Archive for Basic Math
It’s a New Day!
Posted by: | CommentsWow, so much has changed since I began teaching my children at home, back in the dark ages, or so it seems some days. When we began homeschooling there were few companies that wrote or published curriculum geared toward the unique needs of educating at home. Now, not only are there several companies on board and promoting materials for homeschool use, but there are also online programs being created for this vast community. It’s a new day for home education!
K5 Learning is an outstanding, online reading and math enrichment program!
Click the K5 graphic above for Sample Lessons
Geared for Kindergarten through Grade 5, it is a student paced, individualized learning program, based on skill level, not grade level. Even in light of other online programs we have used, my children agreed that K5 Learning is consistently challenging, but not frustratingly impossible. I like it because it has repeated spoken instructions allowing even young students to work independently.
There are 1,500 reading tutorials with more than 3,000 activities, and over 1,200 math lessons and activities. These are not random. They are sequenced lessons that prompt continued mastery of the subject. Each session is a 5-10 minute tutorial, then practice, and quiz over new material.
Click graphic above for Math details
K5 Math is comprehensive. It covers – Numbers & Operations, Geometry, Measurement, Algebra, and Data Analysis. The Math Facts encourage “instant recall of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division tables. Unlike computerized drill programs, K5 Math Facts does not generate questions randomly. It records every response a child makes, continually analyses what facts your child has mastered or need further practice at, and generates questions based on that child’s needs. This makes K5 Math Facts far more efficient at teaching math facts than a typical drill program.”
Click Math Facts graphic above to view demo
The Reading Enrichment encompasses Reading Curriculum & Comprehension, Phonics and Phonemic Awareness, Sight Words, Vocabulary, and Spelling. K5 Spelling has a 150,00 word database, and “is far beyond your typical online spelling program.”
Additionally, K5 Learning keeps parent’s up-to-date with regular student progress reports.
per year – 1st child $199
additional child $129
per month – 1st child $25
additional child $15
K5 offers a 14-day FREE TRIAL that includes a reading assessment and a math assessment.
Click assessment graphic above for more information.
My crew mates have shared their opinions and you’ll find them by clicking the graphic below and following the link.
Comments or Questions?
phone - 888.281.2145
write -
K5 Learning
510-4438 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6R 4R8
or facebook
I’m excited about the new options for home educators and I think you will be, too! Please, follow the links I’ve provided and browse the K5 Learning website. Let me know what you think.
Blessings,
A trial period of this product was given to me, free of charge, in exchange, for my honest review, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks for your comments.
*Contents of this blog are copyrighted; they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
It is FRACTAZMIC!
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve found that the best way, or at least the yummiest way, to teach fractions, and actually make them stick, is in the kitchen. Measuring to mix a batch of gooey, chocolate fudge brownies, cutting a veggie-loaded pizza or slices of hot apple pie, or adding the measures that triple a recipe of Gramma’s Homemade Chicken and Noodles, so they’ll be enough for this crew. The problem I’ve found, there is no way I can cook enough, or we can eat enough, for my students to thoroughly practice using fractions. The more you use fractions the easier they are to use.
Fractazmic (TM) is a 60 card game of fraction-practice-fun! Created for 1st-8th grades, and beyond! It’s from I See Cards (TM), the maker of the award winning Pyramath (TM) game.
Using colorful cards, with easy-to-grasp graphics, it teaches fractions, numbers and measurement and there’s no dishes to wash! My children learn to convert and add fractions, reinforce the relationship between fractions and measurements and show real world use of fractions, without the added expense of chocolate chips or vanilla bean ice cream!
There are three sets of color coded cards – sixteenths, twelfths, and tenths. The object is to make sets of cards that equal one whole. When a player has used all of his cards the game ends and the player with the most sets of 1 whole, wins. We played this game, and others using this deck. My youngest daughter’s favorite is Go Fish! She learned to recognize the fraction on the card and the proper way to say it – one half, four sixteenths, etc., while enjoying the thrill of beating her older sister at a game! Dr. Ron teaches Fractazmic Trap and Fractazmic Rummy in his free download, Math Success Booklet.
My view ~ “Educational fun for a fraction of the cost!” Truly, the game is only $6.95 or play Fractazmic (TM) Speed Version online; if your speed is the fastest, you could win a free deck of cards. Warning: Online Fractazmic can become addicting.
