Nicole the Math Lady

There are loads of great math options available to homeschoolers but that does not mean they are all great options for your student. Deciding which math curriculum your student uses is entirely up to you, of course. However, we do have a few suggestions that might help you with that decision (with specifics to Dimensions Math.)

• Ask yourself why you want to switch? If your student's current math curriculum is not a good fit, then, yes, you should consider switching. But, if it's working well, then you might want to consider that a victory and leave it alone. (Switching curriculum is one of the biggest reasons of math gaps.)

• Stop to identify what's not working about your current math curriculum. Now ask yourself if Dimensions Math will create the same issue or solve that problem. 
  • For instance, if Horizons is not working because your student finds the images distracting, then Dimensions likely won't be a good option because it is also colorful and filled with images. 
  • On the other hand, if your student is doing Saxon and they cannot handle the heavy review approach, then changing to Dimensions with its mastery approach might be a good option.

• Consider where your student is in their math journey and assess whether it's wise to switch them at this time. Singapore Math Inc suggests that you start Dimensions by 3rd grade. Additionally, this particular series of Singapore books (by this author and publisher) only goes to 5th grade. 

• If you decide to make a switch, always start with the placement test. No two math curriculums line up perfectly and it's important to start your student in the correct book. You can find the placement test for Dimensions here. And, keep in mind, it's more than okay to go back a grade level. If the goal of switching curriculums is to create a better math experience for your student, then you increase the chances of that happening if the new math curriculum meets your student where they are. 

• Lastly, it is important to note that picking up in the middle of Singapore Dimensions' scope and sequence might prove challenging for many students. If at all possible (and you have not done so already,) we would suggest getting your hands on the Singapore Dimensions Math curriculum to check it out directly. You can also watch some of Nicole's video lessons here to get a better understanding of the content. If it looks like it would be a great fit for your kiddo, you could consider beginning with their 3rd grade (or even earlier) to ensure you are not skipping over pertinent vocab, structure, etc.
  
  You can read more about Dimensions Math here.