1st & K math - Everything is incorporated into the curriculum

[RachelT]

Hello Irmi! First, I want to say welcome and I will also be teaching MFW1st and MFWK this year to my two children!

MFW1st grade has math incorporated into the curriculum. The basic package comes with addition and subtraction practice charts. There are also two other items in the deluxe package (but if you are not purchasing the whole deluxe version you can buy them individually.) One of these items for 1st grade is called "The Complete Book of Math". It's colorful and it has some games and activities in it, not just worksheets. From what I understand, it is scheduled into the MFW1 TM now (I think that's new and it might not be in older editions of the TM). The other item is the Animal patterns book and the wooden pattern blocks. Both look fun to me and I think we are going to try these out, too.

For both MFWK and MFW1 there is also math every day with looking at the calendar and the 100 chart. In K there are also measuring activities, making charts, counting coins, lots of informal math activities.

Two other items that we used last year and will continue to get out this year are from the preschool 3-4 yr old package. They are the "number puzzle boards and pegs" and the pegboard. We used them a lot for lots of different math activities last year and both my PreK'er and my K'er loved them.

Just some other ideas to consider for children that are the same age as mine. ;)

Rachel

[Lucy]

Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:24 am

MFW first grade math is very complete and is so much more than the Complete Book of Math. In fact Marie will tell you that the other activities are really more important than doing all the worksheets since they give a hands-on and real life approach to math which not only makes it fun but very concrete for a young child. So I would go with the math that is in the first grade and add the Compete Book of math(not doing every page but just a few) and other deluxe items if you can afford them to the program. I would move away from the workbook approach this year and wait to start Singapore next year.

I hope this helps you.

[cbollin]

Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:41 am

Just agreeing with Lucy's comment that the hands on approach in this age group is really good and should be the focus at this age because it helps to build concepts early.

But then there are people like me who just have to have a workbook. sigh. LOL. Things that I really am glad that we did with Complete Book of Math: found it a good workbook for reinforcing early story problems, we liked the colorful pictures, it felt more like a fun style of workbook, it really encourages hands on informal activities and provides ideas all the way. I really like that it has a lot of those other math related topics --- measurement, time, money, graphing, etc.

But I was glad to use the book secondary to the ideas already in MFW 1st grade instead of the other way around. My goal wasn't to finish the Complete Book of Math, but was to provide a quick way to reinforce first grade math skills. And it was nice too that MFW math pages in the teacher's manual referred me whichever pages in CBOM for that week. and it emphasizes that you are expected to do all of the pages each week.

Then after my dd's 1st grade year, we did some more of the pages from there to "keep in shape" then started in Singapore in her 2nd grade year.

-crystal

[cbollin]

My son and I finished MFW K over the summer because I knew I was going to busy with a new baby in December; which we loved. Then a friend of mine got into a bind and she couldn't homeschool her little boy who is only 6 months older than mine; so I decided to do them together and continue into the winter. I didn't go into MFW 1st grade because it would have been to much for the other little boy. I just decided to spend most of my time reading aloud to the boys, teaching the other little boy to read, and his mom had a math program so this was free for me. Well this little boy jumped right into reading within the first week of lessons and now is reading a solid 2nd grade reading level fluently.

So we decided to go ahead and do MFW 1st grade with both of them (they are loving it), but I would really like to use MFW 1st grade math as well with them. I have noticed that neither child is learning anything (not saying that it is bad, just they are way beyond this), and I see that MFW is customizable to where they really are. Does anyone know all the differences between MFW and Saxon math, so that I could discuss this better with his mother? Both boys are really bright, and are 5 years old. Thanks again!
Brenda

Hi Brenda,

I’ll just try to describe some of MFW 1st grade math and maybe that will help a bit on your end to see if it is worth it dropping Saxon for 5 year olds.

Given their ages and stages, one of the biggest advantages of a program like MFW 1st grade for math is that it is hands on activities and working on concepts. That is very important at this age in math education. Even children who are "beyond" a math program are not "beyond" their physical age for math. So, you want to use a math program at this age that is suited for their age not how much worksheets they can do, or whether they are "grades ahead". I have found there is no long term advantage to being grade levels ahead in math when you have a child who only has a single digit for their age. (background on me: I finished calculus in 12th grade and received college credit via AP. My husband finished calculus in 11th grade and chose to take university level math (sophomore level differential equations) in 12th grade. He was always smart in math, but didn’t go advanced classes until jr. high years. No advantage to rushing when the kids are only single digit age.)

