Review~ Basic Math Skills Rescue Parts 1 & 2 from Math Essentials

Disclaimer~ I received a COMPLEMENTARY copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.   

Math! Math has been one of those subjects that have been a blessing and a nightmare at the same time. If your child is using the wrong program it can be a disaster. If you find the right one, it often feels like a miracle. We've struggled over the years trying to find the right one for both my kids. Often in the process, they may fall behind or just need a refresher of topics. 

Basic Math Skills Rescue Parts 1 & 2 from Math Essentials helps fill in the gaps and strengthens their math skills! 

Basic Math Skills Rescue Parts 1 and 2 contain 6 books in two volumes. The two volumes are soft-cover workbooks. Included in the books is video access to online videos for each lesson. If a student completes both volumes, they would be ready for Algebra 1. The books and the videos make for an amazing learning experience. When students complete them both, they will have all the skills they need to be successful in the higher math courses they will take in the future. 

The program consists of two volumes. 

Volume 1

Whole Numbers, Fractions, Decimals, and Percents

Volume 2 

Geometry, Problem Solving, and Pre-Algebra

In the front of each book, are instructions for the teacher and student. A quick easy guide on how to use the books is included. 5 simple steps to follow and the student is ready to go.

The daily lesson contains three parts: Review Exercises, Helpful Hints, and Problem Solving. The program is easy to follow. Each lesson should take about 15-20 minutes of instruction per day. That's it! The lessons are concise and well laid out. These short, easy lessons help students master math skills and reinforce the skills learned through consistent review!

The answer key is provided at the back of the workbook, as well as, a glossary and a few math table charts for added help. The math table charts include... Important Symbols, Multiplication Table, Commonly Used Prime Numbers, Squares and Square Roots Table, and Fractions/Decimals Equivalents.

How Did We Use Basic Math Skills Rescue from Math Essentials?

We followed the simple and easy how-to-use instructions.

1. Michael completed the review section. Having to show all his work was a big thing for him. He likes to do a lot of the math in his head, so he was not a fan of having to show all is his work.

2. Michael then moved on to the new material being presented. Most of the new material being presented he had already done. We were using this program as a review of skills. Michael did fin the helpful hint section useful. The examples show helped remind him of how to work through a problem if it was something he hadn't done in a while.

3. Michael worked through the sample problems again showing all his work. He offered a few complaints about it, but he did do it. I told him by showing all his work, it helps him find out where he went wrong if he did not get the correct answer the first time. Of course, this is something I've stressed since the beginning, but he has always chosen to ignore my "helpful" advice. 

4. Now the real-life problem-solving section was up. In this section, Michael was given a math word problem that used real-life problems. He's always been great at word problems, so this section was a breeze for him. I love that the lesson included a problem that helps students see math in the real world. 

5. Michael then checked his own work using the answer key located in the back of the book. 

I loved how the book encouraged independent learning styles. If a student needs more help with a topic, they can go online and check out the video lessons. 

What Did We Think of Basic Math Skills Rescue?

I have Michael work through the books just for review. I figured it would help keep his math skills ready for the SAT test he would be taking this fall. 

I think the books are a great way to help reinforce math skills. The books can be used as a review or as supplemental help for a struggling learner. Either way, the books will help students become stronger and faster with their math skills. 

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Basic Math Skills Rescue from Math Essentials!

Till Next Time,

Monique

Review~ 12- Month Subscription from CTCMath

Disclaimer~ I received a COMPLEMNTARY copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Over the years during our homeschooling journey, we have tried a variety of math curriculums trying to find just the right one. One thing I have learned in my 15 years of homeschooling is that it is essential to find the right curriculum for each student. No two learn alike. We were recently asked to review the 12-Month Subscription from CTCMath. We are thrilled to share with what we have learned about this Online Math Curriculum.

CTCMath is an online math program created by Pat Murray. His interest in math spans more than thirty-one years. As a homeschooling father of 10 children (5 girls and 5 boys), he knew there was a need to create a math program that was different from anything else out there. He wanted to create a math program that was geared to different learning styles and more importantly not boring for the students. One of his biggest complaints about education today is when teachers take too long to explain something. Michael would agree with him on this point. The desire to create a better math curriculum led him to create a program that had short, interactive lessons that appealed to a wide variety of learning styles. CTCMath is geared for students in grades Kindergarten through 12th. They even offer Calculus. The program is currently used by more than 200,00 students! 

