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

One of the true loves of my children is horses. Our first house, where the older two were born, our city neighborhood backed up to a couple of large churches and several acres of land where horses and cows were often grazing. We visited the horses on walks before my oldest was even born and just about every week until we moved. They LOVE horses. I can’t think of a better theme to motivate my students to practice their math than riding horses! As we tried out MathRider from Sharper Edge International Pty Ltd for this review the past several weeks, I’ve never had so many requests to do math!!

What We Received:

We received a permanent license to the game MathRider, which allows for multiple users.

How It Works:

MathRider is a math program designed for use on a computer that, once downloaded initially, can be accessed without the internet. Multiple users can access it with their own username and password. Users can practice riding where every math fact answered correctly causes the horse to move faster and a slow or missed answer slows the riding down. To practice or play you can adjust settings to accommodate each user. Setting options include addition, subtraction, multiplication and division along with number ranges and a choice between obstacle course or a time challenge. Practice rides do not impact quests and are not counted in each student’s statistics. To play, each user is challenged with various quests that involve a back story, a specific goal, different backdrops and unlocking different music as you go along. Each quest involves answering math facts just like the practice rides, except each correct answer gets you further along in your quest. The faster the student answers, the faster the horse goes and earns extra points. There is a dashboard that showcases mastery levels for each student based on their rides. There is also a score area where you can compare users as well.

What We Thought:

My kids old enough to use this program, 10 year old boy and 8 year old girl, loved it. The story element certainly pleased my girl and the horse element trumps everything for both of them. It is a an easy way to practice math facts and work on recall time so there is no complaint from an educational standpoint. The quest and story elements seem to motivate them to keep going after math recall usually gets boring or tiring. The changing landscapes (tied to different quests) are really beautiful which adds to the varied experience. It certainly is enjoyable to me as an adult! Once they figured out what the game was all about, they would request to play it all the time, even when school was finished. If you have students that love horses, this is a slam dunk program for those needing to work on their math facts. Overall, our family loved this game and would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to work on math facts and have some fun at the same time.

Follow MathRider on Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MathRiderGame
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Mathrider

Are you wondering what other families thought of this program? Check out the rest of the reviews through the link below:

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

When we decided to homeschool our children, it was really motivated by being able to teach them the things we thought were most important. While our world is spun up on technology right now and we tend to heavily rely on our phones to do our thinking for us, we still value the skills that got us to this technological age. It’s important to lay a foundation in our children’s minds that demonstrates what money is, what it isn’t, not to mention how to count back change or manage their own money well. For today’s review I would like to share with you three different products, Baby BUCK, How Much Am I…, Quick Cents To A BUCK, and BUCK Making Cents from Buck Academy that are some fun tools to engage your kids with money.

What We Received:

We received three books, 2 coupons and a fun bookmark. The books included:

Baby BUCK, How Much Am I.. - A board book intended for ages 0-4

Quick Cents to a BUCK - A paperback that summarizes the BUCK Making Cents

BUCK Making Cents - A hardbacked book intended for ages 5-11

How It Works:

The Baby BUCK book is sturdy and introduces children to all the coins and a dollar bill. While it is a very basic introduction it also includes lift the flap elements for how much each coin is worth. BUCK Making Cents is a story led by Buck that explains all about each coin and the dollar bill and then walks the reader through a variety of math/value questions. Quick Cents to a BUCK is a shortened and simplified version of BUCK Making Cents in paperback form, much like a thin coloring book. Besides suggested age ranges, there is no specific intent or direction as to how to utilize these books. As suggested in BUCK Making Cents, having the actual coins and dollar in hand is a nice way to engage the students, especially as you are talking about the different elements on the front and back of the money.

What We Thought:

Since my youngest is 4 and already knows a bit about money, the board book was helpful by nature - asking the reader how much each coin was. The Quick Cents book was a little basic for what the big kids already knew. BUCK Making Sense was great for teaching them a few things and then putting their money math to work! If your kids are young and first starting their education about money, these books are a great tool to set them up well. Since my kids already knew a lot of the information, it was more of a read it once and you’re done kind of a reaction. As my 4 year old grows in understanding, the books will help him solidify the information. If you’re looking for a fun addition to a new homeschool library, this is definitely something for the bookshelf.

