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The 1994 and 2005 editions of this series are very similar content-wise, each having the same number of pages, most of which are more or less duplicates. The 2005 edition has noticeably larger font and, correspondingly, many graphics have been eliminated. The remaining graphics are black and white where the ‘94 edition often included an accent color. There seem to be adjustments in the paper quality as well. At the upper levels, the quality of the older editions is noticeably better, but differences are just barely discernible at the lower levels. The new edition uses the term “regroup” instead of “trade,” includes a few more instances of worked examples, and attaches “algebra” labels when those concepts are being introduced. In addition there are a few content changes, typically the substitution of estimating and problem solving topics for practice and word problems. ~ Janice

Customer Reviews

 
Carolyn D. from The Florida Keys wrote the following on 04/24/2010:
I really like this math program. It's easy to teach, as it has a comprehensive Teacher's Manual, and the program is sequential mastery. The Teacher's Manual, although made for classroom use, is excellent, and easy to adapt to a homeschooling situation. The TM has the following elements to it: Getting Started, Teach, Practice and Assess. It also includes Common Errors- Enrichment exercises and Intervention for students who don't quite grasp the concept yet. More to Explore provides more practice in logic, statistics, number sense, measurement, and problem solving. I imagine these exercises are geared towards gifted students who need more than the standard program provides. Getting Started includes Objectives, Materials, Warm Up - Mental Math, and Warm Up - Number Sense. Besides explaining exactly how to present the lesson, which is so helpful to people who are not well-versed in Math, the Assess section has one defining problem to gauge where the student is in comprehension. Some people may find that there are often too many problems for the student in his workbook, but that can be solved by just breaking it up or skipping for another time. I find that with this program I don't need additional drill. It's built-in, which I like. This program could be used as a stand-alone program. It's straight-forward, no frills, affordable, only uses two colors so as not to be distracting, and its main strength is its lesson presentation and Teacher's Manual. That said, at least in the First and Second grades, we're using MCP with Miquon just to present math from a different angle.

 
Katrena R. from Shingle Springs, CA wrote the following on 11/14/2010:
I love this math program. Just started using it with my cousins and usually Math is do dry. I love the illustrations in this workbook and the teachers manual is easy to adapt to as a homeschool mom as it seems to be written for the classroom. There are multiple ways to practice until the kids grasp the concepts. Great Program!