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Rod and Staff Math

The Mathematics for Christian Living Series is designed with these goals in mind: (1) to emphasize proper Biblical values; (2) to teach useful number facts and skills; (3) to give a balanced emphasis on concepts, computation, and applications; (4) to enable the pupil to do the lessons with a minimum of help from the teacher; and (5) to include reading or reasoning problems that involve a spiritual lesson, a Biblical principle, a challenge, or some usefulness in everyday life.

Number facts and skills are taught by the traditional method. The goal is to prepare the student to be a laborer in the kingdom of God and to the glory of God. Realistic problems from everyday life are employed. Many of the problems are arranged horizontally, which will help the student to develop mental arithmetic skills. The series was written with the belief that it is effective to teach one mathematical operation continuously over a several-week period (mastery approach) rather than studying one concept today, another tomorrow, and so on and then repeating the cycle (spiral approach).

A strong emphasis is placed on mastery of skills with an endeavor to provide sufficient drill so the average student may accomplish this. Extra practice sheets are included, usually in the form of blackline masters, which may be copied by teachers as needed to give additional drill. Speed drills are provided also, emphasizing accuracy first and then speed.

The lessons for the first two grades are in workbook form. Grades 3 and above are in reusable, hardcover-book form. The pupil's text is included as part of the teacher's manual.

Note about Algebra:

Because algebra is not introduced until grade 7, in the lower grades the exercises involving mixed operations are provided to give practice with mixed calculations, and should be done in sequential order. The standard algebraic order of operations is introduced along with algebraic expressions in grade 7.

Also, Although grades 7 and 8 introduce some algebraic concepts, and some users have felt that to be sufficient preparation for taking Algebra I, it is not designed as a thorough pre-algebra course. Rod and Staff is developing an Algebra course, but it will take several years to prepare.

Beginning Arithmetic is designed to start at the beginning of first grade. The 170 lessons are bound into 2 workbooks of 176 pages each, with 1 tear-out sheet for each lesson. First graders can more easily write on one sheet rather than in a thick workbook, and the tear-out pages also make checking more convenient.

No unit or chapter divisions are given. Money, measures, place value, fractions, and so forth are taught throughout the year while addition and subtraction facts are being drilled.

The 170 lessons of Grade 2 are bound in four workbooks. Unit 1 reviews addition and subtraction facts through 10, and other skills taught in Grade 1. Unit 2 teaches all the addition and subtraction factions for the 11s, 12s, and 13s, and carrying and borrowing as well. Unit 3 teaches the 14s and 15s, and Unit 4 teaches the 16s, 17s, and 18s. Continuous review is built into the lessons, and simple reading problems are practiced frequently. Speed drills are included in the workbooks. Money, time, and measures are reviewed; pounds and ounces are introduced, along with one-dollar bills. Calendars, graphs, and quarter-hour and five-minute time increments are taught.

Exploring Arithmetic has 170 lessons. It reviews addition and subtraction skills from Grades 1 and 2 and teaches multiplication and division facts through table 9 and simple two- and three-step multiplication and division. Other concepts drilled are fraction meaning, measure equivalents, money values, and telling time. Mixed computation and Roman numerals are introduced. Continuous review is built into the lessons, and simple reading problems are practiced frequently.

Progressing with Arithmetic has 170 lessons, counting tests, most being two pages long. Lesson concepts are clearly explained to the student. After reviewing the basic facts and teaching the multiplication and division facts 10's-12's, this book teaches long division, multiplying by 2-digit numbers, and checking in the four processes of computation. Reading problem skills include distance-rate-time, 2-step problems, using sketches, and identifying missing information.

Gaining Skill with Arithmetic has 170 lessons (counting tests), most being two pages long. Lesson concepts are clearly explained to the student. This book continues to review the basic facts of the four number processes. It reviews two-digit multipliers, the long division process, measures, large numbers, fractions, and decimals. Other important areas of study are the introduction of two-digit divisors, three-digit multipliers, multiplication and division with decimals and fractions, ratios, geometry, square measure, graphs, and scale drawings. Reading problems are exercised regularly.

The 170 lessons in Grade 6 include the reviews and tests. The lessons explain and illustrate new concepts, which are built on concepts taught in the previous grades. Some new concepts taught in Grade 6 include greatest common factor; decimal-fraction-percent equivalents; finding discounts, commissions, and interest; conversions between English and metric measures; finding areas of parallelograms, triangles, and circles; using a protractor; and constructing graphs.

There are 170 lessons in Mastering Mathematics.

There are 170 lessons in Applying Mathematics.

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