Let's Talk About...Math

Welcome back to week 2 of our Let's Talk About...Series!

Last week we talked about Science so this week we are going to tackle Math!  Eek!  I mean, as long as we are on a roll with hard subjects I figured we might as well keep going, right?!

Yep, full disclosure, I am not a math person either!

But I do know that Math is important to know and therefore I do my best to do it well.  Once again, this is a subject I jump around a bit with and have used a few things for specific children for specific reasons, hence the overlap in some grades.  As with our science picks, I have linked more detailed reviews I have written if applicable.  I am not getting paid to endorse any of these companies, they are just ones we use and love!

Here we go-

Saxon Math- Sorry, I know I heard some groans there but I LOVE the hand's on, manipulatives side of this program.  We tend to use it for K-4th grade.  It is pretty repetitive after a while, but if you can't stomach it for long, I would say try to use the first few years at least.  It is a great combo of hands on and worksheets (for goodness sake, just do the front of each page) and the spiral teaching is a great way to cement ideas.  Plus who doesn't like teddy bear counters, tangrams, and yellow clocks?!

Teaching Textbooks- At about the 5th grade level, child dependent, we switch over to TT.  The new version which in online and self grading is so easy to use and I love someone else taking over the teaching at that point!  With my oldest, TT saved us a lot of tears and meltdowns! (Talking to you, Ashton!)

Math U See Geometry- Math U See is just a more visual and hands on program in my opinion.  One of our children really benefited from taking a break from TT and using this program for Geometry.  Super thankful for this program.

*If your child is going into the STEM world, definitely check out Abeka or even BJU upper level math courses.  Even better, have them take math online through a college and dual-credit it!  You won't regret it, promise!

CTC Math and IXL Learning- These are great programs if you have a child who needs some extra practice!  You can supplement the program you are using or use it for extended summer learning.  The game like features keep the drudgery to a minimum.

CTC

Times Tales- The BEST way to learn multiplication in my opinion.  My son still says the rhymes and learned his multiplication facts faster than any of my other kiddos.

Learning Wrap Ups-Wrap ups have been around forever, but they are still a fun way to master facts.  We have been known to put these in the car with us and pull them out in waiting rooms!

Whatever you choose, find the best fit for your child and dive in!

Blessings,

Also in this series-

Let's Talk about...Science

Math Whizz Review

I have four kiddos with varying levels of skill when it comes to math.  Each year is a guessing game as to whether or not it will be a good year in math for us, so the opportunity to review Whizz Education's 12 month subscription to Math Whizz was a quick YES for me.  Currently I have just one student using the program, my 6th grader.




Consider Whizz Education your personal on-line math tutor.  With its artificial intelligence, it is able to adjust to each individual's pace and knowledge.  Since 2004 Whizz Education has serviced over 100, 000 student world wide and are now opening their doors to homeschool students with that same dedication and expertise.

 

With a quick registration and set up you are ready to begin.  Your child will take a placement test to determine what they know and what they do not know.  By allowing them to complete this test alone, you will have a more accurate view of their current level.  Let's face it, assessments are not the most fun but in this case it is essential, as the program will then adjust to your child's needs.

Once the assessment is completed and scored, you as the parent will receive an email letting you know what level your child is currently working at. 

You are then ready to have your child start the program.  Be ready- there is a lot to take in! 

A couple of quick facts-

• The Math Whizz program is animated but not a silly mess of stuff, therefore it shouldn't annoy your slightly older users.  

• You can change your profile character to one of 8 cute, animated icons.  Currently Colby is an ant man, go figure.

• Weekly Activity Summary Goals pop up occasionally in chart form and you can "watch your forest grow" as you add more time to your work. There are bonuses that move you ahead quicker for extra time spent in study.

• Math Whizz Buddies- You can enter your friends' user names in and be buddies online with fellow classmates or friends using the program.