If you have comments, questions, orders, need support or have an idea for new cards:
email – corporate@iseecards.com
You’ll find other reviews when you click the graphic below and read what my TOS crew mates have to say about I See Cards (TM) and Fractazmic (TM).
I hope you enjoy this game as much as we have enjoyed it. My husband said, “Finally, a way for you to teach fractions without having to feed the neighborhood!”
Blessings,
This product was given to me, free of charge, in exchange, for my honest review, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you for your comments.
*Contents of this blog are copyrighted; they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
Hands-On
Posted by: | CommentsI love hands-on learning! Building. Creating. Going. Doing. Definitely more of an action-verb sort of teacher, rather than a state-of-being type. I’m not fond of seat work, although it has it’s place and I use it.
I love Pitsco Education! They are the epitome of relevant, hands-on learning activities and they are dedicated to student success.
Pitsco has been a leader in education for 40 years. They “offer a robust array of STEM-oriented [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math] classroom solutions.” Their classroom kits would work well for co-op groups, but they also have full line of individual, homeschool kits, available. They care about their students, their teachers AND their reputation. Therefore, they are constantly seeking to improve and expand their product line, “providing students with the most positive and meaningful experiences possible,” while maintaining an exceptional system of customer support.
Our most recent experience with Pitsco Education involved learning about and building a catapult and a trebuchet, using their Medieval Machine Pack. It retails for $21.95, includes a Trebuchet Kit, Catapult Kit, Mass Plates, and the Seige Machines Book.
From the website: “Teach basic math, science, and problem-solving skills. With this pack, your child learns about catapults and trebuchets through hands-on activities that cover three areas:
- Science: Tension versus torsion, elasticity, gravity and levers, and force and motion
- Math: Metric conversion, calculating averages, and prediction
- Experiments: Mass versus distance, testing rubber bands, targeting, and more.”
This pack is designed for use by Intermediate – Middle School age students, but all of us in my house, elementary through high school and adult, gained knowledge with this hands-on activity. The kit activities did require some additional items such as measurement and hand tools, all of which we already had in the house.
Here’s a look at our catapult assembling journey ~
Contact:
Mail -
Pitsco Education
P.O. Box 1708
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Call –
800.828.5787
or
800.835.0686
For more detailed information about Pitsco, please, follow the many links I’ve included throughout this post. You can also read other reviews, by my TOS crew mates, when you click the graphic banner below.
Take a few minutes and explore Pitsco Education. It could have a positive impact on your curriculum at best and a definite influence on your Christmas list, in the least.
Blessings,
This product was given to me, free of charge, in exchange, for my honest review, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you for your comments. I’d love to hear about YOUR favorite Pitsco Education product.
*Contents of this blog and photographs are copyrighted; they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
It’s Big, Really Big!
Posted by: | CommentsTo say something is mammoth is to say it is something of great size. My kids would interchange it with ginormous, a word they’re sure they used before anyone else even thought of it. Personally, I like colossus – of gigantic size and proportions.
My latest review is for Math Mammoth and it’s big, really big! Maria Miller, the author, has put together multiple math options for your student. Hundreds of pages of text and worksheets, organized as a complete curriculum, for grades 1-6, or as work texts and worksheets, by topic or grade level, through the 8th grade.
She has devoted more than ten years to creating math resources and this effective curriculum that is available as an instant download and in printed books. She’s packaged over 300 sample worksheets that can be used for FREE.
It is also no small thing that Math Mammoth is affordable. $34.00 per download, per grade level or work text (worksheets and text in the same book), by topic, for $2 – $7 each, and several discounted package deals. In today’s economy this is huge!
Over the years we have used several different math programs. Some have been successful and some were duds, according to the learning bent of my child, not necessarily the merits of the program. Math curricula are not one size fits all.
Basically, Math Mammoth focuses on one concept at a time – in depth – approaching a problem from different angles – until that concept is mastered. Therefore, thinking is challenged, and mental math acquired and honed. I have discovered, finally, that this is the perfect environment for one of my sons. The lessons appear “clutter free” to him. They are clear and concise, and he understands what he is expected to learn. He concentrates on it, studies it until he’s “got it,” then checks it off in his mind as conquered and moves on to the next topic. My daughter, on the other hand, finds it “rather boring and monotonous” and performs much better when stimulated by variety and repetition.
