When my kids were young, I pieced together a lot of different resources to teach them to read. This was fine, until it wasn’t working. One of my kids struggled for quite some time, so eventually we added daily practice with Reading Eggs to our school time. This bit of extra practice and support was just the thing my child needed and today is an avid reader.

*Please Note: This is a sponsored review of Mathseeds and Homeschool Max, but all opinions are entirely my own after testing the program. Read our full disclosure policy here.

Homeschool Max Review

If you would prefer to use a reading program that already has everything you need to successfully teach your child, PLUS access to a complete math program, be sure to check out Homeschool Max.

With a Homeschool Max account, you not only get access to all the great, award-winning programs (Reading Eggs, Reading Eggspress, Fast Phonics & Mathseeds), but you also get the planning, reporting and offline resources you need to round out a math and reading program for your child.

All on the NEW easy-to-use homeschool platform!

If you’re not familiar, Mathseeds is an online math program for ages 3-9. Using short animated videos, catchy songs and practice activities, kids work at their own pace through the 200 lessons.

Here are some things I love about Mathseeds: 

Use of visuals & stories

• • • In both the placement test and the individual lessons, there are important visual models used such as number lines. In addition, lessons begin with a story context before moving to abstract symbols. For example, in the division lessons, the videos and practice focus on understanding division as sharing between equal groups. No equations or division symbols were used (not even the word division). This builds on what kids already know intuitively (sharing equally with their friends) before moving to the abstract.

Short, kid-friendly videos & songs

• • • In between math practice tasks, there are short videos where the animated characters discuss the concept or sing a song related to the topic. These are short enough to hold young kids’ attention, and talk to them in a way that makes sense (again, not using abstract terms or vocabulary).

Emphasis on learning, not speed

• • • In each lesson, there is plenty of practice for kids on a particular topic, but there are no timers or buzzers. They can take their time and think through each task, and if they make a mistake, they are simply told, “That’s not quite right, try again,” rather than being penalized or immediately given the correct answer.

Review is woven throughout

• • As kids make their way through the lessons, they will occasionally encounter review tasks from previous lessons. This ensures they always circle back to earlier topics and have a chance to review.

When you sign up for a Homeschool Max account, you get access to the full Mathseeds program, but also so much more.

Here are some features that I love about the Homeschool Max dashboard:

Clear Reporting 

See what lessons your child has been working on, what skills they’ve covered, how much time they have spent on their lessons, and more.

I especially love the “Skills Mastered” reporting page. This gives a snapshot of progress they’re making through the lessons AND whether they passed on 1st attempt, 2nd/3rd attempt or did not pass.

You can then find resources in the Teacher Toolkit, Big Books, or Printables Library to help remediate that specific skill.

In the “Fluency Sprints” report you can see a snapshot of which mental math tasks they’ve worked on, how many questions they got right, time spent, and number of attempts.

Easily Assign Lessons for Your Child

Notice that your child didn’t do well on a specific math lesson? Easily assign specific lessons for them to complete before they can do anything else on the Mathseeds program.

This is a great way to have them go back and review, fill in gaps that you notice and also hold them accountable (they will receive a notification about the assignment on the Mathseeds website).

An Abundance of Additional Resources for the Teacher

Probably my favorite part of the new Homeschool Max dashboard is the HUGE variety of support and resources available for you as the teacher.

I strongly believe that students should not only learn math (or any subject for that matter) on a screen.

While there are so many things to love about the Mathseeds online lessons and games, it is important that kids also spend time doing math with pencil and paper, and actual, hands-on manipulatives.

Thankfully, Mathseeds includes beautifully designed, easy to use worksheets to cover all the same math topics as the online program, printable manipulatives & visual models, and beautiful color posters for your wall or their math notebook.

There are also problem solving challenges to go along with the lessons to help you teach critical thinking, problem solving strategies and reinforce the math skills they’re learning.

This library of resources is a great complement to the program for so many reasons: 

• Use the worksheets to reinforce what they’re doing online
• Continue learning and reviewing even if you’re on the road or without a device
• Use visual models & manipulatives to provide hands-on practice
• Incorporate weekly (or more) problem solving activities to give kids confidence tackling word problems and to help them think creatively about problem solving

Here’s an overview of the teacher resource sections on Homeschool Max: 

Specific Lessons: 

For each lesson, you can download a worksheet, skills practice, and problem solving challenge to go along with the lesson.

In addition, there’s a teacher hand out with a list of objectives, answer key for the worksheet and a list of other resources or game ideas related to the topic.

You can also preview each lesson before deciding to assign it to be sure it’s hitting on the skills your child needs to work on.

Teacher Toolkit: 

In the toolkit, you can find posters, & simple printable resources, such as visuals and manipulatives (base ten blocks, fraction bars, place value charts, etc.).

You can also find ready-to-use printable tests to assess understanding, and “Big Books” which are digital ebooks covering a huge variety of math topics (these also include ‘book notes’ which provide ideas for discussion).

If needed, you can also look at curriculum maps by state so you can see which lessons align to your specific standards–this is great for picking and assigning specific lessons to go along with your curriculum if you are using Mathseeds as a supplement, or if you are required to follow specific standards.

Printables Library (K-3 Math): 

Want all worksheets for a specific math strand in one download? Check the printables library! This makes it easy to:

1. Download all ‘problem solving challenges’ in a single pdf
2. Download topic-specific printable workbooks to focus on a specific skill

Want a sneak peek of the dashboard? Check out the Homeschool Max video below where I walk you through all that’s available with Homeschool Max:

Ready to get started? Using the link below, you can try out Homeschool Max (including Mathseeds and all their other programs!) FREE for 30 days. 

START YOUR 30 DAY FREE TRIAL OF HOMESCHOOL MAX HERE. 

The post Homeschool Max & Mathseeds Review – With Sneak Peek Video appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

Does your child struggle with upper level math? If you’re a middle school teacher, where do you send parents whose child is struggling to understand or has learning gaps?

While there are an abundance of resources available online, it can be difficult to find math programs that are both helpful for struggling students and also enjoyable, especially when you get beyond grade 6.

If you know a child who struggles with math, I invite you to take a look at Mathletics, an award-winning math program for ages 5-16.

(Quick note: As you can see, Mathletics starts at age 5, but since my kids are in middle school/high school, I will be sharing my thoughts & experiences based on those age ranges. I cannot speak to the program for elementary grades).

Please Note: This post is sponsored by Mathletics, but all thoughts & opinions are my own, based on the use of the program by myself & my children. Read our full disclosure policy here.

Mathletics Review: Support Middle School Math Learning

As a homeschool mom, it can sometimes (often!) be a struggle to juggle math lessons with all 4 kids (even as a math teacher, who feels confident with the content and actually enjoys it!).

