Hummingbird Math

The opportunities to work math into homeschooling are limitless.

If I need 1 teaspoon of hummingbird food for 2 ounces of water, how many teaspoons of hummingbird food do I need to fill the 8 ounce feeder? Homeschooling means real life math application!

Get Excited About Math!

Aut-2-Be-Home in Carolina's, Tammy Glaser has created a new blog aimed at making math exciting for us grown-ups. She invites you to check it out:

http://rarefied.weebly.com/

 

Math Mammoth, a TOS Crew Review

Math Mammoth offers affordable math workbooks and worktexts in both hard copy and downloadable formats.

I have reviewed several Math Mammoth products over the years and have gotten a couple more products in freebie offers. I've seen enough and used enough of Math Mammoth products that Math Mammoth is my priority go-to company when one of my children needs support in math. I like the fact that I can download a specific worktext immediately at an affordable price and go to work with it right then and there. I don't have to buy an entire math textbook or curriculum to work on one area. And while I can choose to purchase a printed product and wait for it to arrive, I don't have to with the downloadable options. Bottom line: Math Mammoth is convenient and saves me time and money.

This time around, I reviewed our first Make it Real Learning worktext:

Make it Real Learning is the kind of math we are moving to, are using more often at my house. This worktext uses word problems that take real-life objects and experiences to practice concepts of mathematics. This particular worktext, priced at just $$4.99, is geared for grades 3-6, which means we didn't use all of it yet, as my homeschooler is working close to grade 3 work.

"The Make It Real Learning Arithmetic I workbook focuses on real-world situations that may be effectively analyzed using arithmetic concepts such as addition, subtraction, estimation, division, bar graphs, and place value with large numbers."

Read about this worktext and what it covers here. A sample from this worktext is available here. Math Mammoth offers a packet of freebies here.

I like the real-life examples and the examples help me create other activities to cover the same concepts. Who doesn't love working with objects we can eat when we are finished with our math?

Math Mammoth's Maria Miller has a wonderful blog, here.

Read about my Crewmates' experiences with Math Mammoth products here.

Math Mammoth gave me a copy of Make It Real Learning (Arithmetic) to review. I was not paid for this review and am not obligated to provide a positive review.

Caterpillar's MathHouse Review and Giveaway

Another item that arrived in the midst of our redoing the flooring in our second floor is Carlito C. Caterpillar's MathHouse Games.

I wish I had found this product sooner.

This is a brilliant flip-chart of 20 math games ($23.95) that you can do at home (or at school) with your child (or students) to build foundations for addition, subtraction, less than, more than, multiplication, and division.

I wish I had found this product sooner.

The activities are real-life, hands-on, sensory-rich.

I wish I had found this product sooner.

Carlito C Caterpillar MathHouse Games does developmentally what we at my house need to go back and get, what I have tried so hard to give my girl (if you're familiar w/ my blog, you'll know she has autism and developmental delays) - a way to give her opportunities to experience the concept so that the symbols will make sense to her.

I wish I had found this product sooner.

The age-range is pre-school to early elementary, and I strongly urge parents of older children who are developmentally delayed to consider this product.

We use items from our house with a few printables from the web site - the games are really easy to set up and adapt.

Did I mention I wish I had found this product sooner?

I have one to give away - just comment on this blog before midnight of October 13th, 2011 to enter.

Website: http://www.c3pla.com/products.shtml

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carlito-C-Caterpillars-MathHouseTM-Games/190370157687889

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

AIMS Educational Foundation: Solve It!

I was given a math and science book/CD combo to review at home. AIMS Educational Foundation sent me Solve It!, a $24.95 workbook-slash-activity-book that covers problem solving concepts of 3rd grade math and science, using very hands-on, in-context, tactile and visual ways.

I really like this problem-solving set.

The text covers nine different solving problem strategies that include using manipulatives, writing a number sentence, drawing out the problem, guess & check, organizing info, looking for patterns, using logic, working backwards, and simplifying. Page 11 features a matrix that shows parents and teachers which activities provide experience with which solving-problem strategies.

The CD is a repeat of the printables in the book, which makes for easier photocopying pages that ask students to cut out figures to use as manipulatives, (although the book is a softcover and is almost the same size as copy paper, which means I can smash it pretty close to flat on a copy machine for the pages I need to copy). School staff may make up to 200 copies for educational purposes at a single school site.

There are a variety of activities that incorporate one or some of the problem solving strategies. I used my own mom's-pick-and-choose approach to choose activities based upon what areas my homeschooler needs experience and based upon her self-regulation level on a given day. I like that I can work out of order.

I haven't analyzed the difficulty of the activities. I don't know if some of the concepts are simpler than others, but I do know thatin terms of our use at home, the activities fall within three distinct categories: 1) activities that my daughter can understand and complete some of the activities with little help from me; 2) activities that she can complete some of them with scaffolding from me; and 3) activities that are too challenging right now that would require lots of adaptations and compensations on my part (we are saving them until later).