It is monumental to me, as a parent/teacher, that Maria Miller has developed a FREE placement test for each of the grades. I was unsure, for a couple of my children, what grade level they had attained in math. I thought there might be a few conceptual gaps in their education, but I wasn’t even sure what was missing. So, I had no idea where to start with this program. Maria suggested that I give the children a placement test and then submit the results to her. She personally analyzed the results with me and advised me, based on her own extensive experience and education, on which course would be best for my son. Her guidance and support has been an immense help.
My crew mates reviewed the series of books offered by Math Mammoth and I have attached links throughout this post to give you more detailed information ~
Click the TOS graphic below to read what they thought of each option. The Light Blue Series book that we’ve been using has made an impressive positive impact on my son’s view of math and his own level of capability.
Blessings,
This product was given to me, free of charge, in exchange, for my honest review, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you for your comment!
*Contents of this blog are copyrighted; they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
Clever Dragons Discount!
Posted by: | CommentsClever Dragons launches it’s smart fun for boy’s only, today! My son has been waiting weeks for this, as I wrote in my review of a scoop of laughter, a scoop of learning, Always Icecream, for girl’s only!
I’ll be posting a review of this site, soon, but couldn’t wait to tell you that Clever Dragons is online and they are offering a discounted membership rate for a limited time only.
* Now through November 27th *
Launch Special Price
$39.99 for Lifetime Membership
No promo code needed.
Find Clever Dragons on facebook for the latest updates.
Blessings,
Clever Dragons, nor anyone affiliated with them, asked me to write this post. I received no compensation and any expressed opinions are my own.
Thanks for your comments. PK
For Girls Only!
Posted by: | CommentsFinding one’s place in a big family can sometimes be difficult. Having something that belongs just to you or that didn’t belong to a sibling before you doesn’t happen often, but sometimes it’s nice. It’s a little affirmation that you are one-of-a-kind and not just part of the group. I look for ways to let my children know that I see them as individuals.
Our youngest daughter is the youngest of 11. She loves her position, but we’ve made it a point to let her know that she wasn’t an afterthought. She was/is wanted and she is an important part of our family. It would be easy for everything she owns – clothes, toys, books & games – to be a hand-me-down, much is, but not all. Truly, she probably wouldn’t even mind, but I would; so, when I recently had the opportunity to review an ad-free learning website, for girls only, I was just a wee-bit excited about the possibilities! I wasn’t disappointed.
Always Icecream is geared for girls, ages 7-12, and it looks like it was created just for them. It’s pink and fun, and frufru and fun, and cute & sweet and fun! Much to my youngest son’s dismay, the website for boys only hasn’t been completed, yet, but I hear it is in the works. If I’d allow it, he’d learn & play right alongside his sister, but since I haven’t, he can not wait for his site! Why have a site, for girls only? My guys and girls get along very well together. My guys are a little more sensitive, considerate and compassionate and my girls are comfortable catching bugs and fishing, because of their interaction with each other, but it’s not that way in every home or classroom.
- “Online games for girls are games that have been specifically designed to meet the interests and curiosity of girls. This gender-focus makes it possible that “girls can be girls” without the fear of being bothered by boys who tend to make fun of everything that girls consider “cute.”
- “Within the target age group of 7-12 years, children’s preferences and ways in which they can be motivated tend to be influenced by gender. Collaborative play (girls) versus competitive play (boys) and girls tend to be attracted by virtual goods that are “decorative”, such as clothes, versus “useful”, such as machines or armor.”
“Notwithstanding the differences in brain development and socialization, Always Icecream is adamantly opposed to stereotypes such as “girls are not interested in science or math.” The site challenges its young members to engage in learning activities across a broad spectrum of subjects:
Language Arts
Math (basic and advanced)
Science
Computer Skills
Geography
History
Foreign Languages
Music & Arts
and Religious Education
I asked my daughter for her opinion of Always Icecream. She said, and I quote:
“I love it! You get to make your own house and you get your own pet. It’s fun! The learning is still fun, too. I am learning, you know. There are so many activities, I can’t even tell you! I’m practicing typing and I’m learning my states. Want me to show you? I’m getting higher and higher in my math and I got all of the Bible questions right, last time, because we had just learned about two of them in Children’s Church! The pet world thingy-place is my favorite! The pets can play games and do stuff. You can buy them accessories, (yes, that’s her word. We are big Fancy Nancy fans, but I’ll save that for another time) like a necklace or a bow. You use your $coops to buy stuff. ($coops is the earned currency in the Always Icecream world.) You buy them food and feed them, like carrots for the rabbit, not bacon or dog bones, of course. You give them cuddles and love and their hearts go up! I already said it, I just love it!“
School time. Learning time.
