Dad of Divas' Reviews: math
Showing posts with label math. Show all posts
Showing posts with label math. Show all posts

Friday, November 13, 2020

Book Review - Everything You Need to Ace Geometry in One Big Fat Notebook

Everything You Need to Ace Geometry in One Big Fat Notebook



About the Book
Geometry? No problem!

This Big Fat Notebook covers everything you need to know during a year of high school geometry class, breaking down one big bad subject into accessible units. Learn to study better and get better grades using mnemonic devices, definitions, diagrams, educational doodles, and quizzes to recap it all.

Featuring:
  • Logic and reasoning
  • Parallel lines
  • Triangles and congruence
  • Trapezoids and kites
  • Ratio and proportion
  • The pythagorean theorem
  • The fundamentals of circles
  • Area
  • Volume of prisms and cylinders
  • And more

 

My Take on the Book
We have a number of these books in our home and they do an amazing job to help kids that are going through the subject to better understand the concepts in words that they will understand. We love having these books around the house as reference books as we have had to refer to them over the year as my daughters have been in the courses and you will find this to be the case too. The book was truly understand, offered practical information which makes the book even more relatable too. Highly recommend for anyone that is trying to better understand Geometry!

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Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Book Review - STEM Adventures: Extreme Engineering

STEM Adventures: Extreme Engineering



About the Book

Get children excited about the amazing world of Engineering!


  • This puzzle and activity book includes:
  • High quality contemporary illustrations and graphics
  • Easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for the activities and experiments
  • Bite-sized text explaining facts, discoveries, and much more


Kids will enjoy completing a Roman arch by drawing lines to the missing bricks, planning a design for a green skyscraper using energy-saving features, finishing drawings of tied-arch bridges, and more engineering feats. It's a wonderful way to inspire future engineers!


My Take on the Book
For any child that is intrigued by engineering concepts that will love this book. The book offers some great activities throughout the book and walks the read step-by-step through the activities. My daughter really liked the activities and they really push a child to think outside of the box about STEM concepts that are very important in life for all kids to learn.


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Book Review - STEM Adventures: Amazing Math

STEM Adventures: Amazing Math



About the Book

Get children excited about the amazing world of Math!


  • This puzzle and activity book includes:
  • High quality contemporary illustrations and graphics
  • Easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for the activities and experiments
  • Bite-sized text explaining facts, discoveries, and much more


Kids will enjoy drawing rope bridges between equivalent numbers to cross a gorge, color loading screens on smartphones to match percentages, helping a soldier find his way back to camp by following Roman numerals, and more. It's a wonderful way to inspire future mathematicians!



My Take on the Book
This is a great workbook that really challenges kids to get excited about Math. This is not always easy, but through the different activities this book really helps kids to do just that. I was very impressed with all of the activities and my daughter loved working through these activities as well.

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Saturday, March 3, 2018

Book Review - Star Wars 3rd Grade Math & 3rd Grade Reading & Writing

Star Wars 3rd Grade Math



Reading Workbooks

In these workbooks of activities the children will use the Star Wars characters to practice reading comprehension, adjectives, verb tenses, writing a report, identifying sentences, and creative writing. The activities will challenge the child and stretch their minds to use their creative thinking and analysis skills.


Some of the pages require prior knowledge. For example the page in which the child must identify sentences according to simple, compound, and complex could be difficult if these terms have not been learned.
I thought that the two pages where the child must use a glossary page to answer questions was very well done.

Star Wars 3rd Grade Reading & Writing


The child would definitely need to read carefully and use the skills of knowing how to use a glossary to answer the questions.

The answers are located at the end of the workbook.

I view this workbook as one that could provide a child with some interesting ways to practice skills of reading and writing.

STAR WARS WORKBOOKS, 3RD & 4TH GRADE MATH

To make these workbooks fun, the authors have incorporated the Star Wars characters to practice various math skills. .The pages included math concepts using multiplication, division, problem solving, elapsed time, measuring perimeter and area, and reading graphs. The pages are colorful and easy to read and use.

I feel if the child has learned the various skills , the pages should be fun to work on independently. However, the child may need some assistance with the exact meaning of some of the directions.

All the answers at at the end of the books.

I believe an 8-9 year old child will find this book challenging, fun, and a good way to reinforce and apply learned skills.

