DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

Science has never been my strong suit. It probably has something to do with the person teaching it and my brain not loving it. So as a homeschool parent, there is a lot of hesitation in me when it comes to science. I’m always open to reviewing science curriculum because I need the extra support and optimistic that I can find a great resource. Today, I’m happy to share with you just such a resource that not only teaches chemistry, but throughout reminds students of God’s hand in it all! We are talking about Young Scientist Chemistry from Greg Landry's Homeschool Science.

What We Received:

we received access to Young Scientist Chemistry, a self-paced one semester class for 4th-7th grade from Greg Landry's Homeschool Science. This includes PDF study guides and 14 class video recordings.

How It Works:

Young Scientist Chemistry is set up like many online classes with video instruction and printable study guides. There is an initial introductory video for students and parents where Mr. Landry explains his intention for the class, the value of note taking and the flexibility parents have in using his class in their homeschool. Each of the following classes are labeled for easy navigation. As you can see in the screenshots above and below, Mr. Landry splits the screen between himself talking and the appropriate slides. The study guide includes a lot of worksheets, space for note taking and sketches, and a variety of visual aids. Through the worksheets and content, there is plenty that a parent can quiz students on for comprehension.

What We Thought:

After printing off the study guide and getting logged in appropriately, I let my 10 year old take off. After a couple of lessons, I noticed he hadn’t done anything but listen to the video. After talking to him about it all, it was clear that he needed to take Mr. Landry’s advice and start a practice of notetaking. The subject matter was largely new to him and note taking is a more self-motivated habit that he was resistant to on his own. So, after determining I was a little too optimistic about his independence in this course, I decided to restart and walk him through it more closely. Just as Mr. Landry had described in the introduction video, understanding and retaining the information hinges upon good note taking and content interaction. My son was opting out of that, but showing he really needed that aspect to properly comprehend everything.

Despite that hiccup, I have no complaints about Mr. Landry or this class! Like he claims, the course can be used in whatever way a parent needs and is very flexible. His instruction and explanations are beautifully woven between scripture and a Biblical worldview that makes me want to sit down and learn from him. The world around us is a testament to a brilliant creator and science just doesn’t do Him justice most of the time. I’m so grateful to find this great resource that teaches and enriches simultaneously.

Greg Landry offers a variety of courses for grades 3-7 and the Homeschool Review Crew tried out many of them. Click below to read what families thought of the other courses!

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

Like never before, online resources have become a vital part of our life. Even though the necessity level might change, the value and usefulness is sticking with us. Creating a Masterpiece is a great example of an online program that gives families what they need to educate their children well, regardless of the circumstances. For my review today, we are talking about their Art History Program that is designed to compliment other art history programs.

What We Received:

We received access to the Art History Program from Creating a Masterpiece through the end of 2021. The Art History Program includes:

• Styles of Art in History: Ages 5 and up

• Historically Themed Projects: Ages 6 and up.

• Exploring the Art of Yesterday: Age 13 and up.

• Paint like Vermeer: Girl with the Pearl Earring: Masterpiece level of difficulty. .

How It Works:

Since the Art History Program is designed to compliment other art history programs, there is no designated order of instruction. Each section and project has a specific context and suggested age level but which project and when is something the parent/student is free to determine for themselves. Each individual project consists of instructional videos by owner, Sharon Hofer and a supply list. The number of videos varies with each lesson. Also, having the correct supplies is very important to the Creating a Masterpiece approach so they even offer a place where you can order exact supplies when necessary. Since the videos are prerecorded, students can go at their own pace and families can all participate multiple times with any/all projects.

What We Thought:

Since my children are ages 8 and 10 years old, we narrowed our choices by choosing from the Styles of Art in History and Historically Themed Projects. This fall we are focusing on Old Testament stories and ancient civilizations so I thought the Egyptian projects would compliment their education best right now. The first one we tried out was Egyptian Period: The Royal Hunt (Colored Marker) followed by the Ancient Egypt: Egyptian Nomads. Both of them required the same materials and supplies, which simplified things for us. Once they had their supplies and space set up, the video gave them everything they needed. Not once did they ask for help or have any concern. A few times they would stop while one of them caught up. On one of them, my 10 year old finished the video, but my 8 year old couldn’t go that fast so she restarted where she needed it.

After looking around at all of the possible projects, it was clear to me that Creating a Masterpiece is an awesome resource! With a wide variety of mediums to choose from, there is so much to gain from using this program in your homeschool.

