Blog

My books!

Newsletter

Worksheets

Lessons

Videos

Online math resources

Reviews

Curriculum guide

Maria's Math news - a FREE math newsletter for parents and teachers

May 2013

Subscribe below:

Latest from my blog
This is where you'll find the latest happenings, news, & ideas in math teaching

Math teaching videos
My videos at YouTube show you how to teach concepts.
How to help students with multiplication tables?

Worksheets
Various worksheets on TONS of math topics you can generate for free!

Basic operations worksheet generator is updated! Make worksheets for whole numbers or integers - all four operations, including add & subtract or multiply & divide - horizontal or vertical - add a border and/or extra workspace, use a variable, and more.

Curriculum
Advice, reviews, and resources to help you choose a math curriculum!

Online math games, tutorials, and activities
Games you can play online, interactive tutorials, fun math websites and more. Arranged by topic/level for ease of use.

Lessons
Learn how to TEACH concepts or about general concerns in math education.

Reviews
In-depth reviews of math products

Math help & tutoring
A list of free message boards, math help websites, and online tutoring services.

Fun and games
I have two games on my site, plus links to many.

(easy hangman)
(difficult)

You are here: Home → Curriculum reviews → MMM

Making Math Meaningful

Grades: K-6 + Algebra 1 and Geometry

Making Math Meaningful from Cornerstone Curriculum

"A curriculum for building a Biblical world view. There are no seminars to attend and no videos to watch! Simply pull the book from the shelf and start teaching. Each child has his own student workbook. Levels K through 4 give you a written script to teach each concept and skill. Levels 5 and 6 and Algebra are written directly to your child. Perfect for all learning styles: Activities using manipulatives for kinesthetic learners. Activities written using a natural conversation format for auditory learners. Activities using pictures for the visual learners.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT is the first key to Making Math Meaningful. The conversations you have with your child over each concept and computational skill will minimize misunderstandings and enhance learning. Simply giving a child a work book or even a tradition textbook and asking him to work on his own leads to many misunderstandings in math. Such misunderstandings are sometimes not noticed for months and then very difficult to correct.

MANIPULATIVES give symbols meaning. Using objects to introduce each new concept and each new computational skill is the second key to success.

THE LEARNING CYCLE is a three phase learning strategy that is unique to Cornerstone Curriculum and the third key:

PHASE 1 - EXPLORING THE CONCEPT: Each lesson begins with math problems your child already knows how to solve or can solve using objects. This group of problems represents a very specific pattern. After solving the problems, your child will then be asked to state the pattern in his own words. In most cases, your child will actually explain the principle very accurately.

PHASE 2 - EXPLAINING THE CONCEPT: The statement of the principle, its proper name, and corresponding formula are explained in this phase of the learning.

PHASE 3 - EXPANDING THE CONCEPT: The last phase of the of the Learning Cycle is an application of the principle. In this phase of the learning, your child will either focus on a deeper aspect of the same principle or the study will move to a closely related principle."

Parent-student set $45, student book $20, Parent's book $25

Add a review

Reviews of Making Math Meaningful curriculum

Time: 11 years

I've used Making Math Meaningful for all 3 of my kids from grade 1-6. My youngest son has just finished grade 6 now and I wish he could continue with it.

I've found it easy to use and easy to understand. For grade 1-4, you can order the Parent and Child Books which tells you exactly what to say and what to do every day. For grade 5-6 they can work pretty independantly. We seem to always get through the material in the alotted time unlike Saxon which we can never get through. By the end of grade 6, I felt like my kids had a good grasp of all the elementary math concepts such as Multiplication, Division, Fractions, Decimals, Ratios, Proportions, and Percentages Algebraic Relationships and Mathematical reasoning.

Making Math Meaningful emphasize "less meaningless repetition of drill and practice." It teaches children to "understand the idea or concept before they are taught the associated skills."

Any other helpful hints:
I wouldn't recommend the Algebra 1 course they offer. My daughter and I were totally lost for most of the year. Basically, I felt it was a wasted year.

Pam Landry
Review left May 5, 2009

Time: 6 years

Our family has used the Making Math Meaningful books with our youngest 3 children while they were in grades K-6.

For the most part we have really liked the books. I think they have done an excellent job, especially with solving story problems. I have run into some trouble, however, especially in the later years (6th) I just feel that on certain subjects there was not enough explanation. I also found many spelling/word usage errors in the books, which sometimes was very confusing to the child when trying to figure out the problem. I have also found errors in the answer key. This is one of the main reasons we are switching and not using their algebra book. I'm just not sure enough of my own math skills to be wondering whether or not the answer key is correct! One more thing, I didn't feel there was enough time spent on money or time problems.

If you want your child to have a good foundation in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and how to solve story problems, this would be a great curriculum. If your own math skills are good, it's probably good for the upper grades too! You'll have to suppliment for money and telling time.

Laurie Derkatch

Reviews of Making Math Meaningful from HomeschoolReviews.com

Go back to homeschool mathematics curricula list

Submit a review

The fields marked with * are required. Please do NOT use bad language or 'lashing out' type of attitude.

New! Times Tales is now on DVD!

The fast, FUN, and easy way to learn multiplication. Learn the upper times tales in two sittings using mnemonic stories.