So lately, my 7th grader has been using Mathletics along with our core curriculum. She is absolutely loving it, and actually asks each day if she can hop on!

Within the Mathletics website, there are activities for her to complete that align to the 7th grade standards. But what I love about this section is that it also includes pertinent review lessons of 6th grade skills that are foundational to the 7th grade material, providing a quick review before moving on to the new content.

I also love that we can jump to any section of the activities that we want. So I can assign a set of problem tasks that reinforce the lessons we are currently covering in our curriculum, providing her with extra practice and support in a way that’s fun.

Her favorite part of the activities so far is the engaging animation on each page. As she correctly answers questions, another action happens in the animation, and she can’t wait to see what it will do next!

For example, one animation showed a hair stylist giving a haircut. As the hair got shorter and shorter with each cut, we both wondered what could possibly happen next. By the time she got to the last question, the dryer lifted to reveal snakes in place of her hair, like Medusa! All the kids thought this was hilarious!

Unique Math Practice with Live Mathletics

Another unique game option is “Live Mathletics.” This allows students to compete with other students from around the world as they answer questions from their grade level.

Not only is my child then practicing math skills, but it’s fun to see the locations of other kids around the world (no faces or identifying information is shared, but you can see what country they’re from).

As a parent, I also appreciate the dashboard because there are a lot of resources available to provide extra support.

I can login at any time to see reports of how my child is doing. There is also a huge library of ebooks, targeting specific math topics. These ebooks are like textbooks and workbooks in one, providing additional teaching support, along with skills practice for students.

Again, this can be a great way to help those struggling students to fill in gaps in their learning or get remedial help and support.

It could also be a great way for students who love math and are looking for a greater challenge to work ahead and push themselves to learn more challenging topics.

Who Is Mathletics For?

Overall, I think Mathletics is a great option for a lot of families, such as:

• Homeschool families- Let one child review & practice with Mathletics while you work one-on-one with a sibling
  
• Struggling students- If you have a child or student who struggles or has gaps in their math learning, Mathletics can be used for additional support & intervention
• Students who thrive in math- If you have a child or student who loves math and wants to get ahead (or just enjoys extra math challenges), they will love the challenge of working ahead and/or competing with other kids around the world in Live Mathletics.

If your kids are older (middle school or high school) and you feel like the math they’re learning is beyond you, or you struggle to give them the help and guidance they need, check out Mathletics.

You can get started with a free trial using the link below to see what you think!

It might just be the tool you need to help your child succeed and thrive!

>Get Started with a FREE 14-Day Trial of Mathletics Today!

The post Mathletics Online Math Program: Full Review appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

I occasionally like to think of myself as a runner. Unfortunately, being an “occasional runner” does not lead to increased strength, endurance and overall improvement. What it ends up looking like is running for 2-3 days in a row, then taking a break for a  week or two. Inevitably, when I go to run again, it feels like I’m starting over. My muscles have to work back up to their prior strength and even though I might have been able to run 3 miles two weeks ago, I can no longer make it that far without walking & taking a break.

Note: This post is sponsored by Komodo Math, but all opinions are completely my own and based on my own use of the program with my 5th grade child. Read our full disclosure here.

Building math fluency is a lot like running. It requires consistency & dedication. Short, but purposeful practice actually doing math. What do you think will be more beneficial to a student who struggles with math–spending 2 hours slogging through problems once a week, or spending 15-20 minutes a day five times a week? Shorter, but more frequent practice & study sessions help kids become more confident in their math skills and helps their brain retain what they’re learning better than cramming it all into one huge session (plus, kids have short attention spans, so good luck trying to do 2 hours of math!)

This is one of the things I appreciate about Komodo Math: it is designed to provide short, regular practice that’s effective & aimed at exactly the skills your child needs to work on.

If you have a child or student in grades K-5 who could benefit from extra practice, I invite you to check out Komodo Math.

Komodo Math Review:

Here are some things my 5th grader and I have enjoyed about Komodo Math so far: 

• A real teacher is involved in creating a custom learning plan, based on your child’s needs and their score on the initial assessment
• There are short, clear teaching videos to teach & support each math topic
• The math practice sets are focused, without being overly busy or difficult to navigate
• Parents can further customize their child’s learning plan (you can decide how many problems they do in each set, what they need to score in order to move on, etc.)
• There is the opportunity to make corrections, allow students to reflect and learn from their mistakes (rather than simply telling them the answer as soon as they get it wrong)

(And just a quick note–my child is in 5th grade, which is the upper age range for Komodo, but this would also be a wonderful support for younger kiddos. There are lots of great visual models in the problem sets and videos, and personalized support from a teacher to create a learning plan that best suits them).

One thing that was a little stressful for my child initially was the timer on each problem set. This does not count down, but simply tracks their time spent. Once I explained that she didn’t need to feel rushed or pressured, that she can take all the time she needed, she felt better.

But I also love that I was able to easily turn the timer off with the click of a button in the parent dashboard. It’s not helpful or motivating for her, so I turned it off by clicking “hide lesson timer.”

The dashboard also provides transcripts and a dyslexia option that changes the colors in the app to minimize visual stress.

Although the math practice is not gamified, Komodo does emphasize motivation & celebrating milestones and wins in the learning process. They also strive to include parents in this as well, allowing parents to set specific goals and rewards for their children within the platform.

To motivate my child, I added a “pool time” reward to her account. Whenever she completes the requirements this summer, she can redeem her reward for some relaxing time at the pool.

After each session a short report is emailed to parents. They can then reply to the email with some encouragement and the message is sent to the child right inside the app. (<–This is such a unique feature and a great way for parents or other supporters to be involved in learning and cheering the child on!)

If you’re looking for something to help your child prevent the dreaded summer slide or something to help them fill in math gaps, or just give them a leg up in math for the next school year, see if Komodo Math is right for you.

Getting Started with Komodo Math:

You can get started with a free trial so you and your child can test it out to decide. Setting up the app and your family account is easy.

Once you sign up, you’ll need to download the app to your device(s) of choice. I downloaded it to my computer because I think that’s the easiest device to use, but it’s also available for Apple & Android tablets and phones.

Once you’ve got the app downloaded, you’ll create an account login and get your kids set up.

For each child, you can provide relevant information about their needs and learning (this includes current grade level, but also accommodations they might need, such as extra time, if they are dyslexic, etc.).

Then you’ll just have your child take a quick assessment. This is not long or overwhelming, but it allows the teachers at Komodo to get a snapshot of their current understanding, speed and fluency.

After that, you’ll need to wait while a teacher sets up a customized learning plan for your child. I heard back in about 15 hours, but that was because it was on the weekend. Typical turn around time is 2-3 hours. If you don’t hear anything in 24 hours, just reach out to them and they will help you out!