Social Media Links: Creating a Masterpiece

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/createamasterpiece

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyDU-6301Pwj_1Dez9YkumQ

Since there are so many different projects to choose from, read about the projects other families tried out through the link below.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

One of the biggest issues parents face when deciding if they should homeschool is FEAR. Fear of missing something, fear of not knowing enough, or just fear of being able to handle it all. And I absolutely get it. Every age and stage of parenting brings new things to face and handle. Doing a new thing can be really scary. One of the things I’m learning, about homeschooling and life too, is to use the tools you need and not feel bad about that. Sometimes that is admitting when you don’t know and asking for help. When it comes to curriculum, there are times when we have to be honest about what we can handle and what we can’t. I really value unplugged curriculum as much as possible, but I’m learning I’m only one person and can’t always focus on each child and each subject the way I would like to. Finding resources and curriculum that can cover bases that you might miss is really important. For today’s review, we’re talking about an all-star curriculum, CTCMath, that has proved to offer just about whatever we need in the math department.

What We Received:

We were given a 12 month subscription to CTCMath, an online math curriculum with accounts for as many students as we need for our immediate family.

How It Works:

For each student, the parent/teacher sets up an account that will then log all of their activity, scores and assignments. From the parent dashboard, I can assign any tasks to all students, individually or all together. Since my 10 and (almost) 8 year old already had accounts from previous use, this time around all I did was set up a new account for my 4 year old. He’s still young, but we decided to try him out from the very beginning to see how it worked. Once each child has an account, they can then start watching videos and answering questions on any topic they choose, or simply start at the beginning of their grade level. The really great part of CTCMath is that each student has access to all levels of work, regardless of their input age and grade level. That means if your child needs to revisit a concept from the past or is ready to speed forward, that’s no problem! Another nice perk is that it saves the students activity and reports indefinitely. We have used CTCMath off and on through our years through the Homeschool Review Crew. Even though our account has lapsed at times, their information (going back several years) is always available. While this is an online program, there are printable worksheets available for every lesson, as well as weekly revision tasks and diagnostic tests that makes it a complete curriculum.

What We Thought:

The voice giving instructions in the videos has always been an Australian man. One time I heard a family say they couldn’t use this program because the accent threw them off so much. Our experience is the exact opposite. An otherwise unexciting math concept is made interesting simply by the speakers voice. We love the accent!

The two older kids are used to the program and have continued as they have in the past. My 4 year old had never used it before but things went well, all things considered. He is 4 and not reading yet, though his letter recognition is coming right along. The videos contain bright pictures and the questions all have an audio button to play the question. He needed some assistance in maneuvering the mouse and submit button at first, but started to get the hang of it. Even though he is young and not quite at full kindergarten level, I felt like all the math concepts and questions were things he could grasp with a parent close by when he needed help. He enjoyed it and I felt confident in the educational value. Win/win!

Our experience with CTCMath has consistently been a positive one! We’ve used grades K-4 now at one point or another and have no complaints. With so much flexibility, it really can work for most situations and large families! If you are in the market for a complete math curriculum, CTCMath is certainly one to consider.

Follow CTCMath on Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ctcmath
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ctcmathofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctcmath
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/ctcmath/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWn5e6974bpIEAe46VnovZw

Do you have middle or high school students? If you’re interested in how CTCMath does with higher level math, check out the reviews through the link below.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

One of the hallmarks of homeschooling is creating things yourself, whether that is a schedule, priorities or curriculum. A great tool to have is a company who understands how important do-it -yourself hands-on activities are to educating your child at home. We were introduced to such a company, Home School in the Woods several years ago and have reviewed their Artists Activity Pak and Make-A-State products in the past. Today, we’re talking about the Individual Timeline Set (Grades K-12) from Home School in the Woods. While they have several, the one we chose is Timeline Set: Creation to Christ (Beginning - 100 AD) to go along with our studies this fall.