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Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Taking Math To A New Level With The Casio: PRIZM fx-CG50


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About the Casio: PRIZM fx-CG50
Move beyond black and white to see math in full color! The Casio: PRIZM fx-CG50 is a revolutionary graphing calculator with patent-pending features that will enhance understanding of even the most complex mathematics. PRIZM allows for a new way to learn math by enabling students to experiment with concepts utilizing real-life images. This leads to the creation of their own mathematical understanding relationships by creating graphs on their own.


The Casio fx-CG50 PRIZM offers

advanced features of a next-generation graphing calculator, the fx-CG50 PRIZMTM will support students and educators through middle school and high school and into college. With Natural Textbook Display and an intuitive icon-based menu, students will find the PRIZMTM incredibly easy to use and its brand-new 3D Graph Drawing and improved catalog function allows for greater engagement and real-life application in the mathematics classroom.

Key Features:
  • Natural Textbook Display
  • High-resolution LCD display with over 65,000 colors
  • Casio “Picture Plot” technology – infusing real-life images into math
  • Color Link and Conditional Formatting for graphs, charts, and spreadsheets
  • Capable of graphing X= relations
  • Built-in graphing of conic sections
  • Streamlined solving for intercepts, intersections, etc.
  • Easily calculate values for given independent/dependent values
  • Interactive Equation Solver
  • Ability to edit previous entries
  • Statistics regressions and graphical displays
  • Statistics Residual Calculations
  • Numeric differentiation and integration
  • Recursive sequences
  • Matrix operations and inverses
  • Data-collection compatible (with separate EA-200 device)
  • Spacious 3.17” LCD screen with over 82,000 pixels
  • Direct-connect to compatible projectors
  • USB-to-computer connectivity
  • Not a Computer Algebra System (C.A.S.)
  • Permitted on all major exams
  • MSRP: $119.99







My Take on the Casio: PRIZM fx-CG50
The Casio: PRIZM fx-CG50 simply blew my mind. After using this I had to say that I wished that I had such a calculator when I was in high school myself. By far this is the most advanced calculator that I have ever used. That being said though this calculator is made to be able to be used by people of all walks of life.

In reading through everything on this one of the things that really sets this apart is that it is running on a 32-bit SH-4 RISC processor which by far is the fastest that I have seen. The calculator has the graphing capability which again is a plus. Having said this, I have to put in a plug that being someone that had used the old TI-84, the controls and ease of using the graphing capabilities on this were far easier and more flexible than the TI-84!

You get some explanations for the many functions of this extensive calculator within the packaging itself, but I found a ton of great instruction through online videos that are available too. There is even a short guided tour within the device that will help you get started!

While I have not gone too far into these capabilities yet, I know that the math that will come in the future for my daughters will definitely necessitate this great calculator and I am so glad that I found it for myself!


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Saturday, December 13, 2014

Splash Math ( @splashmath ) Makes Math Easy & Fun!

Splash Math

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Splash Math is an award winning math program for kids of ages 5-10 which can be used both at homes and in schools. Splash Math has benefited over 9 million kids and has been used in over 50,000 classrooms. Available on iPads, Android tablets and web, Splash Math works across multiple platforms and devices.

Splash Math

Splash Math is an adaptive program. It personalizes math practice depending upon the child's level of mastery and covers all math skills for all grades - Kindergarten through 5. Splash Math collects the practice data and shares analytical reports with the parents/teachers.


Splash Math


Splash Math combines the best of both worlds. For a child, Splash Math appears to be like a game which rewards on getting answers correct, keeping them engaged all the time. For a parent, Splash Math covers all necessary math skills for their grade levels and provides crucial insight on the child's performance.
Splash Math

Special 20% discount - This holiday season, Splash Math is offering a Special 20% discount. Go to Save 20% Off Splash Math -  https://www.splashmath.com/parents/register?adc=USFG20&utm_campaign=WebOffer20&utm_medium=USFamilyGuide&utm_source=Bloggers to access the discount.


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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Book Review - Bedtime Math

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.




About the Book
The mission: to make math a fun part of kids’ everyday lives.

We all know it’s wonderful to read bedtime stories to kids, but what about doing math? Many generations of Americans are uncomfortable with math and numbers, and too often we hear the phrase, "I’m just not good at math!" For decades, this attitude has trickled down from parents to their kids, and we now have a culture that finds math dry, intimidating, and just not cool.

Bedtime Math wants to change all that. Inside this book, families will find fun, mischief-making math problems to tackle—math that isn’t just kid-friendly, but actually kid-appealing. With over 100 math riddles on topics from jalapeños and submarines to roller coasters and flamingos, this book bursts with math that looks nothing like school. And with three different levels of challenge (wee ones, little kids, and big kids), there’s something for everyone. We can make numbers fun, and change the world, one Bedtime Math puzzle at a time.


