Organizing BJU Press Math

[@nidiasuazo2422]

Thank you! I know this video is a couple years old but it is so helpful as this will be my first year doing BJU for my 3rd grader 😊

[@HolySpiritWelcome]

Thank you so much, I just received my box, this is so helpful! Thank you!

[@JanelleKnutson]

I'm so glad it was helpful!

[@stephanieparker6026]

Thank you this greatly helps and blesses me! What size binders do you use?

[@karenriley5596]

I know this is an old video but I’m hoping for some feedback. What is your purpose for not using the tests as such? Do you feel that it is redundant? Adds more days to school year? About to start with my son now, and would love to know your thoughts.

[@JanelleKnutson]

Great question! I don't give grades to my kids until middle school and that is really just to prepare them for getting grades in high school (which I need to give for them to have a transcript.) Tests help assign grades to kids and they test a limited amount of their knowledge but as a homeschool mom, I already know where my kids are struggling and where they are doing well. I don't need a test to tell me that one child is struggling at math but excelling in English or that another child struggles in reading, excels in history and is right at grade level for all other subjects. These are things that I can see on a daily basis as I homeschool them. So, in the early years, I don't think tests are necessary. I don't need them to tell me where my child is at academically. They take up time that could be spent working on things they struggle with and nobody really enjoys doing them anyways. Now, some states may require homeschool families to submit grades so you need to make sure you are in compliance with your state homeschool laws but even if they require you to submit grades, you can base those grades off of participation, effort, growth in a particular subject, and any number of other things besides having them take a test. Hope that all makes sense.

[@amybeth2379]

What size is the binder for the 3rd grader worktext etc and for the manipulative binder?

[@JanelleKnutson]

Amy Beth I’m not sure. I re-used old binders. I’m thinking they were 3 inches.

[@latoyametheny2302]

Thank you for all your BJU videos. I'm learning so much from you in staying organized. I appreciate it so much! This will be very helpful for me next school year.

[@JanelleKnutson]

Yay! So glad all the BJU videos are helping you!

[@yelortiz]

Thank you! These ideas are so useful to our family.

[@jessiemcgraw84]

My son is on day 2 of BJU math 2 and I'm super stressed out with it. I organized all the math manipulatives as instructed but could not leave my 2nd grader unattended for the math class because of the crazy switching around of manipulatives. He constantly needed my help to locate them all even though they are all in their appropriate baggies. One minute he needed the beaver counters then another minute he needed the cubes and then there are about 50 flashcards in one baggie and I never could locate the exact flashcard she was holding. I'm also really discouraged with just how old the video's are :( Do you have any suggestions to minimize stress with all the different manipulatives?

[@brookeneibaur4570]

We just started BJU ( I have a 2nd and 6th grader) and also so stressed with the level of “stuff” we decided to ditch all the manipulatives. My 2nd grader uses the number line, but other than that nothing else! It’s going much better.

[@jessiemcgraw84]

Thank you for telling me you ditched the manipulatives! Good for you! They really need to redo all their old videos.

[@jessiegail25]

Hi Janelle. We just started 1st and 3rd grades with all BJU curriculum. I love how thorough the curriculum is, but I'm finding that, even after the review, bju seems to be somewhat behind, even compared to our public school system. Have you found this at all? Especially in Math. The material that is provided seems to be mostly stuff that they've already covered. My 3rd grader loves English, but that's it.

[@kimberlyperez9330]

In public school the first 3 months or so are a review after summer, BJU is shorter but still does have some review. I would do all the tests with your child If they can do the first 4 chapter tests and don't need that review I would move on to chapter 5. Or whatever chapter it would be. It might actually be skipping enough days to make math a 4 day a week subject which most kids would love. It is not that public schools are ahead or BJU is behind it is just making sure your child does not get lost in "the summer slide". If your child can do all the tests or majority with perfect grade I would call BJU and ask to switch to grade 4, and then do the same again the first couple of chapters are a review but the rest will be new. In relation to my local schools, BJU is actually advanced and my son tests in the 99th%tile on the standardized test in every subject while the average for our school district is 30% or less with no students in the whole school district testing at 99%tile in any subject.

[@casandrapardine2462]

I did the same thing with A Beka K5 language arts visuals and charts. It made using the manipulatives a breeze! I tried putting the BJU K5 math manipulatives in a box like you mentioned and that did not go well at all, especially when in a rush!

[@Amenhomeschoolers]

where do you keep your answer keys for the worksheets? I will be starting distant learning soon as well. Thank you for all your videos!

[@JanelleKnutson]

AMEN Homeschoolers I got the online option so all the answer keys are online. No need for me to store them. However, I have used the DVD option in the past and did a video on how I organized my Distance Learning teacher binder.

[@stephanief7301]

Thank you for all of your amazing videos! What size binders to find work best? Also did you remove the worksheets from the workbook and hole punch them? I just received my materials but they don't have a hole punch..just curious if they changed the math workbook.

[@Rofamily6]

Is this how you organize all of the different subjects? I would love to see a binder (student and parent) video for each subject! Thank you!

[@JanelleKnutson]

I organize student and teacher stuff differently from year to year depending on what curriculum we are using. I have a playlist of my homeschool organization systems/binders that you might want to check out. Here is the link: kzbin.info/aero/PLiucPErdFky8_WA0OtX5Cvi61qHL5xkSj

[@JanelleKnutson]

What creative ways do you organize BJU Press materials?

[@valleyhavenfamilyschool8951]

Your hair looks great! And great organizing tips!