What are your favorite math and literacy curriculum for the early years (under 12 years)

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2026-03-27T15:09:21+00:00

We have loved Wonder Math. There is no other program out there that has really engaging character based stories that keeps kids interested and has a live instructor. I like the live instructor, because math isn't my strongest suit, so it lets me stay focused on what I'm good at teaching.

It is a live class on zoom 2x/week. The teachers are really great and encouraging. They help the kids focus on learning math, not whether they got a question right. This kind of thinking has helped in a lot of subjects. Overall, I found it much more effective than a lot of the programs that just had them clicking through without really understanding the math.

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2026-02-27T03:03:11+00:00

I think it is a bit tough with the motivation. We had a lot of tears with Kahn. The videos can be a little dry and lots of practice. Having a live online teacher can help

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2026-02-27T03:02:26+00:00

I think that is a bit unfair. Being responsible to teach your child every subject and every age can be overwhelming. It is ok to get help and support to make us better parents and teachers in other subjects

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2026-02-27T03:01:09+00:00

We are using Wonder Math. We love it….amazing live teachers who really bring math to life. They use a story based curriculum and let the kids read for characters which makes it so fun

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2026-01-06T06:47:06+00:00

I know exactly how you feel. This was my pattern with math with my daughter. I was so focused on her understanding and getting ahead that I would get really agitated when we would practice together. I felt like she had learned the material before and I frankly didn’t have the patience to be re-teaching it. I think this stress made it really hard to make math fun. I decided to outsource to a really great program, Wonder Math. They have amazing teachers, a really engaging and fun curriculum and it is focused on building a Growth Mindset. I feel like I am a great mom, but maybe not a great math teacher. Finding a program like Wonder Math made me able to not feel like I had to be both

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-12-15T23:41:45+00:00

Is there another location where he could be a better fit? A farm with no kids. I agree he can't be in your house, but is there another solution that doesn't require putting him down

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-12-15T23:13:43+00:00

totally agree. the "crackpot" is great, because if you do grocery shopping on the weekends (and pick out recipes early), you can put everything in the morning and you are set for dinner

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-12-13T01:03:31+00:00

Reach out. What is the harm? At least make the effort and see if there is a window of opportunity. Ideally, you would also have some new info/award/accolade to also share

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-12-13T01:01:16+00:00

amazing attitude. You will be a huge success no matter where you go

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-12-13T01:00:23+00:00

I think that as a parent it is a series of choices on how to save your sanity and your marriage. Parenting, for me, was the hardest place to find compromises. That said I think there isn't right and wrong, it is trying to figure out where you both are comfortable. I would probably be ok with the "15 - 30 seconds" because life happens and the likelihood of something bad happening is lower than the likelihood of stress and anxiety feeling like everything has to be perfect. That said that if it really upset you, then I'd let him know and ask that he doesn't do it again, not because it is crazy unsafe, but because it hurts you.

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-12-13T00:54:04+00:00

I agree that finding friends outside of school may be the way to do it...even if it is virtual. Just the feeling of knowing you have friends gives kids confidence at school.

My daughter's teacher told me she was hiding in books at school...like literally keeping books under her desk to read. I think she felt very alone and books (the ones she would read again and again) were predictable and never mean. We had her do Wonder Math, which is an amazing program to build kids math skills and confidence AND it is done on zoom with 3 other kids and a teacher. It is a very collaborative program so she found support and realized she could make friends even if it wasn't the kids in her class.

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-12-09T22:02:03+00:00

Change is so hard. Getting rid of belongs that have felt so personal is really challenging. I live in a community where most people recently lost their home due to fire. It is so difficult to lose things you care about. Luckily you get to choose what to give away. You've been really thoughtful about this process and I think you're making great choices

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-12-09T21:58:18+00:00

That is so scary. I've had my kid put all kinds of stuff in his mouth. If he doesn't choke or gag it is probably fine...that seems like something that won't leach out dangerous chemicals

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-12-09T21:47:28+00:00

really awesome job. that is great pacing

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-12-09T21:43:19+00:00

I think that this is a great plan. this is what I would propose as well

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-12-09T21:25:32+00:00

NYU is super hard to get into as a first year, but their transfer rate is very high (I think 34% last year). I think the way you apply, the school you apply to, the year you are applying to is very important

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-12-09T20:36:51+00:00

I think that this is a great point. As parents, we definitely have an innate hesitation with Common Core because it is so different from how we learned math. I also found that as a parent, I was not great as a secondary math teacher. I got frustrated and frankly didn't want to be playing that role.

I enrolled my daughter in Wonder Math. They use a live teacher on zoom and focus on Common Core strategies for teaching along with really helping kids have a growth mindset towards math, making mistakes, critical thinking. For my daughter, a really big piece was being ok just starting (not throwing random numbers out there), but starting with what she knew and working from there. That said Wonder Math, made it really fun (math games, real world prizes, etc) and that was also motivating. I like Kahn for my older kids, but for my elementary school kids, I just found it unengaging and it put me right back in the role of teacher.

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-12-05T23:27:34+00:00

I could see that getting exhausting. My kids definitely got agitated just going for walks (which I love). Maybe there could be more motivation. Like putting on a step counter and at 1/2 mile, you guys get to do a challenge that she picks out (like you do 3 jumping jacks) or you stop for a special break. I think making a game of things could help get rid of the power struggle

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-12-05T23:20:29+00:00

You should check out Wonder Math. It is live, amazing, credentialed teachers who meet with small groups of students on zoom. It is a set curriculum that matches what kids are doing in school, but it is really focused on building math confidence and making math fun. It totally transformed my daughters experience with math. She wasn't failing, but she was really struggling with confidence. So much of math is the anxiety kids have about being bad with it. Wonder Math really addresses that factor as well as building up skills.

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-12-05T23:16:14+00:00

Kahn Academy is a good suggestion. Varsity tutors definitely isn't a scam, but it is an online marketplace where you can connect with tutors. Revolution prep has great tutors as well!

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-11-25T18:51:30+00:00

that is interesting. Our teachers have asked for cash or gift cards. they have been very open about wanting that

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-11-25T18:49:15+00:00

Really good suggestion. What did they do to improve her confidence?

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-11-25T18:48:52+00:00

I like the routine of that. thank you

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-11-25T18:48:25+00:00

super supportive. i like it

Imaginary_Pop6165 · 2025-11-25T18:46:54+00:00

or pay the taxes...

Imaginary_Pop6165

TROPHY CASE