My Take on the Book
This was a great book filled with a ton of ideas that will provide parents with ways in which to engage your children with math easily before bedtime, but also at any time of the day. I have to say that the ideas shared were innovative and fun and I have tried a few already and my kids had a blast. If you are looking for a fun way to incorporate math into your evening routine this is the book that will do it!
 
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Friday, September 21, 2012

Book Review - Math + Fashion = Fun: Move to the head of the class with math puzzles to help you pass!

About the Book
Packed with all kinds of puzzles and problems, this activity book gives girls creative ways to add, subtract, multiply, and divide their way to a good time. Girls are invited to join in the fun as Isabel and her friends from Innerstar University give their math skills an arithmetic makeover. Comes with a ruler, faux money, and other counting tools to help make math a blast. Plus, this book includes a special access code for even more skill-building activities online. 80 pages. Paperback. Author: Aubre Andrus. Ages 8+

My Take on the Book
This book is brought to you by American Girl. It is packed with math puzzles, games , secret codes, arithmetic riddles, math mazes, and more.

There are 42 different math activities. I could see a young girl and a parent having fun solving the math puzzles and games together. The answers are included at the end of the book.

You will enjoy hours of critical thinking fun with this book.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Singapore Math Supplementary Workbooks for Summer Learning

About the Books
More and more schools are using the Singapore math curriculum to improve their students’ math performance. Singapore math uses a unique concrete-pictorial-abstract approach along with problem-solving strategies and word problems designed to train students to connect different mathematical ideas. A number of carefully selected key topics are covered each year, allowing for in-depth learning and concept mastery. Originally created in Singapore, the official textbooks co-developed and published by Marshall Cavendish -- Primary Mathematics and Math in Focus -- are now in use around the world, including all 50 states of the U.S.

Marshall Cavendish has just introduced a series of supplementary workbooks. They are great for practicing or enriching math skills at home over the summer. The Math Practice the Singapore Way and Math Challenge the Singapore Way workbooks are arranged topically according to the latest Singapore Math syllabus.

Each series offers individual workbooks for grades 1 through 5. The exercises aid students in progressing systematically and the step-by-step answers provide them with an opportunity for self-evaluation and learning.

The exercises in Math Practice the Singapore Way help students focus on the essential skills required for today’s standardized testing, while the exercises in Math Challenge the Singapore Way enable students to reinforce concepts and enrich their understanding of math.

In addition, a free trial of Math Buddies Online www.mymathbuddies.com is available with the purchase of any workbook.

The Marshall Cavendish Singapore Math supplementary workbooks are $12.99 each and can be purchased at: http://www.marshallcavendish.us/marshallcavendish-us/education/catalog/workbooks/index.xml.

My Take on the Books
These workbooks were very thorough. I was amazed as I received books that were both 2nd & 3rd grade as my daughter has done quite well in math in school so I thought these would be a breeze. I was mistaken. These books were challenging and in some of the sections the concepts were far beyond where she left off in 1st grade, so we worked with her to understand the concepts and she was able to progress with no problems. I have to say that I am impressed with the workbooks thus far, and though I have yet to try out the Math Buddies Online world, if it is anything like these workbooks, I can tell that it will provide great learning fun for my daughters to enjoy!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Thursday, June 7, 2012

Book Review - The Manga Guide to Linear Algebra

About the DVD 
With acclaimed titles like The Manga Guide to Physics and The Manga Guide to Calculus, the best-selling Manga Guide series from No Starch Press is changing the way students think about math and science. By combining real mathematical content with authentic Japanese manga, the Manga Guides take the sting out of learning complex topics.

The latest in the series, The Manga Guide to Linear Algebra (No Starch Press, May 2012, 264 pp., $24.95, ISBN 9781593274139), helps math and computer science students wrap their brains around a tricky required course—linear algebra. The book uses the story of a university student and her tutor (a wannabe karate champ) to keep readers engaged while they learn the fundamental concepts of linear algebra.

In this book, Reiji wants two things in life: a black belt in karate and Misa, the girl of his dreams. Luckily, Misa's big brother is the captain of the university karate club and is ready to strike a deal: Reiji can join the club if he tutors Misa in linear algebra.

