Math Mammoth vs Horizons Math
The main differences
Both are workbook programs for kindergarten to 8th grade. Math Mammoth is written to the child, finishes a topic before moving on, and is a download you print. Horizons is parent-led from a teacher's guide with colorful printed workbooks, and topics come back in a spiral through the year. A 3rd grade year was $42.50 for the Math Mammoth download and $120 for the Horizons box set.
| Math Mammoth | Horizons Math | |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Math | Math |
| Grades | Kindergarten to 8th grade | Kindergarten to 8th grade, ending with Algebra I |
| Method | Mastery | Traditional |
| Format | Books and workbooks | Books and workbooks |
| Faith label | Secular | Faith-based |
| Cost a year | $42.50. Grade 3 complete curriculum as a download (two worktexts, answer keys, tests, cumulative reviews, worksheet maker): $42.50. | $120. 3rd grade Math Box Set (two student books and the teacher's guide with answer keys): $120. The student worksheet packet is $16.25 extra. |
| Placement | Free placement tests, grades 1 to 8 ↗ | Free math readiness evaluations ↗ |
| Parent time | Not stated by the publisher | Not stated by the publisher |
| It fits | A family on a tight budget that wants an open-and-go worktext the child can read and work through with growing independence. | A parent who wants to teach from a step-by-step guide each day, with colorful workbooks and steady review of earlier topics. |
| It doesn't fit | A family that wants a printed set shipped by the publisher, a scripted parent-led lesson each day, or math past 8th grade in the same series. | A family that wants the child to work on their own, or a program that finishes one topic before moving to the next. |
Math Mammoth
Math Mammoth Light Blue Series is a kindergarten to 8th grade math curriculum. Each grade has two worktexts, A and B, that hold both the explanations, written to the child, and the exercises, in chapters by topic. The publisher sells it as a download with answer keys, tests, cumulative reviews and a worksheet maker; printed copies come from other bookstores, and free videos by the author match grades 1 to 7.
Does well: The explanations are written to the child inside the worktext, so there is no separate teacher's manual and little lesson preparation.
Watch for: The publisher's site sells only the digital version; printed books must be ordered from other bookstores at their prices.
Horizons Math
Horizons Math is a parent-led math curriculum from kindergarten to 8th grade, ending with Pre-Algebra and Algebra I. The parent teaches each day from a teacher's guide with step-by-step lessons and answer keys, and the child works in two colorful student workbooks; the 3rd grade set, for example, has 160 lessons. Topics come back again and again in a spiral, each time a little harder, as new material is added.
Does well: The teacher's guide gives step-by-step daily lessons, learning goals, a materials list and answer keys, so the parent knows what to do each day.
Watch for: The publisher says it needs active parent involvement: the parent teaches each lesson and checks the work with the answer keys.
Lists with both
How we label
Every fact on a card was read on the publisher's own website on the date shown, and the page it came from is linked. A fact we could not confirm there is left out. Costs are for one child and one year of the main package, as the publisher's page showed them that day; prices and sales change. Method and format are the publisher's own description where it gives one. The only thing we say about religion is one label, secular or faith-based, given by the rule above; where the publisher's pages don't settle it, the card has no label.
Something wrong or out of date? Send a correction; publishers can send corrections, never money. Every program compared