Follow BUCK Academy on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BUCKacademy.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BUCK_academy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buckacademy/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/BUCKAcademy/_saved/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrwVZl0j3v5OeKI_h2JXLhQ

Wondering if our experience is unique? Check our some of the other reviews of this product through the link below.

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

When I was in school, discussing literature was my absolute favorite. I loved analyzing the characters and anticipating what the author was thinking! As a homeschool parent of 3, juggling chores and education on top of anything else in life is a tall order, leaving me rushing through things like book reading with the kids. Study guides from Progeny Press are a great way to slow everything down to maximize comprehension and explore ideas further. We’ve enjoyed Progeny Press before and this time we are reviewing Wagon Wheels Study Guide and Cricket in Times Square Study Guide.

What We Received

We were given two study guide digital downloads, Wheels Study Guide and Cricket in Times Square Study Guide.

How It Works:

Study Guides are divided into sections determined by chapter groupings sandwiched between a synopsis, about the author and a summary. At the end there are ideas for post-reading activities, additional resources and an answer key. Throughout the study guide expect to see activities in geography, vocabulary. history, science, and writing. If utilized to it’s fullest, you could cover an entire semester with one study guide!

Progeny Press offers study guides for all levels and varieties of literature that are designed to encourage a greater enjoyment and understanding of authors and texts. The most important aspect that we appreciate is the Biblical worldview that is sewn throughout that questions and activities. The Wagon Wheels Study Guide is intended for grades 1-3 and Cricket in Times Square Study Guide is targeted for grades 4-6. As digital products, these can be used with multiple students and printed out at once or sections at a time. This is certainly a product that can work in a group settings too either as a family or a classroom setting. Many of the activities or questions can be addressed as a group discussion.

What We Thought:

Since we have tried out Progeny Press Study Guides before, it was easy to step back in. We did have trouble finding these books at the library, but an easy solution is to look on YouTube for the books being read aloud. Thankfully, both Wagon Wheels and A Cricket in Times Square were readily available!. Since my 3rd grader is an avid reader and my 5th grader loves to help, they both were expected to listen to the read aloud together and worked on the questions/activities together too. The Wagon Wheel guide was appropriately shorter with activities for younger students like a crossword puzzle or compound word activity. While both kids could grasp most everything, you could easily tell the difficulty level was appropriately aged.

As a parent and educatory, I love the holistic approach each study guide takes to the text and the child’s education. For example, A Cricket in Times Square is a story about characters, but the study guide suggests a scientific study of how many chirps a cricket makes in a span of time. Since my favorite learning approach is more like a unit study where every subject (science, math, etc.) is tied into one theme, these study guides are a great educational and affordable option for your homeschool!

Follow Progeny Press on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/progenypress
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/progenypress
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/progenypress
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/progenypress

The crew reviewed several study guides at various levels so check out more reviews at the link below.

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

Just today actually, I had the pleasure of hearing a male lion roar repeatedly apparently to just say good morning to those around him. At least that’s what our tour guide said. Either way, that roar was unmistakable. It caused us to pay attention. And reminded us that you would never want to be between him and something he wants. Today I’m also reviewing Roar Like a Lion: 90 Devotions to a Courageous Faith by Levi Lusko with Tama Fortner from Tommy Nelson Books and considering how a courageous faith can be seen in the roar of a lion.

What We Received:

We were given one hardbacked book, Roar Like a Lion: 90 Devotions to a Courageous Faith by Levi Lusko with Tama Fortner from Tommy Nelson Books. It has 192 pages and color illustrations on almost every page.

How It Works:

This devotional book has a contents at the beginning where every devotion is numbered, named and page number is listed. While they are listed and named in a particular order, there is no demand for reading them in order. Each one begins with a scripture from the Bible, discusses relevant life issues pertaining to it and then charges the reader with an area of growth or practice. On the second page of most every devotion there is a Did You Know? section. In this section, there is often some historical fact or person that the reader can learn from. Each devotion is capable of standing alone or, if read through from start to finish, builds nicely on each other.