What We Received:

We received an Individual Timeline Set (Grades K-12) Creation to Christ (Beginning - 100 AD) from Home School in the Woods. This came as a digital file that when unzipped contained 5 files in total:

• Intro and Index: This file includes instructions, suggested uses and and index of all Historical Figures included

• CtoC Notebook-sized images with Name and Date

• CtoC Notebook-sized images with Name, Date and Text Description

• CtoC Wall-sized images with Name and Date

• CtoC Wall-sized images with Name, Date and Text Description

How It Works:

As the title suggests, these files are intended to create a timeline. The images are black and white with great details that work well with colored pencils. Timelines are a great learning tool that gives students a visual perspective of history and time. As any homeschooler can understand, each living space and situation is not created equal which means wall space for a full timeline isn’t always available. That is why Home School in the Woods offers both sizes with or without a full description. A timeline showcased on the wall is always visible and a good reminder to students. However, the smaller images can be useful in a variety of ways. A smaller, notebook timeline can be created that, in an accordion style, is easily put away and stored. There are lots of different timeline styles, even one including lamination and magnets. Another use is simply to create a history notebook where each image is glued or taped to the top and some kind of writing will follow. This could be a research-based writing or a journal prompt about information learned or just about any type of writing/notebook assignment. You could even create a set of timeline cards to test your memory or even create a game to encourage further interaction and recall.

What We Thought:

Coloring is a favorite pastime in our home so any excuse to color, especially something new, is a good excuse. So, I printed off the notebook version with text descriptions for my 10 year old and (almost) 8 year old. We have paused our Bible and History curriculum for a few weeks, but when we pick back up we will be studying Creation to the Greeks, which matches perfectly with this timeline. They have been coloring away mostly with colored pencils, but they have toyed around with some markers too. I told them as long as I could still read the words and the pictures didn’t look messy, I didn’t care what they used. It has been a good exercise in artistic coloring and neatness! My intent is to cut out each image and attach it to a sheet of paper, add some extra pages between for sketching and writing and then comb bind each set into a notebook that they can use all next year with our curriculum. If (when) any image gets messed up or colored illegibly, I can always print another to take its place!

Home School in the Woods knows the needs of homeschool families and does a great job delivering useful products that enrich student’s education from a variety of angles.

Follow Home School in the Woods on Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolinthewoods/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HSintheWoods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolinthewoods/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hsinthewoods/_saved/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrKq6iLty2fpB6R6ZpcUb8A/videos

Home School in the Woods offers a ton of different products. The Homeschool Review Crew also reviewed their Project Passport World History Studies, Time Travelers U.S. History Studies, Maps Combo-Pak (US & World Maps), Lap-Pak: Wonders of the World, Activity-Pak: The Old Testament, and the Activity-Pak: The New Testament. If you are interested in any of those products, click on the link below to check out their reviews.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

When I was little, I remember watching my dad play games on an Intellivision game system. My favorite was Dungeons and Dragons! For today’s review, we’re looking at Baggin' the Dragon Maths Online from EdAlive. We have looked at two of their other games before, Typing Tournament and Maths Invaders. Here is what we thought about those. Baggin’ the Dragon reminded me a bit of the graphics and gameplay from that old Dungeons and Dragons game if you were to base it on math. Certainly nostalgic for me, but that doesn’t count for much when it comes to kids, does it?

What We Received:

We were granted 12 months access to Baggin' the Dragon Maths Online for as many students as we needed. Baggin’ the Dragon is an Austrailian online game that combines automated Adaptive Learning with multi-player board game that seeks to protect your village from a fire breathing dragon.

How It Works:

This online game is designed for students age 5-15 and through various questions, adapts to their current educational level. Each student has their own login and account, which tracks their skill-level. In a board game style where you can play computerized opponents or your friends, students answer math questions and move around the board collecting or losing courage swords. Each question answered correctly counts toward the collection of hero cards as well. Underneath every question, there is a Too Hard option for when the student simply doesn’t know how to answer it. For each account, their questions and answers are collected and compiled to demonstrate where a students skills are and where there is need for improvement. This covers skills from age 5 all the way through 15 to include concepts of algebra, geometry, etc. This data is presented in a very helpful way that allows parents to be informed on each child’s performance. For times when a student needs to focus on a particular area, there is a Questions Only section that allows the user to select a specific area to practice on.

What We Thought:

For this review I had two children use the program, my daughter age 7 (almost 8) and my son age 10 1/2. Both were excited to try it out, but my daughter quickly changed her tune. My 7 year old was frustrated with questions that were too hard for her and took a while to warm up to pushing the Too Hard button. She really didn’t like that at first, but I attribute that mostly to her excellent math skills. She’s used to being good at it and got easily frustrated when things were beyond her. Thankfully, she got used to it and enjoys it just fine now. My son did well from the get go, but he always finds motivation in a game.