Play time. Reward time.
Parental participation, behind the scenes, is encouraged. Parents sign-up to receive a progress report, once a week, and may choose a number of $coops to be rewarded for special in-real-life projects, chores or accomplishments. My kids are on a rotation to clean the cat’s litter box. Our youngest was rewarded $coops for doing it without having to be reminded. Granted, she would like to go to Dairy Queen in the future for real-world ice cream in exchange for a real-world chore, but since she usually only gets a “thank you” she thought getting $coops was actually “pretty cool.”
The girls earn $coops currency for completing their learning tasks, challenges, games & videos. They create a mini-me avatar and can switch her clothes, buy rooms for the house and purchase furniture, pets and more. My girl loved this!
There is also a social feature available, set up by the parent, that enables or not, the girls to “make friends” and communicate with one another safely through Always Icecream. Although we didn’t choose to activate this feature, I do appreciate the excellent safety measures that are in place for the girls. Click the graphic below for more information.
* $4.99 per month * $29.99 per year * $99.99 for a lifetime membership *Take a quick tour of the site and try out FREE GAMES before you buy. “Satisfaction guaranteed: Your daughter will have fun and learn relevant skills – or you get your money back!”
You’ll want to read more reviews by my crew mates and their girls. Click the TOS banner below to get the full $coop!
Contact:
email – feedback@always-icecream.com
or visit
Blessings to you and your girls,
This product was given to me, free of charge, in exchange, for my honest review, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
*Contents of this blog are copyrighted; they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
Time for Learning!
Posted by: | Comments
“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3
Time to wake up!
image credit – Alice Lucchin
Time to sleep!
image credit – ToniVC
Time to prepare a meal and time to eat. Time for Bible Study and a bubble bath. Time for a picnic. Time to visit the library. Time for date night, family game night, movie & popcorn. Time to do the dishes, mop the floor and walk the dog. Time to sort, wash, dry, fold and put away mountains of laundry! Time to multi-task and make the most of every moment. Time to be all I can be!
image credit – fdecomite
Time for teaching and Time for Learning.
Time4Learning is an online learning program. It’s web-based, which means there is no software to download, no CD’s to buy, and access is always available (from any PC with an internet connection.) Therefore, it is most convenient. Designed for grades Pre-K through 8th, as a complete curriculum or supplemental. Using animation, interactive activities and printable worksheets, Time4Learning builds a foundation in language arts, math, science (1st – 6th grade) and history (2nd – 7th grade.)
This is a comprehensive curriculum. Additional features include:
- 1,000+ multimedia lessons
- State standards-based
- Independent grade level settings for each subject
- Access to the grade above and below
- Time-stamping feature on lessons (for attendance)
- Online playground which rewards and motivates
- Automated grading and reporting for portfolio use
- …and much more!
Lessons are individually paced with the student’s ability, whether gifted, special needs, homeschool, test prep, summer bridge or remedial. Three grade levels, for each subject, are available at once, enabling the parent to customize the program according to the child’s needs. Unit assessments/progress reports are sent to a parent account and parents can personally change a child’s grade level, as they see fit.
My children are excited about using this program! The graphics are engaging and the content, while uncompromisingly educational, is entertaining! We do monitor the time spent on the playground games, and we have skipped over lesson content that we have found counter to our home teaching: lessons and activities that speak of gods, goddesses, idols, Halloween, mythical beings and aliens, wizards and witches, and more, according to the relevance to the lesson. “To each his own,” but if one has an awareness of what is being presented, one can make informed personal choices.
I found this simple to set up and I’ve appreciated the extras available to parents/teachers on the Time4Learning website:
- Parent’s Forum – support and discussion
- Lesson Plan’s – for download & print
- Hints & Help – to make the most of the program
- FAQ’s – questions and answers
A month of access to this program will cost you $19.95 for the first child you enroll and $14.95 for each additional child. *So much less expensive than paying for tutoring, but presently too expensive for our budget. I hope to see multiple-children-family-pricing in the future, to make this excellent program affordable to more homeschooling families.