Once your child’s account is ready, they simply login and start their math practice!

Altogether, the app download and account set up took me less than 30 minutes. Then the next day we had our customized plan and my 5th grader has been working through the lessons since then!

Komodo Math Pricing Options:

No matter which plan you choose, you will start with a 2-week free trial.

Then you can choose between a monthly option and an annual option. The monthly plan (for one subject and one child) is the most flexible and is $14.99/month.

But you can also add language arts to your child’s plan for $21.99/month.

Adding additional learners is easy and can be done at time of sign up, or later once you decide to stick with the program. Additional learners can be added at a 50% savings.

If you’re concerned about saving money, annual plan options will save you 25%, offering the best value.

Ready to get started? Learn more and start your Komodo Math trial HERE!

The post Komodo Math Review & Tips for Getting Started appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

*Please Note: This post is sponsored by Betsy Mays, math teacher and creator of Games by Absolute Zero. I received a copy of the game and was compensated for my time in writing the review. I was not, however, required to give a favorable review. Read our full disclosure here.*

What is a Ten Frame?

Before I discuss the value of ten frames and a new favorite math game we’ve been playing at our house, I want to explain what a ten frame is.

A ten frame is a rectangular box divided into ten empty boxes. It is usually set up as 5 boxes over 5 boxes, although sometimes you may see a long horizontal ten frame, with 10 boxes in a single row.

In other words, it is simply a grid that allows kids to represent quantities within 10.

The organized structure of the frame, however, is what provides the real value and why this visual model is so helpful for our brains to make sense of numbers.

The Importance of Ten Frames:

Our brains learn and make sense of mathematical ideas using five different neural pathways in our brain. As we work on math problems these five pathways ‘light up’ with activity.

What recent research has shown us is that two of these pathways are visual pathways.

This means our brain is using the visual processing parts of the brain when we do math, whether we realize it or not!

Therefore, ten frames can be used to help us visualize numbers and their relationship to the number ten.

This is an essential skill for developing number sense and fluency with numbers.

This is also important for developing mental math skills and understanding place value in our base ten system.

Ten frames are also valuable because they help young kids learn to subitize, meaning they can recognize a quantity without counting.

The more kids play with ten frames, the more they will begin to recognize 3 as 3, without counting 1,2,3. Or recognize 5 without counting 1,2,3,4,5.

Then, an amazing thing begins to happen. Kids will then start to recognize 7 as 5 and 2. Or see 7 on the ten frame and know instantly that 7 and 3 makes ten.

There is SO much amazing math development that goes on when kids play with and utilize ten frames.

Using Ten Frames to Make Ten:

So, as I mentioned above, ten frames also provide a wonderful visual for kids to see (sometimes by counting, sometimes without having to count) different ways to decompose the number ten.

This is, again, an incredibly important and foundational skill, and one that is strengthened by playing with ten frames.

‘Ten Fish’: A Ten Frames Game to Make Ten

That’s why I’m so excited to share a new game with you called, ‘Ten Fish.’ It was created by a math teacher, who understands the importance of ten frames and how they can help develop early math skills.

Ten Fish is a card game similar to the classic game, ‘Go Fish,’ but instead of looking for matching pairs, you look for ‘ten fish’ (in other words, sets of ten).

Because the game is so simple to set up and play, it’s a really fun and easy game to play together as a family or incorporate into your classroom. No long directions or set up required: all you need is the deck of cards!

Watch this quick video for an overview of the basic game directions:

One of the reasons that I love this game is that it is a low-floor, high ceiling math game.

Low floor means that it is very easy to pick up and play, even for the youngest learners. The reason is that each card includes a numeral, and also a ten frame representing that quantity.

So my youngest (kindergarten) is able to find ways to ‘make ten’ using the ten frame to count the other ‘part’ of the ten:

She absolutely loves it, and is already strengthening her understanding of addition and beginning to recognize some of the pairs that equal ten without counting.

However, this game can also be more challenging for older kids, because you can combine any of your cards to make ten.

For instance, my second grader is able to decompose numbers further to equal ten, such as 4 + 4 + 2 and 5 + 3 + 2:

Understanding Subtraction with ‘Ten Fish’:

Another simple game variation you can play with these cards is ‘What’s the Difference?’

To set this up, the entire deck is dealt between two players. Players then flip over two cards simultaneously and find the difference between their two numbers.

Using the ten fish cards, they can use the ten frame visual to help them.

You can also (and I recommend this) place a number line or number path in the center of the game to help kids understand subtraction as the difference between two numbers rather than simply ‘take away.’

Then the player with the biggest different wins all 4 cards for that round.

The player with the most cards after all has been played wins!

Challenging Older Kids with ‘Ten Fish’:

And if you have even older kids, I think a really fun challenge would be to ask them, “How many ways can you make ten with the given deck of cards?”

The cards include a ‘contents’ list, so using this list, and some criteria such as, “How many pairs will make ten?” or “How many groups of 3 cards will make ten?” see who can figure out the total number of sets that are possible.

Or you can open it up and give them no criteria at all, but see who can figure out the largest number of sets you could create with the given deck of cards.

You could also challenge kids to find sets of some other number, like 15, and play the original game.

I like to use ten frames to teach the teen numbers, so this game could be played that way to work on teen numbers as well.

I am sure we’ll be enjoying this game and the many, many variations for quite some time.

Grab a Copy (or Two!) of the Game ‘Ten Fish’:

Are you interested in grabbing a deck or two of this game for your home or classroom?

See all the games available on their Amazon storefront here.

This would also make an excellent end of the year teacher gift for your child’s teacher!

I hope you and your kids have fun playing ‘Ten Fish’ and deepening your understanding of addition!

The post ‘Ten Fish’: An Addictive Make Ten Math Game for Kids appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

*Please Note: This post contains affiliate links which help support the work of this site. Read our full disclosure here.*

How to Teach Multiplication Facts

Learning all those facts may seem overwhelming and daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are some simple tips to help you feel confident and more than that, give your kids confidence.

1. Begin with a Conceptual Understanding

First of all, please do not begin a study of multiplication by jumping into memorization. Yes, you can get your kids to that point, where they are confident and fluent with their facts, but you need to dig a little deeper first.

Begin by giving them a conceptual understanding.

What does that mean? It means they can visualize and understand what 4×5 means and represents, not just that the solution is 20.

I begin by helping make the connection between repeated addition and multiplication. Then I move on to equal groups.

In other words, 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 is equal to 5 x 4 = 5 groups of 4.

Practice with equal groups using the book, 2×2=Boo!

An array is simply a visual model of this fact, as 20 objects are arranged into equal rows and columns.

Find fun ways to practice with arrays here.

