Math U See Reviews
Math U See is a mastery-based program. Students learn one subject per year, tackling it at their own pace until they are able to demonstrate mastery.
Each level kit comes with a teacher’s manual, DVD lessons, student workbook and test booklet. They also use manipulatives throughout the curriculum, which are a nice touch.
Cost
Math U See is a popular and comprehensive homeschool math program that is incredibly well-liked by many parents. Founded by longtime educator Steve Demme, it uses a four step approach to teaching new concepts and topics in a way that helps kids grasp them much faster than some other programs.
Math u see reviews often mention how easy it is to understand concepts through its lessons, which are short and generally take between 5-12 minutes each. In addition to video instruction, the lessons also include an instructor’s manual and manipulatives that students can use to explore the new concepts visually.
Unlike most other math curricula, Math U See tends to favor a skills-based approach rather than grade level expectations, which can be a big help for older kids with rusty math skills or those who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities. It also has a single subject focus, which is extremely helpful for kids who need to study one concept at a time and really dive into it.
Another feature of Math U See that I like is that it sneaks in review to further kids’ current learning without letting them spend all of their time reviewing old material. This is especially helpful for students with ADHD as they do not have to slog through worksheets that are only used for things they already know.
In terms of materials, the cost of a complete curriculum set for each level can range between $130 and $190 depending on the number of manipulatives, instructional DVDs and lifetime access to digital packs that are included in the purchase. You can also find digital packs that are available for a fraction of the price, but these typically do not include the instructional videos or workbooks that come with the physical sets.
Formats
Unlike many mastery-based curricula out there, Math U See doesn’t move on to the next lesson until students have demonstrated proficiency at the concept they are learning. Instead, it focuses on helping students develop a solid foundation in the subject through a four-step approach that includes video instructions, manipulatives, practice problems and systematic review.
The first step of this process is to teach new concepts through short videos that explain the topic in an engaging way. These videos are usually presented by the company’s founder, Steve Demme, and are often less than 15 minutes in length. They are typically accompanied by colorful, plastic blocks that snap together in a variety of rectangular shapes to help students visualize abstract ideas and give them a hands-on feel for some concepts.
As a result, students are able to learn math concepts through a much more hands-on and tactile method than they would using other materials. This is especially useful for students with learning disabilities such as ADHD, since it can help them better retain concepts without becoming frustrated or overwhelmed by the process.
In addition to the aforementioned video lessons, students also receive Manipulative Kits and Student Workbooks that they can use to practice new concepts. They can also use the Systematic Review section of their workbooks to reinforce previously learned material and to shore up math memory and skills. This combination of video and hands-on learning is one of the most effective methods for introducing complex math concepts to younger children.
Manipulatives
Math-U-See uses manipulatives in a hands-on way to teach basic concepts. This multisensory approach can be especially helpful to kids who struggle with math or have math anxiety. The mastery-oriented sequence of concepts, hands-on manipulatives, simple problems, and comprehensive review pages build confidence in students who are new to math.
While there are many different curriculums that use manipulatives to teach math, Math-U-See stands out from the crowd. This program utilizes a unique set of manipulatives, including integer blocks, fraction overlays, and decimal inserts, to help students grasp important concepts.
In addition to the instruction DVDs, each level comes with a student workbook and a test booklet. The manipulatives used throughout the program are primarily plastic blocks color-coded to represent each number from one through ten, with a hundred block included as well.
These manipulatives are the cornerstone of the Math-U-See learning method and can be reused for multiple years in each grade. A 133-piece Integer Block Manipulative Kit is the primary set used from Primer through Algebra 1. At the Epsilon level, students learn fractions using a Fraction Overlay Manipulative Set, and at Zeta, they learn algebra and decimal concepts with a separate Algebra/Decimal Insert Kit.
The Integer Block Set is a 133-piece set of plastic blocks that are colored to represent each number from one through ten. The blocks snap together like LEGOs, which helps kids visualize the concept.
Additionally, the Math-U-See Integer Block Manipulative Set comes with a reusable box that stores the blocks for easy storage and transportation. These are also a great teaching tool for math centers.
Another unique element of the Math-U-See teaching method is that each lesson is accompanied by a video with Demme. In these videos, Steve Demme demonstrates and explains the lesson, using colorful math manipulatives.
The videos are not just fun to watch, they are also helpful for students and parents. These short videos are often less than 15 minutes in length and Demme explains the lesson in a casual, common sense manner that most kids can understand.
The videos are also available for purchase as digital packs that include streaming instruction videos, an online instruction manual, full solutions, and access to the digital manipulatives. These can be used on any web-enabled device, such as a computer or tablet.
Lessons
Math U See is a mastery-oriented curriculum that uses videos, workbooks and manipulatives to teach math concepts. The curriculum is designed for students in Kindergarten through high school and has a progressive nature, starting with the basics of addition and subtraction before moving on to multiplication and division, decimals and fractions.
One of the most unique features of this program is that it doesn’t break down its material into grade-levels, allowing students to start at their own pace as they progress through the levels. This can be especially helpful for students who are struggling with concepts or for those who haven’t quite caught up to their grade level in math skills and are looking for a way to build up foundational skills more quickly than other, more traditional curriculums.
The mastery approach of Math U See is great for students who need to learn a specific concept before moving on, and it’s also excellent at sneaking in review so that students aren’t left without any practice as they go. This is a big benefit for parents who want to make sure their kids are always ready to take on new math topics when they come up in the future.
Another feature that sets Math U See apart from other programs is its use of multi-sensory learning, as opposed to a top down approach to teaching. It uses a combination of video and manipulatives to help kids understand math concepts, as well as writing exercises and oral summarizing, all of which helps students better internalize what they’ve learned.
Manipulatives are an integral part of this curriculum and are used throughout each lesson to reinforce the learning. They’re made of colorful plastic blocks that snap together into different shapes to help children visualize abstract concepts and reinforce the lessons they’re learning.
Each lesson uses a video from educator and Math U See founder Steve Demme, who explains concepts in a very straightforward manner. The videos are generally short, with most fewer than 15 minutes long.
Each of the Math U See lessons include a video, a teacher’s manual, student workbook and a test booklet. They come in various sizes and can cost between $68 and $122. Depending on the level, they also include lifetime access to that level’s digital packs.