Follow along in The Manga Guide to Linear Algebra as Reiji takes Misa from the absolute basics of this tricky subject through mind-bending operations like performing linear transformations, calculating determinants, and finding eigenvectors and eigenvalues. With memorable examples like miniature golf games and karate tournaments, Reiji transforms abstract concepts into something concrete, understandable, and even fun.

As you follow Misa through her linear algebra crash course, you'll learn about:
  • Basic vector and matrix operations such as addition, subtraction, and multiplication 
  • Linear dependence, independence, and bases 
  • Using Gaussian elimination to calculate inverse matrices 
  • Subspaces, dimension, and linear span 
  • Practical applications of linear algebra in fields like computer graphics, cryptography, and engineering  
But Misa's brother may get more than he bargained for as sparks start to fly between student and tutor. Will Reiji end up with the girl—or just a pummeling from her oversized brother? Real math, real romance, and real action come together like never before in The Manga Guide to Linear Algebra.

My Take on the Book
I have had the chance to review other Manga Guides and this one continues the trend of breaking down conceivably difficult topics into easier to understand components. Like the Manga Guide on Biochemistry that I reviewed before, though I was not familiar with the topics in the field before reading the book, I came out with a much better understanding and appreciation after reading this. Whether you have studied this topic before or you are new like I was, this book will open your eyes and break down a mind-dizzying topic into something much more manageable that all can understand!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Saturday, March 3, 2012

Trickomatics Works Wonders to Held Kids With Math!



How Trickomatics Was Born
Ever lay awake worried about your children? It’s the three AM conversation with yourself that starts with the gnawing question – am I doing enough for my kids? Does this ring a bell? If so, you’re not alone.

Every parent wants to prepare their children for the big, scary, competitive world that awaits them when they leave the cocoon of childhood -- everyone including Rebecca Ehrlich, a speech-language pathologist in New York City. She was one of those people staring at the ceiling at three AM, wondering if she could do more for her children. Only they weren’t her own children she was worried about – they were other people’s children- the kids she was tutoring in after-school programs who were struggling to understand core math concepts.

So who do we blame?

Sure, public education is an easy target. Despite larger class sizes and shrinking budgets schools are expected to perform better with far less. Complicating the issue is the fact that children are being asked to learn more than their parents when they were their age. Add to it the speed at which teachers must work to accomplish grade level standards and it becomes painfully clear why so many kids are being left behind.

“Professor John Richards, a social policy scholar said something that haunts me to this day” said Rebecca. “Children who eventually drop out of school start falling behind by Grade 3. Grade 3! This is scary stuff we’re talking about. Once a student falls behind, it’s very difficult to get them back on track.”

Simply put, children fall behind in math because it’s a vertical learning experience. You cannot become skilled at D, if you don’t understand A, B, and C. Once gaps form in understanding, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep up. This makes it critical to reach kids before it’s too late, but how? If your home budget doesn’t include the enormous cost of expensive after-school tutoring programs parents are left with a fist full of flashcards and a frustrated child who’s one step closer to believing the voice in their head that says something is wrong with them.

But here’s the deal – plenty of smart kids struggle with core math concepts, just ask Rebecca. “I was one of those kids. I know what it feels like to believe that your brain isn’t wired for math. I know what it’s like to feel stupid in a classroom and it’s a horrible feeling. I can understand why students give up and what each and every one of those students needs to understand is that it is not them. It is how they’re being taught.”

Despite Rebecca’s post-graduate degrees and honors she struggled with something as simple as calculating a tip to a restaurant meal. Enter Barrett, Rebecca’s future husband, a successful investment banker with a passion for numbers.

“One night I mustered up the confidence to ask him, how do you calculate numbers like that? I’ll never forget that night – in mere seconds he showed me some simple tricks that changed the way I looked at math.”

Rebecca found that the methods Barrett taught her were created in ancient Asia hundreds of years ago. Wanting to know more, Rebecca looked at math test scores from around the world and discovered that the most successful students share one trait in common- they think in numbers.

Armed with this realization she brought this discovery to her school district as well as the students she tutors after school. When met with startling results she couldn’t stop there. She needed to share her new teaching techniques with everyone. So together with Barrett, they combined their passions and created a fun, entertaining, and effective math program using an alternative approach of Hollywood entertainment and interactive technology for teaching children, ages 7 -11, how to think in numbers.

