hometeachcolo
- Reviewed on Thursday, August 19, 2010
- Grades Used: 4th
- Dates used: 2009-2010
We love this curriculum. The spiral approach works well for my son, as it gives him constant practice on skills and concepts without overwhelming. For instance, last year, he could practice some long division, then do some double-digit multiplication, then some geometry--all on one page. It's far better than one long page of 20 long division problems.
Also, my son loved solving problems to complete riddles, puzzles, and graphics. He loved the graphics and the word problem stories. He retained so much more with this than any other program so far (we've used Seton math and Singapore; tried Shiller but never used it as it was totally wrong for us).
We also appreciated the tests interspersed. It is good practice for him to develop test-taking skills.
My son didn't groan when math time came every day last year--in fact, we are going to use Horizons for 5th grade this year, and we look forward to it.
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andray68
- Reviewed on Wednesday, June 16, 2010
- Grades Used: K-4th
- Dates used: 2007-current
I've used the K thru 4th Horizons and overall I've really liked it. The spiral approach works well for my children. My son tested very well in math on the CAT 5. I also like the color workbooks and the amount of work that is scheduled each day. I agree with previous reviews that the TM doesn't help at all. Lucky for me my husband is really good at math and explaining things to our children. I also recommend that you have your child drill their facts everyday. We use the Flashmaster and it really helps. Next year I'm going to try SOS with my son but I plan on continuing Horizons with my 1st grade dd.
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juliajulia
- Reviewed on Saturday, May 15, 2010
- Grades Used: K-3rd and 5th-6th
- Dates used: 2003-2010
I have used this curriculum with 4 different (some very different) children and we liked it very much for the lower grades. My older children went to a private school for two yrs. and did very well in math. I brought them all back home and began with Horizons again. I still enjoy it for the K-3 (have never had a 4th grader-yet) but the 5th and 6th grade level does not do a good job of explaining concepts. We have gotten through just fine but I wish it was laid out in a more convenient manner. It will ask the child to calculate something like the area of a rectangle but not provide the formula. That's easy enough to figure out but why not just put it in the book? Also, my older children haven't enjoyed math as much as before. I will continue to use it for the younger grades but switch to something else by 5th.
Binary numbers are presented in 6th grade with no satifactory instruction. We finally just had to skip it.
My younger children are put off by the number of problems on a particular skill once they have mastered them. I just have them do 1/2 and if they get them all correct they can stop.
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NicoleMPratt
- Reviewed on Sunday, May 09, 2010
- Grades Used: 3rd & 4th
- Dates used: 2009-2010
I chose Horizons because it was colorful and I liked the idea that it didn't drill 50 problems on the same topic for homework. My kids reviewed it and thought it would be great to try also.
We found that the spiral technique of teaching just wasn't in the best interest of my children. Although they learned and coped with it for the entire school year it was difficult when it came time to do math to get them excited. I had to reteach them many concepts because the book would introduce them and then you wouldn't see them again for four or five lessons.
I am very good at math and teach my oldest trig so this next issue wasn't a problem for me but it could be for many. The teachers manual doesn't show you step by step how to do the new topic they are teaching. It only tells you what you should be teaching and reviewing for the day. I found that I didn't even teach from the teachers manual I only used it to make correcting their workbooks easy. I would look at their lesson for the day and teach directly from their workbooks.
On the plus side my kids are above the norm for their age in math after completing this curriculum this year. Each lesson, I felt, had just enough to fill a 30 minute time block, it wasn't too much or too little math for the day. The tests were also a good length and tested on a variety of topics that were covered. Overall a great curriculum if your kids can handle a spiral approach but not so great if you are not good at math or your kids struggle with learning more than one topic at a time.
We are going to try a mastery approach next year and are moving to BJU Math.
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