How Does CTCMath Work?

CTCMath is an online math program. After purchasing a 12-month subscription, parents will set up accounts for each of their students. Students will then be able to log into their individual accounts to complete the daily lessons. Each student will have his or her own username and password. They can log in on their computers, phones, or tablets. The student dashboard allows students to see their assignments, assigned tasks, tests, and speed drills that will help with math memorization! Students will be able to catch up to their grade level, stay on target with their math, or move ahead if they are ready. The program moves at the students own pace allowing them to master the skills they are learning.

The lessons are presented in short 4 to 9 minute video lectures for the students to watch. They can also read the lecture in note form. 

They can download them in a pdf form and print them out for future reference.

After watching the video lecture, students will then work through the assigned problems. The problems are interactive and online.  Worksheets can be printed out for further practice and reference. 

For Algebra 1 and Geometry, the questions have been multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank. Michael preferred the fill-in-the-blank. He would usually gets 10 to 12 questions to answer with each lesson. Michael did need a separate notebook to use as scrap paper to work through the math problems. He would complete the work in the notebook and then type in the answer on the computer.

While the students work through the program, they'll be able to track their progress and see exactly how they are doing. 

CTCMath offers a full online math curriculum. Students can work through a wide variety of courses.

Kindergarten

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Basic Math and Pre-Algebra

Elementary Measurement

Elementary Geometry

Algebra 1

Geometry

Algebra 2

Trigonometry

Pre-Calculus

Calculus 

After the students complete the sections they are working on, they receive certificates of work progress.

~Platinum~

A perfect score of 100%

~Gold~

Average grade of 95% or higher

~Silver~

Average grade of 85-94%

The grade is based on the average of each lesson. Students are able to repeat a lesson if they do poorly on a lesson. The program doesn't just give the student a 100% then. It takes the average of the grades and calculates the students grade. The only way to achieve a 100% is to score it on the first attempt of the lesson. Students must achieve an 85% or higher on a lesson to move on.

These awards can be printed out for school records or if the student wants to display them. This is a great incentive for younger students. I found my high schoolers was not all that interested in me printing it out. I wasn't overly shocked by his choice.

Parents have their own separate log in to track their students. This area is called the Parent's Dashboard. Here parents can see what lessons their students have completed, how they have scored on the lesson, and see detailed reports on how they did on each question. Parents can also schedule lesson for students to complete for the week. I didn't use this section, since I already use a different online planner. I added my children's lessons into that planner. 

~My Thoughts~

CTCMath is a great alternative to the standard math textbook programs many homeschoolers use. It's a wonderful program for independent learners. It was easy to log in and see where your student was tracking with this program. The lessons are short and well explained. I love how the students can work from one grade level into the next level without having to purchase another program. I did have a few issues I have with the program. I felt that there wasn't enough online practice problems for the kids that may not understand a particular topic and there wasn't enough feedback on the problems that were incorrectly answered. An in-depth explanation would help a student understand something they may not be grasping. At least, that is how I feel. I also feel the program may not be suitable for a student that struggles in math. 

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Monique

Review~ Teaching Textbooks Math 4.0

Disclaimer~ I received a Complementary copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

 After years of homeschooling, I swear we have tried just about every math curriculum out there trying to find the right one for both Michael and Therese. As a homeschooling mom, I wanted to find the best curriculum for them so they would master and understand math. Oddly, math has been the most challenging of subjects to find just the right curriculum. What worked for one student definitely didn't work for the other one. One of the nice things about homeschooling is the ability to find the curriculum that works best for your student. I was thrilled when we were given the opportunity to review Teaching Textbooks Math 4.0 from Teaching Textbooks. 

