Finding the right math curriculum for your child can feel like an overwhelming task but we all know that it is so foundational and absolutely worth the effort to find one that works well for their learning style and your family.
I started homeschooling in in 2007…and in all those years homeschooling 9 kids that learning math is not a one-size fits all experience. Some kids quickly grasp math concepts and are ready to race on. Others struggle with basic calculations. Finding the Best Elementary Homeschool Math Curriculium can feel daunting but you can actually quickly narrow down your list if you focus on your core objectives or pain points!
For example, if you have a kid that is stressed by math…you want something gentle and slower. If you have a kid that hates to write, you might want an online option. If you have tried EVERYTHING and your kid just does not understand math, you need something that breaks math into tiny increments. And if you have a math whiz on your hand, you may want a rigorous course or you many want to just accelerate them through another curriculum.
I’ve used a ton of different elementary math curriculum over the years. This list is based on things I’ve actually used or reviewed for elementary. It is of course not comprehensive and there are other quality math resources out there!
My experience being a homeschool mom teaching math is far from perfect. My own degree is in English…not Math. But my kids who are adults have been very successful as young adults. My oldest is a software developer and my second son is a Chemical Engineering major enlisted in the U.S. Navy Nuclear program. Our imperfect attempts at teaching math have yielded great results!
I’ve tried to make a list of curriculum and list which type of family or learner I think can benefit specifically.
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Table of Contents
Master Books | Best Elementary Workbook Math for K-6
Most homeschool moms go through a season where they feel overwhelmed. It’s fairly universal. If you are juggling a lot of things….other kids, a household, work and volunteer responsibilities, then finding a simple to use workbook-based homeschool curriculum can alleviate a lot of pressure.
Imagine a curriculum that is open and go, easy to use, colorful, has short manageable, sequential lessons and has an optional extra practice book for you to use. Master Books workbooks have a Charlotte Mason influence which means that math feels gentle…perfect for kids that are easily stressed out doing math….but also perfect for moms that feel stressed!!
This curriculum does not need a separate teacher manual (other than in 6th grade). The instructions are included in the student book. This curriculum shines by working for kids with a variety of learning styles.
Things I Love
- Lessons are short – usually 1 page per day (with optional extra practice in the Practice Makes Perfect workbook
- Lessons are gentle – concepts are covered at a slower pace and regular review ensures students remember what they learn
- Prompts are included to use manipulatives if it will help grasp a concept
- Offer optional “visual” flash cards to drill math facts with visual prompts.
CTC Math | Online Math Curriculum For The Whole Family
CTC Math is a great platform for families who want an online math solution that is easy to use and works for all grades. A common problem in the homeschool world is that kids will have gaps. Maybe they forgot concepts or maybe they never learned some core math skills.
When that happens, parents are often frustrated with textbook math. In order to address gaps, parents end up printing off worksheets online or buying another curriculum because it feels like their child is behind.
CTC Math solves this problem by including all grade levels of math with your individual or family subscription. If you realize in the middle of 5th grade that your son needs to review addition, no problem…you can schedule those lessons into his routine. He can repeat those lessons and then move on with material that is on grade level.
I also like that CTC Math only shows students ONE math problem at a time. This is gold for kids that get distracted or frustrated with too many things on the page. The program is set up for students to learn a math concept for a few minutes followed by practice problems (one at a time) that practice what was taught.
It is both mastery and spiral…and makes reviewing past concepts simple!
The Best Things About CTC Math:
- Subscription includes all grade levels k-12
- Easy to move up and down grade levels to review concepts your child may have missed or to accelerate
- Shows students just one problem at a time
- Has optional worksheets you can print
- Math drilling practice is included for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
Online Platform For LIVE Math Lessons | Outschool
Let’s be honest, sometimes you have a kid that just NEEDS a math teacher and you don’t have time. There is no shame in that. Maybe you are a working parent or you have multiple kids and one just seems to need MORE of your time…more time that you just don’t have right now.
Honestly, one of the advantages of actual school is that students have a math teacher EVERY DAY who teaches what they need to learn. And that can be a hard thing to replicate in your own home.