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed!
Still not sure if this is right for your family? Try a FREE, interactive lesson demo. Want 30 days FREE? Apply to review the Time 4 Learning program.
Questions or Comments:
Call – 954-771-0914
or
Email – support@Time4Learning.com
Time4Learning.com, facebook page
Blessings,
This product was given to me, free of charge, in exchange, for my honest review, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
Click graphic to find more Homeschool Crew Reviews.
*Contents and photographs of this blog are copyrighted; unless otherwise indicated, they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
Thank you for your comments! I appreciate each one of them. PK
Hog Wild!
Posted by: | Comments
Several years ago, my nearly-city-born husband worked on a pig farm. What an experience! The smell permeated everything – your hair, your skin, clothing, the dog and the car. But, being the positive force that he is, each time we pulled into the driveway he would say, “Ah, smells like money!” Nothing else needed said, because we were quickly reminded that this was how our bills were being paid and groceries were bought. I can say that we learned a lot about pigs and I’m extremely thankful that it was just for a season.
Pig Pen – an enclosure where pigs are kept.
Pig-headed – stubborn or obstinate.
Piglet – a young pig. Little pink friend of “Winnie-the-Pooh.”
image by Disney
Pig Lard – the rendered fat from a pig.
Pig Latin – a version of language formed from English by transferring the initial consonant of each word to the end of the word and adding a vocalic syllable, usually /a/; so, Penny becomes ennyPay.
~ And our newest favorite ~
Pig Pile – “The Hog Wild Card Game” by R & R Games
This card game is designed for children ages 7 and up, but it was fun for the whole family. The game box is thick and sturdy, the cards are high-gloss and my youngest daughter says, “The 40 plastic pigs are fun all by themselves! Especially if we build Lego pens and fences.” Created for 3 – 6 players, but adaptable to more, by adding another set of number cards and a Hog Wild card for each player after the sixth. It takes a few rounds of play to accumulate the most pigs and win the game! Along the way, the young players are reinforcing their number value; less than/greater than.
Pig Pile retails for $15.95 and is one of many great games by R & R Games. You’ll want to check out:
Pants on Fire, where “Stretchin’ the Truth can be Hot Stuff!” for ages 13 and up.
And, new this year, Ticked Off. “The game that gives you the opportunity to crush (and impress) your friends with your vast knowledge. Beat the clock and beat your friends!”
Card Games
Family Games
Party Games
Kids Games
Strategy Games
and more.
You can find other reviews on Pig Pile
and
Flea Circus, a crazy game of cats & dogs, for ages 6 and up,
when you visit The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Review Crew Blog. R & R Games is offering a 20% discount to anyone purchasing Pig Pile or Flea Circus after reading a TOS Crew review. Use coupon code CREW20 at checkout, now through December 31, 2011.
Find family fun and entertainment at www.rnrgames.com
Send comments, questions or ideas to: Info@RnRGames.com
Write to -
R & R Games, Inc.
P.O. Box 130195
Tampa, FL 33681
or Call -
1-888-8-Riddle
This product was given to me, free of charge, in exchange, for my honest review, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
Blessings,
*Contents and photographs of this blog are copyrighted; they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
Thank you, much.
Mad Dog at Our House
Posted by: | CommentsDo you love cats, dogs or any animal in general? Do you need pure bred or will any stray do? Would you rather not have the responsibility of any pet?
We’ve been both a way-station and a permanent home for a variety of animals, over the years. We’ve loved and cared for an iguana, turtles, birds, a bunny, pygmy goats, a guinea pig, numerous stray dogs, cats and more. We have just one indoor resident pet at the moment, a finicky, persnickety, sure-she-owns-the-home, fat feline. She suits our family purrfectly!
The only mad dog at our house is Mad Dog Math, created by Julie Kotoff and named in remembrance of her beloved Golden Retriever, Ruff.
Click logo for website
Julie loves her pets – three cats and two dogs – but, she also has a heart for children. She has experience as a teacher, administrator, and an educational consultant. 30 years of experience poured into a project that gives children an exceptional foundation in math.