What We Thought:

While the recommended age of readers is 6-10, we have been reading it as a family which includes my 4 and 10 year old. The 4 year old likely misses some of it and the 10 year old is already picking up on a lot of it, but as a group there is much value. The content is relevant while also being gentle with hard things, like death and destruction. The author wisely handles his way around talking about what everyone is dealing with - scary things on the news, really hard days, loss, etc. and overlaying perspective from God and scripture. I appreciate that this book not only takes hard things on easily, but the collection of devotions have an overarching purpose: To develop a courageous faith. If there is any expectation at all, its that the type of faith we need is something we must practice and build over time. Fighting fear and standing up anyway, isn’t something that naturally just rolls out fully formed. It takes perspective and practice. Each devotion works on teaching scriptural perspectives that can support our kids as they come in contact with scary and unsure moments in life.

Between the imagery in the Bible and the Chronicles of Narnia’s Aslan, the lion often represents the strength and terror of God. Teaching our kids to have a courageous faith is something I wonder how well I’m equipped for. Do I have a courageous faith. Many days, I am not sure. What this book does a beautiful job of is setting the intention up in our hearts as we read through the devotions -the intention to be courageous in the face of many facets of fear and trials. As a parent, I know many of the types of struggles that are coming down the pike for my children, but I often would just rather protect them than anything else. That doesn’t equip them for what they will have to face though. This book of devotions is a gentle starting point that is useful for any family devotion time.

Follow Tommy Nelson Books on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tommynelsonbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommynelsonbooks/

Curious about what other families thought about this book? Check out the rest of the Crew reviews through this link below.

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

Every time one of my children has successfully learned to read, I have felt like a rock star and halfway through homeschooling! That might be an exaggerated reaction, but learning to read is the most important thing to start students off in the right direction. Once they master it, it can be tempting to just relax because, “as long as they are reading, right?” It’s I have subscribed to that line of thinking a lot, sometimes out of sheer exhaustion or limited options. Doing the intentional work on comprehension, writing and vocabulary can get lost in the shuffle of 3 kids, math meltdowns and other activities. Today’s review provides a platform to work and monitor these elements while providing a ton of books for your child to read and work with. We were given the opportunity to try out the Premium Subscription to LightSail for Homeschoolers which includes Reading, Writing, Vocabulary and Fluency work and tracking.

What We Received:

We were given a one year subscription to LightSail with access for up to 5 children. The 4 year old was provided access to World Book Early Learners and the 8 and 10 year olds have full access to LightSail Premium.

How It Works:

According to their website, LightSail for Homeschoolers is a reading-centric, adaptive language arts platform. This program allows students to be placement tested in reading skills through a Power Challenge. There is an initial one to get each student started, but then certain books (indicated clearly) include a power challenge to continue evaluating their level. The library of books is enormous and searchable by category, level and name. It includes access to World Book which provides some really interesting live streams and educational videos. Each child has their own login information and parents have a dashboard where they can adjust and evaluate each all students’ progress. From the dashboard parents can set assignments for each child. As students read books and engage in activities, the program tracks all the things - vocabulary, fluency, etc. The library consists of K-12 level books which means not all books are appropriate for all ages. Some books require parent approval first which is something either student or parent can initiate.

What We Thought:

LightSail is a massive resource and very overwhelming at first. It was recommended that we watch the intro videos before diving in, but we didn’t follow that advice at first. Big mistake. The big kids tried it out and kept getting frustrated because they essentially didn’t know how it worked. So I tried to help them and I got pretty frustrated. Then, I remembered the intro videos and finally did what I should have started with! The concept and platform of LightSail is educationally sound and very versatile. With so much trouble at first, we have come to the conclusion that we haven’t even begun the scratch the surface of what LightSail can do. Through this program, my 4 year old has access to all kinds of videos, games and activities in addition to books, which he loves.

Besides being overwhelming at first, the only other concern we had was that after a little bit of use it often slowed way down and required us to logout and log back in. That was a little time consuming, but fixable. Overall, this seems to be a wonderful resource to effectively evaluate and challenge your student’s language arts level that can be really handy the older they get!

Social Media Links: LightSail for Homeschoolers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LightSailEd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightsailed/

Are you interested in other family’s experience with this product? Check out the other reviews through the link below.