I love that Outschool has a wide variety of teachers who have different styles and approaches. If your child finds a teacher they enjoy more, then that might be the perfect fit! I also like that you can use live teachers a’ la carte and only select classes for concepts that your child is really struggling with. You can use live classes for a short period and pivot back into your favorite curriculum.
Best Reasons To Use Outschool:
- Outschool is best if you need a live teacher
- Have a student that enjoys learning online
- Have a budget that allows for the higher fees of live classes
- Or your like to incorporate live teachers sometimes when you need extra help covering a harder concept.
Saxon + Nicole the Math Lady | Math Lessons for Strong Math Students
Saxon Math has long been the gold standard for spiral math for as long as I can remember. I used Saxon as a homeschooler about 30 years ago and was very well prepared for accelerated math classes in the college-prep high school I attended. That said, as a homeschool parent with more choices now, I find that Saxon really is a great fit for kids who love math or who need a more rigorous approach.
I strongly suggest pairing it with Nicole the Math Lady especially if you have a child that really needs someone to start a lesson with a verbal explanation. She does a great job of teaching a concept and pairing it with practice. And she offers a self-grading solution for Saxon which is a huge win!
Best For students who are naturally good at math
- More rigorous repetive approach
- Spiral learning
- Workbook based
- Online class option if needed through Nicole the Math Lady
Teaching Textbooks | Self-Paced Online Math Lessons
When I was homeschooling 7 kids at once, Teaching Textbooks saved us from totally failing at math! I did not have time to sit and teach math to every kid. I needed my older ones to have an independent solution that taught the lesson and then was self-grading. I also liked that it had a workbook option for my kids that needed to write things down especially for the older grades.
It does start in 3rd grade and in my experience works best if the student is reading well before doing the lessons. Otherwise they may need a parent to still be very involved.
What Makes It Stand Out:
- Independent Learning
- Works online and offline
- Self-grading
- Works well for large families
- Tutoring support for students
JUMP Math | Math For Kids Who Don’t Get Math
After all the years of raising kids and choosing math, there have been a couple of times when I had a kid that just didn’t get math…at all. JUMP Math is a fully scripted curriculum designed to break down normal math concepts into small ideas. While most math curriculum will teach a big idea…one concept at a time…sometimes kids need the ideas taught in much smaller increments.
JUMP Math is designed for kids who think they can’t learn math and for parents who are exhausted trying everything else!
Quick Take: This is perfect for families who have tried everything and have a kid that just doesn’t understand math.
Reasons You Might Want To Use JUMP Math:
- Fully scripted parent/teacher’s manual – you don’t need to guess what to say
- workbook based lessons
- Short lessons
- Designed for kids who really struggle
- Great for kids of any learning ability
Math is a Journey…Letting Go of Perfection!
When I first started homeschooling, my oldest son liked school work and most things came easily. I assumed that what worked for him is what would work for everyone else. I could not have been more wrong! If I could go back to the younger me, the one thing I would say is, “The goal is not perfection and your child will still be successful even if your homeschooling is very imperfect.”
I used to stress out over the trial and error process of using math curriculum. But now I actually enjoy it. I see our journey with math curriculum as something we experience in seasons. What worked for one season may not be the best fit in the next season. But that shift doesn’t mean the curriculum was bad, it just means that our needs shifted.
Embracing the shifts of each season which gratitude really has changed how I experienced homeschooling and all of our other educational choices.
Remember, whatever math you choose, it doesn’t have to be perfect to be good…and over the course of all your kids schooling, they will be able to learn math concepts in many different ways which will help them become well rounded.
Sarah McCubbin and her husband and 9 kids live in Ohio. She loves talking about all kinds of education topics and is passionate about helping families find the best education options in each season! After being very socially awkward growing up, she now loves to help families teach life skills, social skills and leadership to their kids!
Connect With Sarah:
Schooling Year By Year Facebook Group
Facebook Page
Instagram @ten_minute_momentum
PallasCenter.com
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