My Take on the Product
The idea of this software was sound as not all children have a great grasp of math concepts and through this program students are able to have fun while learning solid tricks that will assist them in becomming stronger in math, especially in multiplication , which my daughter has not had a lot of work on yet. I found the demo that I tried to be fun, engaging and best of all, my eldest daughter thought it was very neat and she did not mind learning more about math because she enjoyed what she was doing. If you have a child that struggles in math or you simply want to give them a boost, look no further than this product!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

SmarTots says send kids into space



SmarTots, the company that helps parents integrate meaningful learning experiences into the iPads and iPhones used by their children, has announced thewinners of its first “Quest for Best Kids’ Apps” contest. A panel of teachers selected three apps for their ability to deliver strong educational value while engaging children with playful and visually appealing content. All three winners include SmarTots Achievements, a user-friendly feature that lets parents and teachers monitor kids’ progress and performance as they interact with an educational app, and provides detailed reporting on their performance. 
  • Gold Prize Winner: Space Math, by Lunchbox Apps. Space Math is a fun way for kids aged 4 and over to practice their addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts. The latest version of Space Math includes three math games that provide different ways of practicing basic arithmetic using flash cards, games and sliders as interactive teaching tools. Through SmarTots, the app offers unique insight into a child’s progress and provides parents and teachers detailed reports that show what the student has accomplished, and where a student is struggling.
From January 6 through 8, Space Math is available as a free download from the iTunes App Store.
  • Silver Prize Winner: Animal Preschool Games, by Bruce McLaren. Animal Preschool Games is designed for preschool- and kindergarten-age children and incorporates several developmental skills for this age group. It can help a child learn to count, recognize different shapes and objects, learn the alphabet, teach rhyming, strengthen memory through matching, hand-eye coordination, and much, much more.
  • Bronze Prize Winner: Kid’s Math, by GoldStar App. Kid's Math comprises six educational apps (Counting, Basic Math with Choices, Basic Math with Calculation, Compare, Series and Clock), all combined into one app.
“Space Math stood out for various reasons. Not only was the context fun and interesting, from an educational standpoint, it is a really awesome app that gives the learner choices: the level of difficulty, the number of items to work on, the types of operations, the range of numbers to work on, and so on. Not only can parents or teachers help set the appropriate level for the child, it empowers the child as well by providing the opportunity for the individual learner to set his/her own pace, and to set new challenges,” said Molly Lim, Ph.D. Ed. and a certified elementary school teacher. “SmarTots provides parents and educators a report of the apps the child has worked on, as well as a breakdown of how the child performed in the various apps and activities. The educational framework that SmarTots has developed provides a good guide for parents in selecting apps for the child that will help develop his/her essential skills, as determined by national organizations for early childhood education.”

“We’re delighted to announce the winners of our inaugural contest to find the best apps to help kids learn practical skills using the iPad,” said Jesper Lodahl, CEO and co-founder of SmarTots. “The judges were particularly impressed with Space Math, which combines clever and fun learning with 70 SmarTots Achievements so that parents and teachers can see a child’s individual performance via a detailed report card. Space Math has fully taken advantage of the SmarTots platform to significantly enhance the value of the app for both kids and parents.”

“As a high school math teacher, I have seen that students who lack basic arithmetic skills progress much slower than those kids who have been practicing these skills from an early age,” said Reese McLean, who developed Space Math to make learning math fun for young children. “SmarTots makes it easy to add core features that would take a small developer like me far too long to integrate. For example, SmarTots makes it possible for a parent or teacher set up their students in Space Math and have it sync to all their devices, while providing online progress reports and grading.”


About SmarTots 
SmarTots is a new mobile education platform for children aged 2-7 that offers a powerful new way for children and parents to connect and learn. It brings together educators, parents, and developers in an interactive, fun, and manageable learning experience that engages children and provides parents with rich insight into their child’s app learning world. SmarTots is the first solution of its kind to offer parents a virtual report card on their child’s online learning progress, accompanied by fun offline family activities to reinforce the mobile learning and re-connect the family. http://www.smartots.com.



All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Thursday, November 17, 2011

ChildUp Early Learning Game Cards - a Great Way to Teach Math Skills!

About the Cards


Teach Your Child to Count to 10, Math & Logic #1, with ChildUp Early Learning Method - Part 1

Teach Your Child to Count to 10 is the first pack of the ChildUp Early Learning Game Cards, a series of educational tools for parents, caregivers, and early teachers who intend to develop, by playing in an interactive way, the learning and intellectual skills of their children and to best prepare them for school and future academic excellence.

