Who Needs Some Math Review?- A+ Interactive Math Review

A+ Interactive Math has a new brain child we have been thrilled to review called Math Mini-Courses.  Because they span grades 1st though 8th, we have been able to use them with both of my boys! Our 8 year old has been using Elementary and Middle School Multiplication, and our 8th grader has been using Advanced Geometry.

Mini-Courses are designed to help a child who is struggling in a specific math area.  By using interactive video lessons with automatically graded tests and quizzes, your child can close learning gaps quickly and efficiently.  As a parent, you will be given your own login information to access grade reports so you can keep an eye on your child's progress. Though most courses can be completed in 2-3 months, you will receive a year's access, as we did, so you can go back and review at any time during that year.

Other features include printable worksheets, text versions of each lesson, and a step by step solution guides for the worksheets.

There are 20 courses choose from-

Counting and Identifying Numbers (1st-3rd) - 15 lessons
Place Value and Number Combinations (1st-3rd) - 15 lessons
Naming, Comparing and Arranging Numbers (1st-3rd) - 17 lessons
Early Elementary Fractions (1st-3rd) - 10 lessons
Early Elementary Addition (1st-3rd) - 17 lessons
Early Elementary Subtraction (1st-3rd) - 15 lessons
Elementary & Middle School Multiplication (2nd-6th) - 13 lessons
Elementary & Middle School Division (2nd-6th) - 15 lessons
Tables, Charts and Graphs (1st-6th) - 17 lessons
Elementary Geometry (1st-4th) - 19 lessons
Elementary Algebra (1st-4th) - 27 lessons
Advanced Geometry (4th-7th) - 35 lessons
Advanced Fractions (4th-8th) - 26 lessons
Decimal Numbers (3rd-7th) - 20 lessons
Percentages (5th-8th) - 13 lessons
Time (1st-4th) - 20 lessons
Money (1st-5th) - 18 lessons
Number Types and Conversions (3rd-6th) - 35 lessons
Ratio, Proportions, Probability & Statistics (3rd-6th) - 14 lessons
Measurements and Conversions (2nd-6th) - 23 lessons

How We Used This Product It is no secret that I love reviewing products, but I especially love when they specifically line up with what we are currently using as the perfect complement. That is exactly the case with A+ Interactive Math's Mini-Courses.    

Our 3rd grader is currently learning his multiplication facts so the timing of the Elementary & Middle School Multiplication course was ideal.  It allowed us to put aside our current program for a few weeks and concentrate solely on multiplication facts.  Although you could run the program at the same time as you continue any other math, I liked being able to allow him to concentrate on just the math facts. After logging in to the website and his account, he is able to click on the lesson he is on. The first few lessons of this mini-course fully explain the concepts behind multiplication, so your child knows what the facts mean, just not the rote answer.  After that, each lesson concentrates on a specific skill such as multiplying one digit numbers, two digit numbers and so on.  There are 13 lessons in all so if you are working for a few minutes every day, the course will not take long to cover.  

After watching and listening to the lesson, he then is led to a review portion where he answers multiple choice questions.  Each question and the answer choices are read out loud, so if you have a struggling reader, do not fear.  Once the review is completed, there is a certificate to print out to show your child's progress, which CJ liked a lot!  It is funny how something so simple can motivate a child. Again, you can also print out worksheets to practice and print out full pdf files of each lesson if you choose.  We only used the additional worksheets on lessons that he did not score 100% on during the practice.

Our 7th grader's experience was very similar, although we were using the Geometry Mini-Course he had access to as a refresher only, therefore he worked on it only a few days a week.  The 31 lessons cover basic terms and concepts and then cover lessons in area, volume, rectangles, lines, rays, and more.  Because of that, I think this would also be a GREAT way to review for a child preparing for the SAT or ACT.  The 35 lessons are fairly short and, like the elementary program, have a video lecture followed by a short practice.  The thing we really appreciated about this level especially is that when a student gets a problem wrong you see the answer fully explained and then have the ability to correct your mistake.  While that may not be a big thing in lower level math, in upper level math, sometimes you just NEED to hear and see an explanation of the problem.  One thing that my son did struggle with was the fact that you must listen to all of the choices before it will allow you to answer the question.  While it bugs him because it "slows" him down, I like it because it DOES slow him down!

My recommendation?

A+ Interactive Math's new Math Mini-Courses are a great review for kids who need a refresher, those who may need some remedial work, or those who are looking to feel out some new concepts!  The clear video instruction make it a painless way to practice!