TOS Review: enVision Math 1st Grade

When I received enVision Math, I was impressed with the layout and design. (I'm such a desktop publishing nerd that I actually collect fonts. I have over 400 of them. Seriously.) I quickly realized that much time and money was spent formulating a beautiful workbook for a brick-and-mortar school system.

Unfortunately, I was unable to utilize much of the consumable workbook since we did not receive any teacher's guides or instruction on how the book was to be used. Throughout the workbook, there were separate notes to the parent and the teacher and even a note called the  "Home-School Connection." The Home-School Connections actually referred to homework and explained to the parents what was done in class. Being a homeschool teacher, I am teacher and parent. I certainly don't need to tell myself what we did in class. *grin* But then there were just many things I just could not make sense of.  For example, an early lesson asked something so very simple, I thought it was a bit too easy for my first grader even at the very beginning of the school year. (He is advanced, but had done a lot of what it was asking in preschool.) A lesson just a few pages later gave instructions that I would not except a first grader to be able to read. (Farm Boy did read those instructions to me when asked, but it is also the end of the school year and his reading level is accelerated.)

What's It Gonna Cost Me?
enVision Math 1st Grade Student Workbook (consumable) $34.47
Manipulatives $18.97

Final Word

It is impossible to give a positive review based on incomplete information. Without access to the teacher's manual or the Digital System Access which is included in the price of the consumable Student Workbook I don't feel like I was able to get a good reading on the curriculum itself. My overall feeling is that due to cost, it is not a good fit for homeschoolers. With some work, Pearson may be able to reach homeschoolers, but it would need to be more specialized for homeschool use and packaged as such.

Legal Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Crew I received enVision Math 1st Grade free of charge from Pearson Education for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.