At first, it was a little confusing how the game went, simply because we didn’t understand the board game/math question combination. However, it didn’t take long for the kids to explore and figure it out. I really appreciate the adaptive part of the program from an educational perspective. It allows exposure and the reporting communicates clearly what they already know. That is encouraging. Sometimes we simply look at one grade level or one skill, but this allows a bigger picture perspective. And it’s fun! Baggin’ the Dragon is definitely a good choice for fun math games and educational support.

Social Media Links: EdAlive Online Learning

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdAlive
Twitter: https://twitter.com/edalive
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edalive_onlinelearning/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/edalive/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/EdAliveTube

EdAlive Learning offers a variety of games, not just Baggin’ the Dragon. The Homeschool Review Crew also reviewed Word Rocks and Volcanic Panic. Check out those reviews through the link below.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

In case you haven’t noticed, striving for balance is really important to me. That is largely because as humans it is so easy to get drawn to extremes before we even realize what is happening. I think we have seen that plainly with our age of information. Screens, especially with kids, have become a hot button, controversial issue and a source of stress for parents. Our culture pushes us to always do, get and be more which so often leaves us conflicted about what’s best for everyone, especially the children. I’ve always sided with the idea that less screen time is better, but as our family continues to grow in homeschooling, not only are screens a part of our reality, but there are times when they solve problems! There are times when our laps and attentions are just not available and we need something that will enrich our children while keeping them occupied for a time. For today’s review, we are talking about One More Story - an online read aloud library of beautiful picture books that does just that!

What We Received:

We were given a one-year subscription to One More Story. This includes access to all books on the website.

How It Works:

One More Story consists of a single user library of picture books that are read aloud with background music and sound effects and highlighted words on the page as it is read through. Each story has a vocabulary button where students can learn what different words mean through a definition and then the context sentence of the book. Each book has an I Can Read button to turn off the sound and allow the student to turn pages at their own pace. Through the Parent’s Place Dashboard, parents can see what books the child has read and what new words they have been introduced to.. On the main page, there is a Book List option where you can sort the books available by the colored shelf, Accelerated Reader, Lexile, DRA, Fountas and Pinnell or you can filter them through a key word.

What We Thought:

Like I mentioned above, I try to recognize that too much screen time can be detrimental and set boundaries appropriately. It is our custom to put off screens of any form until the rest of (non-screen) school activities have been completed. That being said, aside from not being in my lap, One More Story provides everything else that is valuable about story time! The collection of books is fantastic! I've heard of a lot of them but not all. That alone makes it just like a library visit.

When you raise readers, you find that they will always love a good story. While One More Story is a beautiful blessing for preschool age children, my 7 and 10 year old are happy to sit down with or without their 4 year old brother to listen to One More Story. This is even useful when I’m needed to help the older kids with their school and the 4 year old needs distraction. From both an educational and parenting perspective, this website is a wonderful tool to have for those times when you need an extra set of hands!

Follow One More Story on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifelongReaders
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyReader

Are you interested in how other families may have used One More Story? Check out the other members of the Crew and their reviews through the link below.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW. I ALSO RECEIVE COMMISSIONS FROM PURCHASES MADE THROUGH LINKS IN THIS POST.

For all my years in education, I’ve often felt a conflict when it came to the topic of memorization. On the one hand, I’ve always felt convicted that the heart of learning isn’t in memorizing facts. On the other hand, I have a lot of respect for the Classical Education approach that recognizes students’ great capacity to learn many things when they are young. So, I’ve always had the desire for my kids to learn as much as possible without it being an unending, tedious task. In today’s review we are talking about a tool designed to make learning effective and easier, Cross Seven Ventures - Homeschool Musical Memory Tool from Cross Seven.

What We Received:

We received a one year subscription for our whole family to Cross Seven Ventures - Homeschool Musical Memory Tool. This program is designed for students K-6th grade, but this subscription allows for multiple profiles so even mom and dad can learn and test their skills along with the kids!

How It Works:

The Cross Seven memory tool is an online program consisting of videos where information is set to music and then a series of quizzes over that information. The quizzes use a variety of methods to test students like fill in the blank, ordering of information and word searches. The information is separated into 4 Cycles, each cycle containing 28 weeks focused on a different batch of information. Within each cycle the following topics are included:

• Scripture

• History

• Latin

• Grammar

• Science

• Math

• Geography

• Hymns

• Timeline

All cycles and weeks within cycles are accessible at any time which means you can utilize however much whenever you see fit. There is no requirement to begin with Cycle 1 or even week 1 at any time. It is ordered by cycle and weeks so that you can simply login and go through it all, but if I only wanted to focus on Latin or grammar for a time, that is available too.