• In the My Study area, your child can decorate their area and  "buy" items with their points.  There you will also find the play area where you can interact with the things they have bought, such as feeding the animals or watering the plants.  You can also simply go to Explore the Study to see how many points you have or what games you have, as well as begin a lesson or see what is new on Math Whizz.  

• The notice area will show your child how many kids are online and how many lessons have been completed, allows your child to send in jokes to be shared, and has occasional bonuses like posters to print off and holiday themed extras. You can also challenge kids around the globe from here.

• Occasional company emails.  About three weeks into the program I received a second email to check on our progress and to remind me of a few areas in the program that we might want to explore.  I actually appreciated that, as I had not seen the replay button which allows your child to go back over a previously learned section!

  Getting to the meat of the program-

By beginning in the Topic bank your child can choose from multiple math topics such as problem solving, multiplication, and percentages and ratios.  Within each topic are numerous activities for your child to complete.  Once your child chooses a topic there will be a short tutorial on that subject.  The tutorial is not only in written format but also auditory, covering many learning styles.  You do have the option to turn off the sound as well if your child finds it a distraction.  You will also find a dictionary icon on the bottom left of the screen so that your child can look up any words they are not familiar with.

Additionally, you can begin in the tutor section that will direct your child from one subject to another, again going through instruction tutorials and then having them work similar problems.  By finishing a section your child will earn points and progress on their forest path.  If your child has had a difficult time in a particular area, that area will be revisited within a few lessons for more instruction and review.  In contrast, there is a skip button that will be unlocked if your child has answered enough questions correctly, allowing them to move ahead at a quicker pace.

Our experience-

 Not all "review" or "tutor" programs work well, but this one I am impressed with.  What I love most is that it adapts to your child's needs by having them taking the pre-assessment first.  Not wasting time on things we already know is a BIG bonus in our book!

Game-like programs are also not my favorite, but I feel that this one is very balanced and I will say my son has spent more time on the lessons than anything else, though working on adding point credits to buy a dragon has been a motivator for him, for sure!  Doesn't every child need a dragon as a pet?

Colby does have a tendency to just type in an answer and move on (percentages, anyone?) when he doesn't understand a new concept, but found out quickly it would not just make that particular lesson go away!  MOM WIN!  Yep, you do it until you master it.  Isn't that, after all, the homeschool way?

I also like that the Math Whizz can be done independently.  So much so that now Colby chooses on his own to hop on the program for a few lessons after our formal school time.  Admittedly, he did this several times day at first and had to even be told a few times to be done, but now has settled into more of a routine with a few times a week.  When we were in a more hurried schedule a few days, we substituted Math Whizz for his regular math which would have taken much longer to do.

*One caution, it seems here at Halloween time, the company automatically added extras to your child's "space" such as pumpkins and cob webs and eyes in a container.  I would love if that was an options you could delete if your family wanted to.

One of the reasons I like having this type of "tutor" program available is that they often become self checks for us.  Has my child been exposed to that?  Does he understand that?  Can he still work those problems when presented in a different way?  Math Whizz has allowed us to identify a few weak areas in our current 6th grade math knowledge and catch up a bit in a fun and fairly easy way.

Let's face it, if they are having fun while they are learning, they seem to learn faster and retain more.  What more could you ask for?

Over 30 additional reviewers have been using Math Whizz this past month- you can find their reviews by clicking on the banner.

When Math is NOT Your Thing

Welcome back to week 3 of the Virtual Curriculum Fair hosted by Susan at Homeschooling Hearts and Minds.

Last week we talked about Language Arts, so this week: Math - Discovering Patterns, Math, and the Mathematical Sciences!

If you are anything like me, just the mention of Math makes your heart beat a little faster.  No, not in excitement, but in pure terror.  I can still remember trying to learn my multiplication tables for TWO years.  Seriously, I just stunk at them.  I had a sweet teacher in 4th grade that would not give up on me- she knew I needed to know them and pushed me to succeed.  Of course, I know that now, but then, I thought she just did not like me and wanted to make me miserable.  Sad, but true.