These early introductions should be happening as early as first grade and really explored in depth in 2nd grade.

Then ideally, when kids enter third grade, they already understand what they question is asking when it involves multiplication.

My Introduction to Multiplication Collection is designed to build a conceptual understanding and foundation so that kids can then begin working towards memorization.

The whole bundle includes skip counting, hands on lessons PLUS simple, low-prep games to practice and build fluency.

>>>Learn more about Intro to Multiplication HERE!<<<

You can also use LEGO bricks to model multiplication and deepen understanding.

Learn how to teach multiplication & division with LEGO here.

2. Don’t Learn the Multiplication Facts in Order

Once your kids have a solid understanding (and hopefully already see the relationship to division), you can begin working on learning all the facts.

While it may be tempting to plow through all the facts from 1 to 10 one at a time, drilling with flash cards, that’s going to make the process more difficult.

Why? Well, because certain facts are related to each other and can build on one another in a logical way that will help your kids not just memorize, but understand.

And when kids actually understand what they’re doing, fluency and retention will be greater.

3. Teach Logical Strategies Based on Concrete Understanding

Finally, as you’re introducing multiplication facts, don’t simply recite a group of facts over and over. Teach strategies based on other facts kids already know.

This will not only help them to learn and retain them, but will deepen their understanding of numbers and operations.

For example, a tricky fact to remember is 6×8. But if kids understand that multiplication represents equal groups, they will know this means 6 groups of 8.

Using this knowledge, they can start with an easier problem, 5×8, and then add another 8 to it.

In other words, if I know that 5 groups of 8 is 40, then 6 groups of 8 is one more 8, or 48.

There are lots of other meaningful strategies that will develop kids’ number sense rather than teach them silly tricks or rote memorization without meaning.

Tackling the Multiplication Facts in a Systematic Way

So after you start with concrete, conceptual exploration and your kids are ready to really master those facts, what comes next?

This is where the new book from Kate Snow comes in.

Sure, you could take these tips and come up with your own plan for teaching all the facts, and researching different strategies, but Kate has already done all the work for you!

Kate is the author of Multiplication Facts That Stick, a simple system for taking kids through the facts one list at a time to build confidence and truly master them.

In this 10 week plan, every lesson is mapped out so you know which facts to teach when and how to teach them.

And although she starts with the 1’s and 2’s, the facts are not learned in order.

She takes kids through all the facts in a logical order, teaching and learning them with lots of visuals and meaningful strategies so that kids finish with confidence.

For you as the parent or teacher, each lesson and all the materials you need (other than dice and playing cards) is completely planned out for you.

Each week of the plan focuses on specific facts, with teacher scripted lessons, and simple, easy to play games to reinforce what they’re learning.

I plan to use this with my daughter this year as she starts 4th grade. Although she’s spent lots of time learning and exploring multiplication, I want to be sure she is fluent and confident.

Practice and Review Multiplication Facts with Fact Fluency: Mastering Multiplication App on iTunes:

Who is Multiplication Facts That Stick For? 

As Kate mentions in the book, it is for:

children who have already studied multiplication in a math program, but have not yet memorized the multiplication facts. It is not meant to be your child’s first exposure to multiplication.”

So this is perfect for kids in 3rd or 4th grade who are already familiar with the concept, but are ready to really retain them and know them automatically.

By going through this system, with daily recitation, visual models, simple games and lots of review, your kids are sure to master the multiplication facts once and for all.

Grab a copy of Multiplication Facts That Stick here!

What About Division?

You may also be thinking, but what about division? It’s so much harder than multiplication! How do I help my kids tackle that!?

Well, first of all, multiplication and division are inverse operations. This means they are intricately related to each other, and so if your kids fully master their multiplication facts, they will be able to master division as well.

It’s not really so much harder, like so many believe. (At least not when you’re talking about single digit facts within 100).

But to help you teach division in a logical way (and reinforce those multiplication facts as well), you can include Division Facts That Stick into your lesson plans.

This is similar to the multiplication system, as each week is planned for you and teaches kids with visuals, games and practice.

Learn more about Division Facts That Stick here.

Good luck!!

The post How to Teach Multiplication Facts That Stick {From Understanding to Fluency} appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

*Please Note: This post was sponsored by Study.com as a way to spread the word about their services. All opinions, however, are entirely my own, and shared after extensive use of the site myself. Read our full disclosure policy here.*

Study.com Review: What is Study.com?

Study.com is a site full of more than 22,000 video lessons to explore all sorts of concepts for K-12 and beyond (not just math).

There are also other, written lessons that you can print out to use as supplements to various lessons in your curriculum.

In addition, there are more than 4,000 complete online courses, including those that are available for high school or even college credit.

While I don’t have the time or space to explore every single aspect of this vast site here, I do want to focus on how Study.com can help you to be a better, more confident math teacher.

One thing I want to note before diving into the review is that there aren’t many video lessons available for grades K-2 math.

There are printable lessons available though, so you could still use it as a resource for planning out your lessons and ideas.

If you teach upper grades though, I think this is an especially useful resource.

Benefits of Study.com for Classroom Teachers:

There are so many different ways you can use Study.com if you are a classroom teacher. Here are some of the greatest benefits that I have found.

1. The fun, engaging videos make great introductions to new concepts

First of all, you can use the video lessons to introduce a new concept. The videos are fairly short, focusing on a single topic, making it an easy way to introduce something.

Likewise, these videos are the perfect way to review or reinforce math concepts. This is especially helpful for kids who are struggling and may need some extra reinforcement at home.

2. Find new approaches or examples to math concepts

Another great benefit that I have found is that there are so many lessons available, you can likely find a new approach or real world example to help bring math alive.

Though not all the lessons are video lessons, you can easily print out a lesson and use it as a script to help you teach and discuss a concept with your students.

While I would not encourage you to give these printed lessons directly to your students (especially grades 2 and younger), you could certainly use it as the backbone of your lesson or class discussion.

This is especially true if you’re struggling to find a real world example of a math topic. It’s always important to explore math through real world problem solving, and a quick search of the relevant lessons on Study.com can help you find examples.

3. Set up online “classrooms” to assign student specific lessons

Another amazing benefit is the option to create an online “classroom.” This is your online space for students to come to to see their assignments and complete them.

Setting up the class is easy, and you can then add any lesson from Study.com as an assignment for each class.

What’s especially great about this, is that you can assign a video lesson to your entire class (say you want them to review at home what you learned in class) OR you can assign lessons to individuals.

This makes differentiating and supporting all students easy!

If you have kids with significant gaps in their learning, simply find helpful video lessons within Study.com and add them as assignments for that student.

Then they can complete the lesson (and quiz) on their own time and you can monitor their progress.

See all the additional ways Study.com can help classroom teachers here.