If she's having a rough day, I can pull an activity that she is capable of completing without me, something that feels easy to her. (I rarely have her work independently as we are still growing interdependence.) If your children are working independently, the activities can be completed independently and would be super workbox choices.

If she's having a good day, we can work on skills and strategies that she needs to grow and I can scaffold the learning.

The teacher instructions and the questions to the students associated with each set of activities scaffold the teaching and problem solving process - my job is simplified because of the instructions.

We are not a work-straight-through-the-workbook-from-beginning-to-end kind of family. My student's skills are too scattered to do that. I like that I can work out of order and choose activities based upon my child's needs. And I like the reminders of what problem solving skills we need to work on.

Depending upon how I choose to use an activity, we can work on our relationship work, too. In the pumpkin patch activity (mentioned on the web site with the book description and pictured here), we could have made same-size paper clip chain fences for each of us and done the activity together, side-by-side, having my daughter reference me for the next step. Or we could have used different sized paperclip chain fences to use for side-by-side comparisons for some perspective taking experience.

In the apple array activity, I could have printed two sets, a set for me and a set for my daughter, and worked through the activity together, side-by-side. For a child with a lot of anxiety, giving mom her own set of worksheets can reduce the child's anxiety and the parent can model the problem solving technique for the child, which can reduce performance anxiety and make room for learning.

While not as intense as Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment, I recognize some common ground with FIE among the activities, and that is a huge positive for me.

I like everything about this worktext. I like the teacher prep pages for me. I like the way the activities are presented to scaffold new discoveries of concepts. I like the way the activities appear inviting and fun. I like the fact that the activities are short while still packed with learning. I like being able to work out of order. I like having them for workboxes in the future as we move toward more independent work and I like their adaptability for interdependent work between child and parent.

ADDITIONAL COSTS: This is not a 'stand alone' product. You'll need a printer, toner, paper, or access to those items; you'll need scissors, crayons, typical schoolroom craft supplies; and you may need cardstock. In retrospect, I should have printed the apple array activity on cardstock.

To read what my Crewmates' think about this resource and other resources from AIMS Educational Foundation, please go here.

AIMS Educational Foundation sent me "Solve It!" to review on my blog. I get to keep the book. I was not paid for this review and am not obligated to provide a positive review.

City Creek Press; a TOS Crew Review

Times Alive, Times Tables The Fun Way, from City Creek Press is a creative way to learn multipliation facts with visual stories set to music available in two formats, download ($44.95) or CD ($48.95).

We reviewed the version for instant download on a PC. The download was simple. We have had no problems with the product after downloading it onto our computer.


Take a peek at a sample:


Interestingly, my homeschooler memorized most of her multiplication facts from another rockin' video-based resource from my childhood based on rote memorization. She doesn't understand the concepts behind what she memorized, though, and for some odd reason that I cannot explain, she did not learn what I consider to be the easiest multiplication facts, the zero multiplication facts.

She is very particular to what she accepts in terms of material. She's 11, working around a first grade level for the most part, and is really sensitive to anything she deems (her term), babyish. Finding developmentally appropriate materials that she won't resist and protest is a challenge for me (and for many parents of children with special learning needs).

City Creek Press got a thumbs up, here. *smile* The videos are clever and entertaining, using the menomic device of captioned story telling and songs to illustrate multiplication facts. Times Alive reinforces lessons with problems to complete following each story, with worksheets, with pictures to paint on the computer. The stories reinforce what my daughter has learned and create new associations for her. She enjoys watching the videos. If I did not sit with her while she watched the videos, she would quickly skip the worksheets. (Child needs to be able to enter numerals from a keyboard or keypad or have assistance with that.) There is a back button, a do-again button, and a lesson list button to help with that.

The illustration of how to multiply zero has been helpful. When we work on multiplication facts, I can remind her of the Times Alive illustration to help my girl make the association and get the answer.

I am seriously considering purchasing the City Creek Press product for addition facts for my daughter.

More Crew reviews of Times Alive are available HERE.

City Creek Press gave me the Times Alive download for review purposes. I received no financial compensation for this review and am not obligated to provide a positive review.

Math Facts Now; a TOS Crew Review

I reviewed the Math Facts NOW! download (a CD version is available) with my homeschooler. Math Facts NOW! is a program designed to allow students to practice math facts, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division. The parent or teacher enters the student's name, sets up an assignment that ranges from 5 to 200 problems, plus a time limit per problem (we use 60 seconds) and the number of times the student must correctly type a problem that he or she got wrong (minimum is twice). Then the parent/teacher assigns a name to the assignment (which is saved) and the student may begin.

I like the simplicity of this program. The simplicity is its strength, in my opinion. There are no distracting bells and whistles that pull a student with attention challenges off task. The screen is a rectangular shaped white box with a few words of instruction and your numerals and math symbols, and that's it. Only ONE math problem at a time is featured on the screen, which reduces anxiety for the child who resists when she sees a page or two of one math problem after another. Parents and teachers who have to cover major parts of an 8½ x 11 page of math problems so that the student can see and focus on only one probem or one line at a time will probably like this feature.

