Making Math Fun

Just because your child doesn’t easily makes sense of math now, doesn’t mean he’s doomed to fail as a future number cruncher. There are plenty of kids, who struggle with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in their early years, and then something finally clicks, and they end up as successful accountants or actuaries. To ensure that your homeschooled student achieves success in the world of mathematics, don’t rely solely on memorization. Having children memorize math facts without teaching them why the answer is correct often leads to future problems. Kids will be much more receptive to learning math if you … Continue reading →

iPad App: Skip Counting

Product: Skip Math Format: iPad/iPhone App Made by: Math File Folder Games Grades: K-3rd Objective: To teach skip counting through play. Features: Game can be customized for a boy or girl by choosing an avatar. In addition, the child can take an image and use that on the avatar. Game has several levels with increasing difficulty from practicing skip counting from 2-11. Can be used as a multi-player game using Bluetooth. The game keeps track of speed and score. Navigating the Skip Counting App Once you begin the game your child will be prompted to type in his or name … Continue reading →

The Verbal Math Lesson

Math without pen and paper? Surely you must be joking. The very idea of a child solving math problems without a pencil is just ridiculous. Or is it? Imagine your child solving math problems and understanding math in a natural way without tears or even a pencil. Michael Levin M.D. and Charan Langton M. S. show you how to make that a reality. Book: The Verbal Math Lesson Level 1: Step-by-Step Math without Pencil or Paper By: Michael Levin M.D. and Charan Langton M.S. Age Reccomendation: 4 to 7 years old. Where to Purchase: Amazon Brief Description: By getting back to … Continue reading →

Is Saxon Math Right for Your Child!

One of the first curriculum choices that comes to mind when one thinks math is Saxon. Saxon is a popular choice among many homeschoolers and school systems. But is it right for your child? With all the choices on the market today is Saxon still among the top choices? The Saxon method is incremental. Each lesson introduces a student to a different increment. The lesson covers the lesson in detail and provides example problems and several problems for the student to work out. The lesson goes on to provide several more exercises from past lessons for review. Basically the program … Continue reading →

Math Rider

Product: Math Rider Format: Downloadable Math Computer Game Focus: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division Use: Supplement to math program, extra practice, review Rating: 3 out of 5 golden pencils What is Math Rider? Math Rider focuses on teaching a child basic math facts in all four areas of math; addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Children are given math facts as they enter Math Land completing noble quests on horseback. The child is sent on a quest to find healing medicine for her mother. To enter and get through the Math Land a child must answer math facts. The game is fully … Continue reading →

Making Fractions Fun

At a Glance Product: Fractazmic Age Level: Grades 1st thru 8th Cost: $6.95 Use: Card game to encourage math skills related to fractions, numbers and measurement. Compatible Homeschool Method: Any What is Fractazmic? Fractazmic is a card game for 2 to 4 players that reinforces math skills related to fractions, numbers and measurement. By the makers of I See Cards, this game comes with 60 cards divided into three decks differentiated by color. The Twelfths suit – Blue The Tenths suit – Green The Sixteenths suit – Red There are many ways to play the game but the basic way … Continue reading →

Time Engineers: Math and Science CD-ROM for Middle and High School Students

At a Glance: Product: Time Engineers Cost: $19.95 Individual, $49.95 School District/University Use: Homeschool, Classroom, Home Grades: Middle School-High School (5th-9th) Lessons Taught: Math, Science, History, Physics Skills: Problem Solving, Reasoning, Critical Thinking Rating: 5 out of 5 Gold Stars Today I am sharing with you one of my new favorite tools to teach math concepts to middle and high school age students. For many homeschoolers these years are difficult in terms of teaching math. I agree. It is for this reason I want to present you with a tool that you and your students will enjoy. What is Time … Continue reading →

Math Mammoth

Math Mammoth offers affordable, yet quality math worktexts and workbooks for grades 1-8, available as both downloads and printed books. These books concentrate on conceptual understanding and are strong in mental math. The directions in the worktexts are written directly to the student, and are often self-teaching, thus requiring little preparation and involvement from the teacher. ~From the website The Product Math Mammoth: 6th Grade Full Curriculum Cost: Download $34.00 (Please check site for more options.) Included in the Full 6th Grace Curriculum Two student worktexts, a separate answer key for each, chapter tests and an end-of-year test, cumulative reviews, … Continue reading →

IXL: Math for the Left and Right Brain

When I find something that I think is an amazing way to teach a child I cannot keep it all to myself. I am bursting at the seams to tell you about a website called IXL. I thought I knew what to expect from IXL Math since I have used several online math programs in the past. What drew me in was the colorful and whimsical design of the site. What else would draw a jaded homeschooling mom into a site she was sure was just like the others? Well, you guessed it, this site is not like the others. … Continue reading →

Counting on Fingers

I have to tell you, I really don’t understand what’s so bad about counting on your fingers. They’re like a built-in abacus that goes everywhere with us. We have ten fingers, ten is the basic mathematical unit … I mean, it’s like they were meant to be together, and yet, all over the place, all the time, I hear parents say to their children, “Don’t count on your fingers.” I ask, why not? I happen to be a very visual learner, and I happen to not be good at math. I need all the help I can get, and if … Continue reading →