If you’ve been researching homeschool math curriculum, then you’re probably familiar with some of the popular programs like, Saxon Math, Teaching Textbooks, Math-U-See, Life of Fred, and Singapore Mathematics. In this article I’ll share a fairly new homeschool math curriculum, called Dimensions Math 6-8, that we’ve used for middle school.
Here’s what’s covered in this review.
- Why choose Dimensions Math 6-8
- Texts included for a full year curriculum
- What a typical lesson looks like
- Pros and cons of Dimensions Math 6-8
Why Choose Dimensions Math 6-8
Dimensions Math 6-8 has a positive reputation
Singapore consistently ranks in the top internationally for math test scores. As a result, Singapore Math has a reputation for being highly effective in teaching mathematics.
Dimensions Math, developed by Singapore Math Inc., aims to make the Singapore method available to students worldwide. It takes the same techniques and sequencing of Singapore math and packages it in a slightly different way.
Singapore Math was originally created for students in Singapore. However, it made it’s way to the US after Jeffrey and Dawn Thomas moved here in 1998 with their daughter. They found that math education in the USA was not up to par with math education in their former country of Singapore. So, they decided to supplement their daughter’s math with Primary Mathematics, Singapore’s original math series. They spread the word to other concerned parents and teachers, and it took off from there.
Dimensions Math 6-8 incorporates higher level mathematical thinking
In this mastery approach to teaching math, there’s a strong emphasis on problem solving. Dimensions Math expects kids to use their mathematical thinking to solve problems. For instance, they have to recall the math concepts they’ve learned and apply them to real-life situations, as opposed to spitting out answers to simplistic problems. It helps students build complex understanding.
Dimensions Math 6-8 is a rigorous program
Because it integrates pre-algebra, algebra, geometry and some trigonometry and advanced math topics, Dimensions Math is a rigorous program. As a result, students who complete Dimensions Math 6-8 should be ready for Geometry or Algebra 2.
If you go to Singaporemath.com you can see the complete scope and sequence and samples from the texts. Here’s a breakdown of what is covered in each middle school grade level.
Grade 6
- Whole Numbers
- Fractions
- Decimals
- Negative Numbers
- Ratios
- Rate
- Percent
- Algebraic Expressions
- Equations and Inequalities
- Coordinates and Graphs
- Area of Plane Figures
- Volume and Surface Area of Solids
- Displaying and Comparing Data
Grade 7
- Factors and Multiples
- Real Numbers
- Introduction to Algebra
- Algebraic Manipulation
- Simple Equations in One Variable
- Ratio, Rate, and Speed
- Percentage
- Angles, Triangles, and Quadrilaterals
- Number Patterns
- Coordinates and Linear Graphs
- Inequalities
- Perimeters and Areas of Plane Figures
- Volumes and Surface Areas of Solids
- Proportions
- Data Handling
- Probability of Simple Events
- Probability of Combined Events
Grade 8
- Exponents and Scientific Notation
- Linear Equations in Two Variables
- Expansion and Factorization of Algebraic Expressions
- Quadratic Factorization and Equations
- Simple Algebraic Fractions
- Congruence and Similarity
- Parallel Lines and Angels in Triangles and Polygons
- Graphs of Linear and Quadratic Functions
- Graphs in Practical Situations
- Pythagorean Theorem
- Coordinate Geography
- Mensuration of Pyramids, Cylinders, Cones, and Spheres
- Data Analysis
- More About Quadratic Equations
Dimensions Math 6-8 Texts Included for a Full Year Curriculum
There are several recommended texts for a full year curriculum. In our experience, we found that the textbook was sufficient. If we used the workbook, math would have taken far too long to complete.
- Textbook (A & B)
- Teaching Notes & Solutions (A & B)
- Workbook
- Workbook Solutions
A new, optional resource released just this year is Dimensions Math Live. With this paid subscription you get access to online instructional lessons, explanations of answers to exercises, and unit tests. The instructor takes you through the thinking process that you can’t always get just by looking at the answer key. Dimensions 7B and 8B recordings will be available January 6, 2020.
What a Typical Dimensions Math 6-8 Lesson Looks Like
Class activity to encourage discovery
First, many lessons begin with a class activity. The purpose of the activity is to give students a chance to discover math principles by working out problems, making observations, finding patterns, and drawing conclusions.
For example, to explore properties of inequalities, one class activity asks students to fill in the correct symbol “<” or “>” to make the statement true.
