusing on a math topic. These are sometimes very broad. For example, one very large chapter (68 pages!) in Worktext 4-B is simply entitled, "Division". It reviews division, and then covers every facet of fourth grade division. Since division skills are being built step-by-step throughout the chapter, there's really no need for review or testing until the end; but it does make for a long teaching unit. Each chapter begins with a short introduction. This is where you will find any teacher instruction for the chapter, including background information, strategies and ideas for teaching lesson concepts, a summary of lessons by title (including number of pages for each), and a list of Helpful Internet Resources for further exploration, practice and enrichment. If the chapter is on a skill introduced in a previous grade, the skill is reviewed before the new material is introduced. Lessons each include a complete explanation of each skill being taught, numerous examples and models (many visual) to help students understand the concepts behind the math, and a reasonable number of problems for students to work to ensure comprehension. The lessons vary from 1-5 pages each. For planning, the author suggests simply dividing the number of pages in each book by the teaching days rather than planning to teach a lesson a day. This would generally mean covering 1-2 pages a day depending on grade level. After the last lesson in each chapter there are one or two reviews. Chapter tests are contained in the separate Tests and Cumulative Reviews book, as are cumulative reviews (taken upon completion of each worktext chapter) and a comprehensive test for the grade level. A nice feature here is the inclusion of grading instructions and scales. If remediation is indicated, the author provides a web address (www.homeschoolmath.net) for printing additional math worksheets by grade level and skill. Worksheets are randomly generated within your provided parameters, so each is different.

As mentioned briefly before, I find the author's teaching methods very solid, efficient, and effective. Her goal is to imbue the student with an understanding of the concepts in math rather than just how to solve problems and this is evident in her instruction. She consistently shares strategies, "tricks" and revealing insights into the mysteries of math, essentially putting a teacher right on the page. An example is in teaching beginners to add numbers with sums greater than 10. She tells students that when adding 9 to a number, the 9 "really wants to be a ten", so you should take one from the other number to make it a ten, and then add the rest. I have seen few other curriculums (see Miquon Math) that teach students alternate, flexible ways like this to approach operations. Another feature I liked in the book was using gridded workspaces for solving problems. Especially for students just starting to use multiple-digit operations, it's helpful to get them in the habit of keeping answers neatly aligned in columns. I also like the scale problems in Grade 4's multiplication and other chapters. These are much like the ones in CTP's Balance Math program and very effective for understanding how equations work. There's also a healthy balance of word problems in the lessons with realistic, practical contexts. The geometry sections are particularly good, too, with ample hands-on work. The author even includes printable manipulatives for constructing your own geometric solids.

Taken as a whole, the curriculum follows a standard scope for elementary level work. Besides learning standard math operations, students learn money, time, measurement, fractions, number theory, place value, geometry, percents, decimals, ratios, proportions, graphing, probability, statistics, and using the calculator. The sequence is a little different in places, but makes sense and is only a factor if you are moving into or out of the curriculum. Visit our website and view the table of contents for each book for an exact scope and sequence. For placement, a diagnostic test is available on the Math Mammoth website.

While some cut-out manipulatives appear in the book, some others are helpful and recommended by the author. These include:

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All > Mathematics > COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS - ELEMENTARY > Math Mammoth >
Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 1 Answer Key (Revised)

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 1 Answer Key (Revised)
Item #: 054620
ISBN: 9781480191310
EAN: 5800080203255
Grade: 1
Retail: $13.95
Rainbow Price: $11.95

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 1 Answer Keys

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 1 Answer Keys
Item #: 049709
EAN: 5800059797334
Grade: 1
Retail: $13.95
Rainbow Price: $13.80

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 1 CD

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 1 CD
Item #: 054556
Grade: 1
Retail: $39.00
Rainbow Price: $37.95

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 1 Tests & Reviews (Revised)

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 1 Tests & Reviews (Revised)
Item #: 054621
ISBN: 9781480177062
EAN: 5800080205181
Grade: 1
Retail: $12.95
Rainbow Price: $10.95

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 1-A Worktext (Revised)

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 1-A Worktext (Revised)
Item #: 054622
ISBN: 9781481837873
EAN: 5800080199749
Grade: 1
Retail: $14.95
Rainbow Price: $12.95

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 1-B Worktext (Revised)

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 1-B Worktext (Revised)
Item #: 054623
ISBN: 9781479367443
EAN: 5800082287710
Grade: 1
Retail: $14.95
Rainbow Price: $12.95

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 2 Answer Key (Revised)

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 2 Answer Key (Revised)
Item #: 054624
ISBN: 9781480264816
EAN: 5800081938750
Grade: 2
Retail: $13.95
Rainbow Price: $11.95

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 2 Answer Keys

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 2 Answer Keys
Item #: 049713
Grade: 2
Retail: $13.95
Rainbow Price: $13.80

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 2 CD

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 2 CD
Item #: 054557
Grade: 2
Retail: $39.00
Rainbow Price: $37.95

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 2 Tests & Reviews (Revised)

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 2 Tests & Reviews (Revised)
Item #: 054625
ISBN: 9781480270534
EAN: 5800081926115
Grade: 2
Retail: $12.95
Rainbow Price: $10.95

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 2-A Worktext (Revised)

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 2-A Worktext (Revised)
Item #: 054626
ISBN: 9781480014763
EAN: 5800081909033
Grade: 2
Retail: $14.95
Rainbow Price: $12.95

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 2-B Worktext (Revised)

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 2-B Worktext (Revised)
Item #: 054627
ISBN: 9781480042629
EAN: 5800081917236
Grade: 2
Retail: $14.95
Rainbow Price: $12.95

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 3 Answer Key (Revised)

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 3 Answer Key (Revised)
Item #: 054628
ISBN: 9781481020657
Grade: 3
Retail: $13.95
Rainbow Price: $11.95

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 3 Answer Keys

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 3 Answer Keys
Item #: 049717
EAN: 5800078549150
Grade: 3
Retail: $13.95
Rainbow Price: $13.80

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 3 CD

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 3 CD
Item #: 054558
Grade: 3
Retail: $39.00
Rainbow Price: $37.95

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 3 Tests & Cumulative Reviews

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 3 Tests & Cumulative Reviews
Item #: 049719
Grade: 3
Retail: $12.95
Rainbow Price: $12.80

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 3 Tests & Reviews (Revised)

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 3 Tests & Reviews (Revised)
Item #: 054629
ISBN: 9781481028042
Grade: 3
Retail: $12.95
Rainbow Price: $10.95

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 3-A Worktext (Revised)

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 3-A Worktext (Revised)
Item #: 054630
ISBN: 9781481002110
Grade: 3
Retail: $14.95
Rainbow Price: $12.95

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 3-B Worktext (Revised)

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 3-B Worktext (Revised)
Item #: 054631
ISBN: 9781481012584
Grade: 3
Retail: $14.95
Rainbow Price: $12.95

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 4 Answer Key (Revised)

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 4 Answer Key (Revised)
Item #: 054632
ISBN: 9781481223331
EAN: 5800087940450
Grade: 4
Retail: $14.95
Rainbow Price: $12.95

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