I Did Something I Never Do in Our Homeschool

by Janny Jackson

Though we are only on our fourth year of homeschooling, there is one thing I do not do in our homeschool. Or at least haven’t done until this year.

I changed curriculum mid-year.

This may not come as much of a surprise to many, especially if you watch homeschool moms on YT giving their reviews of curriculum they use, and it seems like they switch every other month.

But it’s not something I have ever done, based off of my own personal decisions and convictions to stick to what we are already doing once we start it. Have I quit a curriculum mid-year because my kids were not ready for it? Yes. Have I changed curriculum the following school year? Also, yes. But I am not one to change things up mid-year, especially with a core subject like math.

I REALLY wanted Math Mammoth to work for my second grader. She is a very bright and focused student, and my decision to change her math mid-year doesn’t have as much to do with her learning the math skills as it does the approach of the curriculum.

I started homeschooling my oldest, now fourth grade, with The Good and Beautiful, the original version. That curriculum will always hold a special place in my heart. It is very beginner friendly for parent and child, and its hands on approach using manipulatives really shaped my view on how math should be taught.

My oldest has now moved on to a no-frills approach to math using Math Mammoth, because that is what he needs in this season, and it has worked beautifully for him. I wanted so badly for that also to work for my daughter, but she had not had that hands-on, foundational approach to math that she needed, and therefore was having a hard time grasping the concepts that MM was teaching. She did the work and answered the questions correctly, but I could tell that she wasn’t grasping the subjects being taught. And not only that but getting her to do her math would lead to frustration and a lack of motivation for both of us.

I knew I had to switch it up. I knew she needed a more hands on approach. And I knew that I needed a curriculum that told me exactly what to do and use and how to teach it, because TGTB spoiled me.

You might be asking; well why didn’t you go back to TGTB?

Well, first of all, I am not a fan of the updated version of the curriculum. I don’t like that they took away the big box of manipulatives in exchange for a small box. Secondly, I believe we “grew out” of TGTB approach to teaching, with all of the characters and stories. Thirdly, I wanted a mastery approach to math instead of the spiral approach that TGTB offers. I was noticing that there was not enough depth in the lessons that my kids needed to be able to recall things already taught in previous lessons. I wanted more math, less fluff.

I had heard of this newer curriculum and was skeptical of it because everyone was talking about it.

I’m the type of person that does the complete opposite of what everyone else is doing.

But I watched a mom on YT that I respect and feel like I have a similar teaching style to do a review on this curriculum and I was sold. She talked about how it is hands on, is a mastery and spiral approach, sets a great foundation for those elementary math elements that every child needs as they progress in math, yet is colorful and fun for the kid and parent. I much prefer a more hands on approach, even though it is more work for me to have to plan and setup, it is more enjoyable all around for both my child and me.

And don’t worry, I always look up negative reviews as well on things I’m interested in and get different points of view to try to make my own decision based off of my teaching style and my child’s learning style.

So we made the switch from Math Mammoth to Math with Confidence, grade 2.

And it was THE BEST DECISION I have made ALL YEAR!

I cannot even tell you how many times my daughter has told me how much she loves school now that I have switched her math.

What was once a struggle and burden to have to do every day is now fun and light and something we both look forward to doing together every day.

A lot of it was review in the beginning because MWC does have a different approach than MM, so we did backtrack a bit just so I knew that she had a good understanding of concepts already taught, but we have since moved on to newer and harder concepts, and she is breezing through it all just like I knew she would. She loves the variety of practice and the games we get to play; I love that not only does she get plenty of practice for each new concept, but she continues to do practice on concepts she has already learned to perfect her knowledge on them.

This curriculum has been a blessing to us this year, and as I research and plan for next year MWC is definitely at the top of the list for her.

What curriculums have worked well for you this school year, and what do you think you need to change?

Let me know below, and as always, thanks for being here!