Benefits of Study.com for Homeschool Families:

There are also unique advantages to using Study.com if you are a homeschool family. Although the above benefits are certainly still true for you, here are some additional benefits.

1. Extra support and supplements for your curriculum

No math curriculum is going to be a perfect, one size fits all option for your family. But with Study.com, you can easily find video lessons that cover concepts that are lacking in your current curriculum.

Or you can simply provide additional ways for your kids to see and explore a concept beyond what they’re learning from their textbook.

2. A fun change of pace from paper and pencil

While I absolutely believe that math should be learned with hands on manipulatives and paper and pencil practice, it’s always nice to change things up.

Weaving in additional video lessons as introductions, review or enrichment can give your kids a break from the regular math routine and maybe give them an understanding that they didn’t have before as they see a concept taught a new way.

Plus, the videos (at least the ones I have viewed–admittedly, I have not seen every math video on the site!) are engaging and approach math concepts in fun, relatable ways.

3. Entire math courses are available for high school credit

If the thought of teaching high school math scares you, check out Study.com! There are complete courses available for all high school math options.

Plus, each lesson includes a quiz, and each chapter includes an exam, so you can easily track their progress.

In addition, there are “homework help” courses, so if your child is completing a high school geometry class and is still confused, simply find additional geometry videos to continue learning and practicing.

4. Summer help to prevent the summer slide

Another option is to use Study.com as a summer resource or review for your kids. So while you might be taking a break from formal lessons or your traditional curriculum, you don’t want your kids to stop learning.

Study.com is a great option to keep kids learning and practicing during the summer. Especially if you have kids who are behind or struggling with math. This is likely cheaper than a private tutor!

5. Give kids a jump start on college with college credit courses

If you have a high school or college age student, you can even let them complete certain courses for college credit. This could save time and money if your kids have several courses done when they get to college!

Similar to AP courses or dual enrollment, kids can complete online courses at Study.com for a fraction of the cost of community college.

These credits will then transfer to over 2000 colleges and universities in the United States.

Learn more about earning college credit here.

Benefits of Study.com for Prospective Teachers:

Finally, I want to briefly share how Study.com can help you if you are in school to become a math teacher! Yes, they even have video courses for that!

All of us who have taught in the classroom know there are lots of hurdles to earning that degree and teaching certificate.

One of those is passing standardized tests such as the Praxis. Many states also have additional testing requirements.

The frustration for many is that without a passing grade, you have to continue to take the tests over and over, which costs a small fortune.

Taking the time to complete the study guide courses on Study.com may be the help you need to pass these certification tests the first time!

Learn more about preparing for the Praxis here.

Sign Up Options for Study.com:

While there are tons of benefits to using Study.com as a resource in your home or math classroom, it’s not cheap. So you will certainly have to consider how you want to use it and then see how it compares to other options.

Whether you are a classroom teacher or a homeschool family, you will probably prefer the “teacher” plan. This allows you to create unlimited online classrooms, which means you can assign videos or courses to multiple students.

The teacher plan is $59.99 per month. Though that seems like a lot, if you homeschool multiple kids and they are each completing multiple courses through Study.com, this is much more reasonable.

Learn more about the teacher plan here.

And although this is a little pricey, you can cancel anytime. So if there is a particular course or concept you want help with or you want your kids to work on, you can pay for the months it takes to complete the course and then cancel until you need it again.

In addition, there are options for schools, allowing multiple teachers to get access at a group rate. If this is a resource you’re interested in, I would definitely talk to your school about getting a group rate.

And if you just need extra support and supplements for your child, you can always sign up for the basic monthly plan which is $39.99 per month. These lessons don’t include quizzes and assessments, but still give you access to all the lessons.

See the individual pricing plans here.

Have you used Study.com before? Have a question still?

Want to hear what others have to say? See more testimonials here.

More Study.com Resources:

Finally, Study.com has put together some resources to help you as you prepare STEM lessons and resources for your students. I hope you find these useful!

>>Comprehensive STEM Education Guide for Teachers

>>List of the top 30 High School STEM Programs

The post How to Be a More Equipped Math Teacher with Study.com {Review} appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

*Please Note: This post contains affiliate links which help support the work of this site. Read our full disclosure here.*

Overview of Singapore Math:

Before I really dive into the review and what I love about Singapore Math, I want to share a quick overview of how it came to be.

The Singapore Math philosophy of teaching was developed in the 1980s because the country’s international test scores were among the lowest in the world. Wanting to make improvements, the Singapore government researched and made changes to how things were done in their educational system, specifically in math.

Their framework for math education includes more than just basic facts. It encompasses attitudes toward math, meta cognition (monitoring one’s own learning) and processes just as much as skills and concepts.

Related: What is Singapore Math?

There’s also a focus on beginning with concrete learning (hands on models) then moving to pictorial models and then moving to abstract representations.

This is one of the things that I love about using a Singapore Math approach: the focus is on truly understanding a concept in a variety of ways and allowing kids the space and freedom to explore and discover their own ideas and strategies.

I also love that there is a strong emphasis on mental math strategies, with lots of visuals to help kids develop these skills.

The use of visuals and mental math has really strengthened my kids’ number sense and helped to build a solid foundation.

Finally, I appreciate the spiral nature of the curriculum. By this, I do not mean “spiral” in the way that other curricula are spiral.

For example, some options, such as ShillerMath and Saxon Math, have one or two lessons on a concept and then the next lesson is completely unrelated. But throughout the year, all concepts are seen again as you “spiral” through the lessons.

Singapore Math, on the other hand, spends plenty of time on a concept, giving kids opportunities to play with manipulatives and deepen their understanding before moving on.

But kids learn the concept again later (with slightly more challenging problems or larger numbers).

So for example, when learning basic strategies for addition and subtraction, the focus is first on numbers within 20. But then later, you come back to it and rethink about these strategies within 40. Then again with numbers up to 100, and so on.

I think this is a fantastic way to approach it, because it allows kids to feel confident before moving on, but not spend so much time on it that they’re bored.

And I don’t ever stress about moving to the next unit if my kids still seem a little shaky, because I know we’ll come back to it again.

Benefits of Singapore Math:

So as a homeschooling family, I believe there are a lot of benefits to this curriculum besides the method of instruction.

First, it is one of the most reasonably priced options. Each year, you will need 2 textbooks and 2 workbooks for your child. Purchasing new, these books are about $15 each. But I have often been able to find at least some of them at local homeschool sales.

And since there’s no need to write in the textbooks, those don’t need to be repurchased year after year.

One side note, though, if you’re new to Singapore Math or don’t feel confident in your own math abilities.

There are Home Instructor Guides available that walk you through how to teach each lesson and what workbook exercises to assign. So this would be an additional cost, if you choose to use the teaching guides.