I like the fact that I can set the drill to work on just one or two numbers in areas where my homeschooler is weak. My school-building schooler who is weak in multiplication of higher numbers can work on just higher numbers; My homeschooler who is just learning to subtract and hasn't grasped division, yet, can work on just 1's and 2's, if I set up a set of drills that way.

For my school-building schooler who needs some practice with multiplying and dividing higher numbers, I like the option to give a student a short answer time. I want that child to know multiplication facts quickly without trying to calculate them.

I like the way the program spotlights an equation that you missed before, reminding you to be careful.

Great response to customer preferences: I did not like the fact that I was unable to assign just a few problems. When we first downloaded the program, the fewest number of problems I could assign was 50. Fifty problems are too many for some students with attention challenges. I'd like to be able to assign just 10 or 20. My homeschooler begins asking at 20, "Can I be done, now?" When several crewmates desired the ability to set a lower minimum number, Math Facts Now responded quickly by lowering that minumum to 5.

I don't like the fact that I must assign a time limit. I want to sit at the laptop with the abacus and work on subtraction, an area where we need work, where my daughter can look at the problem in her Math Facts NOW! window on the laptop screen and figure it out on the abacus in "manipulative mode". Sixty seconds is too short for a child with processing delays. I want her to experience 4-2=2 and not just memorize an answer, and this program could allow me a wonderful opportunity to do that if I were not limited to 60 seconds to complete a single problem. Additionally, if the student must take a break during the lesson, the math problem that is left open will run out of time and be counted wrong, which means the student will have to type that problem out, twice, when he/she returns. Math Facts Now's Tom Furtado is going to consult the programmer to ask if increasing the time limit is a simple change; stay tuned.

Kids with fine motor challenges may need an adult to type for them, particularly on a laptop with no separate keypad. That's okay with me; it becomes an exercise in co-regulation.

I have to sit with my daughter to do any digital product or she sneaks to some favorite website instead and goes off task. I opted to have her speak the answer aloud while I input the answer. There were times when I gave her the opportunity to input the answer. Some of our laptop keys didn't work 100% of the time with this program. I don't know if we were pressing them too quickly or what, exactly, but we got some wrong answers due to the keyboard.

There is a place to program a reward for your student who completes a set of problems. I have not used that feature.

Math Facts NOW! is priced at $15.95 in either the download or CD. It is a program that I wrinkled my nose at when I first saw it, thinking I would not like it. First impressions are sometimes wrong, and in this case, I was wrong. The simplicity of the program is powerful. Thumbs up.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Math Facts NOW! Version 2.0 runs on Windows 2000, ME, XP, Vista and Windows 7 and requires 7 Mb of free hard drive space. Math Facts NOW! is not currently available the for Macintoch nor Linux operating systems.

To read my Crewmates' review of Math Facts NOW!, please go HERE.

I was given a download of Math Facts NOW! in order to review the product. I am not paid for reviews and am not obligated to provide a positive review.

KB Teachers; a TOS Crew Review

KB Teachers is a web site that offers printable worksheets and worksheet generators for parents and professionals who work with/teach children.

We don't usually review a product that is a work in progress, but this time, we are. The KB Teachers folks are improving and adding content as I type, with more to come, which means the site will get even better.

Priced at $29 a year, or $49 for two years, subscribers have quick access to developmentally appropriate materials. KB Teachers resources cover all academic content areas and give the subscriber access to fun motifs that allow you to tailor worksheets for your younger children to their interests. (A lot of children on the autism spectrum like dinosaurs; KB Teachers gives you dinasaurs!)

KB Teachers is a big time saver for me, and it helps keep me on track with lesson planning. I know that there are lots of free worksheets on the internet. Using a search engine and sorting through the web sites to find ones we can use or that fit our unit study topic can be a big time waster. Often those searches take you to blogs of other homeschoolers who share materials they created for free. Usually those blogs are new to me and I spend a little time skimming them - when I really don't have the time. Having KB Teachers available means I go to ONE web site, generate the math or money worksheet or a seasonal activity, print what I need, and I'm done. No rabbit trails.

Here's why I really like KB Teachers: I homeschool a child who has big ups and downs. Some days are wonderful, her neurology is working for her, and we get a lot done. Some days, like today as I write his review, her nose is running like faucet, she's got the "sneezles", and her attention and frustration tolerance are much shorter. Days like today, she tends to balk at anything that looks like schoolwork, yet, she'll join me in something that looks "fun" to her. Today is a day that I can head over to KB Teachers and quickly print a maze or a few fun activity sheets. No crazy internet searches that take too much time. One web site, a little looking around for the right thing, print, done. I have had no problems choosing and printing worksheets.

Copywork that I find in unit studies is often not formatted in a way that we can best use it. I do like the handwriting generator that allows me to tak a quote from an existing page of copywork, enter it in order to reformat a quote or passage, putting fewer phrases or sentences on a page.

