Success in K – 6 homeschool math is only partially dependent on the curriculum you pick. A good solid program helps, but other factors are equally important. Later in this post, I’ll share what curriculum worked for us. First though, here are five key elements that will ensure good outcomes, no matter which curriculum you choose:
- Patience
- Paper and Pencil
- Consistent Work
- Forward Momentum
- Supplemental Resources
Patience: While patience helps with all of homeschooling, I think it’s especially important for teaching K – 6 homeschool math. Some days you may find yourself a little short on this virtue. Perhaps you’ve resorted to talking louder and slower in the hopes that it will enhance the learning process. (It doesn’t – I know this for a fact.) It’s okay if you’re not patient ALL the time. Just try for a good percentage. The payoff, of course, is learning and progress.
Paper and Pencil: I’m a big fan of starting out with paper and pencil for learning math. There’s a good deal of information out there about the connections established in the brain when students physically write things down, as opposed to typing on a keyboard. There is also evidence for better performance in math when students use paper and pencil. You may transition to more computer/online work in middle and high school, but students will still need to be able to work out a problem on paper. Get them started early with this skill. While they won’t need to show their work for the ACT or SAT, they’ll need to do it in college.
Consistency: Do some math every day. Or almost every day. It’s okay to take a day off here and there. But consistency is key to learning. Also, keep an eye on the difficulty level. If some concepts come easier, don’t waste time with busywork. Just because there are 30 problems doesn’t mean your student needs to do them all. Use that time for another subject as needed. However, if they’re having a hard time with a section, slow down. Do just a portion of the problems. Maybe break one day’s work into two or three days.
As always, with homeschooling, you can progress at your own rate. One grade level may take you a little longer than a calendar school year, while your student might get through another grade level quite quickly. Don’t get hung up on this, particularly in elementary school. The goal is to master the concepts and lay a good foundation for future learning.
Forward Momentum: Having said that, I have moved forward a few times when a concept wasn’t quite cemented in place. Maybe dividing fractions just isn’t ‘sticking’. You and your child are both sitting there thinking, “We’re going to be working on fractions for the next 30 years.” It might be wise to settle for partial mastery now and move on. You know you’ll encounter that concept again and it will probably make more sense when it’s given a fresh look.
Supplemental Resources: Occasionally, I do supplement with other resources when we hit a stumbling block, need extra practice, or simply need a break. I’ll do an online search for free printable PDFs or video tutorials of whatever math topic we’re covering. More cumbersome is making up my own math worksheets, but I’ve done that when needed. There are also some fun (and free) computer games online that provide a nice change of pace while reinforcing concepts.
The Curriculum I Used: For K – 6, I used Singapore Math: Primary Mathematics. I liked the layout, sequencing, and progression. You can read more about that curriculum here. Like many math programs, there are free placement tests available to see where to start. If you don’t like this program, that’s okay. Think about what you do/don’t like and then as you search through other curriculum recommendations it will be easier to sort out what is right for you.
Whatever your choice in K- 6 homeschool math curriculum, you’ll have easy days and you’ll have hard days. Stick with those key elements – patience, paper and pencil, consistent work, forward momentum, and supplemental resources. Not only will you all survive, your student will establish a solid and successful foundation in math.
p.s. One of my kids saw the photos for this and said, “Really, mom? You’re using pictures of guns and money to talk about math?” 🙂