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

What is the most important skill that you can give your kids as Christian parents? What could be a big deciding factor in the choices they make into adulthood? What is the best approach for personal and spiritual growth for children and adults alike? Bible study! The ability to study and accurately understand the Bible isn’t something you learn by osmosis from sitting through a few church services. Even your parents or best friend knowing a lot about the Bible does not ensure you will be equipped with knowledge and discernment. One of my favorite freedoms in homeschooling is including the Bible in all of our subjects. Today’s review is a great tool for all Bible students, especially new ones! We’re talking about Bible Breakdowns from Teach Sunday School!

What We Received:

We were given a family license to Bible Breakdowns from Teach Sunday School. These are brightly colored digital PDFs of breakdowns of the Old and New Testament books of the Bible that can be printed off as often as necessary for the use of our family.

How It Works:

Each Bible Breakdown provides information about the author, date written, number of chapters, type of book and purpose of the specific book. Sometimes this will include interesting facts about the book or most popular verses. The breakdown also includes an outline of the verses and chapters. This collection of information can be used in a variety of ways, but all point back to Bible study in some form or fashion. It is common in our culture to know a certain verse and display it on our wall, but how often can you describe the context of the verse or better yet it’s relevance to the bigger picture of the Bible? These breakdowns can be a great overview when you are studying a new book. They also work great for quizzing your family on Bible trivia! Another practice of diligent Bible students is to memorize long passages and sometimes books. Bible Breakdowns can provide prompting as students work on memorization. In the Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling, retelling passages in your own words is a regular component to learning. These sheets can support greater comprehension and retention when students work to retell passages they have read.

How We Used It:

The consistent curriculum that we use includes Bible and Bible History as a basis for everything else. This year we have begun a survey of the Old Testament. In looking at the Genesis breakdown, we have been able to practice timeline memorization, story summaries and solidify devotional concepts. I am part of a local women’s Bible study that is studying Titus. The Titus breakdown has been given and reminded me of the larger context beyond just the chapter we are studying on one night.

There are a variety of ways to use these sheets, but it truly doesn’t matter how as long as you allow them to support deeper Bible study. In my life, I have seen many people grow disillusioned with God and the church when life becomes difficult. The majority of the time, there is a huge lack in understanding about God’s will, His intention and expectations for us. The devils spreads lies and uses our desires against us. Without a deep, contextual and full understanding of God’s word, not only is growth very difficult, it is also just easier to believe the lies.

If you are looking for a versatile tool to enrich your family’s Bible study, I think this is a great product for you!

Follow Teach Sunday School on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SundaySchoolLessons
Instagram: @teachsundayschool
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/biblefun/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChwHfenlbCBU_XfzvqCFFPA

Wondering how other families used this product? Check out the other reviews through the link below:

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

With the online educational world exploding with all kinds of programs, it can be so hard to know what is going to be a good fit for your child. The value of reviews like this is that you get a feel for what things look like from a real student and parent’s point of view to help better educate your decision. For today’s review we are looking at Counting Kingdom from the Reading Kingdom family of programs.

What We Received:

We received one year of access to the online program Counting Kingdom, a part of the Reading Kingdom family..

How It Works:

This online program is intended for ages 3+ and designed to introduce students to mathematical and reasoning concepts. The program is divided into 3 levels. Level 1 introduces numbers 1-10 gradually and practices counting. Level 2 graduates to higher-level concepts like all and same number. Level 3 introduces memory and addition concepts. The program recommends students to use it at least 4 days a week and 5 being better. On the Dashboard page, records of each student’s progress is kept for all Reading Kingdom programs. Counting Kingdom keeps a running evaluation of each lesson and level. Also on the dashboard is a settings option to speed up or slow down the program’s expected response time. The program asks the student to place a number of pictures in the box or click on the appropriate number. After so much time of either no response or incorrect response, it will answer for the student. This customizes the program to each student’s pace.