The math in MFW’s 1st grade includes lists of literature books that will allow a child to learn new concepts and new applications. They will get lots of opportunities to play with math (Sunshine Café for example). They will work on foundational stuff with place value and expanded notation. Lots of hands on stuff. Work on some fun basics of math drills. And if you want to use a workbook, the Complete Book of Math is a 1st and 2nd grade math workbook. But, don’t forget to the use the logic and critical thinking skills books in 1st grade too. Those skills are important too and in my opinion are probably more worth it to do those instead of dealing with 3 digit addition for a 5 year old boy. Thinking skills in math are important and that pattern animals book has so much thinking skills in math and science, that you don't want to miss it if you don't have to miss it. It feels like fun to the kids.

Here is a link to a very old thread where someone (Joan from MN) used MFW’s math in K and 1st and had really good results. It dates back to 2004 which was before MFW was recommending Singapore Math for grades 2-6, so that’s why she mentions some other programs. viewtopic.php?f=23&t=456
-crystal

[4Truth]

I also completed Calculus my senior year, so maybe there is a commonality among those given a few years of concrete material before advancing and producing higher mathematical ability.

Here's an article that might be of interest to you which talks about the necessity of hands-on and "living" math before about age 10, as opposed to a traditional workbook style of math. It's titled "Research on the Teaching of Math":
http://www.triviumpursuit.com/articles/ ... g_math.php

I want to customize MFW to teach both boys at their individual levels, and I feel with Saxon customizing is impossible. Since MFW 1st grade is put into weekly topics, I could expand his understanding using manipulatives instead of wasting his time on worksheets. I need encouragement to bring up the topic of changing math curriculums to his mother since she supplied this curriculum. Is there anything that isn't covered in mfw math?
Brenda

I haven't done MFW 1st (yet--plan to next year), but I did notice a lot of similarities in MFW K to the Saxon 1-3 programs. I've tried those levels with all three of my girls at one point or another, and I end up ditching it everytime. MFW's math is far less time consuming but teaches all the same basic concepts. Marie is/was a classroom teacher, so I trust that she isn't going to let anything slide that's necessary, which *I* might miss by not using a "complete" program. In fact, I like the math in MFW better for all the reasons Crystal listed... critical thinking, the living books, etc. I'd have to go to another resource to come up with that stuff.

And besides all that, the cost just isn't worth it when MFW provides all you need. There are some moms who like to add something else, but it really isn't necessary. Esp if you use the "traditional style" math workbook that MFW recommends to go along with 1st. That provides enough "cushion comfort" for me. ;o)

[homemommy83]

Thank you 4 truth, I really enjoyed reading information off of the site you listed. Isn't it amazing that up until modern times people let children be children and taught all they needed to know in a shorter time frame later. My desire is for my children to understand and love the Bible, to have good character, to have a broad knowledge of many interesting things, to love learning, to look back and feel they had an enjoyable childhood. I feel with MFW all of my goals can be met. I desire my children to be close to one another, something I also feel that MFW will lend itself to.
Brenda

[cbollin]

Is there anything that isn't covered in mfw math?
Brenda

adding on a tiny bit to what Donna (4truth) has said, Marie makes it easy to cover the important stuff.

The goals for 1st grade math are listed in more detail in the manual. But, for quick info:

MFW K:
Math: All typical kindergarten goals are taught including
counting objects,
writing numerals,
preparing and understanding charts and graphs,
comparing,
classifying,
sequencing,
ordinal numbers,
fractions (whole/half),
clocks,
coins, and
an introduction to addition and subtraction.

MFW 1st grade math
Topics covered include:
counting, reading and writing numbers to 100,
understanding greater than/less to 100.
Count by 2’s 5’s, 10’s.
Ordinal numbers.
Addition and Subtraction facts to 18.
Addition and subtraction two digit numbers without regrouping.
Place value.
Expanded notation.
Money, time. Calendar.
Patterns.
Word problems.
Charts, graphs, and tallies.

and I probably left something out.
-crystal

[homemommy83]

Thank you. I like how MFW says, these are the goals and these are the best methods and activities to reach the goals stated; you see what your purpose is.
Brenda

[cbollin]

I'd have to look again, but MFW includes the holey cards for drill practice in either the K or 1st grade packages (or both?). We're instructed in the TMs to do drill practice every day in addition to what's included, so you're on the right track there. :o)

When they were still being made, MFW sold Math Windows. But that publisher discontinued the item, so they haven't been included in the packages for some time.

Good thing is, you don't have to use Math Windows or Holey Cards for drill work. You can do all kinds of drill stuff. Here's a 2 page thread in the Math archive for some ideas
viewtopic.php?t=1141
you can do something as simple as getting flashcards or making your own.
You can find some online worksheet generators.
You might even call MFW and ask if they happen to have some of the 1st grade math windows still around :-)

-crystal