Spiral-Based Homeschool Math Curriculum Packages

The second major mathematics teaching method is known as the "Spiral" approach. In this method, a student does not seek to master a concept when it is initially introduced. Instead the student learns how to apply the concept by repeatedly coming back to it ("Spiraling back") during review. So a student may start learning a new concept today then cover problems dealing with things taught yesterday and last week and last year and so on. The idea behind the Spiral is that multiple repeated light exposures to a topic helps teach the concept better than a single in depth period of study.

The method is called a Spiral (rather than a circle, for example), because each time the student touches on a concept he will touch upon it more deeply, learning more about the topic. One particular facet of this is that when a student studies a new concept he/she is not expected to "get it" immediately. The purpose of the introduction is to let the student become familiar with the topic and then understand it more fully when you return to the concept in the future.

People arguing in favor of the Spiral methodology point to the following advantages:

  • Students are given an opportunity to learn the material when they are ready for it. If they are not ready for it now, maybe they will be next week of next year when the topic is revisited.

  • Continual review helps to cement ideas and concepts in place better than a single period of study does.

  • The repetitive nature of the Spiral is beneficial to slower students.

Detractors of the Spiral point to:

  • Mixing a bunch of different ideas from a number of different areas can be confusing for a student.

  • Measuring progress is difficult. If a student is not expected to "get it" right now, it is difficult for parents to see what they are "getting."

  • Students are somewhat deprived of the sense of accomplishment that comes from mastering a topic.

  • The repetitive nature of the Spiral can be boring to advanced students.

For further information on Spiral-based math curricula please click on Further Information (Spiral).

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