The Teach Your Child to Count to 10 pack includes 16 Parent Cards and 48 Child Cards in plain color. The Parent Cards describe the first part of the ChildUp Early Learning Method, providing useful practical early teaching and parenting advice. By playing the Child Cards with an adult, boys and girls from 1 to 5 years old will not only learn to count to 10 and learn numbers as quantities and symbols, one of the very first steps in arithmetic, but will also discover 40 popular animals, so many nice topics for a lot of interesting discussions and vocabulary development.

The frequent use of Teach Your Child to Count to 10 is probably one of the most motivating and efficient ways to develop several of your childrens most important abilities: their math and logic skills, their learning and cognitive skills, their listening and memory skills, their attention and concentration skills, as well as their language and social skills.

The ChildUp Early Learning Method was invented, developed and practiced by John and Alan Debonneville, father and son, who dearly love mathematics and logic. John began to apply the principles and techniques described in the Early Learning Method with his son when the boy was still a baby, up until the time he became a teenager. The outcome was so positive that Alan and John thought it would be helpful for other parents to know about this successful early learning and teaching experience.

Teach Your Child to Count to 20 - Math and Logic #2

Teach Your Child to Count to 20 is the 2nd pack (the complement of the 1st pack, Teach Your Child to Count to 10) of the ChildUp Early Learning Game Cards, a series of educational tools for parents and early childhood educators who intend to develop, by playing in an interactive way, the learning and intellectual skills of their children - boys and girls from 1 to 5 years old - and to best prepare them for school and future academic excellence.

The Teach Your Child to Count to 20 pack includes 16 Parent's Cards and 48 Child's Cards in full color.

The Parent's Cards describe the 2nd part of the ChildUp Early Learning Method, providing practical early teaching and parenting advice, based on years of research and experience.

By using the Child's Cards with an adult, any child will learn to count from 10 to 20 (one fundamental step in arithmetic), numbers as quantities and symbols, even and odd numbers, and to do basic additions and subtractions. All that while discovering 4 new series of 10 animals, 40 nice topics for many interesting discussions and vocabulary development.

The frequent use of Teach Your Child to Count to 20 is probably one of the most motivating and efficient ways to develop several of your child's most important abilities: math and logic skills, learning and cognitive skills, listening and memory skills, attention and concentration skills, language and social skills.

My Take on the Cards
These cards are amazing! When I received these I was very amazed to find that they were filled with so many learning ideas. Not only are these cards set up to help you learn your numbers, but as a parent you also have the opportunity to use them in so many different ways. We used both of these sets with my youngest daughter who is 3.5. We started with the first set and once she started better recognizing the numbers from 1-10, we moved on to try the 11-20 cards as well. She is still struggling with these but she is catching on. What she loves is the fact that the cards themselves are made for kids her age. With vibrant colors and fun animals, she can relate and she enjoys  counting the animals that were on each of the cards.

I started being the one who would pick each set of cards within the pack, but I quickly found that she was saying that she wanted to do Math at night like her big sister and that she wanted to be the one to choose what cards we were using as well.

I have seen a marked improvement in both number recognition as well as comprehension through using these cards and I have to say that anyone that is looking for a set of cards that will assist with their own child's math skills, you should look no further than these cards.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Math Anxiety - A Real Problem or Just an Excuse?

Math Anxiety - A Real Problem or Just an Excuse?
by Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed.
The thought of a math test can make even the most confident student stressed out, but for some, the feelings associated with math go far beyond garden-variety stress. For these students, a feeling Gril at Blackboardof intense anxiety develops to the point where they are no longer able to think clearly. Are these emotions a real problem or just an excuse to avoid an uncomfortable academic subject?

Dr. Sian Beilock, author of Choke, a 2010 book on brain responses, says that, "People are very happy to say that they don't like math, but no one walks around bragging that they can't read. It's perfectly socially acceptable to say you don't like math."