Another benefit is that it’s easy to use, as the lessons are fairly short and (for the most part) the corresponding assignments are an appropriate length.

Each topic begins with a mini lesson, which you’ll walk through with your kids using hands on manipulatives such as base ten blocks or by drawing pictures and models.

Then kids complete the independent work in their workbook.

The textbook tells you when to stop and do some practice in the workbook (see the picture above).

I usually assign one exercise per day. This is usually 2-3 pages, with lots of pictures and white space for kids to write out their thinking.

Occasionally, I assign smaller amounts if it’s a difficult concept or my kids are just having a difficult day (ultimately, we know them best, right?).

But for the most part, I’ve found the assignments to be just enough practice.

Drawbacks of Singapore Math Curriculum:

Although I do love these books and find them easy to use, there are some drawbacks if you’re considering this for your homeschool.

First, the textbooks are not “teachers” like traditional math textbooks. I see the textbooks as more of an invitation to ask questions and explore than books to read and memorize (like most math textbooks).

This could be a problem for you if you are new to the methods and strategies used in Singapore Math and aren’t really sure what you’re supposed to be teaching.

But again, if this is you, simply purchase the corresponding Home Instructor Guide to help you teach the lesson (textbook 3A guide shown below).

And while I generally agree with the scope and sequence, there are a few areas where I divert from the text.

First, I teach telling time using the approach in Math-U-See rather than Singapore. The Singapore Math textbooks begin as most traditional books: time to the hour and half hour first, then later time to the quarter hour, and then finally time to the nearest five minutes.

I prefer to teach to the nearest 5 minutes after working on skip counting by 5’s.

Then we just spend lots of time reviewing time throughout the year.

I also prefer to focus on number sense, place value and mental math in grades K-3, which is generally what Singapore Math does.

But in the 3rd grade books, the traditional algorithm is taught for multi-digit multiplication as well as long division.

I feel like this is early, and not yet necessary, so we’ve stuck to other strategies (using place value and mental math).

This is not to say that I won’t teach the traditional algorithms. I just think there’s plenty of time for that in 4th and 5th grade.

Finally, while I think this is generally a good paced option, some find it to be more rigorous than other curricula and too challenging for their kids.

To that, I would say you simply need to slow down and move at a pace that fits your child’s needs.

We have yet to complete a textbook set within a single school year. There’s nothing wrong with that!

As I mentioned before, due to the spiral review and overlap of concepts from year to year, it’s ok if you don’t get through it all in one year. Especially if you’ve switched from something else to Singapore Math.

If you’re switching, I would also suggest starting one book behind where you think your kids should be. For example, if you’re starting in 3rd grade, begin with book 2B (the second book of 2nd grade).

This will give your child a chance to be familiar with the teachings and style of the book and get caught up if there are any gaps from the previous curriculum.

Getting Started with Singapore Math:

Learn more about how to get started with Singapore Math here.

Here you can also find placement tests, which is especially helpful if you’re transitioning older kids to Singapore.

You can also learn about assessments and supplemental materials that are available here.

There are extra practice workbooks (which I don’t recommend) as well as challenging word problem sets (which I do recommend).

If your child needs extra practice with a particular skill, I would encourage you to find a fun and simple game to review and practice rather than more worksheets. If your child is struggling, more long and tedious worksheets are likely going to discourage them further.

You can also just tackle it again at a later time, when your child might be more ready.

Still unsure or have a question? Do you use and love Singapore Math? Or do you dislike it? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post Singapore Math: An Overview For Homeschool Families appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

But spelling is a different story. I have no idea how to teach spelling. I mean, sure, I could come up with a list of words for my kids to memorize each week, but is that really the best and most effective way to teach spelling? Are my kids really going to understand and internalize what they’re learning? And where do I even start?

Then I found All About Spelling. This has been an amazing addition to our homeschool curriculum, because I know that I’m teaching spelling in a way that makes sense to my kids and keeps it fun. And best of all, it requires no prep on my part-each lesson is scripted for me, including reviews, new concepts, word lists and tips throughout.

If you are as overwhelmed at the thought of teaching math as I was at the thought of teaching spelling, you should definitely look into ShillerMath.

*Please Note: This post was sponsored by ShillerMath and I was compensated for my time in testing the product and writing the review. All opinions, however, are completely my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. Read our full disclosure here. *

ShillerMath provides a level of support for you as the parent that I have not seen with any other curriculum. And yet, the teaching and learning is still in the hands of you and your child (as opposed an online curriculum).

In today’s ShillerMath Review, I’m excited to share my opinions of this curriculum, as well as give you an inside look at what’s included in Kit I.

What is ShillerMath?

ShillerMath was created by the owner and founder, Larry Shiller. His aim is to help you provide a solid math foundation for your kids using research based methods.

The curriculum itself is heavily based on Montessori teaching ideas and techniques (from the work of Maria Montessori), and Kit 1 includes manipulatives you would see in a Montessori classroom.

For an inside peek at what you get in Kit 1, watch the “unboxing” video:

The ShillerMath curriculum books are work-texts, meaning you use them to teach the lesson, and your child also writes answers to practice problems in the lesson itself (rather than having a separate teacher book and student book).

The only exception is the answer key. This is a separate book.

Benefits of ShillerMath Homeschool Curriculum:

There are a lot of great advantages to this curriculum.

First of all, there is a tremendous amount of support for you, the parent.

There is a parent handbook included in the kit which walks you through not only how to use the curriculum, but also possible outcomes you may see in a particular lesson, how to handle confusion or struggle, plus possible phrases to use in a variety of situations.

For example, if your child is acting bored or restless you might trying saying, “I see that you are tired or restless. You may put back your activity and stop or you may try to finish this activity. Which would you prefer?”

This handbook also explains the three part lesson (also based on the work of Maria Montessori) so you know what to expect when you see this in the lesson book.

In addition, there is a ton of online support. On their website you will find math art projects, articles to help you teach math, links to other sites and math helps, etc.

Second, the lesson book is open and go, including scripted lessons. Every material you need is included in the kit, and the lesson book walks you through each lesson. So you don’t need to worry about how to explain something; you simply follow the script.

Of course, you don’t have to follow it word for word, but it’s there if you need it (especially as you get familiar with the curriculum).

Third, and most importantly, I appreciate the methods of math instruction that this curriculum uses.

Every concept is taught with concrete, visual models and explored multiple ways over time. The focus is on understanding the concepts and developing number sense, rather than rote memorization of facts.

In addition, they are intentional about engaging multiple senses to enhance learning. As I mentioned, there are lots of hands on manipulatives, visual models such as number lines and hundreds charts, plus a CD of math songs to help kids learn important concepts.

This is another feature that I have not seen included in other math curricula, but one that my kids have thoroughly enjoyed.