So yes, math is the one subject I was really afraid I would not be able to teach my kids.  Sure, doing math with elementary aged kids was pretty easy.  It is fun to add and subtract with teddy bear counters, tell time with fun little yellow clocks, and learn patterns with M&Ms!

But, higher math?  UGH!

Good news, friends!  Well actually, four points of good news!

• When you teach your child math, you learn as you go.  Just like them, you learn, and therefore you WILL be able to teach them!

• Many math programs today have DVDs to follow that include full step answer guides.

• There are many online Math tutors out there to help you!

• Your older children can take online math classes from many colleges, and often receive college credit at the same time!

So what do we use?  Here we go-

For elementary through about 3rd or 4th grade, we still believe in Saxon Math.  I know that some complain about the monotony of this program, but I believe that 1. monotony is good at this age, and 2. it makes learning fun when you can use manipulatives.  As for the two sided worksheets, we required only one side be done unless the child needed extra practice.

Somewhere around 4th or 5th grade, we switch over to Teaching Textbooks.  Why?  For several reasons actually.  By the time my kids get to this age, I am training them to be more independent in their schoolwork.  Being on the computer independently works better for us.  In addition, I LOVE that the lessons are automatically graded!!  As a busy mom, this is just one area that saves me a lot of time.  I can easily check grades each week and see what problems they are struggling with.  Video based lessons reach auditory and visual learners- both of which I have.

For now we are continuing Teaching Textbooks for high school math.  There have been a few times when I thought my children might be behind in math, but when their math scores come back from standardized testing, they always do fine, so I have let that fear go.  If this is a fear of yours, ABeka Math may be a better fit for you.

A few bonus things I want to mention-
Remember those multiplication facts I struggled with?  The two best programs I have found to combat that are Times Tales and Math U See's Gamma level.  We actually took time off from our Teaching Textbooks last year for a few weeks to work through those two programs simultaneously.  Our youngest learned his facts faster than any of our older kids and I HIGHLY recommend both programs.  Learning Wrap Ups are also great for hands-on kids!  You can get them for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  Click on the highlighted names above to read our formal reviews.

Times Tales practice dice

What about you?  If there are math programs you have used and love, we would love to have you join us by linking up below!  Share what you use and why you love it!

Please visit my fellow homeschool bloggers who are talking about Discovering Patterns: Math and the Mathematical Sciences this week:

Finding Our Math Equilibrium: Our Plan for 11th, 7th, 5th, and 2nd Grades + Free Printables! by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds
Math Resources and Programs for All Ages by Amanda H @ Hopkins Homeschool
Math (doesn't) Stink! by Jennifer King @A Peace of Mind
When Math is NOT Your Thing by Michele@Family, Faith and Fridays
Math U See and All the Supplements by Laura H @ Four Little Penguins
Discovering Patterns in Our World: STEM Studies by Laura @ Day by Day in Our World
Junior High Math by Jennifer @ A Glimpse of Our Life
Science & Math for Struggling Learners by Yvie @ Gypsy Road
Maths: a subject in progress by Sarah @ Delivering Grace
Taking Mathematics out of the Textbook by Dana Hanley @ Roscommon Acre
Maths for a Very Maths-y Boy by Lizzy @ Peaches At Home
Practical Math by Annette @ A Net in Time
One of the greatest benefits of homeschooling by Kim @ Good Sweet Love
Math, How I Loathe Thee by Shecki @ Greatly Blessed
Math and Logic in Early Elementary and Preschool {virtual curriculum fair 2017} by Meghan W @ Quiet In The Chaos
Low Stress High School Science and Math by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool
Are these toys or manipulatives? This is math? by HillaryM @ Walking Fruitfully
When You Don't Have a Math Plan by Brittney @ Mom's Heart
Clear Horizons by Lori H @ At Home: where life happens
A Few Thoughts on Teacher Math by Kristen @ Sunrise to Sunset

An InLinkz Link-up


Blessings, 

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!

