Math 2 Student Reviews 3rd Edition

We are pleased to be able to distribute BJU Press curriculum to our customers. Published by a Christian university located in South Carolina, BJU Press produces and markets curriculum materials for Christian schools as well as home schools. Probably the most homeschool-friendly full-curriculum supplier, they have not only accommodated homeschoolers, but have continually worked to make their materials better suited to the homeschooling family. Many of their courses now contain manuals written specifically for the home school setting, and visuals and supplemental materials have been "pared down" from the bulkier visuals still used in classrooms. While other curriculum suppliers initially frowned on distributing teacher materials to homeschoolers, and provided only expensive classroom versions, Bob Jones quickly embraced homeschoolers, readily allowing them access to teacher's editions and, eventually, producing less expensive spiral-bound or paperbound versions to save money for homeschooling families. One of the strengths of the Bob Jones program is the teaching of concepts, rather than the rote how-to-solve-it approach. Also, Christian principles and character traits are assumed and integrated throughout the program. Each level is themed, providing a motivational learning context. Lessons are "spiraled", meaning topics are reviewed throughout each level, delving a little deeper each time. Lesson exercises consist mainly of practice for that lesson, not a review of previous lessons or chapters. However, topics are not covered, then left forever; they reappear in more complexity throughout the course, allowing for more practice. We have long been fans of Bob Jones curriculum materials, having used courses in almost every subject area for one child or another through the years. In our particular situation (seven children, Mom and Dad sharing in teaching as well as in running Rainbow Resource Center), a well-constructed, teacher-ready course can be a God-send. Although we have used a variety of methods and curriculums in our homeschool through the years (and continue to do so), we strongly feel that the Bob Jones materials we have used have helped to produce excellent, college-ready students. Unless you have a particularly strong aversion to textbooks of any kind, at any level, we highly recommend these materials to you.

Focusing on teaching concepts rather than just memorizing, the elementary levels of BJU Math are taught at the concrete level through hands-on activities and manipulatives, then progress to semi-concrete and abstract instruction as the course progresses. The Student Worktexts are particularly well done – colorful, good variety of skills, and on-grade-level. The consumable Student Worktexts are available through 5^th grade, a real bonus for students who like colorful pages and are not ready to transfer work to their own paper. Beginning in Grade 6, the softcover Student Text offers minimal writing space, so students will need a notebook or paper to complete the lessons.  
BJU Press Math is teacher-centered and works well for one-on-one instruction. Teacher Editions have complete lesson plans and answers to text problems. For those using BJU Math as their math curriculum, they are worth the investment, as they provide the one-on-one instruction, manipulative instruction, and offer many suggestions for presenting and enriching the concepts covered in each lesson. Additional resources are available at various grade levels including a Test Book and Test Key, Reviews and Reviews Key, and Paper Manipulatives. See individual grades for more information. At each level, the Homeschool Kit includes the required components for the year. 

Math 2 continues to build a strong math foundation through pictorial representations of concepts and math manipulatives (less than the previous elementary grades). Two editions are currently available. The 4th edition teaches alternative strategies for mastering the concepts, and additional teaching supports in the Teacher Edition. The content and scope have not significantly changed, although the presentation and problems vary. Currently, the 3^rd edition aligns with the Video Teaching Courses available from BJU Press. Course components include the Teacher Edition with CD, Student Worktext, Paper Manipulatives, Review Worktext and Answer Key, and the Test Pack and Test Answer Key. Homeschool Kits include the Teacher Ed with CD, Student Worktext, Paper Manipulatives, Review Worktext and its Answer Key, and the Test Pack and Test Answer Key. The 3^rd and 4^th Editions are not compatible. 

Digit, Cecilia/Matt and Paddy guide students through their math lessons. Children learn addition and subtraction facts up through 4 digits; place value of four-digits; introduction to division; fractions in measurement; a.m./p.m. and noon/midnight; more practice with elapsed time; introduction to circle graph; plane figures: pentagon, hexagon, oval; slides, flips & turns; edges, vertex and curves of solid figures; horizontal, vertical, parallel and intersecting lines; and includes extra problem-solving pages. The updated student worktext has a review section in each lesson, as well as chapter and cumulative reviews. The Teacher's Edition has a 2-page spread per lesson and an easy-to-follow, bulleted format with answers printed in magenta. A Toolkit CD is included in the Teacher's Edition which contains re-teaching pages (replacing "Spread Your Wings"); fact reviews; reproducible pages replacing the Home Teacher Packet; Teacher's visual packet which can be used on the computer screen or printed; and the answer key for Math 2 Reviews. Math 2 Reviews workbook has 2 pages per lesson, chapter reviews, and cumulative review. In lesson and chapter reviews, the front page reviews concepts from that day's lesson. The back page reviews a previous chapter concept and has a fact review, making a good study guide for tests. The front page of the cumulative review covers concepts from previous chapter concepts, and the back page reviews facts. Overall Bob Jones has made some appealing changes in this program. ~ Donna