Though my oldest is a little beyond the Kit 1 math concepts, she has still learned and benefited from the math songs as we’ve started to include them in our morning time.

What is Different About ShillerMath:

I also appreciate the mix of open ended challenges and puzzles. Most math curricula include the basics and fundamentals, but do not usually include a mix of challenges and brain teaser puzzles, as ShillerMath does.

Here’s an example of a geometry challenge using the shape blocks:

And here’s a fun number puzzle example:

One more thing that is different about ShillerMath is that there are many concepts taught at an earlier age than you will see in most curricula, and topics included that are often not included at all in other curricula.

In my opinion, this is a wonderful advantage.

Because this curriculum is based on Montessori principles, using Montessori methods, kids are introduced to concepts in a way that is developmentally appropriate, and they are able to be successful.

I’ve spent a lot of time recently learning from a friend and certified Montessori instructor, and she has shared her classroom experiences with me (as well as the members inside our Math Geek Mama community).

The thing she has shared time and time again is that her kids (in 1-3 grade) were doing math far beyond their peers at more traditional schools because of the way it was introduced.

What I Don’t Like About ShillerMath:

One thing that I, personally, don’t love about this curriculum is the spiral nature of the lessons.

This means that each lesson introduces a new concept, and throughout the course you spiral back to each concept multiple times, in multiple ways.

Occasionally, there will be 2 or 3 lessons in a row on the same topic, but more often than not, each new lesson jumps to something new.

I understand their reasoning for this teaching methodology; I just personally don’t like it. It feels disjointed, and I have a hard time following the flow of the lessons.

But for many people, the spiral approach works, and does not cause confusion or frustration. And because the objective of each lesson is clearly stated at the top, as long as you feel like your child has mastered that objective, there’s no reason to continue on the same topic the next day.

Obviously, there are some lessons that you will want to circle and come back to multiple times to give your child plenty of practice with a particular idea or skill. (They state this in their parent guide as well).

There’s also nothing keeping you from teaching the lessons out of order if you don’t like the spiral approach. It would take some time to go through and re-organize the lessons, but you certainly could if you wanted.

The Cost of ShillerMath:

Another (potential) downside to ShillerMath is the cost. Kit 1 costs $349.95, which is a pretty hefty price tag for a homeschool mom on a budget.

You have to consider, however, what is included in this kit and how it will serve you over time. If you are starting with your child in Preschool or Kindergarten, this covers 3-4 years of their math curriculum. So when you divide the cost over 3 or 4 years, it’s not so steep.

On top of that, you can use this kit with your entire family, so if you have multiple kids, you’re still only making this purchase one time.

If, however, your child is older and you’re not sure where they would need to start, or you know you will only be using Kit 1 for one year (3rd grade), it’s a pretty big investment.

There is a downloadable option, however, which includes all the lesson books, tests, answer keys, songs, reviews, and some downloadable manipulatives for only $99.95. This might be a good option if you are switching an older child and just need to fill in some gaps before moving to Kit 2.

You can also purchase resources individually if you know you don’t need everything included in Kit 1.

How to Get Started with ShillerMath:

As I’ve mentioned, ShillerMath includes unparalleled parent support. So if you’re unsure of which lesson your child needs to start with, you can test them using the tests in the lesson books and then build a customized lesson plan based on what questions your child missed.

The answer key to the test tells you exactly which lesson corresponds to each problem, so you can easily start there, review that concept or fill in holes.

See a complete explanation of their diagnostic testing here.

Once you’ve tested your child and know where they need to start (or what holes you need to fill) you can determine which Kit or books and materials you need to purchase.

You can also download sample lessons on their site if you want a look at the lesson books before purchasing.

What are your thoughts?

I hope you found my complete ShillerMath review helpful. You can also watch the quick, summary review video below if this was too much to read or you prefer video.

And be sure to share your thoughts or opinions with other parents in the comments! Have you tried or considered ShillerMath? How did your child respond to it?

The post ShillerMath Review {Kit 1} appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

*Please Note: This post is sponsored by Zap Zap Math and I was compensated for my time in writing this review. All opinions, however, are 100% my own and I was not required to write a positive review.*

New Kindergarten Math App for Kids

Zap Zap Math Kindergarten is a fun and entertaining math app that my kids have been begging to play lately.

We recently went on vacation to see our family and head to the beach. It’s not a terribly long drive (about 6 hours) but with 4 kids, it can seem a lot longer!

I decided to let them test out the Zap Zap Math app (available on iTunes and Google Play), and they’re hooked! The games cover important Kindergarten math concepts, but in ways that are fun and motivating for my kids. Plus, it helped to pass the time!

Some of the games are a bit addicting and there were times during our vacation where I had to take the phone away and send them outside!

About Zap Zap Math Kindergarten

To begin the game, an adult must help set up the account for your child. Then that child can begin to play. The game tracks their level, how many questions they’ve gotten right or wrong, etc.

Kids then travel through outer space, working their way through the various games and math problems at each planet.

There are 3 planets, covering numbers, shapes and measurement, and addition and subtraction.

Each math game is like a level, and kids must start at the beginning and work their way through each game to make it to the end. In other words, all the games are locked until you complete the previous level. Then the next game is unlocked, etc.

At first, I thought this was a disappointing feature (not being able to jump around to whatever game or topic you’d like).

My kids, however, being used to Super Mario Brothers, were completely okay with this and saw it as a challenge.

By the time kids have worked through all three planets, they will have covered all the math skills addressed in the Common Core State Standards.

Even if you don’t use the CCSS, this still covers the basic content of most Kindergarten curricula, making it a fun and easy way to prepare kids to start Kindergarten math, or a fantastic review before heading into first grade.

I’ve found it to be especially helpful for my daughter, because there are some concepts that I didn’t spend as much time on in Kindergarten (since we homeschool) but this game has helped her to review.

One topic that was especially helpful for her was the focus on reading number words (to 20). Practicing reading the word and matching it to the correct numeral was something we didn’t spend as much time on this past school year, so this was a great review.

How to Incorporate this Math App into Your Routine

Though I usually sit and observe or discuss the games and problems with my daughter while she plays, this can definitely be an independent activity.

If you homeschool, this would be a great way for kids to continue working on learning and reviewing math skills while you’re helping other kids.

Or as a quiet activity if you have younger ones napping.

If you’re a classroom teacher with tablets, this would work well as a reward for well behaved or especially helpful students.

Or as an engaging activity for early finishers.

And though kids can definitely play independently, I would suggest (as with all online or app based math resources) working with your child on occasion.

Take time to go through some of the games together so you can ask questions to discern their level of understanding. Sometimes, kids figure out tricks or simply guess when they’re playing an online game, so it’s important to dig a little deeper to assess their understanding.