Numbers and Atoms- Homeschooling High School

Welcome back to another month of our Homeschool High School Blog Hop!  I hope by now you have found some inspiration in the months previous as well as lots of ideas.  This month's theme is
Math and Science, so hang on to your hats!

I wish I could tell you these are easy subjects for us, but that would not be true.  As a matter of fact, it seems they are difficult ones for many people.  The good news is there are plenty of good resources and curriculum out there to use.  Before I share with you the ones we use and recommend, let me start with some basic information for you.

The first place you want to start is with planning what your child will take throughout their high school career.  This is a time that planning ahead will help you greatly!  Even if you are not sure what specific curriculum you will use, go on and know what you will have your child take.

Most states require at least three maths and three sciences to graduate.  In addition, that is also what many colleges require for admittance as well.  If your child already knows where they would like to go to school, do some research and make sure you are on the right path.  I would also recommend that you think about what your child's strengths are.  If they are interested in a science or math field, things like nursing or engineering, then it would be a good idea to go on and plan for 4 years of each subject!

So here is what we use-

Math- Teaching Textbooks
We plan on Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2.  We have used Saxon in the past, but found our kids do better with the Teaching Textbooks for several reasons, including the video instruction.  If you have an auditory learner I would highly recommend this program.
We also add Math You See's Consumer Math in our schedule.  I love that it comes with a devotional and teaches some basic practical skills like check writing and car insurance. Simple to use but good information in it!

Science- Apologia
We always have the kids cover Physical Science, Biology (with lab) and Chemistry (with lab).  Again, if your child is science minded, you will also probably want to add in Physics.  Let me know and I will pray for you! ;)  I do allow our children to choose one other science of their choice.  So far one had chosen Human Anatomy and the other Marine Biology, both from Apologia. It will be interesting to see what my boys choose when the time comes.

Well, that pretty much covers science and math for us.  Pretty simple and I am sure there are many other amazing options out there, but this is what has worked for us.  Be sure to hop on over to the other blogs listed to see what others use!

Home School High School Hosts Share this Month:

• Chareen from Every Bed of Roses -  Math, Science, Biology and History in the High School Years
  
• Jennifer from A Glimpse of Our Life - High School Language Arts
• Lisa from Golden Grasses - Math, Science, History- Homeschooling High School 
• Dawn from Double O Farms - Math, Science, and History During the High School Years
• Kym from Homeschool Coffee Break - Homeschooling High School - Math, Science, and History Round-Up
• Wendy from Life at Rossmont - Homeschooling High School: Maths, Sciences, and History
• Debbie from Debbie's Homeschool Corner - Afraid of High School Science?
• Carol from Home Sweet Life - Math and Science in High School ~ What's a Mom To Do?  
• Tess from Circling Through This Life - Teaching High School Math and Science: Resources
• Meg from Adventures with Jude - High School Math and Science
• Gena from I Choose Joy! - Why We Changed Our History Curriculum for Homeschool High School
• Cristi from Through the Calm and Through the Storm - Two Plus Two Equals Calculus
• Laura from Day by Day in Our World - History and Science for High School | Stress Free Teaching
• Leah from As We Walk Along the Road -   
• Debra from Footprints in the Butter -
• April from ElCloud Homeschool -
• Erica from Be The One -

See ya back next month as we discuss Language Arts!

Blessings,

CTC Math- Schoolhouse Crew Review

Let's just get something straight from the start.  Math is NOT my thing. Never was, never will be. But oh, how I long for my children to know more than I do.  Much more. So I push math a lot in this house.  More practice equals more skill. The kids will thank me someday, I am sure.

While toted as an online math tutoring program, CTC Math has helped us significantly not only in the area of practice, but teaching new skills as well.  This online math program allows each registered student unlimited access to all levels, from Kindergarten to high school subjects like Algebra, Statistics, and Geometry. We have been blessed to be regular users of their 12 Month Family Plan for the US.