I also appreciate the e-mail updates from KB Teachers that let me know when new content, especially seasonal content, is added for me to use.

Additional costs: Subscribers will need a printer, toner, copy paper, and perhaps card stock.

Bottom line: I like KB Teachers because of the convenience and the time saving it gives me in our situation. I suspect it'll save me money in the long run; I am not as attracted to all the new workbooks at the warehouse club knowing I can find or generate a worksheet quickly. (Sorting through workbooks for the just-right activity can be frustrating and time consuming, too.)

KB Teachers has materials for older children; I did not use any of them (we're not ready for them at my house), but others on the Crew did. To read other Crew reviews about KB Teachers, go HERE.

KB Teachers has a facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/KBears/54876133457.

KB Teachers gave me a 2-year subscription so that I may use the web site and review it on my blog. I am not paid for reviews and am not obligated to provide a positive review.

PyraMath™, a TOS Crew Review

Hi-my-name-is-"pinny"-and-I-have-PyraMath™-Addictive-Disorder."

Who knew that a $6.95 card game could be so addicting?

PyraMath™, from ISeeCards, is a card game that uses and reinforces basic mathematics facts. The 54-card deck holds numerals 0-9, which players use to create a mathematical pyramid in a sort of Solitaire fashion (if Solitaire were a pyramid). The PyraMath™ deck is not four of each numeral, like a "regular" deck of cards; there are more of some numerals than others. And each card features the numeral in "English, Spanish, Chinese, Roman, French and Arabic translations and symbols on the front".

Deal five or seven cards in a row and begin adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing! The remaining cards go into a face-down pile. Deal three cards from that pile. Try to play the top card. Look at all the side-by-side pairs. Can you add, subtract, multiply, or divide them to get the number of your top face-up card? On a 9 and a 3, for example, you can play a 3 (9 divided by 3); a 7 (9 times 3, using the "7 in "27); a 6 (9 minus 3); or a 2 (9 plus 3, using the "2" in 12).

Play a 5-or-7-card game online, free. The five-card game is HERE.

Why would you want to buy the cards if you can play online for free? You can do a lot more with the deck of cards. The cards are excellent travelers; the cards fit into my purse or a backpack for waiting rooms or hotel rooms.

For the littles, you can use the deck to introduce numerals, placing numerals in numerical order. You can create a row of numerals where you leave one or two out and the child must place the missing numbers in the empty spaces. You can pull out the higher numbers and work on ONLY *adding* lower numbers. There are lots of ways to use the cards to create a simple game for younger learners.

For my homeschooler, who memorized her multiplication tables from Schoolhouse Rock and is still learning to add and subtract (we haven't gotten to division yet), and whose anxiety shoots sky high when we do anything that looks to her like academics, *I* held the cards, placed the cards, played the game and asked her the math facts that are within her developmental range. "3 and2 , 3 and 2, what could I play on 3 and 2? " And I'd ask aloud, "3 + 2 = ?" One day, soon, she'll join me at the table or on the floor when I play, but for now, she's on the periphery, watching, figuring it all out.

You can take turns creating puzzles for players to solve. Here's a puzzle created by the PyraMath™ folks that my eldest and I worked:

Thee's a two-player version of PyraMath™ that is somewhat similar to Double Solitaire. PyraMath™ cards can be used in a PyraMath™ version of "War" or Snap". There are lots of variations. Educators share PyraMath™ ideas here.

Creator Professor Eaglin's blog is here (not updated in a while); and the PyraMath™ facebook page is here, where fans can chat and where the company offers giveaways and contests with prizes and news of upcoming games.

I really enjoy PyraMath™. Late at night, I can get stuck on the online version for too long. It's a fun way to practice math facts that is waaaaaay outside drills and rote memorization.

If you'd like to see what others think about PyraMath™, go HERE.

I was given a complimentary PyraMath™ game through my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew of reviewers. I am not otherwise compensated for reviews (I don't consider a free product a form of compensation when I must have the product in order to use it and review it) and am not obligated to provide a positive review.

Math Essentials, America's Math Teacher, a TOS Crew Review

Ever wonder what you'd do when your child's math actually went over your head? Hire a tutor? Travel to a teaching/learning center? Tutors and learning centers can be pricey and scheduling around a tutor's availability can be a hassle.

Are you a parent who explains math a lot differently from the way your child learns it? I have. That dynamic is the set up for a lot of frustration at home.

America's Math Teacher is an online teaching web site, a sort of substitute for parent and/or teacher. AMT is geared for children older than where my homeschooler is from a developmental standpoint, so I reviewed this one without involving her. She and I are still working in a really concrete manipulative mode, with real objects, mainly in real life situations.

America's Math Teacher offers parents and students video teaching and written exercises (downloadable) when learning and practicing math. Students who would like a demonstration may access videos that show them the how-to. A male voice-over narrates the action on the screen, and the male speaks calmly and slowly. I like his tone and pace. He is no-nonsense, yet his tone is confident. I get a sense that yes, I can do this, too. (The videos are not closed-captioned.)