The Parent Dashboard allows you to see each student’s quiz results. There is also a Fun Links button that gives you complimentary links and videos to more information on a particular week’s topics. In this section there is a corresponding reading list that is very extensive and a great way to create or broaden your own curriculum.

What We Thought:

My 10 and 7 year old both tried out this program and loved it! They enjoyed the videos and especially the challenge of trying to recall things for the quizzes. There were a few times when my 7 year old daughter got pretty frustrated because she kept getting things wrong. This was often the case with scriptures and the expectation of capitalization and exact punctuation. It frustrated her, but it also forced her to be precise in ways she normally brushes off whenever possible. So from a learning perspective, it was very fruitful! The fun links was a favorite too once they discovered it!

As a teacher and parent, I love this entire concept and program. It is so useful to reinforce concepts we are already learning, but completely fine to just let them go through it however also. It’s all value added to their education and skills. Whether you are pursuing a classical education or simply want to reinforce information in a fun way, Cross Seven is a fantastic educational tool.

Follow Cross Seven on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrossSevenVentures
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cross7Memory
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crosssevenventures/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/CrossSevenVentures/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CrossSeven

Every homeschool is different so check out what other families thought about this program through the link below.

Bible study, like any other subject, has a wide range of approaches and usually just as many opinions about it all. When it comes to curriculum, one of the things I appreciate most is when authors leave all the controversial opinions out or at least up to the parent/teacher's discretion. Bible Study Guide For All Ages dives straight into the content of the Bible provides multiple avenues to learn, remember and understand what the Bible says. This a program I had never heard of before, but will be sticking with for a while as the result of his review.

For my two big kids (7 and almost 5), we received the Primary (1st & 2nd grade) level which included Primary Student Pages, Primary Teacher Guide, Bible Book Summary Cards as well as the Wall Maps and Timeline set. There are a total of 416 lessons altogether, but we received 1-26 to get us started. The company was very generous in all the things we were given to look at!

Student Pages - Each child used a set of the Primary Level Student Pages. They also offer a Beginner, Intermediate, & Advanced Level Student Pages depending on the age and grade of your student. The student pages are consumable and full of multi-sensory learning activities designed to enhance understanding and memorization of scripture. The primary level includes activities like fill in the blank, coloring, review questions, timeline exercises, and character building ideas. The pages are easily pulled apart which makes the teacher in me panic a little. There's no real reason to keep them attached because once they are used you don't revisit them.

Primary Teacher's Guide - This is a spiral bound book that walks you through each lesson step by step. It is easy to follow and gives directions for every element, even the optional ones like the music CD and the Timeline.

Bible Book Summary Cards - These come in two sizes and we received the large, 8.5" x 11" ones. With just a few specific pictures, each card provides visual reminders of the books events on the front and a list of review/memory questions on the back. The cards are a fun tool for comprehension and retention.

Wall Maps and Timeline set - This includes a timeline, three maps, and the figures to go on each. These are really big! If you don't have much wall space, it won't be useful to you. However, if you have a place for it, it is a fantastic educational tool! I know my understanding of Bible time and locations would have been much different had I grown up with something like this around.

This picture is so true in our household. They are usually pretty enthusiastic about anything Bible related, but Bible Study Guide For All Ages has made our Bible study time easy and fruitful in all areas! Even though miss Z was on the young side, she surprised me with all the information she was remembering. With so much interaction and application of the scriptures, our daily conversation was considerably changed for the better! We reviewed the Primary Level, but remember there are 3 other levels that may work slightly different. Be sure to read through the rest of the Crew's reviews to get a feel for the other levels.

Keep with Bible Study Guide For All Ages on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BibleStudyG/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BibleStudyG

Originally posted in July 2018.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

From science experiments to art projects, hands-on activities are by far my children’s favorite part of their education! Today’s review combines elements of art and history to create an interactive lesson everyone will enjoy! We’re talking about Figures of the American Revolution from Figures In Motion! These moveable figures are a wonderful compliment to any history curriculum.

What We Received:

We received one book of paper figures to cut out, in some cases color and assemble, a bookmark about Benjamin Franklin, a single hole punch and a box of small two prong brads.