Mad Dog Math has been providing addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts drills, to classrooms, for years. Now, there is a “student-tested Windows PC application that provides an at-home practice experience that is just like the classroom…” (or better, in my opinion, because it is at home.) It is presently available for Windows PC only, but there is a 32-bit version and a 64-bit version.
Designed for K – 5th grade. A couple of my older children found it quite helpful for improving their computation skills. There are three levels and a challenge level.
My children asked for extra time with this program, every day! But, a steady 10 minutes a day, as a supplement to your regular math curriculum will make a marked difference in how your child views math. They’ll build confidence and become fluent in their math facts, by using Mad Dog Math at Home. How long does it take your child to answer you if you ask him/her what your name is? A second? That’s what it means to be fluent: without hesitation, automatic; not having to pause to calculate, just knowing that you know the correct answer. You can give an answer so quickly you seemingly don’t even have to think of it. I want my children to be fluent in their basic building blocks of math. Every other concept builds on the facts. Mad Dog Math will help them achieve this goal.
There’s a free trial available; so, you can see if it works for you and your family.
Click cover for Order Page
A 1 year software license is $19.99
2 years – $29.99
and the best for a family of learners is:
A perpetual license for $39.99
also available:
or
paper/pencil drills $69.99 each
email – julie@maddogmath.com
phone – 562.533.5772
write -
Mad Dog Math
4562 Ocana Avenue
Lakewood, CA 90713
find Ruff and Mad Dog Math on facebook
Read other TOS Homeschool Crew Reviews by clicking on the banner below -
Blessings,
This product was given to me, free of charge, in exchange, for my honest review, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you, sincerely. PK
Jumping Over Math Hurdles
Posted by: | CommentsIn many ways, I’m old school. So, when it comes to math facts, that means drills, drills, and more drills, followed by timed tests. I can’t even tell you how many different sets of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division flashcards I’ve made and bought over the years.
New school is MathRider and my kids think it is boss! (adj. very good, excellent, cool)
“MathRider combines fun game play with a highly sophisticated question engine that adapts to your child. The game propels your child to mastery of all four math operations using numbers 0 to 12.”
This is an instant download, for multiple users – now $37 US (reg. $49.95) for one year. It also has a 30 day, risk-free guarantee.
It is my opinion that the story, graphics and game play are simple, especially if your child plays many PC games, Wii or PS3, etc. As stated previously, it is the question engine and the way it adapts to a child’s skill, that is more complex. For this reason, even though it was designed for ages 6 – 12, I think it can be used for a wider range of ages.
Several of my children used MathRider recently, when it was supplied for this review, and it is our intention to purchase it. One of my older children whizzed through the multiplication and division quests, but found that she wasn’t as quick with her subtraction facts. So, she used this game for several days to refresh her memory and actually become a master of subtraction.
I have seen improvement [which is exactly what this game recognizes and rewards] in the basic math operations, in knowledge and application, with more confidence and less hesitation, in each child that has used MathRider.
We did use this program a little differently than the authors intended, though. Even though the storyline involves “great and noble causes” it also involves magic gem stones, a wise wizard, mystical flowers and the like. It wasn’t a surprise, because MathRider clearly states that it is a “ride through magical lands.” The fact is: we don’t do magic and we do our best to “avoid the appearance of evil”; so… after the first child read the story and we realized exactly what the content was, we didn’t read it again. The other thing we noticed is that the same story is repeated for the mastery of each of the math functions. Meaning, once they mastered addition and moved to subtraction, the story and the quest was exactly the same, just with different math facts to conquer. So it is with the multiplication and division, too. This was a tad boring for mine; so, it wasn’t hard to skip the story for this reason, as well. Their goal of each quest was to get as many correct answers in the quickest possible time – and they loved it! They were constantly checking their statistics page.
For us, the story was unnecessary to gain the learning and the fun. We are hopeful, though, that more stories, with a variety of themes will be added in the future.
Contact info:
Office address -
Sharper Edge Pty Ltd
31 Hannah Street
Beecroft NSW 2119
Australia
Telephone -
+61 2 9980 2437
or
their Facebook page.
My crew mates have shared there personal reviews and varied opinions on the Homeschool Crew blog – check it out.
Blessings,
This product was given to me, free of charge, in exchange, for my honest review, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
