Homeschool: Working with Real Math by Rebecca McAllister For the last three years, our homeschool math curriculum has been Open Court 'Real Math' written in the 1980's. Since then it has been re-published as SRA Math: Explorations and Applications. .

We started homeschooling with Abeka Math. Don't get me wrong. It is a good program, just not for my son. I came across Real Math at a local library book sale and have been using it ever since that time.

Open Court Real Math was originally published in the mid-80's and used in public and private school classrooms and is still in use today. It has been re-published as SRA Math Explorations and Applications. Each area of teaching is presented with story problems and applications, allowing children to understand not only how to do the problem, but why we need to know it, what we need to know and how to complete the task. The textbook covers a variety of options in completing a problem as well. Long division, short division and shortcuts that can help. In the older grades, thinking skills are incorporated into the textbook, making the student use logic and brain power to determine the answers to these fun sections.

Real Math (and SRA Math Explorations and Applications) are consumable books in K-Level 2. Level 3 and up are hardcover. SRA Math Explorations and Applications are available through 6th grade and Open Court is still available for 7th and 8th. A number of manipulatives and board games are also available to help in instruction. I have found the cubes to be a great distraction from the normal everyday work.

There are a number of reviews  and resources online of Real Math and other resources for those interested in using this textbook for your homeschool student.

ENC - I use this site to identify textbooks using the table of contents found under the full record tab under each grade level. http://www.enc.org/about/partners/donors/0,,84486,00.shtml

Making Math an Adventure - Review of Real Math materials http://www.schoolofabraham.com/mathadventure.htm

Real Math Article http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/6986/58487

Real Math Review - Another Review of Open Court Real Math http://www.mathematicallycorrect.com/books2e.htm

SRA Math Explorations and Applications - New Reprint of Open Court Real Math books http://www.sra4kids.com/product_info/mea/

SRA Online Cube Games for MEA - online manipulatives! http://www.sraonline.com/index.php/home/curriculumsolutions/mathematics/mea/meagames/865

School of Abraham Sample problems - Some sample problems of Open Court Real Math http://www.schoolofabraham.com/opencourt.htm