The Latest Research
Studies show that when students solve math problems, they first process information through the amygdala, the brain's emotion center. Within a millisecond, another section of the brain, the pre-frontal cortex, takes over allowing the student to juggle data and think critically. In highly anxious students, the amygdala is far too active, leaving the pre-frontal cortex underutilized.
What Causes Such Stress Over Math?
Is this reaction learned or biological? The answer is two-fold. First, brain scans reveal that young children who are quick and accurate show a very low level of stress. Those who are slow and less accurate demonstrate a high level of stress in the brain. These early difficulties, even when minor in nature, cause frustration and difficulty later on.
It is also true that math anxiety can be a learned behavior. Dr. Beilock found first and second grade female teachers unconsciously passed on their negative attitudes about math to their female students (males did not seem to be affected). This trend doesn't just exist in classrooms. Parents can also pass down their own negative perceptions to their children, both male and female.
What to Do If Your Child Experiences Math Anxiety
It is important to recognize that the problem will not go away byencouraging your child to "try harder" or "stop worrying". Instead, use the following strategies:

    * Don't Let It Slide - Math is the sole subject that is nearly 100% cumulative. Students must have a strong foundation or they will fall behind, lose confidence, and grow to dislike the subject. When you see your child struggling, intervene right away by assisting with homework. You may find that the older your child gets, the less willing he is to work with you. Seek after-school help from the teacher or hire a tutor who can patiently break down concepts, fill in any gaps, and instill confidence.

    * Watch Your Words - Even if math was difficult for you as a child, don't harp on your shortcomings by saying, "I was terrible at math, too. It must run in the family." Instead, focus on what can be changed. The truth is that with practice, your child can overcome his or her weakness in math. Adopt the mantra "practice makes permanent", not "practice makes perfect". With enough reinforcement, your child will be able to remember the important steps to solving problems.

    * Do Not Push Advanced Classes - The trend these days is for students to take advanced math classes early on, beginning with Algebra in 7th or 8th grade. This approach is a good one for many students but not for all. Those experiencing significant math anxieties may be further stymied because they feel overwhelmed and underprepared. Although your child may be capable of keeping up, don't force advanced classes if he or she is not quite ready.

    * Beware of TEST Anxiety - Sometimes test anxiety in any subject increases when students sit down to take a test knowing they are not fully prepared. The old adage "You can't study for math" is simply not true. The best way for a student to prepare is to make a practice test and solve the problems as if it is the real exam. This allows the student to know which problems he cannot solve and to practice accordingly. In many instances, proper preparation decreases stress on test day.

    * Use the Summer - Although it may be tempting for you and your child to take a break from math over the summer, studies show that this is not a good idea. The summer is the perfect time to review the skills that are troublesome and to preview what lies ahead in the coming school year. This ensures that your child will get off on the right foot in the fall.
Whether negative feelings towards math are biologically rooted or learned, it's never too late to help your child turn the corner to success.
Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed., is the founder and president of Educational Connections, Inc., a comprehensive provider of educational services in Fairfax, VA and Bethesda, MD. In her award-winning book, Homework Made Simple: Tips, Tools and Solutions for Stress-Free Homework, Dolin offers proven solutions to help the six key types of students who struggle with homework. Learn more at anndolin.com or  ectutoring.com.


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Carlito C. Catepillar's MathHouse Game Card Set

Most parents know the importance of math but many are unsure of how they can help their young children learn the fundamentals of math. There are so many questions. "How early should I start? What does my child need to learn? What concepts are most important? What do I do if my child has more trouble than other kids their age?" Often times the answers to these questions are not clear or consistent.


The c3pla Sensory Math Teaching System was created by Domenico Marcario, M.S., a retired math teacher and loving grandfather, to answer those questions. This system utilizes the natural way children learn to teach them math skills. We have built the Carlito C. Caterpiller's Math House GamesTM from this system and are excited to offer you a chance to receive a copy of the Games Pack to review and a copy to offer as a gift to one of your readers. The Game Pack is presented in 3 stages, with a total of 20 steps and 2 games in each step covering the math skills of quantity, numeration, and operations.




My Take on the System
This was a very intuitive system that makes sense. As a parent who does what he can to push his daughters to learn and grow in all of the things that they do, I am always looking for ways to help them academically. This system was easy to understand and to implement and my daughters really enjoyed it. The system is engaging and makes learning fun! I know that this will stay in our home for some time to come!


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Tuesday, September 20, 2011

National survey finds high anxiety among 8th and 9th graders taking algebra


THE FEAR FORMULA
National survey finds high anxiety among 8th and 9th graders taking algebra, tops list of worries for parents who struggle to help.

More than 70% of parents believe that helping their kids with algebra is harder than teaching them to drive a car.

Sylvan Learning launches “Fit 4 Algebra” free online tool to help parents assess whether their child is on track for critical “gateway” subject


As the new school year gets underway, a just-released survey finds that most eighth and ninth graders consider algebra to be their toughest subject — and the same goes for parents who say advanced math, like algebra, tops the subjects they struggle with when helping their children with homework.