Teaching Textbooks is a well-known math curriculum company in the homeschooling world. Almost every homeschooling parent will stumble across Teaching Textbooks within their first few years of homeschooling. It is well known and extremely popular among many families. The biggest reason that Teaching Textbooks is so popular is that this particular program teaches the subject and grades all the work. Everything is done for mom or dad. It is like having a math tutor come into your home each and every day. There goal is be make math learnable and somewhat enjoyable. Most parents do not hear their kids say they love math, but they often hear that the kids like using Teaching Textbooks.

What is Teaching Textbooks Math 4.0?

Teaching Textbooks 4.0 is an app-based program. To use the program, families will need a Teaching Textbooks account and download the app. The new 4.0 app can be used on a variety of devices: Computers (Windows or MAC), Android phones and tablets, iOS, and Kindle Fire.

 that teaches all the math concepts to the student and grades all the work. The program provides instructional lessons for the student to watch, assignments for the student to complete, and each unit includes a test at the end. The program allows students to work independently with little to no help from mom or dad. This is prefect for parents who may have struggled with the higher math courses. If a student is struggling, the company does offer a free helpline for students to call. 

Teaching Textbooks 4.0 provides math courses for grades 3rd through 7th, Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Pre-Calculus.

Students are given a twelve-month access to their course, while parents have a lifetime access to the gradebook. Parents can pick the day when they would like their students to start the course allowing for lots of flexibility. One of the nice features that Teaching Textbooks offers is a 3 month pause period. The pause time is set by parents and must be done in 7-day increments. The pause time does not count against the 12-month access period. 

Course enrolment is for one student only and only one level. So, if a student finished one level before the 12 month period, the next level would have to be purchased. 

Teaching Textbooks teaching math using the spiral method. Concepts are reviewed in later lessons. This approach allows students to build on their math skills and helps them retain the information. This is essential for success!

How Did We Use Teaching Textbooks 4.0?

When we were assigned this review, we started out using the 3.0 version. We were to use the 3.0 version for a little bit and then switch over to the 4.0 version. The switch over hit a few bumps along the way (to be expected with a big change) and we ended up using the 3.0 version a little longer than planned. Therese was signed up for Algebra 1, while Michael was signed up for Geometry. 

The initial account set up was fairly simple. Any questions I had were answered quickly, politely, and resolved any of the issues I had. Teaching Textbooks has amazing customer service!

Set up for the 4.0 version was a little more work. We had a few issues with the app downloading, but we were doing it in the middle of the companies switch over. Everything was corrected and fixed with in a day or two. Again, the customer service department is fantastic! 

I download both levels on to my computer, while the kids download their specific level to their own computers. This was easy once the kinks were worked out. Each level has their own icon. Algebra 1 is A1 and geometry is GEO. This allows for me to quickly see what level I want to click on!

Since the App is downloaded, we don't have to worry about our internet connection as much as we did with the 3.0 version.

When the program is opened there are two options given for log in: parent or student.

The parent log in allows me to check the grade book and make any changes I may want to make. I can change the assignments, allow for the student to personalize their screen and turn off sound effects. This is where I can pause the course to. I love the pause feature. My only complaint is that parents can pause the course but can not unpause it if they need to. I paused Michael's geometry course because of a few things going on here. I chose a later date (more than the 7 days required), but when I decided we could get back to the course; there was no way to unpuase it on my end.  I had to contact customer service. They were wonderful and helped me resolve the issues that day. It would be nice if parents had that feature. Sometimes unexpected things come up and the flexibility to pause and unpause the course is a tremendous help to use homeschooling mamas.

Under the student log in, students can customize their page. Students can choose their wallpaper, graphic stickers, and sound effects. I know Therese customized her wallpaper, but Michael was not overly concerned with that feature. Having the option might make math more appealing to some

students. 

How Do the Lessons Work?

Each lesson starts off with audio instruction. Therese would love to know how long these instructional lessons are, so she can better plan her day and schoolwork. During the instructional part, key points are presented on the screen for the student. Problems are presented on the screen and students are shown how to compete them. Practice problems do require student participation, just they would in a regular classroom setting.

Students do have the option to skip the lesson if they want to. Obviously, this is not recommended, especially if the student is learning about a new topic. I know Michael has used this feature if he already understands the topic being taught.