Questions to ask as you play:

• Can you explain what the question is asking in your own words?
• How did you know that was the answer?
• Can you make up a story to go along with that problem? (For example, if it’s an addition problem, they might say, “4 aliens were blue, and 3 were green. So there were 7 aliens altogether.”)

What I Like About this App

One of the great things about this app is that it covers all the Kindergarten math standards. There are lots of fun math apps out there that cover specific topics, but this includes so much.

I also like that concepts are covered multiple times, in increasing difficulty. So even though your child may complete a level and move on, that same concept will be included again in a later game.

Another thing I like is how visual many of the concepts are. This is incredibly helpful for kids, as it is essential to teach and explore math in visual ways and with visual representations.

For example, when comparing numbers, there are pictures to represent each quantity so that kids can more easily see and determine greater than, less than or equal to.

Some Cons of the Zap Zap Math App

One feature that’s not my favorite is the timer. As kids progress though the levels and the questions get more challenging, a timer begins to show up. This is to encourage kids to answer the question before time runs out.

The reason I don’t like this is that I don’t believe we ought to measure students’ success on how fast they are, and I don’t think we ought to value speed. I prefer to value deep understanding and exploration.

That being said, nothing actually happens if they miss the time, it simply starts over. So there are no negative effects from the timer, and no indication to students that they’ve failed because they didn’t answer before the buzzer.

The other thing I don’t like (which is going to be the case with virtually any math app) is that it is performance based. In other words, each problem is either right or wrong, with no open ended exploration.

But again, it is a very fun and engaging app, and covers all Kindergarten standards, so to remedy this, I would simply use open ended exploration along with the app.

There’s never going to be an app, game or curriculum that covers everything a child needs to be a successful mathematician, so it’s always helpful to find great supplements and put them together to give kids a well rounded math education.

This includes online or app based games, hands on manipulatives, open ended challenges, paper and pencil problems, etc.

So if you’re looking for a Kindergarten math app to add to your tool belt, this is a great place to start!

Want to Learn More?

Zap Zap Math is available for $2.99 on the iTunes app store.

It’s also available on Google Play.

You can also learn more about the game here!

Have you tried this with your Kindergartner? What do they think? Share in the comments to let us know your experience!

Looking for a math app for older kids?

Practice and Review Multiplication Facts with Fact Fluency: Mastering Multiplication App on iTunes:

The post Fun and Engaging Kindergarten Math App {CCSS Aligned} appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

*Please Note: This post is sponsored by Bitsbox, meaning I was compensated for my time. All thoughts and opinions, however, are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. Read our full disclosure policy here.*

Bitsbox: App Coding for Beginners

If you’re looking for a fun way to teach (and learn) programming with your kids, you will love Bitsbox.

Bitsbox is a website and subscription service that teaches kids bits of javascript (a computer programming language) so kids can code their own apps.

You can read my initial review of the product here to learn more details of how it works.

My daughter (8 years old) has been using Bitsbox for a few months now. She’s now in her second box, which introduces some new skills and builds on the coding fundamentals that she learned with the first box.

Whereas the focus on the first box was learning how to place objects on the screen and understanding coordinates, she has now begun to learn how to make those objects move.

So far I have enjoyed the way the challenges begin very simply, and provide lots of practice with specific skills.

But they’re so fun and engaging, my daughter really doesn’t seem to realize that she’s practicing certain coding skills again and again in different ways.

What’s New in Box #2:

As I mentioned, our second Bitsbox includes challenges that introduce a new skill: making objects on the screen move.

There are several “tips and tricks” cards included with specific instructions to learn this new function. This is especially helpful for parents to learn alongside their kids.

While my daughter is to the point where she’s able to code apps on her own using the Bitsbox challenge cards, as the tasks get more complicated, I’m having to be a little more involved.

If this intimidates you, please know that there are lots of helpful resources for parents on their site, and the “tips and tricks” cards offer thorough explanations so you can understand and better help your child.

After reading and learning the new concepts with your child, they can then code the different apps to practice this new skill.

My daughter also recently began trying to code apps from scratch.

This means, the challenge is given (what you want the app to do) and she has to code the entire thing herself without copying theirs.

This is where she is starting to need my help.

The great thing about these challenges, however, is that hints are given, and other examples are available to look at to give you a starting point.

For example, in box 2, there’s an app to code which allows you to draw with a robot as you drag it around the screen (and all the lines of code are given, you just copy them).

Using that as an example, my daughter and I worked together to code an app (from scratch) where she draws as a robot when she drags her finger on the screen.

Learning Programming by Experimenting:

One of the best ways that she has been able to learn what bits of code do is to experiment.

This simply means typing up the code for an app, then changing some of the numbers to see what happens.

Especially now that she’s trying apps with a ‘move’ command, it’s often helpful to change out things in the code to see what changes with the app.

For example, if you make one number bigger, does it change the size of the stamp or the speed that they move?

This helps her learn what each bit of code does for when she’s ready to try and code another app from scratch.

Some Tips for Learning Coding with Bitsbox:

Now that we’ve got a couple of boxes worth of cards and challenges, I want to share some tips for making the most of this unique learning experience.

First, when you receive your binder for your challenge cards, keep the cards in order (at least until your child is comfortable with the coding they’ve learned so far).

Because the challenges build on each other, it’s helpful to have them in order so if it’s been a while since your child has practiced, they can go back to the simpler apps and review what they know.

You may also want to keep all the “tips and tricks” cards together at the front or back of the binder for easier reference.

Second, if your child is serious about learning computer programming, set a goal of practicing 15-20 minutes a day.

Experimenting with the apps for an hour one day and then not looking at it again for a week or more is not going to help them form connections and retain what they’re learning.

Shorter, consistent practice will be better in the long run. I’ve started adding Bitsbox to my daughter’s daily school assignments page just as a way to remind her. (But please know that she doesn’t see Bitsbox as a school or homework assignment, she sees it as a fun game to play with).

This will help them understand the basic fundamentals of programming and get them ready for greater challenges.

Want to try Bitsbox for yourself or at your school? There are tons of options available for families as well as classroom teachers!

You can sign up for a monthly subscription (which is what we have) and you can even save 20%!

Use my unique code: MATHGEEK20 to save 20% on your first month’s subscription.

Or check out their shop here to make a one time purchase (this would be a great way to test it out and see if your child has an interest in it).

You can also stay in touch with them and learn about special offers by signing up for their emails:

• If you’re a parent, click here to sign up
• If you’re a teacher, sign up for their teacher newsletter

And if you’ve tried Bitsbox with your kids, be sure to share your experience in the comments!

The post Coding Basics: Teaching Programming to Kids in a Fun Way appeared first on Math Geek Mama.