CEO Rick Fisher tells viewers that there's not a lot of "razzle dazzle" in his videos, and he's right. They're simple so as not to be distracting or confusing. He uses a red "pen" and a black "pen" on a "whiteboard". He is excellent at spotlighting potential problem areas ahead of time, showing us the right way or a smart way to set up a math problem as we write it down and work through it. The 85 videos are short and sweet, ranging from one minute 44 seconds to 10 minutes 49 seconds in length.

After the student (or parent) watches the video, the next step is to download and go through the written activities that accompany each video.

AMT's first video begins with adding three-digit whole numbers, which AMT calls 4th and 5th grade math. AMT covers Basic Math, Advanced Math, Pre-Algegra, and Algebra. "America's Math Teacher Courses align with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics." according to the web site.

My homeschooler is not ready for 4th and 5th grade math, although she is certainly old enough for it. She and I could do some of the speed drills together, but I would not pay for this program for just the speed drills. My homeschooler is simply not ready for a math approach that is all pencil and paper. I would absolutely subscribe to AMT for my school-building schoolers, though, should they feel challenged by work at school. My husband and I would be able to watch the videos with our children as we assist with homework, and the subscription is less expensive than a tutor.

AMT offers evaluations, too (the folks at AMT have been busy working out some kinks, and the eval feature continues to improve).

Try some video and written exercise samples free HERE.

A one-year subscription is priced at $195.00.

To read the reviews of my Crewmates about America's Math Teacher, please go HERE.

As part of my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew, I received a free trial at America's Math Teacher at no cost to me so that I could review them here, on my blog. I received no money for this review and am not obligated to write a positive review.

Finally Skating Again!

A entire month has passed since my Skating Princess was last on the ice. Travel, illness, the coach's vacation, transporting a sib to camp have kept us away from the arena.

I didn't know if the Skating Princess's legs would tremble and wobble today or not.

She amazes me! She had a fantastic session today!

This exercise sometimes has her screeching in protest.

Check out this scaffold:

Being off the ice for a month meant my girl needed a little practice on some skills to remember how they work:

Which Math Program???

Ruth Beechick's book continues to help me think about how skills and functions develop. I have been pondering on her words about how concepts of math develop in her book, "The Three R's", thoughts I happened to find on a web site about preschool math (so I'll provide the link for you in case you're interested).

from http://www.shirleys-preschool-activities.com/preschool-math-activities.html

Children develop through three modes of thinking about numbers:

manipulative mode – working with real objects e.g. beans, cups, spoons

mental image mode – using mental images or pictures of real objects

abstract mode – using number concepts without thinking of images of objects

Which math program that includes manipulatives as part of the program is the right program for us?

Math U See

or

Right Start Math

or

Zillio

?

That is the question.

I welcome opinions and experiences from you.

Math Mammoth, a TOS Crew Review

As I have been introduced to companies that produce materials marketed to homeschoolers, there are some that I return to again and again. Maria Miller and Math Mammoth is one of those companies.
Math Mammoth worked with us as individuals, and allowed us to choose what we'd like to review. The new "Make It Real" Learning series looks exciting, but we're not ready to use something like that, yet, and I did not request it. I'll buy it when the time is right for *any* of my children, not just the homeschooler.

Neither Miller nor I were certain that my homeschooler is ready for the Math Mammoth Grade 1B Complete Worktext in e-book form from the light blue series, that includes place value (tens and ones); adding and subtracting within 1-100; coins; the clock; and measuring, and Miller was willing to let me try it. An 18-page sample from the unit I was given is here. The full worktext is 113 pages.

The more I read about development of concepts of math, the more I realize that my daughter is not ready for worksheets. We're concentrating more on hands-on math and less on worksheets, giving her experience in concepts and not worrying about symbols for now.

Miller provides several pages (throughout the worktext) of live links to free internet resources to supplement the pages in the worktext. Just click through to the resource -- easy!

Miller gives me information about "tens", how to help the child experience and understand "tens" that I had not considered before (see page 9 of the sample).

The beauty in the worktext is the fact that it's not just a bunch of worksheets. The games and links to supporting resources are fun and helpful. The worksheets are great, even for me, who is avoiding worksheets at the moment, because Miller gives me ideas to draw from as we work using manipulatives at home. I can keep on track using the worktext. I can print a page or pages if I choose to, and not have to worry about storing yet another workbook on my bookshelves.

The Math Mammoth Grade 1B Complete Worktext is priced at $15.50 for the download.

Additional items: You'll need an abacus and a printer, toner, and paper. Additionally, you will need some manipulatives (dominos, craft pom poms, anything small for arranging into patterns for counting and grouping in exercises and games), an "old-timey" clock w/ a face and hands, a ruler that measures in inches and one that measures in centimeters, too.

Math Mammoth offers free resources, a blog, and a newsletter.