What We Thought:

I used this program with my 4 year old son who has already had some experience with counting and number recognition. He’s also used other online educational programs so this isn’t his first time. We ended up using it about twice a week rather than the recommended 4 times. The skills of counting and recognizing numbers were not a problem, but the mouse skills were very frustrating to him. He struggled to both hold down a button and drag items. A touch screen or tablet would probably have been better for him, but we didn’t have one available during the review time. Eventually, he could get the hang of it, but the tasks didn’t change all that much so he became really discouraged and didn’t want to do it for very long. He is definitely a task oriented person and the amount of struggle combined with the monotony of the same 3 activities, it seemed to leave him very unfulfilled.

This program seems to be designed for someone who need and/or responds well to repetitive and simplified tasks. I can see it being useful in certain special needs educational settings or remedial work. More than anything, it serves very specific needs rather than a broad spectrum so it is beneficial to test drive their free trial to see if it fits your family’s needs.

Follow Reading Kingdom on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/readingkingdom
Twitter: https://twitter.com/readingkingdom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readingkingdom/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/readingkingdom/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ReadingKingdom

The Crew tried out other products from Reading Kingdom including Story Smarts and Spelling Ninja! To find out how those programs work, check out the reviews through the link below.

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

As parents and teachers, we all hope that our students will get the hang of concepts naturally and gradually. Really great curriculum introduce concepts little by little long before students have to tackle it head on. Many times, that is enough! Despite our best efforts though, students sometimes struggle and need extra concentrated support sometimes. Today’s review is just such a book. We’re taking a look at
Understanding Fractions from The Critical Thinking Co.™.

What We Received:

We received Understanding Fractions from The Critical Thinking Co.™, a 61-page paperback workbook designed for single person use. Pages are perforated and can be taken out of the book.

How It Works:

Understanding Fractions is intended for students grades 2-4 and ages 7-10. The concepts build on each other so it is intended to completed front to back. However, sections are labelled so you could select a specific set of problems to work on to address a particular weakness. This workbook uses over 50 pages to introduce and reinforce what many textbooks cover in less than 10. It begins with how fractions work and how to identify fractions properly. There is about 10 pages of ‘What fraction?’ exercises where students determine what fraction a number is of the whole with a variety of different themes (vehicles, foods, money, etc.) After that it introduces shapes and shaded areas which provides a visual element to the concept. From there the exercises build and continue to vary. Page 28 features a ‘What’s the New Word?’ activity where fraction language (whole, half, third) is utilized create new words. The last half introduces mixed numbers, adding and subtracting fractions with plenty of exercises to practice. There are a couple of Review pages and a Final Review at the end of the worksheets. The back of the workbook features an answer key and Fraction Circle Cut-Outs that can be used as manipulatives where needed.

What We Thought:

My 8 year old daughter who is in the 3rd grade used this book and enjoyed it. She enjoys math but hasn’t gotten to all the elements in her regular math work so this was an appropriate addition. In her case, having not gotten to adding or subtracting fractions yet, it wasn’t entirely enough on its own to teach it for the first time. The book as a whole, however, is perfect for someone who was introduced to fractions in regular schoolwork, but struggled. This revisiting and concentrated focus on understanding fractions seems ideal for getting a student through a crisis or an older student caught up.

Fractions are one of those concepts that if you don’t get it down, it will create roadblocks for you throughout your life. We may not all walk around remembering how to multiply fractions, but having a working understanding of how fractions work affect our every day life. This book is a great tool in ensuring your student is prepared! The Critical Thinking Co.™ has a great history of offering tools to bridge whatever gap you are facing in your child’s educational journey.

Follow The Critical Thinking Co. on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCriticalThinkingCo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/criticalthinks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecriticalthinkingco/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/criticalthinks/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsVEVNa6UpVqXxo_t5sbb7Q

The Crew reviewed a variety of books this time around so check out the link below to see what other items they have to offer.

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

The year I turned 17, I was a little depressed. Being 17 was great, but it meant that 18 was next, which might as well be 21 or 25 or 30 and of course meant my youth was gone. Dramatic? Yes, but I’ve since learned my ADHD brain likes to go super sonic fast and looking ahead is probably it’s favorite! So, next week my oldest child will be starting 5th grade and naturally I felt the need to prep for high school. Thankfully, I get the chance to realistically look ahead with my latest review, the High School Solution from The HomeScholar LLC.