A new feature that the 4.0 app offers is the scratch pad. This feature works well on tablets. It doesn't work that well on a computer. Trying to use the computer mouse just doesn't work out that well. Therese has a computer than can be a tablet too. She tried the scratch pad a few times, but decided it wasn't for her. She refers to use a notebook for her work. This way she can go back and look at if she needs to. 

What Did We Think of Teaching Textbooks Math 4.0?

I have just three complaints. First, your log in information can't be stored and you must log in each time. This is a little annoying. Second, the students grades are  stored in two different places. I have to log into both apps to record their grades. With the 3.0 version, it was located in one area.  Third, parents can't unpause the course. Other than those three issues, I have no complaints. The program teaches students well, provides a good amount of practice, and the cost is reasonable. 

Michael (Geometry) is a huge fan of old-school book and paper. He hates online lessons. The switch over for geometry was a little later than other levels and he became a little annoyed with the program. During the switch over, the company was nice enough to send the 2.0 version for students to continue to work through their lessons. Michael actually found that version more appealing. 

Therese (Algebra 1) is enjoying the 4.0 version. She found the switch from 3.0 to 4.0 rather simple. She said she really didn't notice to much of change. She mentioned they added more stickers and wallpapers, but she said she really hasn't explored all that. She said younger students would probably enjoy that more. Therese has been using Teaching Textbooks for a few years now. We switched to them when she was in 8th grade. She loves the program. She learns from the lessons and has done well in math ever since. Teaching Textbooks has allowed her to understand math, catch up to grade level, and excel in math. This program has made her enjoy math and that is a huge bonus to this mama!

After using a variety of math curriculums over the years, Teaching Textbooks is one our favorites. For high school math, it tops at number one! We highly recommend this program to other families looking for a math curriculum. 

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Monique

Review~ Mastering the TI- 30Xa Scientific Calculator from Triad Math, Inc.

Disclaimer~ I received a complimentary product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Good Morning, dear friends! 

It's been a while since; I posted a review. Today, I get to share with you a wonderful product for middle and high school students. Triad, Inc. makes using a scientific calculator easy with their Mastering the TI-30Xa Scientific Calculator: Augmented Intelligence for all 21st Century Students workbook.

For this review, we received the Mastering the TI-30Xa Scientific Calculator: Augmented Intelligence for all 21st Century Students workbook, access to online lessons, and a scientific calculator. This entire program $15, plus shipping and handling. It is a fantastic deal for a strong understanding of how to use a scientific calculator. 

The Mastering the TI-30Xa Scientific Calculator: Augmented Intelligence for all 21st Century Students workbook is not just a workbook. Students will log in into their online lessons on Moodle (online learning management system) This will allow students to view the video lessons that go along with the lessons in the workbook. 

The workbook contains twenty-five lessons. Each online lesson includes a pretest, notes from the workbook (pdfs that can be downloaded), a video lesson, exercises from the workbook, answers to the exercises, a post-test, and a forum.

Lesson 1~ TI-30Xa Introduction

Lesson 2~ On/Off  FIX DEG M1 M2 M3

Lesson 3~ Real Numbers: Add Subtract Equal

Lesson 4~ Negative Numbers

Lesson 5~ Multiply Divide

Lesson 6~ Percentage

Lesson 7~ Memory M1 M2 M3 STO RCL

Lesson 8~ Square

Lesson 9~ Square Root

Lesson 10~ Reciprocal "Flip It"

Lesson 11~ Fractions

Lesson 12~ D/C Proper/Improper Fractions

Lesson 13~ Fraction to decimal Conversion

Lesson 14~ Exponents

Lesson 15~ FLO SCI ENG Formats

Lessons for Trigonometry Students

Lesson 16~ DEG RAD GRAD Three Angle Measurements

Lesson 17~ SIN  SIN- ARCSIN

Lesson 18~ COS COS- ARCCOS

Lesson 19~ TAN TAN- ARCTAN

Lesson 20~ DMS Degrees Minutes Seconds

Lessons for STEM Students

Lesson 21~ Polar Rectangle Coordinates

Lesson 22~ Units Conversions Wolfram Alpha

Lesson 23~ Density= Weight/Volume

Lesson 24~ Prefixes 

Lesson 25~ Technician's Triangle

What Did We Think of Triad, Inc.?