Check out the reviews of this product and other Math Mammoth products by my Crewmates HERE.

Dollar Homeschool's Eclectic Education Series, A TOS Crew Review

Dollar Homeschool provided me and some of my Crewmates the entire Eclectic Education Series (including Ray's Arithmetic, Science, History, Grammar, and McGuffey's Readers) at no charge in a download so that we could use the materials in order to review them. (Some Crewmates are reviewing the single component, Ray's Arithmetic.)

I don't think I can begin to describe this goodie in my own words -- I'll borrow a snippet from the web site to start me off:

"The Eclectic Education Series (EES) is a set of textbooks which from roughly 1865 to 1915 WAS education in the United States, almost exclusively. They were the standard textbooks in many states and were chosen independently by over 10,000 school boards as their standard textbooks.

The EES covered every topic. Some of the series are still household names almost a hundred years after they ceased being used. These include McGuffey's Readers and Ray's Arithmetics. There were many other extraordinary series in the EES such as Pinneo's Grammars, Thalheimer's Histories and Norton's Sciences that were used by countless students."

Just in case you've stumbled onto my review via the Crew blog and aren't familiar with our story, I am homeschooling one child who was diagnosed w/ autism when she was barely two years old. She's 10 years old, now, and we're busy playing "catch up", developmentally and academically. We use an autism intervention that is developmental in nature and we are looking for academics that are developmentally appropriate for her.

Not only am I seeking developmentally appropriate lessons for my daughter, I am still learning about development and how to determine "developmentally appropriate" or "zone of proximal development".

The Eclectic Education Series has been very helpful in *my* education as I learn about what my daughter should be doing and learning now. The EES gives me the clarity and direction I need in terms of what is and what is not developmentally appropriate.

I don't know what, exactly, I thought EES would be. Worksheets, maybe. I knew there were some readers from long ago in the package somewhere. Some math. What I didn't realize until I began wading through the material is that this is an education for me, too, and not just my student.

The Eclectic Education Series is big. Huge. The whole series is overwhelming, especially when I know that I have to get through a "good enough" portion of the material for a review deadline, when I want to digest the material slowly as I think about which next steps to implement here at home.

One area I've been pondering is math. Typically developing children learn a lot of concepts, foundations for math, reading and writing, in experiences long before they can hold a pencil or form a letter or numeral on paper. When children begin preschool and kindergarten, there is an unspoken assumption / expectation that these children have had a lot of experience with the hands on concepts and foundations necessary to begin working with symbols like numerals.

In autism, though, some (a lot, I believe) children don't have those foundations. My observation is that students on the autism spectrum in the public school are sometimes pushed to learn outside the course of development, learning concepts simultaneously as they are learning to recognize and write symbols (letters, words, sentences, numerals, equations, for example). Using symbols should simply be a representation of what kids already know -- but in autism, often, that isn't the case.

So, I've been pondering the whole how-to-expose-my-daughter-to-more-concepts-while-ignoring-symbols in math. And, poof!, as if by magic, I am given the Eclectic Education Series to review, where I begin to spend time in the material for the youngest students. Early math is not to be completed with pencil and paper. It is to be completed in real life with mom or dad. (I smell "guided participation" here. *grin*) And Ray's Arithmetic walks a teacher (or mama) through the steps that happen prior to pencil and paper and symbols, in the format used "in the olden days" (that's my term).

Looking over the files in each subject, the SCIENCE CD includes Bookkeeping; First Year of Science; Guide to Health; Intro to Botany complete; Manual of Methods; Nature Study; Norton's Elements of Chemistry; Norton's Elements of Natural Philosophy; Norton's Elements of Physics; Political Economy; Question Book; Ray's Elements of Astronomy; Ray's Surveying and Navigation; Schuyler's Logic; Simplified Industrial Mathematics; and a book called, "Successful Teaching in Rural Schools".

The thought occurrred to me that maybe you'd like to know how big these books are -- I'll include page counts when describing the next CDs.

The Grammar CD includes an intro and welcome letter plus Harvey's Elementary Grammar (170 pages); Harvey's English Grammar (282 pages); Harvey's First Lessons in the English Language (90 pages); Long's Language Readers 1 through 4; Pinneo's Analytic Grammar (222 pages); Pinneo's Guide To Composition (172 pages); Pinneo's English Teacher (250 pages); Pinneo's Exercises in False Syntax (114 pages); and Pinneo's Primary Grammar (169 pages).

The History CD includes American Poems (378 pages); Andrews Constitution (417 pages); Cromwell Vol 1, 2, and 3; the very interesting (in my opinion) Collier's Cyclopedia of Commercial and Social Information and Treasury of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge (746 pages); Good Morals and Gentle Manners (263 pages); Guide to Health (203 pages); Progressive Course in Reading, Books 1 through 5; Rhetorical Reader (395 pages); Thalheimer's Ancient History (386 pages); Thalheimer's English History (304 pages); Thalheimer's General Histories (370 pages); Thalheimer's History of Scotland (280 pages); Thalheimer's Eclectic History of the US (420 pages); and Thalheimer's Mideval History (488 pages).

