The Math-U-See program utilizes systematic review over an extended period of time, and manipulatives, to establish the link between seeing math and understanding math in children. The program provides the interlocking, colorful blocks and fraction overlays to teach math, along with the curriculum to provide the systematic practice and reinforcement of concepts. The goal of Math-U-See instruction is not only to teach a student how to do math, but to also simultaneously understand the concepts of math. Because of its design, this program also provides teaching and practice in the grammatical work of translation from one type of mathematical representation to another; i.e., 2 blocks and 7 blocks makes 9 blocks, and 2 + 7 = 9. One final note: the suggested grade levels are just that--suggestions only. Once the material in each course is mastered, the child is ready to go on to the next course. Children do not have to be held back to conform to suggested grade level guidelines.

Foundations of Mathematics
For 1st and 2nd grade. The child who can count to nine and write their numbers is ready for this stage of the curriculum. Topics range from place value through measurement, and cover operations through an introduction to multiplication. The teacher’s manual includes instructions, examples, practice problems, answer keys to the student text, extra word problems, and tests with answer keys. The student text has four worksheets for each lesson. You will need: the Foundations lesson by lesson instruction video, teacher’s manual, and student text, and the manipulatives (they only have to be purchased once for the entire 6-year curriculum). Also recommended is the Skip Count Tape and Coloring Book, which helps students learn the math facts, and the fraction overlays. While the initial cost may seem high, the Foundations series covers two years of instruction, and the manipulatives, fraction overlays, and skip count tape and coloring book do not need to be purchased again in subsequent years. 37 lessons. Foundations can also be used in 3rd grade with children whose formal mathematics instruction has been delayed until after the mastery of phonics, reading, and penmanship. Take the Foundations Placement Test to see if your child needs this course or if he ready to move on to Intermediate Mathematics.

Intermediate Mathematics
For 3rd and 4th grade. The child who has mastered the addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts, and understands the underlying concepts, is ready for this stage of the curriculum. The course begins with a review of concepts learned in Foundations, and proceeds from reading & writing numbers to one million through probability, graphing, and map reading. Along the way the child learns division, fractions, decimals, percentages, and more. The teacher’s manual includes instructions, examples, extra problems, and answer keys. The student text has four worksheets for each lesson. You will need: the Intermediate lesson by lesson instruction video, teacher’s manual, and student text, fraction overlays, and the manipulatives. Also recommended is the Intermediate tests & word problems, and the supplementary blocks for use in this stage of the math curriculum. 41 lessons. Intermediate Mathematics can also be used in 4th grade with children whose formal mathematics instruction has been delayed. Take the Intermediate Placement Test to see if your child needs this course or if he is ready to move on to Advanced Mathematics.

Advanced Mathematics
For 5th and 6th grade. (Their website says for 7th and 8th grades, but a Math-U-See representative made it clear to me that this is not because children in 5th and 6th grade cannot do the work with the proper preparation (the previous Math-U-See courses), but because most modern math curricula teach these concepts in 7th and 8th grades. The concepts in Advanced Mathematics are still arithmetic concepts, for the most part, proper for the grammar stage, allowing children to go on to algebra and geometry in the dialectic, which is proper for the dialectic stage.) The child who understands and can perform all the basic operations with whole numbers and fractions is ready for this stage of the curriculum. Topics range from changing fractions and decimals to percents through positive and negative numbers and probability. Along the way he learns operations with polynomials, basic geometry, ratio and proportion, squares and square roots, and more. The teacher’s manual includes instructions, examples, extra problems, selected solution pages, and answer keys. The student text has four worksheets for each lesson. You will need: the Advanced lesson by lesson instruction video, teacher’s manual, and student text, algebra & decimal inserts, manipulatives, and fraction overlays. Also recommended is the Advanced tests & word problems. 36 lessons. Advanced Mathematics can also be used in 5th and 6th grades with children whose formal mathematics instruction has been delayed. Take the Advanced Placement Test to see if your child needs this course or if he is ready to move on to Algebra.