3 <5 and 3 + 6 < 5 + 6
-9 < 2 and -9 +3 < 2 + 3
7 < 10 and 7 – 8 < 10 – 8
Then, they conclude that
If a < b, then a + k < b + k
The teacher didn’t tell the child that “when a number is added or subtracted from both sides of an inequality, the inequality still holds.” Instead, the students discovered it for themselves.
Some of the class activities make use of the Geometer’s Sketchpad. Unfortunately, as of June 30, 2020, this software from McGraw-Hill will no longer be available for purchase. So, I contacted a curriculum advisor from Singapore Math about this issue. She recommended using GeoGebra until the curriculum is updated.
In our experience, we’ve just talk through the activities, using the illustrations in the textbook as a guide. This limits us somewhat. We can’t move points around in an object and see the effects on the shapes and measurements. It has worked okay for us. We can understand the activities even without the Geometer’s Sketchpad.
Examples & Try It!
Secondly, the textbook gives students an example of a problem and walks them through the steps needed to find the solution. In the margin there are remarks and hints that highlight helpful points.
After that, students work on a similar problem in the “Try It!” section. The teaching notes and solutions book has the worked out solutions to these problems.
For each lesson, my daughter and I do the class activity, then the examples, and finally the try it problems together. But, my daughter completes the exercise on her own. Some students may be able to work through the lesson independently.
Lesson Exercise
Third, there is a lesson exercise broken into four parts:
- Basic Practice: simple problems
- Further Practice: problems to apply learning
- Math @Work: problems related to real world situations
- BrainWorks: higher order thinking, open-ended, challenges
There are short answers to the exercises in the back of each textbook, so students can quickly check their work.
End of Each Chapter
Finally, each chapter ends with “In a Nutshell.” This page reviews the concepts and terminology taught, followed by a Review Exercise. In the seventh grade text you’ll find extended learning ideas and journal writing prompts at the end of each chapter.
Pros and Cons of Dimensions Math 6-8
Cons
- There are no “lesson plans” or daily schedule provided, but some parents want scripted lessons and a schedule. Without these things, it’s difficult to know how much to do each day to complete the program by the end of the homeschool year.
- Can require lots of parent involvement in teaching the lesson and working through problems with your child. If your child excels in math, then she could work through the lesson independently. My daughter is average ability, and I go through each lesson with her.
- Can be time consuming. For instance, it takes us well over an hour to complete a lesson. Sometimes it takes up to two hours, if we don’t break it up over two days.
- Teaching notes are not as thorough as they could be and have occasional typo errors. Therefore, for someone who needs each step spelled out, this can be frustrating. You have to use your previous knowledge and experience to understand how they got from one step to the next. A few times I’ve struggled to understand a solution in the answer guide, but it was a typo error.
- Expensive program to purchase. We spent $24 per textbook and $31 per teaching notes & solutions, total of $110 for the year. If you add the workbook and workbook solutions, that’s about an additional $28 each semester. Subscribing to Dimensions Math Live is $65 per level.
Pros
- Some math programs focus on “learning a formula.” On the other hand, Dimensions Math helps kids first discover the formula.
- It’s a rigorous program that teaches children to think mathematically and solve complex problems.
- Emphasis on problem solving helps kids see how math is important and applies to life. No more “When will we ever use this stuff?” complaints.
- No boring drill work. There are just enough problems to solidify the learning, but not so many that the work becomes redundant and dull.
- Variety of problems in the exercises takes students from basic comprehension and builds intensity, requiring more applied and complex thinking.
- Homeschoolers can join a private Facebook group for parents using Singapore math.
- Also, Dimensions Math Live offers support for parents who feel unqualified to teach the program on their own. It gives scheduling suggestions to help parents set a reasonable pace to work through the curriculum. In addition, the website provides instruction recordings for each unit.
Conclusion
Brenda Barnett, the Singapore Math Live instructor and former high school math teacher, made a big discovery using Singapore mathematics with her children. Brenda realized that she was taught to “do math” but not to “think mathematically.”
Most of us parents didn’t learn to do math this way. As a result, this program can be intimidating. However, Dimensions Math can teach us to approach problems in different ways. I know that I’ve grown in my mathematical thinking!
If you’re looking for a scripted math curriculum (day one, say this) that holds your hand every step of the way, then Dimensions Math may not be for you. However, with the addition of the new Dimensions Math Live support, you can have a better experience.
In conclusion, Dimensions Math 6-8 is an exceptional homeschool math program. If you want your child to develop a strong foundation in math and excel at mathematical thinking and problem solving, then this program is worth your time and financial investment.
