I gave up on Right Start . . .

I haven't been able to keep up with this blog like I would to.  (((sigh)))  I haven't given up on it but I have given up on Right Start Math.  I purchased Math-U-See which is the one I had originally felt moved to buy and boy am I glad I did I finally did it even though I had to sink a big chunk of change.  Lesson learned:  follow your gut.  

For me, Right Start Math was just not a good fit.  First of all, I had to do more preparation than I was willing to in order to begin each lesson. Photocopies.  Cutting stuff up.  Taping stuff together.  Oh goodness.  With Math-U-See, I just jump right into the lesson.  Sometimes I read the teacher's manual.  Other times, Z1 and I just watch the instructional DVD together.  I love how simple and straightforward this program is.  I like how it's ordered.  Every lesson seems to naturally flow into the next.  It makes sense to me in a way that Right Start was not.  Don't get me wrong:  I'm happy to have tried Right Start though . . . I think there's some value in learning math with an abacus although I have to honestly say that learning with the blocks just makes much more sense to me and to Z1.  What I did really like about Right Start though was how it threw in things that weren't necessarily related to the topic at hand like the meaning of parallel and perpendicular lines and identification of quadrilaterals.   

But since I trust Math-U-See (because it makes sense to me), I know we'll eventually cover everything.  So we are both very happy with Math-U-See.  Actually, thrilled with it.  

Another program we've been using is IXL: Math for the Left and the Right Brain.  I *really* like this site a lot.  It provides lots of extra practice for things we're covering in Math-U-See but Z1 also clicks around and tries all different kinds of things.  I enjoy sitting with him and working on it.  It's self-correcting and Z1 is motivated to keep going in order to get ribbons and other prizes.  Plus we get an e-mail report about what he's been doing.  We had a free trial membership through our homeschooling co-op and there's a big possibility that all members will be able to get a heavily discounted membership which would be wonderful because I'd actually pay full price for it.