Each grade level is broken down into streams and then each stream is broken down into various topics. The lessons under each topic are quite short (ranging from 1-4 minutes at the lower grades), which is what we are working within right now.   Several example problems are worked using a white screen and explained by a lovely sounding Australian gentleman, Pat Murray.  After the lesson is complete, your child then works through several practice problems and is done.

Not sure where to start?  Each lesson has two tests that can be taken prior to the lessons to see what your child's understanding is on that particular subject.  If they do well and you feel they scored high enough, you are free to skip that lesson and go to the next.  Lessons can be done in any order you prefer, making is easy to pick and choose what to do each day based on your particular needs.  This is a great way to get in extra review of areas of weakness, or study for a particular skill needed on an upcoming test.  ACT or SAT anyone?

The program is self grading and keeps your scores, emailing you weekly progress report. At the end of each unit completed your child will receive an award page to print out.  Check marks on your menu show what has been completed for record-keeping purposes.

Afraid you will run out of new materiel?  No worries.  There are over 57,000 interactive questions. Not sure your child gets it?  You are able to rewind a lesson or repeat it as many times as you want.

How we have been using CTC Math-

Because my older son has had a pretty packed summer, we decided to concentrate on just Colby with this review.  Colby, who just completed 2nd grade, is actually pretty good in math, but when we did standardized testing with him I noticed some gaps in his learning.  He also seems to struggle when something is not asked exactly like he is used to from his previous math.  Often I know he knew the answer, but the working of the question tripped him up.  I had planned on him starting at the 3rd grade level but changed my mind and have been allowing him to complete the lessons in the 2nd grade level as a review.

We typically work 4 to 5 days a week, depending on our schedule.  Because the lessons are fairly short, it is easy to fit one in between scheduled summer activities.  The first week we worked on the program I did not allow Colby to skip any lessons, even if it was a concept I knew he had mastered.  I felt like that would give him the confidence he needed.  It also meant he got a high percentage score and was thrilled to print out his first certificate!

The following week, I decided to mix things up a little and allowed him to take the test for the unit.  I told him up front that at any time I saw he was struggling he would then have to actually watch the lesson.  Turns out there was only one section he struggled with and it was in an area we had not covered in the previous year.

After that we have continued to just take each day as it goes, hopping back and forth in what he does. Some days he is happy to watch the lesson and others he asks to take the test first to see how much he knows.  As long as he is working forward, I am content to let him make that choice.

Another neat feature of CTC Math is the Speed Skills section.  There are four levels to choose from and and each times you on math facts for 1 minute.  This is an area we have only briefly tried for now, as being timed seems to stress my son out, but I think it is a great way to keep basic math facts fresh in a child's mind and I am hopeful that the more we work on it, the more confident he will become.  The program saves your high score so you can judge how you are doing.

What do we think?
I really like this program! We had good success with it when we reviewed it previously, and continue to be impressed with the breadth of information it covers.  For kids who need to brush up on skills or just stay fresh over the summer, homeschooled or not, this is a great, non-threatening way to give your child a few minutes of practice each day.  The quick lessons and bright graphics easy hold a child's attention.  I would also suggest that you could use it throughout the school year, if not daily for reinforcement, or maybe on one of your lighter schools days as a reward for a week well done. We will continue to use it and feel confident that it is helping to solidify the new math skills Colby is learning!

GPALOVEMATH- Schoolhouse Crew Review

Recently we had the opportunity from GPA LEARN to review their program GPALOVEMATH, a  web based Math program for kids grades Kindergarten through 5th grade. For an entire year's membership, we can explore any grade level we desire and see fits us best.

GPALOVEMATH follows an Instruction, Practice and Quiz format, covering over 10,000 practice problems per grade.  That is over 150 lessons per grade!  By using different animated characters as your child's "coach", GPA Learn makes learning math fun!

Adirehs, an island girl, is the coach for 2nd graders, which is where we have been currently working. Other characters include a penguin, a detective and a cool robot!

