The Simply Good & Beautiful Math program is making a buzz in the home-school world.
So, is does it live up to its name?
The short answer is YES!
The pages are high quality, the images and layout are colorful, interesting, creative, and pleasing to the eye. The lessons and activities are engaging and motivating. The math content is presented in a spiral, well -planned, and clearly presented format. The publisher says the content exceeds Math standards; I have used this program with several of my own children and find this to be true.
Since the program “exceeds Math standards” is it only a good choice for advanced, or at least strong, Math students?
The short answer is NO!
The longer answer, really starts with saying it all depends on the individual child, the level used, and the application of the program. Before I explain, what I mean by, “it depends”, let me explain the format a bit more.
The K-3 format is open and go, and very parent friendly, but it is also parent directed and lead, so the parent is doing direct instruction at this level. The multi-sensory games and activities are all included and used without prep time, or a separate teacher’s guide needed.
It is gentle and enjoyable; and although I have not used any of the texts at K-3 level, I know many moms who have, and they all have had rave reviews. The children I have spoken to who use the program also enjoy it, which is confirmation that this is an excellent choice for many young students and their teaching parents.
I have used the texts in the 4-6 levels with a few of my own children. At these levels, the lesson begins with a short video, that is quickly and easily accessed with a URL code that appears on the first page of the lesson. I have been amazed at the high- quality production, and beautiful content, of these short videos.
The publisher is incredibly intentional about presenting math as meaningful, and making the connections between Math and Art, nature, Science, and real -life situations. In addition, there is an over-arching theme, that God created a beautiful and ordered world, which can be considered in a mathematical way (with examples like patterns found in nature).
There are supplements like Math flashcards, songs, and an additional book of mental Math problems, that are all part of the program. The workbook format reduces the need to write out problems. However, some problems, like long multiplication and division problems, really do not have enough space for many elementary students, and they may need to copy those few problems on a white board to work out. The 4-6 work texts only include answers, but no solutions. Solutions might be helpful for quicker corrections, or for student reference at the 6th grade level.
I was thrilled to see that a solution manual was developed for the 7th grade text, and that there are several other additions that are very helpful for the middle grades Math. There is more space provided for student work in the 7th work-text, in fact, instead of two workbooks (like in 6th), the 7th grade text is broken into 4 work-texts, which have some graph boxes for students to use in working out problems neatly. The 7th grade work-text also includes a video notes section, with fill -in- the blank notes for key concepts and Math vocabulary. I appreciate this feature, since it encourages active viewing and writing in the content area, to aide in retention.
Strong and advanced Math students, they will likely find this program stimulating and challenging, with enough review, as well as enrichment and logic activities.
Students that struggle some with Math, may need to move through the levels at a slower pace, and even split some levels over two years. Also, parents may need to be selective in deciding if all logic and enrichment activities should be completed as laid out or, if extra time should be spent on reviewing flashcards, or going over mental Math problems.
The video lessons will be very helpful to students that struggle some with reading comprehension, but are good at Math, since they will not need to rely as heavily on written explanations of concepts, as they do in a program like Saxon Math.
The video lessons are very well done and short, but some students that have focus issues, may benefit from watching the video lesson and completing just the few problems introduced in the lesson video, and then coming back to the rest of the practice and review problems for the lesson, after a break or lunch. However, due to the very solid and beautiful content, spiral method, and lessons of reasonable length, this program can be successfully used with many students, especially, if pace and adjustments are made for individual needs.
There are placement tests available on the website. The cost of the program is very reasonable, especially considering the high-quality, thick paper, and full color pages. To prevent cost being an issue for some, the publisher, very generously offers a free download of each level, to support the mission of homeschooling for those who need this help. There is a grade 8 planned that is expected to be available in 2025. Therefore, a student could use the program from K-8 and be able to successfully transition to a high- school Math program.
I am grateful for another wonderful curriculum option for home-school families!