I loved the idea of this course! I remember using a scientific calculator in high school and college, but it has been a few years since I used one. I knew the basics on how to use one, but I certainly did not remember all the ins and outs of how to use one. I was thrilled when we were given the opportunity to review this workbook. I knew both my kids would need to know how to operate a scientific calculator and I wanted them to have confidence in their ability in using one. Michael had used one a few times before but was still unsure about all the functions. Therese had not used one before, so this was perfect for her. 

We started at the very beginning and worked on way through the lessons. I figured a little bit of review for Michael was not a bad thing. We are still working through the lessons since we had a few setbacks and breaks over the past few weeks. 

Michael felt the first few lessons were easy, but they were review for him. He did like Dr. Del. He liked how he got to the point. He was clear and concise. Michael does not like jokes, funny stories, or extra bells and whistles when he is listening to a lesson. He likes the instructor to be clear and to get his point across in a simple, quick way. This was the perfect lesson/workbook for him. 

Since this was all knew for Therese, she did not mind the repeat of information she had learned in Algebra 1. It was a great refresher according to her. She also enjoyed the clear way the Dr. Del delivered the lessons. She usually prefers to read her lessons unless she needs a little more understanding of a topic. Dr. Del was an excellent instructor and was precisely what the kids needed and wanted.

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Monique

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Review~ Budgeting Game, Stock Market Game, and Curriculum from PersonalFinanceLab.com

Disclaimer~ I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

As a parent, I want both of my teens to understand the importance of creating a budget and sticking to that budget. I was ecstatic to be given the opportunity to review the PersonalFinanceLab Budgeting Game, Stock Market Game, and integrated curriculum from PersonalFinanceLab.com. 

PersonalFinanceLab is a new online experimental education teaching tool designed to help students learn personal finance, economics, business skills, social studies, and math. Their unique combination of technology, real world market activity, and educational lessons was created to get students actively engaged in the learning process. The more engages students are, the more they will retain the important information provided in this curriculum. Their goal is to bring the classroom to life and to bring real life into the classroom!

What is the Finance Curriculum?

PersaonlFinanceLab is geared for middle and high school students. Students in grades 7th-12th will discover lessons and games all about finances.

PersonalFinanceLab provides students with so many wonderful opportunities. By using the world class portfolio simulation, students will be able to take what they have learned and apply it to real life situations. The curriculum provides students with over 100 integrated lessons on personal finance, economics, business, math, and social studies. This curriculum has everything a student needs to have a strong understanding of finances in today's world. 

In addition to the lessons, there are quizzes to make sure the students have mastered the material. These quizzes are graded automatically. Parents do not need to worry about grading them. The program also contains interactive personal finance and business calculators that help students learn about saving and investing. Something we all need to be aware of in today's world. 

The Learning Center contains over 600 articles, videos, glossary terms, and so much more. They even have tutorial videos for students and teachers if they are not comprehending the material or just need more instruction. If the tutorial videos do not answer your student's question, the company does provide live support from their financial education team during their regular business hours. 

Students can play the Budgeting game, the Stock Market game, or work through the integrated curriculum.

What Have We Worked On?

Since by my teens have had jobs and will have more jobs in the future, we focused on the budgeting game. I felt this game was essential for them to succeed in life. If they can not budget their money, they will surely struggle in the future. 

Setting up the Budgeting game was fairly simple. As the parent, I had my own dashboard. I used my dashboard to set up the information and then sent links for Michael and Therese to join in. Each student has their own dashboard. Their dashboard allows them to see their progress in each area. 

In the budget game, students take on the role of a working young adult who is going to school too. The game is set up just like a monthly calendar. Each day requires the student to roll the dice twice, once for AM and then once for PM. As the students go through the month, on a daily basis, they will encounter real life situations, unexpected emergencies, and simple decisions that affect their daily lives. Along the way, the students will learn to manage their budget.

As the students work through the game, they will earn their paycheck. When their paycheck is received, they will be prompted to deposit their paycheck. Students then can decide how much to keep and how to set aside to save. Smart financial planning!

