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Note: this article is part of a series on homeschool math curriculums for struggling students. This article discusses high school math curriculums. If you have a younger child, check out our articles Best Homeschool Math Curriculum for Struggling Students – Elementary and Best Homeschool Math Curriculum for Struggling Students – Middle School.
There’s no question about it – math can be a struggle for students and parents alike! Back when we were kids, there were few math options for homeschoolers besides the tried- and-true textbook curriculums with lots of equations, bookwork, drills, and memorization. These days, however, there are some fantastic new options that approach math in innovative and even fun ways to help homeschooled highschoolers who struggle with math.
Our three top picks are listed here. Continue reading below for a more detailed review:
- Most Fun: Life of Fred, Stanley F. Schmidt (Amazon)
- Best Hands-On: Math-U-See, Demme Learning (www.christianbook.com)
- Best Computer-Based: VideoText Interactive, Memoria Press (www.memoriapress.com)
If you are looking for an algebra curriculum for your high schooler, take a look at our article Best Algebra Curriculum for Homeschooling.
Most Fun: Life of Fred
The “Life of Fred” math series is one of the most unconventional and, dare-we-say, fun math program out there. Written in the style of a humorous novel, it tells the story of Fred Gauss, a six-year old math professor. Fred encounters the need for math as he goes about his daily life, and his daily adventures provide variety and interest to students who don’t do well with repetitive math drills and struggle to understand why math matters (Fred’s experiences will show them why it does).
“Life of Fred” is a complete math curriculum that can be started as early as fifth grade, so this is also a great program for families with younger students. The high school series consists of Beginning Algebra (9 th grade), Advanced Algebra (10 th grade), Geometry (11 th grade), and Trigonometry (12 th grade). Each course requires a textbook, while the Beginning Algebra and Advanced Algebra classes also offer optional Zillions of Practice Problems supplements. The materials for each course can be found here:
Beginning Algebra
Life of Fred Beginning Algebra Expanded Edition
Life of Fred Zillions of Practice Problems for Beginning Algebra
(These two books can also be purchased as a set):
Life of Fred Beginning Algebra
Expanded Edition with Zillions of Practice Problems – 2-Book Set
Advanced Algebra
Life of Fred Advanced Algebra Expanded Edition
Life of Fred – Zillions of Practice Problems: Advanced Algebra
(These two books can also be purchased as a set):
Life of Fred Advanced Algebra Expanded Edition with Zillions of Practice Problems – 2-Book Set
Geometry
Life of Fred Geometry Expanded Edition
Trigonometry
Life of Fred Trigonometry Expanded Edition
Combined Sets
Life of Fred High School Set 1:
(This includes Life of Fred Beginning Algebra Expanded Edition, Life of Fred Advanced Algebra Expanded Edition, and the Zillions of Practice
Problems books for each course).
Life of Fred High School Set 2:
(This includes Life of Fred Geometry Expanded Edition and Life of Fred Trigonometry Expanded Edition).
Pre-Algebra
For those students who need a bit more grounding in pre-algebra concepts (such as fractions) before starting Beginning Algebra, we recommend the Life of Fred pre-algebra series:
Life of Fred: Pre-Algebra 0 with Physics
Life of Fred: Pre-Algebra 1 with Biology
Life of Fred: Pre-Algebra 2 with Economics
University Math
If your student has completed the high school series and wants to move into more advanced math concepts with Fred, we recommend the Life of Fred University Mathematics series:
Life of Fred Calculus Expanded Edition
Life of Fred Statistics, Expanded Edition
Life of Fred Linear Algebra Expanded Edition
Life of Fred: Five Days of Upper Division Math
Life of Fred: Real Analysis
The five university texts can also be purchased together as a set on Amazon.
If your student love life with Fred, you may want to consider the other courses in the Life of Fred series, including Chemistry, Financial Choices, Logic, Language Arts, and the Beginning Readers.
Best Hands-On: Math-U-See
If your student is a hands-on learner and struggles when math concepts just seem like equations on paper, Math-U-See may be the right program for your family! Math-U-See is one of the most popular programs out there for homeschoolers because of it organized, step-by-step approach and multi-sensory teaching methods. The structured approach includes preparing for the lesson, learning and discussing the math concept, practicing the concept for mastery, and progressing onto the next concept. Every lesson presents the concepts using a variety of different tools, including manipulatives and video
demonstrations.