Each day your child can follow a recommended path of instruction or choose what they would like to learn.  There are several colored "paths" to choose from (green, purple, or blue) and you must complete certain lessons to open other ones.  This ensures that prerequisite skills are learned before moving on to higher skill levels.  Once you choose the path you want to work on, you "test drive" that skill- by first receiving instruction on the new skill presented. After the instruction and a quick process review, you then working through practice problems with your coach. Once practice is completed you move to the quiz where you can earn points based on the number you get correct.  If your child gets stuck on a practice problem, they have three lifelines they can use to get help.

To further help motivate your child, there are over 100 reward options the parent can choose to set into the program.  The more options you choose, the more often they are rewarded to the child. These options range from things such as snuggle time and playing a game with your family to an extra movie privilege or later bedtime.  There is also an option to make up your own prizes.  In addition, the points your child earned can be redeemed for gift certificates to places like Toys R Us and Target!

Though this is not a game based system, there is a little adventure tied into the lessons and every few screens a little something extra is added in, giving the child a break for a moment.  During our time using the program, it was discovering animals on the islands or finding what to feed them, learning about recycling, and choosing tools to hang a sign.

A private social network where parents and kids can communicate with those they know in the same program can also provide an extra level of fun to the program.

How did we use this program?
Since we do math daily, we put aside our current math and used this for several weeks, 5 days a week, though they suggest 3 days a week is sufficient.  It is easily accessible and my 2nd grader often pulled it up on our laptop without me and got started before I could sit down.  We began with 2nd grade, since that is his current grade and followed the recommended path.

What did we think?
Hmmm, I had to really think about that.  While GPALOVEMATH did not knock our socks off, I did think it was a good solid program.  After several weeks into the program, we had not really hit any "new to us" skills, but that seems reasonable since we are already 8 months into our current school year.  We are planning to move up into the third grade level and see how he does.  Some concepts were taught a little differently than we had experienced before.  One of the things I did not like was counting on your fingers was encouraged several times, which I discourage in our home. While the lessons tended to take us on average about 30 minutes, CJ did skip through some of the screens when he already knew what to do.

In addition, GPALOVEMATH teaches the concept of S.P.O.T.-  Study the problem, Plan it out, Operate and solve the problem, Test and confirm your answer.  While I like the concept a lot, it is repeated and explained in every lesson and grew tiring to my second grader who began to skip it every time.

I do like that your child has a little freedom in what they choose to learn each day.  For my strong willed child, getting to "pick" is a big thing for him and made his day.  He also LOVED the rewards. Funny how the little things can matter.  Before he started his lesson each day he would go to the rewards tab to see how far he was from earning a reward or how many points he needed for another certificate.

I also like that this is NOT a game based program.  I like to make learning fun, but I think it is important to teach kids that life and learning are not all about games.  GPALOVEMATH seems to have found a good balance in their program.


Special Introductory Price of $129 per child per year includes-

• Entire year math curriculum
• Includes all grades K through 5
• 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
• Includes Learn, Engage, Motivate, & Parent dashboard features

You can find GPA LEARN on social media-

www.facebook.com/gpalearn
www.twitter.com/gpalearn
www.pinterest.com/gpalearn

 

Numbers and molecules!

Welcome back to week 2 of the 2015 Virtual Curriculum Fair!  If you missed last week's post on Words and More Words be sure you start there!  This week the co-hosts are Susan from Homeschooling Hearts and Minds and Laura from Day by Day in Our World.

Up this week- Discovering Patterns: Mathematics, Logic, and Science

Still with me?  I know, I know, those words scare me, too!  Take a few breaths and stay with me - we can do this!

So here is what I know- you can make teaching Math and Science hard or you can take some friendly advice...make it easy!

Let's start with Math-

Here's what we do-





For the 2nd grader-
Horizons Math- We started this as a review and have continued on with it.  It is working for us for now because this kiddo likes worksheets.  We usually do Saxon Math at this age but CJ was just getting bored with it and we needed a change.