Students will have monthly bills (phone, rent, car, TV, internet) to figure out. Unexpected expenses will also pop up asking the student if they want to use debit or credit. Throughout the game, students will get a pop up with a math lesson in it. They can not go any further until they complete the math question correctly.

As they go along in their monthly schedule, students will be asked how they want to spend some of their free time. Depending on how they choose, students can end up earning a little extra income or must pay to go out and have some fun. I love how it allows them to make personal decisions and that they get to see what the results might be. If you decide to go out and socialize all the time, the money will disappear! If they choose to work an extra shift, they can see what hard work and dedication can do to their bank account!

What Have I Liked About the Budget Game?

I love how the game is set and follows real world lessons. Students can easily see what is coming in (green $ amounts) and what is going out (red $ amounts). Rent, phone, internet are expenses our teens will face. I love how they how given the option of going out with friends, working extra hours, or studying. It helps reinforce making the right decisions. Responsibility first, then have a little fun!

I will admit that when I first logged in, the dashboard was a little overwhelming to me. It seemed a little cluttered and I was not quite sure on where to begin. I still need to sit down and look more closely at the lessons and the stock market game. The stock market game scares me a little probably because I have no clue about it.

I'm hoping that once my teens complete this course, they will have a strong understanding of the financial world around them! I know they will have a better understanding than I did when I entered the real world!

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Monique

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Review~ Mastering Essential Math Skills Book 2 from Math Essentials

Disclosure~I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Mastering math is one of those skills that is essential to life. Over the years, I've learned that reading, writing,and arthritic are subjects that are extremely important in our homeschooling. Those core subjects is an area we didn't skip on. Recently, we were given the opportunity to review Mastering Essential Math Skills Book 2 Middle Grades/High School from Math Essentials.

Mastering Essential Math Skills is not just another math textbook. 

This book teaches a system to learning and mastering math! 

The Daily Lessons are broken up into 5 key points.

Two Speed Drills

Review Exercises

Helpful Hints (teacher tips)

New Material Section

Daily Word Problem

The material is presented in a way for students to master math skills and gain confidence in their math abilities.

The easy to follow lessons can be done in 20 minutes a day! Each lesson is concise and self-contained. The nice thing about the lessons presented in this book are that they pertain to all areas of math. The constant review allows students to completely understand these important math skills.

Everyone needs strong math skills!

The book is broken up into 8 chapters. 

~Topics Covered~

Whole Numbers

Fractions

Decimals

Percents

Geometry

Integers

Charts and Graphs

Word Problems

The book contains a final review section to finish out the learning.

There is an answer key for parents and students to check their work. It's a standard answer key. It just provides the answer to each problem. How to solve the problems are not included. 

At the back of the book, there is a resource center. It contains a glossary and a few important resource pages. There's a page of Important Symbols, Multiplication Table, Commonly Used Prime Numbers, Squares and Square Roots Table, and Fraction/Decimal Equivalents. These pages are a great resource for students to utilize. 

Mastering Essential Math Skills Book Two is geared for middle grades to high school. There is a Book 1 that is geared for students in grades 4th through 5th.

An added bonus to this book is the free access to the online video tutorials that come when you purchase the book. 

The book can either be used as a full curriculum or a supplemental curriculum. It's up to the parents and student to decide how they want to use the book.

I don't want to do math!

~What We Thought~

At first glance, I honestly thought the book was geared for younger students. It looked like simple math. Once Michael started using the book, we quickly realized it was a fantastic book to keep math skills sharp! So many math books tend to forget to review the basic math skills that students need day in and day out. Michael is currently working through an Algebra 1 and Geometry book and I noticed simple math skills were slipping. It wasn't that he didn't know how to do them, he just would make foolish mistakes. I'd see it was wrong and he'd immediately see what he did wrong and correct it.

We added Mastering Essential Math Skills to his schedule. He worked on lessons 3 days a week. He does math 5 days a week, but since we were using this as a supplement, I didn't want to overload him.

Michael found the time to complete a lesson very doable. He was easily able to add it to his daily school schedule. He felt the book was great at reminding how to do certain skills he hadn't seen in awhile. 

Mastering Essential Math Skills would be a great supplemental math book for summer. It would keep the students math skills sharp and crisp in the mind.

