Math, Science and Logic - How do we Tackle Them?

I's week 2 of the virtual curriculum fair. This week we are talking Math, Science, and Logic Curriculum. Co-Hosting this week, along with Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts and Minds is Laura @ Day by Day in Our World.

Math is one of the three 3 R's of basic education. No matter how much one dislikes Math, it has to be taught and it has to be learned.

The boys never had major issues with Math, though Math facts, like for many, is not intuitively retained. At the younger grades we used Singapore Math which gave them a good foundation of Math sense, learning number bonds and Math strategies for adding and subtracting.

When it comes to Math education, your child learning style can play a role in the way they retain and process the information. My boys are pretty different, one is very big picture, abstract idea, skip the details and steps, kind of boy, my other one is very mechanical, and process oriented.  They are using the same program, and somehow, they are making it work. The difference shows up in he way they do their exercises. My detailed oriented child follows patterns to the T, my abstract boy tends to like going with the flows and tends to sense the answer, which makes him often miss some basic stuff, all the while grasping more advanced concepts. He hates worksheets and loses focus if he sees too many exercises in front of him. On the other end my other son has no problem with worksheets.

So, now unto what we are using: CTC Math. It is an online Math program, where a teacher goes through the lesson and then they do online exercises. Sometimes, if they need help from me I would explain things further or differently. This is a program I got to reviewed last year, which the boys really enjoyed so we stuck with it. Here is the review.

I still have Math on the Level which is what we have been using for the past 4 years, as my to go curriculum. He can read about how it works in previous posts:
5 Days of Curriculum Evaluation: Math on the Level
Math, Math and more Math

When I see Math workbooks at curriculum fair, I tend to pick them up to supplement CTC once in awhile. 

In the past I have heard so much good about Life of Fred that I have been wanting to try it out. Last week a friend of mine directed me to a company here in Canada who was offering a good price for it -  The whole Before High School set for $68 - so I gave in and bought it. We will see our this will work out. I am planning to just add it to our daily CTC Math routine.

When it comes to logic, we encourage our boys to think logically about everything in life. The way we do that is by asking a lot of questions, and challenging them to think through answers when they ask us a question. On top of that, formally,  Johann is going trough Critical and Creative Activities. That said, I am hoping to get to review Math Analogies from the Critical Thinking Co. For Zach I picked up An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments over Christmas, and will start it on Monday. I will probably have him work on Math Analogies as well if we get it.




For the past couple of years Science has been the subjects with which I have been having a lot of issues finding what I want. Between content and price I always find myself held back. In the end, this year, we are continuing with Classic Science Life science, Real Science 4 Kids Geology and science experiments from a lab Kit the boys got at Christmas gift. 

That said, here are a few curriculum and science videos we reviewed that we really enjoyed: 

• Standard Deviants Accelerate (my 5th grader really enjoyed this one)
• Amazing Science from ScienceandMath 
• Supercharged Science
• Brainfood Learning Science DVD
• Christian Kids Explore series 
• Dive Into Your Imagination

That is it for our Math, Logic and Science tour. Don't forget to check out the other 20 homeschoolers' posts on the topic.

Learning about Patterns in Our World Through Math and Science by Laura @ Day by Day in Our World

Relaxed Homeschooling: Mathematics in the Early Elementary Years by Brittney @ Mom's Heart

Using a Bible-Based Math Curriculum by Tauna M @ Proverbial Homemaker

Math, Science and Logic for 2015 by Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses

Playing with Numbers by Sarah @ Delivering Grace

Unschooling Science by Kristen H. @ Sunrise to Sunset

Logically Speaking: Math, Science, and Logic for 7th Grade  by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool

Numbers and Molecules! by Michele @ Family, Faith and Fridays

Math and Science in Our Homeschool by Jennifer @ A Glimpse of Our Life

5 Math & Logic Resources We Love by Becky @ Milo & Oats

Giving Your Kids The Right Start With Math by Amy @ One Blessed Mamma

Math in Our Classical / Charlotte Mason Homeschool by Sharra @ The Homeschool Marm

Classical STEM by Lisa @ Golden Grasses

Math, Science and Logic - How do we Tackle Them? by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory

The Physics of Delight-Directed Learning by Susan @ The Every Day of Education

Tackling High School Science by Debra @ Footprints in the Butter

Choosing Math Curriculum for Special Learners by Heather @ Only Passionate Curiosity

Math for all ages by Denise @ Fullnest

Middle School Monday - Math With Fred by Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break

Learning With Math and Science Resources  by Leah @ As We Walk Along the Road