I have been using MOTL for 3 year now. We started at the end of my oldest son's 4th grade year, and at that point in time math was a FIGHT. My ds would go into fits at the mere mention of the word "math." He hated it that much. Math was miserable for both of us.

Thankfully, I found MOTL and am so glad we did. When I began, I sat down and "tested" him using the 5-a-days (there is an example of how to do this in the Record Keeping binder), and was astounded at how many gaps he had. Concepts that we had covered in our other math programs were never mastered. No wonder he was so frustrated and miserable!! With MOTL, I was able to go back, find those gaps, fill them in, and then move forward.

It's not that my ds was dumb and couldn't get those concepts from the other curriculum; it was just that he didn't do well with the teaching style of the other programs. He has really blossomed in his math skills using MOTL and no longer balks at having to tackle a problem. Although it's still not his favorite subject, he no longer dreads it, and his confidence has grown immensely. I even see him use math confidently to solve his own burning math problems.  Something he wouldn't have even attempted before.

After using MOTL for 3 years, I can honestly say this is a wonderful curriculum and has been such a blessing to us!!! Not only does it work well with my oldest; my 7 yo who learns differently from her brother thrives as well. It is easily adaptable to different learning styles and interests. I was able to fill my ds's gaps, and his attitude drastically changed towards math. That alone was worth it to me!!! I have also learned right along with my children that math is everywhere. Before MOTL, we just thought of math as paper and pencil. Now we see it everywhere. My 7 yo learned to tell time by counting nickels and then using a real clock. My oldest learned math can be fun by doing some of the fraction lessons (using brownies) and playing with angles on a computer programming program. He also uses a money journal to record his income of money, expenditures, savings, and giving. LOTS of math concepts going on there (adding/ subtracting money, percentages, etc.), and it's real and meaningful for him.

Tracy