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The Review Crew were given the opportunity to review two other books to review. We've used and  reviewed both the other books, No-Nonsense Algebra and Math Refresher for Adults.

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Monique

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Review~ Math Galaxy eBooks

Disclosure~I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Math can either be fun or be a nightmare depending on the curriculum and child using said curriculum. Last month, we were given the opportunity to a few math eBooks from Math Galaxy.

Math Galaxy is a company that offers eBooks and apps for iPad and iPhone. Families can work through math programs for children of all ages. It's like having your own personal math tutor. Math Galaxy offers math for grades K-12th. Using bright, colorful illustrations, Math Galaxy helps students connect the abstract concepts of math to actual, concrete experiences. 

Math becomes real life!

Since we don't have an iPhone or iPad, we received the eBooks offered from Math Galaxy to review. The company offers over 30 different eBooks to cover a wide range of math concepts. 

The eBooks we received included four different bundles with each bundle containing 5 to 11 eBooks. 

Whole Numbers Bundle

This bundle contained 11 eBooks and covers a wide range of topics

1 to 2 Digit Multiplication

1 to 3 Digit Addition

3 and 4 Digit Multiplication

Expanded Notation, Order of Operations, & Number Patterns

Multi Digit Addition

Time & Money

Whole Number Division

Spelling Word Jumbles (Grades 3-5)

Length & Area 

Rounding & Estimating Whole Numbers

 Fractions Bundle

This bundle contained 8 eBooks and covers everything about fractions.

Add & Subtract Fractions

Equivalent Fractions

Fraction Word Problems

Identifying Fractions

Length & Area

Multiply & Divide Fractions

Reducing Fractions

Volume, Capacity, Weight, & Angles

Pre-Algebra Bundle (Decimals, Proportions, Percents)

This bundle contained 7 eBooks and covered a wide variety of topics presented during Pre-Algebra.

Decimal Operations

Decimal Word Problems

Length & Area

Percents

Ratios & Proportions

Understanding Decimals

Volume, Capacity, Weight, & Angles

             

Algebra Bundle

This bundle contained 5 eBooks covering topics pertaining to Algebra. 

Properties & Operations

Solving Equations

Word Problems

Exponents, Scientific & Metric, Notations & Operations

Linear Equations

The various eBooks are geared to a wide age range and grade level. Each eBook contains colorful images and a riddle for the student to solve. The eBooks are not to be used as a complete curriculum, but as a reinforcement aid for students who may need a little extra help. 

We focused on the Algebra Bundle since both kids are currently working through different Algebra curriculum. I know when I first downloaded the eBooks, I wasn't overly impressed. With the colorful graphics and riddles to solve, I knew my kids were not going to like the eBooks. I printed out a few pages for them to work on. They immediately complained about the "kiddy" look of the pages. I told them to just work on the problems. Neither one opted to complete the riddles. Michael was able to solve many of the riddles without even completing the problems. 

(A few pages are plan, as you can see)

The pages are well laid out. The instructions are simple and easy to understand. The pages are short enough that they can easily be done after a regular assignment. Answers are provided for each worksheet after the corresponding worksheet page.

The eBooks would be a great way to work on math through the summer. Parents can pick a topic ( or two) and work through the various concepts.

As a mom of two teens, I would say the books are better geared to students in the younger grades. I think most high school students will not appreciate the colorful graphics or funny riddles. Middle school students, I feel, would still enjoy it. That's just my personal opinion. Your student may like the graphics and riddles. 

The eBooks can easily be used by a younger, more advanced student in math. The pages would be a great way to keep them working on their math skills and have fun at the same time.

~Math Galaxy Apps~

Math Galaxy also offers apps for Math. 

The Apps that can be purchased for iPhone and iPad are: K-8th grade math, Pre-Algebra Fundamentals, Algebra Fundamentals, Whole Number Riddles, Fractions & Decimals Riddles, Time Tables Balloon Pop, Whole Numbers Balloon Pop, Word Problem Fun, Zombie Numbers, and SAT Math. If you have an iPhone or iPad, be sure to check out what Math Galaxy has to offer. 

Learning math can be fun and educational at the same time.

Learn more about Math Galaxy

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Till Next Time,

Monique

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