Math-U-See also caters well to different homeschool approaches. If you follow a fairly traditional homeschool methodology, you will like the program for its DVD instruction and plentiful practice opportunities in the workbook. Classical homeschoolers will appreciate the program’s focus on mastering concepts. Charlotte Mason-style homeschoolers will love the short, simple lessons, hands-on learning opportunities, and narration-style “teaching back” to parents. Unschoolers will appreciate that this program is not really organized by grade, but rather by the student’s understanding of the topic at a given time, allowing students to learn at their own pace and not be hindered by expectations about what they should learn in each grade. Homeschoolers who prefer doing unit-studies over sequential curriculum will also like Math-U-See because of the way topics are organized into conceptual groups.
You can find video demonstrations on the Math-U-See website and at
www.christianbook.com.
The high school program consists of Algebra 1 (8-9 th grade), Geometry (9-10 th grade), Algebra 2 (10 th -11 th grade), Pre-Calculus (11-12 th grade), and Calculus (11-12 th grade). Math-U-See stresses the importance of the student beginning at whatever level they are at, so they urge your student to take a simple placement test, available on their website. The required materials for each Math-U-See high school program can be purchased individually or in sets, as shown below.
Math-U-See Algebra 1
Math-U-See Algebra 1 Universal Set
This set includes everything you need for the program: the Integer Block Kit, the Algebra/Decimal Inserts, the Instruction Manual, the Instructional DVD, the Student Workbook, the Tests Booklet, and the Algebra Digital Pack.
Math-U-See Algebra 1 Level Up Set
This set is intended for students who already own the Integer Block Kit. It includes everything in the Universal Set except for the Integer Block Kit.
Math-U-See Algebra 1 Level Up Base Set
This set is intended for students who already own the Integer Block Kit and
Algebra/Decimal Inserts. It includes everything in the Universal Set except for these two materials.
Math-U-See Algebra 1 Student Pack
This pack contains only the Student Workbook and Tests Booklet. If you are teaching multiple students, you will want to buy this student pack for each additional student.
Math-U-See Geometry
Math-U-See Geometry Universal Set
This set includes everything you need for the program: the Instruction Manual, the Instructional DVD, the Student Workbook, the Tests Booklet, and the Geometry Digital Pack.
Math-U-See Geometry Student Pack
This pack contains only the Student Workbook and Tests Booklet. If you are teaching multiple students, you will want to buy this student pack for each additional student.
Math-U-See Algebra 2
Math-U-See Algebra 2 Universal Set
This set includes everything you need for the program: the Instruction Manual, the Instructional DVD, the Student Workbook, the Tests Booklet, and the Algebra 2 Digital Pack.
Math-U-See Algebra 2 Student Pack
This pack contains only the Student Workbook and Tests Booklet. If you are teaching multiple students, you will want to buy this student pack for each additional student.
Math-U-See PreCalculus
Math-U-See PreCalculus Universal Set
This set includes everything you need for the program: the Instruction Manual, the Instructional DVD, the Student Workbook, the Tests Booklet, and the PreCalculus Digital Pack.
Math-U-See PreCalculus Student Pack
This pack contains only the Student Workbook and Tests Booklet. If you are teaching multiple students, you will want to buy this student pack for each additional student.
Math-U-See Calculus
Math-U-See Calculus Kit
This set includes everything you need for the program: the Instruction Manual, the Instructional DVD, the Student Text Workbook, and the Tests Booklet.
Math-U-See Calculus Student Pack
This pack contains only the Student Workbook and Tests Booklet. If you are teaching multiple students, you will want to buy this student pack for each additional student.
Math-U-See Calculus Instruction Pack
This pack includes only the Instruction Manual and Instructional DVD.
Best Computer-Based: VideoText Interactive
If your homeschooled high schooler struggles with traditional math but does well with video demonstration, we strongly recommend the VideoText Interactive series, which offers high school math instruction through a series of online videos. The program uses computer-generated animation alongside a systematic, structured approach to the material, which emphasizes conceptual learning.
Because this program makes it easy for students to follow and complete lessons on their own, it’s a great option for self led-learners. The lessons are done through video instruction, along with animated graphics. These graphics in particular have the ability to teach students math concepts in ways that books cannot easily do. This program therefore offers an excellent alternative for students who struggle to learn math with traditional textbooks.
Struggling learners will also benefit from the way the program is structured in small, baby-step increments. Students learn math concepts one step at a time. They are able to review previous videos so they can completely understand the material before proceeding on to the next lesson.