IXL Math- Another review item, but we really like it!  While it is not a full teaching program, it is a great review as well as a challenge since you have access to all grades.  If, like me, you have a kiddo that likes the computer, this is a great program.  And if you have days that you just cannot devote a full hour to teaching a new concept, this is a great way to keep a child current.  Ask me how I know this!

Learning Wrap Ups- You know the drill- a review item.  ;)  But yes, we love them.  CJ is a hands-on kid and loves learning math facts this way.  Beats the whining when I try to bring out fact sheets.

For the 7th grader-
Teaching Textbooks!  That's it!  We love this computer-based program and would not recommend anything else at this level.  It's just that good.  And hey, any program that automatically grades and keeps records for you gets bonus points in my book.  Can I get an amen!?

For the 11th grader-
You guessed it, Teaching Textbooks would be what I recommend.  As it so happens, my daughter is ahead of the system and so she did Math U See's Stewardship program.  She is also currently reviewing Algebra 1 and 2 as well as Geometry on IXL in preparation for CLEPing College Algebra in February!

And Science-

For the 2nd grader-
Nancy Larson Science- Several friends recommended this to me and we really like it.  It is all inclusive, scripted, and fun.  CJ loves the short workbook pages and the fun activities.  The current level we are doing includes raising butterflies and ladybugs, looking at X-Rays and more.  It is not Christian based but we have not found anything offensive to us at this level.

For the 7th grader-
Apologia, of course!  General Science to be exact.  We are blessed to have a co-op class that does the experiments together (Thank you, Christy!) and we LOVE the notebook.  It is a must have, in my opinion.

For the 11th grader-
Apologia Marine Biology.  At this grade, I allow my kids to choose their fourth science.  My oldest did Human Anatomy, but this kiddo chose Marine Biology.  'Cause we live real close to an ocean - NOT!  Regardless, she is really enjoying it.

So, not a lot of bells and whistles, I know.  Pretty simple, actually, but it works for us.  Truth be known, these are probably the two subjects that excite me the least to teach, but hey, they need to be covered, right?

The following friends are blogging about Math and Science as well as logic this week, so make sure you see if they are more interesting than me! ;)  Go ahead, I do not mind - I am headed there myself!

Learning about Patterns in Our World Through Math and Science by Laura @ Day by Day in Our World
Relaxed Homeschooling: Mathematics in the Early Elementary Years by Brittney @ Mom's Heart
Using a Bible-Based Math Curriculum by Tauna M @ Proverbial Homemaker
Math, Science and Logic for 2015 by Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses
Playing with Numbers by Sarah @ Delivering Grace
Unschooling Science by Kristen H. @ Sunrise to Sunset
Logically Speaking: Math, Science, and Logic for 7th Grade  by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool
Math and Science in Our Homeschool by Jennifer @ A Glimpse of Our Life
5 Math & Logic Resources We Love by Becky @ Milo & Oats
Giving Your Kids The Right Start With Math by Amy @ One Blessed Mamma
Math in Our Classical / Charlotte Mason Homeschool by Sharra @ The Homeschool Marm
Classical STEM by Lisa @ Golden Grasses
Math, Science and Logic - How do we Tackle Them? by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
The Physics of Delight-Directed Learning by Susan @ The Every Day of Education
Tackling High School Science by Debra @ Footprints in the Butter
Choosing Math Curriculum for Special Learners by Heather @ Only Passionate Curiosity
Math for all ages by Denise @ Fullnest
Middle School Monday - Math With Fred by Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break

Blessings,

IXL- TOS Review

Days are busy.  Life is full.  And sometimes getting all of the school subjects in for the day is a challenge.  For us, that is when computer-based learning is valued more than ever.  That is also why we love IXL!

We had the opportunity to review IXL a year ago and had a good experience with it, but since then they have added a new subject and expanded and I was eager to try it again.  We were given a years access to IXL Math and IXL Language Arts to try with our three youngest.