How It Works:

The Famous Figures of the American Revolution book contains 10 different people you can assemble. For each person there are two pages, one is colored and the other is blank, ready to be colored by a student. Both are assembled in the same way - by cutting out the individual pieces, hole punching in the designated spots (noted by letters and back or front designations) and then attaching the pieces with small brads. This product is intended for ages 6-12 and requires cutting skills. Most of it is easy but there are some areas of fine detail. For those areas they have added gray space as a guide to give students an easier option.

Once assembled, they are fun to move around and even pretend to interact. Within the book, each person has a description of their patriotic significance and interesting information about their life. These figures compliment any survey of history or biography study, but the text also includes a reading list specific to the American Revolution figures in the book.

What We Thought:

We loved this product far more than I expected! I know my kids like hands-on activities, but with as much cutting that's involved, I assumed my 10 year old son would be done with it. My 7 year old daughter lives to craft so I expected her to enjoy it, but they were begging to do more and more. Since there are only so many in the book, it quickly became a question of who gets to do more and which ones. They needed a touch of guidance when assembling the first ones, but after that it was a very independent activity. From an artistic standpoint, it requires precision and cutting skills, which is something we always need to work on. A neat element - that I love about learning anyway - was all the questions that arose simply from cutting out these pictures. I wasn't teaching them directly, but we learned about flag making, types of guns and different types of clothes, just from their questions.

This process was such a positive learning experience that I highly recommend including this product in your next history study!

Follow Figures in Motion on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/figuresinmotionbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FiguresInMotion
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/figuresinmotionbooks/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/figuresinmotion/_created/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwr8ROHgSkGmCrutlMg76KQ

The Review Crew were given a varied choice of products so check out the other reviews through the link below to see what other options are available.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW

Homeschooling my children from day one and being on the Homeschool Review Crew for almost five years, I have at least heard about quite a bit of curriculum. Today’s review is of a program I have heard about for years because so many people have used it before! In many circles, this company is a standard for math curriculum. We are talking about Teaching Textbooks Math 4.0 from Teaching Textbooks, their computer-based, no DVDs program.

What We Received:

We were given access to Teaching Textbooks Math 4.0 digital courses for 12 months and lifetime access to the gradebooks for 2 students, grade 3 and grade 4. There is also 3 months of pause time included that do not count against the 12 months.

How It Works:

For each student/grade level, there is a downloadable program (that works like an app on my laptop) that can be accessed any time regardless of internet access. In our 2 student situation, on our computers there is an M3 app for 3rd grade and an M4 app for 4th grade. Upon loading each program, you have the option to sign in as the student or parent. In the Parent account you can manage settings, see the gradebook as well as answers. Within each app in the Student account there is an Ebook (the textbook), Lesson Work, Gradebook, Wallpaper, Book, Sticker Book, and Hint Sound Settings.

As you can see above, the lessons are presented in a book form where you can turn pages to move forward and back. Regardless of where you go, the program keeps record of lessons and quizzes the student has completed. You can jump around as you wish, but within each lesson there are 22 practice questions that build on the previous lessons as well as the lesson just taught. A neat feature is the scratchpad where you can write out your work when needed. It is certainly helpful, but its probably most useful with a touch screen. There are also Bonus Questions that are sometimes offered usually featuring math facts.

How It Worked For Us:

My 10 year old son is finishing out 4th grade and my 7 year old daughter is finishing out 2nd grade. We chose M4 for him because he was still in the 4th grade. My daughter is really good with math so I thought we could at least try her out in M3 to get a good feel for the program and, if it was too challenging, she could work up to it. What we found out is that the grade level didn’t quite match the level of their normal math curriculum (which is known to be higher than average). So my son started toward the end of the program and my daughter had no problem starting M3 from the beginning.

The setup of the program encourages student independence and doesn’t require very much parent involvement, unless the student struggles with a concept. In that case, the parent section provides the textbook (ebook) and answer key for the parent/instructor to help as needed. It is always helpful that the grades are accessed forever, which is helpful when creating a transcript.

Both of my children said the lectures were easy to understand and enjoyed decorating their space with different wallpaper and sticker fun. While the grade levels were different than what we were used to, that is easily resolved and everything else worked very well! If you are looking for a math curriculum that allows your students to work independently, but also give you plenty of feedback and opportunity to engage when needed, Teaching Textbooks is a great program to consider.

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Teaching Textbooks Math 4.0 offers programs for 3rd grade through high school, including Algebra, Geometry and Pre-Calculus. Click on the image below to check out reviews of other grade levels.