The McGuffrey Reader CD includes Heman's Reader for Female Schools (485 pages); McGuffey's 1st through 6th Readers; McGuffrey's Alternate 2nd through 5th Readers; McGuffrey's Eclectic Speaker (514 pages); McGuffrey's Eclectic Speller (154 pages); McGuffrey's Familiar Animals (218 pages); McGuffrey's Juvenile Speaker (238 pages); McGuffrey's Living Creatures (218 pages); McGuffrey's New High School Reader (489 pages); McGuffrey's Eclectic Primer (74 pages); and McGuffrey's Word List (90 pages).

Whew! I'm tired just typing all of that! Guess what? There's more...

The tables of contents in the CD's above are *short* compared to the table of contents of the Ray's Arithmetic CD. In 35 files, the Ray's Arithmetic CD covers bookkeeping, arithmetic, algebra, logic, geometry and trig, calculus, astronomy, surveying and navigation. The Manual of Methods is my guide for now; it provides the pathway for me in terms of developmentally appropriate math.

I've read a lot about development. I'm not an expert, though. I am comfortable following what EES recommends because the developmental fashion the materials use makes sense to me.

I have a lot to learn -- there's so much material to cover here! I'm concentrating on the materials for beginners, the materials for primary students, which is a small part of the package when I look at the package in its entirety.

Purchasers will need access to a printer and printing supplies (toner, paper) and time to go through all the materials. If a conference were developed to help purchasers become familiar with all of the materials, I would attend. I did find some EES related yahoo groups.

EES offers each subject as either a separate purchase or a complete package. The entire Eclectic Education Series, including Ray's Arithmetic ($59), Science ($39), History ($39), Grammar ($39), and McGuffey's Readers ($39) is priced at $159 on CD.

To read the reviews of my Crewmates about Eclectic Education Series or Ray's Arithmetic, go HERE.

Math Score (dot com)/ Accurate Learning, a TOS Crew Review

The use of repetition in order to learn math facts is a useful strategy. The makers of MathScore.com (graduates of MIT!) designed their online subscription based program for Grades 1 through 9 with that in mind.

This is one of those products that I like and my homeschooler is not quite developmentally ready for. I more than a little disappointed -- although I am certain we're making progress, I was hoping my girl would be ready for this. We are using manipulatives, lots of "real" math with visuals, and are avoiding the use of written symbols at this point. She's grasping more and more concepts, but not quite ready for working with symbols. She can easily copy numerals in the "copycat" mini-lesson and the worksheet - but she balked at anything else. She needs more "hands on" work before we attempt a worksheet to count blocks or add or subtract or anything more challenging with actual symbols.

Because the MathScore math problems gradually increase in difficulty as the student succeeds, my helping my daughter means she's getting more difficult problems than she needs. Allowing her to try without my help means frustration for her, and she is reluctant to return to the computer to try again. I don't want to make her dislike math, so we're putting MathScore on hold until she's ready for that kind of practice. (In case you're wondering about my public schoolers, my middle schooler has not needed practice in algebra; my elementary schooler is holding his own without repetition and practice, although he would benefit from MathScore and I intend to have him get to work on it.)

Students who make progress in MathScore are awarded trophies and scores, which are rewarding to a lot of children.

Signing up was easy and we had no problems entering information. The subscription is priced at $14.95/month for the first child, with prices decreasing with each child in the family, and discounts for pre-payment of a 9 months. I like the option to put your account on hold during the holidays or vacation.

There is a free trial available, so you can test it out for yourself.

To read the reviews of my Crewmates about MathScore.com, go HERE.

Young Minds - Numbers and Counting, a TOS Crew Review

Sometimes, I get to review for a company a second time. Here's one of those times. Math Tutor DVD sent me two DVD's as part of last year's Crew tour. This time around, I was given, at no charge to me, a copy of Young Minds-Numbers and Counting from Math Tutor DVD.

Priced at $19.99 from the Math Tutor DVD web site (a 20% discount from the list price of $24.99), this dvd focus on exactly what it says it does: numbers and counting. From the Math Tutor DVD web site: Each number is presented with photographs, video, and animation. Numbers are animated to fly-in from off screen and show the child how to count by counting objects that they are naturally interested in. Animals such as frogs, horses, jellyfish, sharks, whales, and more are shown to the viewer along with the animal sounds. Colors are also taught by pointing out the color of objects on screen.

My homeschooler and I liked it. I am not able to predict what she might like (or dislike) and she and I were captivated. The classical music, the video clips, and the photographs are beautiful.

The voice over is performed by a child, which I suspect makes the video more appealing to children. Becky Bailey, PhD mentioned at a conference I attended that children process 11 times slower than adults. The voice-over on the video is presented at a really nice pace for young children or children with auditory processing delays.

The DVD presents vocabulary words and concepts that include colors, animal names, object names, and action words in addition to numbers and counting. Animal and object sounds are presented, too.