IXL is a review based program.  While concepts are not taught per say, they are explained in pretty good detail if you get a problem incorrect.  No matter what grade level your child is at, once you sign up for IXL you have access to all grades.  For Math that covers grades Pre K through Pre-Calculus (12th grade).  For Language Arts that covers grades 2nd-8th.  I have found that the advantage of this is that you can easily identify strengths and weaknesses in your child's learning.  Let's face it, no math or grammar program is perfect and your child WILL be less proficient in some areas.  This is where I find IXL invaluable.  Once we identify an area of weakness, we are able to go directly to that area and have additional practice.  Once you choose a grade you want to work in, you simply access that menu and the skills are broken into categories that are well labeled for ease.  Because you can access any grade, we have also gone back a grade to work even more on a specific skill.

IXL is quite easy to navigate and therefore takes little if any supervision.  Because of that, there is a pretty extensive parental page.  From there you can access grades and progress, often in chart form, as well as see what areas your child is having a hard time with.  In addition, weekly updates are sent to your email so you can see how much time a child has spent on the program and in what areas.

How we used IXL-

Again, this is a review program, so we have used it as such several days a week.  Our 2nd grader has used it the most and prefers the math section over the Language Arts.  Some days we use it as simply a review and I require him to do at least 10-15 minutes of work.  Other days when life gets the best of us, it becomes our math and grammar for the day and he works at least 30 minutes.  When we first began he worked in the order of the menu, but he soon found areas he enjoyed more than others and would choose those first.  Measurement is one of his favorites!  One the right side of his screen a timer is displayed that shows how long he has been working.  That option can be turned off, but once he realized it was not a race, but simply an indicator of time spent and part of the things that earned him "prizes" he relaxed.  Also shown are the number of problems attempted, your score and ribbons earned. 

Combinations of time, sections completed, and number of problems completed earn the child "awards."  Once they earn awards they are able to access a screen that looks like a grid with question marks on it.  Certain stars are then revealed with "prizes."  Don't ask me why, but that is a HUGE incentive for my youngest son.  HUGE!  As a matter of fact, because the Language Arts is a newer program it does not have this feature yet and I realized that is why CJ does not like doing those activities as much.  You still earn ribbons, but for him- it is all about those picture prizes!  Whatever it takes, huh?

That, on the other hand, is exactly why my 7th grader did not enjoy the program as much.  While he does not mind the review, the prizes seem babyish to him and he would rather just avoid it all together.  His math skills are pretty strong so we found him to be spot on with his grade level and even beyond, but have seen a few more challenges with his Language Arts.  I intend to use IXL Language Arts this summer as part of his summer review- not only to bring him up to speed but also help fill in a few gaps that I have seen we have.

The whole point of me adding my 17 year old to the review was for ACT test review.  Because she is currently quite busy with online college classes she has not been able to spend much time on the site, but we have explored the areas extensively and are convinced it is a perfect way to review for tests required for college admittance.  Because of that, she will be spending the next few months doing 15-30 minutes a day.  Since so many of those tests cover several years worth of subject matter, gaining access to Algebra, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus is a huge advantage.  Instead of having to dig out all of her old books, the skills she needs to review are all in one place.

I am not always sold on online programs and especially do not gravitate towards game like ones with a million bells and whistles, but I really like IXL.  The review is strong, the detailed explanations when needed are good and the subject matter is extensive- over 4,000 skills are taught.  Whether your child needs some extra help and review or you are just looking for a supplemental program for those days when it is just hard for mom to sit down and teach, I think you will find IXL will meet your needs!

You can find IXL the following places-
https://www.facebook.com/IXL
https://twitter.com/IXLLearning
https://plus.google.com/+IXL

Pricing starts at $9.95 a month or $75 per year for one student.  Each additional child is $2 a month or $20 per year.  So two subjects for one child would cost $129.00.