The findings of the national survey are significant because algebra is regarded by many educators, including the U.S. Department of Education, to be a “well documented gateway course.”[1] The designation comes from its importance as the foundation for high school level math and a critical stepping stone to college and future careers—from electrician to architect.

The challenge facing our students is underscored by the most recent results of theNational Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which show that only 34 percent of eighth graders scored at or above the proficient level in math.[2]

The nationwide survey of eighth and ninth graders and their parents was conducted between August 1 and August 8, 2011 by Kelton Research and commissioned by Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of tutoring and supplemental education services to students of all ages and skill levels.

Among the key findings:

·         One in three students would be quick to sacrifice video game (36%) or Facebook (33%) privileges for a month to avoid taking algebra again.
·         As students drown in anxiety over algebra, parents feel just as lost. Parents feel far more prepared to discuss delicate topics like drugs and alcohol (97%) and even sex (88%) with their child than to help with algebra homework (54%).
·         Doing algebra is harder than completing tax returns. More than four out of five (82%) parents admit that they are likely to make more mistakes on their children’s algebra homework than on their tax returns.
·         Six in ten (60%) parents are so unsure of their own algebra skills that they gave themselves a hypothetical grade of C or lower in their child’s algebra class.

These statistics add up to a “fear formula” in which the gap is widening between students’ needs and their parents’ ability to assist or provide the help required for success in algebra. Dr. Francis “Skip” Fennell, Professor of Mathematics Education atMcDaniel College and past president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, believes these numbers could be altered through simple preparation. “One of the most important considerations to student success in algebra is their readiness,” he says. “If we can identify student misconceptions, challenges, and struggles earlier, parents and teachers can provide students with the support they need to succeed.”

Sylvan Learning seeks to accomplish this with the launch of “Fit 4 Algebra: Take the Algebra Fitness Challenge,” a free interactive online “screener” that parents can use to assess their children’s algebra readiness. It consists of a 21-question algebra readiness check-up, which tests the key skills identified by the National Mathematics Advisory Panel as providing the basic foundation for algebra.

After their child completes the screener, parents will receive diagnostic results that highlight areas of strength as well as areas that are in need of further skill development. Additionally, parents will have immediate access to valuable free resources, including video-based math tutorials aligned to the skill areas where students need additional development.

“Success in algebra is a step toward success in life. Ensuring that our children are prepared to succeed is vital to our mission as an educational services company,” says Jeffrey Cohen, president and CEO of Sylvan Learning.  “Every parent should know where their child stands with algebra and be in a position to help. We have researched and aggregated some of the best math and algebra resources currently available, and are thrilled to make these resources immediately accessible in one central place,” he said.

Parents who are concerned—or curious—about how well their child may measure up in algebra can take matters into their own hands by screening their child’s readiness through Sylvan’s Fit 4 Algebra website.  In addition to seeing where their child stands on the Algebrometer®—an  engaging visual created by Sylvan that gauges a student’s readiness level for algebra—parents can take advantage of a host of  free resources, including online math challenges, entertaining games, interactive concept tutorials, and links to thousands of already-asked math questions with answers. The parent resources section also includes tips on helping children succeed in math, links to algebra smart phone apps, and information on finding personalized help, if needed.

“Parents recognize that their children are missing the mark in algebra and they need help,” says Dr. Lynn Fontana, chief academic officer for Sylvan Learning. “By taking advantage of Sylvan’s algebra check-up screener and free resources, parents can put their children back on track in the new school year and take the first step in ensuring their children’s future achievement in higher math studies, college, and ultimately their careers.”

Dr. Fennell also advises parents to determine “early on” if their children are ready for algebra by underscoring the link between algebra and future achievement. “Algebra is an important stop along the road to future success—in high school, college, and even professional earning power, so it’s critical that students know and understand the prerequisite concepts and skills that will help them succeed in algebra. Early detection is key to success down the road,” he said.

Sylvan’s free screener is available on www.Fit4Algebra.org beginning September 19, 2011.  Parents of children entering middle school are encouraged to have their child take the screener to assess algebra readiness at the start of a new school year.

About Sylvan Learning:
Sylvan Learning is the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages, grades and skill levels with over 30 years of experience and more than 850centers located throughoutNorth America. Sylvan's trained and Sylvan-certified personal instructors provide individualized instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test-prep for college entrance and state exams. For more information, call 1-800-31-SUCCESS or visitwww.SylvanLearning.com.

For further information:




All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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