I figured that my daughter and I would be bored because we know our numbers and counting to 10. I was not bored. The images are captivating and I wanted to see what was next. I wish I'd had something like this when my children were babies! (Some of the videos we owned were so annoying for the parents!) The creators of the DVD have done a nice job mixing up still photos with videos and counting items and actions. The music and pictures are soothing, too. I suspect this would be a great calm-down video at bedtime.

Take a peek at a video sample:




To read what my Crewmates have to say about this and other Math Tutor DVD products, go HERE.

Mathletics, a TOS Crew Review

Mathletics is a safe, website and online community, where students play games that cover all aspects of mathematics. A one-year subscription is priced at $59 per student. (According to our Crew blog page, "If you know the Human Calculator’s favorite number (hint: it’s ‘9’!) and you enter that when asked, you can purchase a single child subscription for $49.95 for a year at their website.")

We have a little problem at my house. Certain children don't stay on the web site that they're supposed to unless an adult is sitting right beside them. That's the downside to Mathletics for me right now. The laptop is not here during the day and room for two of us is limited at my PC.

My homeschooler and I have been able to sit down at the laptop a couple of times to try out Mathletics. She's beginning to grasp early concepts of math, and I recognize that she is doing more than rote memorization of math facts without understanding. I wondered how she would do with Mathletics. We started Mathletics at the beginning, with *sigh* screeching in protest. She quickly realized that she understood and was capable of doing the beginning games (pre-addition and subtraction) and whizzed through them. She's playing while working on some foundations she'll need later. It's a sneaky way to get some of that in. *grin* Her attention span fizzles quickly when she interprets something as difficult, and she needs me beside her to help her read and interpret instructions. I think for typically developing children who aren't held back by developmental challenges, this is a web site that they can play without adult supervision, unless you have a child who will sneak over to one of those subscription virtual animal world games because he can't resist.

She likes the "futuristic car" (her term) that drives on the monitor by when she completes a game.

The sections (preK, K) of Mathletics that I saw are solid with the purpose of laying foundations for the next steps. The graphics are attractive and the games are fun. I am planning to subscribe to Mathletics in the next two weeks.

There are instant workbooks in the teacher (parent) section that support online content. I like the convenience of workbooks that are on my computer so that I can print just the page or two that I need. I peeked ahead of where my homeschooler is, developmentally, and like what I see. Some of the spacial orientation workbooks remind me of Dr Feuerstein's instruments.

I think that subscribers get a lot for their money, especially with the access to the workbooks. My girl thinks it's fun and it reinforces what she's learning. Thumbs up from me!

Everyone on the Crew received a 45 day subscription to the Mathletics website so that we could review the site for you. To read the reviews of my Crewmates about this product, go HERE.

Exploramania's Exploracise® GyMathtics®, a TOS Crew Review

Math. Healthy Lifestyle Choices. Low impact aerobic exercise.

We need all three of them. And Exploromania gives us all three in a 25 minute DVD for elementary school-aged children called Exploracise® GyMathtics®. Exploromania sent me, at no charge, this DVD so that I can review the product for you here on my blog.

I'm a huge fan of movement and learning. I was privileged to attend a workshop with Smart Moves author and brain physiology expert Carla Hannaford, Ph.D. not too long after the realization that one of my children was developmentally delayed related to a regression into an autism diagnosis.

Movement and learning are intimately connected -- we all need them both, and we learn better when there's a component of movement involved.

Exploracise® GyMathtics® gives you both in an exercise DVD priced at $24.99. According to the clock/counter on my DVD player, the routine is 25 minutes long. The routine is divided into four parts, "Shape Stretches^TM Warm Up", "Counting Calistehenics^TM", Pattern Power^TM" and "Well-Being Wind Down^TM" Exploramania provides a three-minute sample of the video on their home page.

The actors on the tape range in age from a first grader to a college student, but the tape is a bit to "little-kid-ish" for my "big kids". For a child with autism, where processing multiple "channels" of information simultaneously can be quite challenging, this DVD can be overwhelming. Following the movements (using a non-verbal "channel"), skip counting (a verbal "channel") and listening to the math facts or health tips all at the same time is a lot -- sometimes too much, too overwhelming, for a child who is learning to navigate several "channels" simultaneously. Playing the video with the sound low may be an option for children who are overwhelmed with too much at once. For my homeschooler, some of the facts are a bit too much at this time (developmentally inappropriate, but we're getting there!) and the healthy lifestyle choices and facts in the voice over during the "wind down" are annoying to this mom.

GyMathtics is cute, it's low impact, and the workout is do-able for young children or children with motor planning challenges. There are no moves that I'd consider tricky or difficult. You get to sneak in some math through a "back door" -- you're not sitting at a table and it does not look like "school", which is a huge bonus for a lot of families. If you're looking for a low-impact exercise routine that you and your child can do together, check out the samples on the web site and consider this DVD.

To read what my Crewmates have to say about this product, please click HERE.