Students begin each lesson by watching an instructional video. They may pause the video whenever they wish to think about the material or discuss questions as they come up. After the video is over, the student completes the exercises in the accompanying worktext, checking their answers in the solution manual. Quizzes at the end of each lesson also help parents assess whether their students have adequately understood the material.
The program is broken up into algebra and geometry, each of which is meant to take about two school years to complete. The algebra course includes pre-algebra, algebra, and algebra 2. The geometry course incorporates a good amount of trigonometry and can thus stand in for geometry and a pre-calculus. The algebra and the geometry courses consist of six and five modules, respectively, each of which take about three months to complete (making each course work ideally over the span of two years).
When it comes to materials, the VideoText program offers three options for each course. Students can choose the online course with digital books, the online course with paper books, or the DVD course with paper books. Courses can be purchased as complete sets, half sets (which essentially correspond to one year of instruction), or module by module. Materials options are listed below.
Algebra
VideoText Interactive Algebra Modules A-C Online Course and Digital Books
This set includes everything you need to complete the first year of the algebra course. No print material is included but you may print pages from the digital book PDFs. This includes two student access credentials to the online course, each valid for three years.
VideoText Interactive Algebra Modules A-C Set with Online Course and Books
This set includes everything you need to complete the first year of the algebra course. It includes 15 paper books and two student access credentials to the online course, each valid for three years.
VideoText Interactive Algebra Modules A-C Complete Set with DVDs
This set has everything you need to complete the first year of the algebra course. It includes 15 paper books and nine DVDs. This is a great option if you don’t want to depend on the internet to access the material or if you are teaching more than two students (or think you will use it to teach more than two students in the future). Complimentary access to the online course is included.
VideoText Interactive Algebra Modules D-F Online Course and Digital Books
This set includes everything you need to complete the second year of the algebra course. No print material is included but you may print pages from the digital book PDFs. This includes two student access credentials to the online course, each valid for three years.
VideoText Interactive Algebra Modules D-F with Online Course and Books
This set includes everything you need to complete the second year of the algebra course. It includes 15 paper books and two student access credentials to the online course, each valid for three years.
VideoText Interactive Algebra Modules D-F Complete Set with DVDs
This set has everything you need to complete the second year of the algebra course. It includes 15 paper books and nine DVDs. This is a great option if you don’t want to depend on the internet to access the material or if you are teaching more than two students (or think you will use it to teach more than two students in the future). Complimentary access to the online course is included.
VideoText Interactive Algebra Modules A-F Online Course
This set includes everything you need to complete both the first and second year of the algebra course. No print material is included but you may print pages from the digital book PDFs. This includes two student access credentials to the online course, each valid for three years.
VideoText Interactive Algebra Modules A-F Set with Online Course and Books
This set includes everything you need to complete the first and second year of the algebra course. It includes 30 paper books and two student access credentials to the online course, each valid for three years.
VideoText Interactive Algebra Modules A-F Complete Set with DVDs
This set has everything you need to complete the first and second year of the algebra course. It includes 30 paper books and 17 DVDs. This is a great option if you don’t want to depend on the internet to access the material or if you are teaching more than two students (or think you will use it to teach more than two students in the future). Complimentary access to the online course is included.
Geometry
VideoText Interactive Geometry Modules A-E Online Course
This set includes everything you need to complete the geometry course. No print material is included but you may print pages from the online book PDFs. This includes two student access credentials to the online course, each valid for three years.
VideoText Interactive Geometry Modules A-E with Online Course
This set includes everything you need to complete the geometry course. It includes all the paper books and two student access credentials to the online course, each valid for three years.
VideoText Interactive Geometry Modules A-E Complete Set
This set has everything you need to complete the geometry course. It includes all the paper books and 15 DVDs. This is a great option if you don’t want to depend on the internet to access the material or if you are teaching more than two students (or think you will use it to teach more than two students in the future). Complimentary access to the online course is included.
Conclusion
Math can be a struggle for high schoolers. Luckily, homeschooling allows us to avoid the standard, one-size-fits-all curriculums used in public schools and instead choose a program that will meet our students’ individual needs. This is nowhere more true than with math. When you have a curriculum that meets your high schooler’s learning needs, you may find that math isn’t such a struggle anymore! And if you are looking for an algebra curriculum for your high schooler, take a look at our article Best Algebra Curriculum for Homeschooling.