Mastery vs Spiral Math Curriculum for Homeschoolers

Mastery vs Spiral Math Curriculum: Which is best? If you’re like I was when I started homeschooling my kids, you didn’t know there was spiral or mastery math curriculum.

Don’t worry, though. I’ll explain the differences between a mastery-based math curriculum and a spiral-based math curriculum. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of the two different approaches to teaching math.

Information to Help You Teach Homeschool Math Curriculum

• A podcast episode that clearly explains the differences between mastery and spiral-based math curriculum.
• Mastery math curriculum.
• Spiral math curriculum
• Fun math games.
• Information about our homeschool consulting services.

By the way, my name is Jackie, and I’m the founder of HomeSchool ThinkTank. I’ve been homeschooling my kids for more than 15 years. Additionally, I’m a licensed physical education teacher, homeschooling consultant, and certified life coach who helps parents get organized and homeschool successfully.

Mastery Math Curriculum

With a mastery-based curriculum, the student must fully understand a concept before moving on.

Spiral Math Curriculum

With a spiral-based curriculum, the student is introduced to an idea, works on it for a while, and then moves on to other types of math problems. Later, the curriculum circles back around to the concept, the student reviews it, and then goes a little deeper in their understanding of the math problem. This process is repeated until the student has a full understanding of the concept.

Math Mastery Method

A mastery-based approach focuses on a single concept for a length of time. For example, a child might work on multiplying three times each single-digit number for several weeks. Your child will master their 3’s before moving on to another number. Also, your child might do various word problems that involve multiplying by three.

Do you have a child who is working on multiplication? Quick, ask your son or daughter the following question.

“If you had seven friends over to your birthday party, and they each wanted three pieces of pizza, how many pieces of pizza would you need?”

Did your child know the answer? If so, they’ve mastered this multiplication fact and know how to apply the concept.

Examples of Homeschool Mastery Math Curriculum

• Elephant Learning Math Curriculum.
• Math Mammoth website or on Amazon.
• Math U See website or on Amazon.
• Right Start Mathematics website or on Amazon.
• Singapore Math website or on Amazon.

Podcast Episode: Mastery vs Spiral Math Curriculum

This podcast episode clearly explains the differences between spiral and mastery-based math curriculum. Listen to this episode and follow the HomeSchool ThinkTank Parenting Podcast. Twice each week, I share helpful homeschooling, education, and parenting tips.

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Nearly anywhere that podcasts are played!

Spiral Math Method

A spiral-approach math lesson will likely introduce or build on a relatively new concept but also review previously learned math principles.

For example, your child might learn how to measure the perimeter of a square and have several problems covering the new math concept. Additionally, the day’s lesson may include a review of problems involving subtraction and telling time.

Examples of Homeschool Spiral Math Curriculum

• Abeka website or on Amazon.
• Bob Jones University website or on Amazon.
• Horizons Math on Amazon. Horizons only uses external distributors.
• Saxon Math on Amazon. Saxon only uses external distributors.
• Teaching Textbooks website or pre-owned on Amazon.

Spiral vs Mastery Math Curriculum

So, which is better, a spiral method or a mastery program?

Here’s my take: Proponents of a mastery approach will say that’s the best way to teach math. On the other hand, proponents of a spiral approach will say that’s the best way for children to learn math.

The truth is, kids learn differently, and ultimately kids have learned how to do math using a variety of approaches. It doesn’t really matter how you teach your children math, it matters that they learn how to use and apply their math skills in the real world.

My Thoughts on Mathematics Curriculum

After understanding the differences between a mastery and spiral approach to math, here’s what’s likely to happen: You’ll review your options, talk to other homeschoolers, make an educated decision, and hope that what you choose works for your child.

Ultimately, if you choose a curriculum and it doesn’t work for your child, you can always quit using it and try something else.

That said, I like a math curriculum that helps a child “mostly” master a concept but also “spirals” back around and reviews previously learned concepts. I say “mostly” because I do think it’s possible to continue moving forward even if your child hasn’t “mastered” a concept.

Elephant Learning Math Program (Combines Mastery With a Spiral Approach)

Do you want to make math fun for your kids? Is your child behind or struggling with math?

Whether your child is just beginning to use math curriculum, or you have a child who is struggling with math, Elephant Learning offers an online math program that combines a mastery and spiral approach to help kids learn critical math skills.

Check out the Elephant Learning online curriculum and math app.

According to the founder, Aditya Nagrath, Elephant Learning combines a mastery and spiral-based approach to teaching math. When a student answers questions incorrectly, Elephant Learning uses a spiral-based approach to review what the student previously learned. On the other hand, students must show mastery to progress to new topics.

Click here to learn more about Elephant Math and their 30-day free trial.

Moving Forward With Mathematics

Regardless of the curriculum you choose, there will likely be times when your child is “stuck” and having difficulty learning a concept. During these times, there are different ways that you can “move forward.”

While you might move forward in the curriculum you currently use, you could also “pause” that curriculum to apply the concept being learned in the real world, through another curriculum, or by playing games that utilize math.

Remember, it’s more important that your child conceptually understands how to do the math problems and apply what they learn in the “real world” than it is to complete any curriculum.

How You Teach Math Is Up to You

In most instances, how you teach math is up to you. Just make sure your children learn the fundamentals. Here is what’s important when learning math.

1. Your child needs to be able to do everyday math problems such as budgeting and understanding how interest works.
2. It’s an advantage to be able to do math in your head, so try to help your child develop this skill.
3. Help your child develop the math skills they will need to get good scores on standardized tests like the ACT & SAT and be accepted into colleges.

Fun Family Math Games

Playing fun and educational math-centered games is an excellent way to help your kids improve their math skills.

Tenzi is an incredibly versatile dice game. It’s not necessarily intended for educational purposes, but it can certainly be used to help your child improve their maths skills.

Literature-Based Maths

When math is integrated into stories, it allows students to naturally develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Below are two book series that integrate math.

Life of Fred Book Series

Parents and kids alike love the Life of Fred Book Series, which includes books for kindergarteners to young adults entering college.

The Life of Fred series is known to be easy, entertaining, and downright fun to read. In the Amazon reviews, parents rave about these books. They say their kids LOVE them, that they don’t have to prod them to read, and that kids begin to “just get math.”

Whether you implement other math curricula or not, I recommend integrating the Life of Fred series into your children’s lives.

• Get the Life of Fred Math Books on Amazon.

Sir Cumference Book Series

Set in the medieval world of knights and dragons, each book follows the adventures of Sir Cumference, his wife, Lady Di of Ameter, and their son Radius as they explore various math principles such as geometry, fractions, and measurement.

With clever wordplay and imaginative scenarios, the series makes learning math fun and accessible, encouraging young readers to see the subject from a creative and relatable perspective.

• Sir Cumference and the First Round Table
• Book Series: Sir Cumference Complete Set ( Books 1- 10 )

Homeschooling, Education & Math Resources

• Favorite math manipulatives.
• Math games for your kids and family.
• Homeschool curriculum for your kids.
• Fun online educational quizzes for kids and teens.
• Learn how we serve homeschooling families.

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