What I Received:

I received 6 months of digital access to High School Solution from The HomeScholar LLC. The High School Solution includes is a collection of audio and video presentations and a ton of digital resources that walk any parent through homeschooling in the middle and high school years.

How It Works::

The HomeScholar offers a wealth of information and what I received access to is only a section of it. The Homeschool Solution offers support for everything unique to the high school years. Whether you have a junior looking towards graduation or a 5th grader like me wondering what impact middle school is going to have on high school, this program has a mountain of information for you. Access to everything is immediate so users are free to isolate their unique needs quickly or, like me, can sit down and browse everything to see what’s all available. It is divided into four sections, How-To, Age, Stages, and Curriculum. Under these headings you can find webinar recordings by Lee Binz, the author of HomeScholar, PDF handouts, and resource links to a number of different articles and information. Are you concerned about testing and college entrance exams? Unsure how to plan high school courses or curriculum? Worried about reaching the heart of your high schooler? Overwhelmed at all of the possibilities? All of this is covered and more! Just consider this your starter course for homeschooling middle school and high school!

What I Thought:

Honestly, this is EXACTLY what calms my homeschool mom nerves. The trouble with things you’ve never done before is that you don’t know what you don’t know. And preparing a high school student for adult life, college, career or otherwise, is definitely something I’ve never done before! The layout of the website wasn’t super clear at first, but the author provides lots of road maps and encouragements for where you need to be so I figure it out pretty quickly. She also presents her encouragement from a Christian worldview, which I appreciate so much. In our own homeschool, we are motivated by more than just academic success and she acknowledges that on many occasions. There is plenty of discussion and resources about the non-college bound kids and the many possibilities of changing directions along the way. That’s real life which makes this resource that much more helpful. For me not having a child in middle school yet, much less high school, this gives me the tools to make a game plan and what to be aware of as we get closer.

Follow The HomeScholar LLC on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehomescholar
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thehomescholar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homescholar/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/homescholar/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/homescholar/

Are you interested in transcript or record keeping help? HomeScholar offers other programs that directly address these and other families reviewed them too! Check out the other reviews through the link below.

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

Over the past couple of weeks we have done very little school in a real summer fashion. I’m reorganizing some things that require my full attention so the kids have been on their own a lot more. While being bored is absolutely healthy for them, you can tell they are craving routine and something to do with their minds besides reading. An easy task that doesn’t require much from me and a great math exercise for them has been our latest review, Math Essentials Speed Wheel Drills from Math Essentials. At 3rd and 5th grade, my big kids can always benefit from math fact practice!

What We Received:

We received 3 physical books, Speed Wheel Drills for Multiplication, for Division and for Addition.

How It Works:

As pictured below, each wheel consists of a number in the center that the outside numbers use to add/multiply/divide by. Each appearance of numbers is shuffled in a different order so that very page is entirely different. Above each wheel is a space for how many are correct and how much time it took to complete it. The full intent is to time the student completing each wheel and comparing each days times. The pages are not perforated, but likely could be easily pulled out if necessary.

What We Thought:

We used these books with my 8 and 10 year old who are heading into 3rd and 5th grade. My daughter (8) primarily did the addition book, while my son (10 used the multiplication and division ones. Even though they hadn’t ever used a wheel setup for math facts, it was very easy to understand. They enjoyed racing the clock and each other, but due to a lack of an accessible stop watch, they often would just complete a page without timing it. The absence of the timing didn’t seem to affect their completion. From an educational standpoint, the grouping of the factors in a wheel format is an added visual benefit that can aid in memorization and recall. It felt like something I wished we could have started with when they were first learning math facts. There are several great resources in the back of each book that we didn’t use much of yet because we weren’t in the thick of school yet, but it’s great to have them on hand. As my son gets further into fractions and decimals, it could be helpful to have a visual chart to reinforce concepts. Since neither of the kids were significantly struggling in this area, I can’t speak for more sever situations. However, I suspect this could be a fun daily practice and evaluation for a struggler, even if only one wheel a day was completed.

The Speed Wheel Drills books from Math Essentials are perfect for a morning warm-up and a steady evaluation of students’ skills over the school year.

Looking for feedback from students at a different level? Check out the rest of the Crew’s reviews through the link below.