Archive for April, 2014
CTC Math Review
Apr
I have always loved math. It always came very easy to me and I found it to be fun. I loved having math homework to do every night. It’s always been hard for me to understand why anyone would not like math. So, of course- Hailey has never been very fond of math. She was in public school for 2 years and math was definitely not her favorite subject. This year, her first year being homeschooled, math has definitely not been her favorite subject. So, I wondered- does she just hate math? Or, is it the curriculum we are using? Surely she can’t really hate math. I have been researching math curriculum for the last few months, talking to other homeschool moms about the math curriculum they use, and just trying to decide what to do about math. Just stick with what we’re using or change things up?? So, when we had the chance to review CTC Math, I was really hopeful that it would help Hailey with her math struggles. We were given the 12 Month Family Plan to review.
- Numbers, Patterns and Algebra
- Measurement
- Space and Geometry
- Statistics and Probabilty
From those streams you can pick one and click on it. Then you will find the topics within those streams. Once you have picked a topic for your child to work on, your child will listen to the lesson about the topic. After the lesson is over your child will work on some practice questions. There are also practice speed drills, that vary in difficulty level to help your child practice his or her math facts.
Each week the parent receives a weekly activity log (by email) that looks like the picture above. It will tell you when your child logged in and what he or she did. The overall performance section will tell you how many lessons were completed and what the overall score was of the questions your child answered.
So, what did we think of CTC Math?
Before we started reviewing CTC Math, Hailey had been working on 3 digit addition and subtraction. When we would work on her math problems together she did great. But, as soon as I had her do it on her own, she couldn’t do it. So, I had her start with the addition and subtraction lessons. I loved that I could use any grade level because she needed practice with 4th grade addition and 3rd grade subtraction. I had her watch the lessons- they are each only a few minutes long and are very easy to understand. If she didn’t understand something we could easily go back and watch it again. Then she did the practice math questions.
I really liked how she could cross numbers out to borrow from when subtracting, and to carry numbers when necessary while adding. She didn’t need to do it on paper, she was able to do everything right on the computer. She really loved that!
I had her answer the questions for addition for several days because she really needed the practice, then she did the same for subtraction. She did great using CTC Math and usually got all of the problems correct, only missing a problem once in a while.
Since I see Hailey still counting on her fingers from time to time, I also had her use the speed skills practice. In just a weeks times I could see a huge improvement in how fast she completed her math facts. I even used the speed skills to see if I was getting rusty on my math facts. In the level 4 group of speed skills there is an “Order of Operations” option, which I definitely needed some practice with 🙂
Here is what is boils down to for me:
Pros:
Hailey loved it! If there was a day we didn’t use CTC Math, she was asking for it. This is the biggest plus for me- she actually enjoyed using this online math program.
The lessons were short and kept Hailey’s attention.
I saw a big improvement in Hailey’s speed skills as well as her understanding of the topics we covered.
I loved that I could use any grade level.
Cons:
When Hailey would get a problem wrong, I wish the program would have explained to her right then what she did wrong and how to do it correctly.
Overall- I would recommend this math program and we definitely intend to continue using it! Using CTC Math has confirmed for me that we need to make a change in the curriculum we have been using this school year.
Want to see more of CTC Math? You can also check them out on Facebook.
Week in Review
Apr
Here is a little bit of what we have been up to lately:
Language Arts:
Hailey has been busy reading “The Littles.”
Science:
We wrapped up our landform unit last week. We played this fun game from Around the Kampfire. We took turns spinning to see which land form or water form we would land on. Then we had to tell what it was called, if it was a land or water form, and then give an explanation of what it was.
Hailey had a great time playing the game!
As an ending project to our landform unit, Hailey mixed up some salt dough so she could create her own island.
Her island had to have 5 different land forms or water forms that we had learned about.
She included a volcano, a water fall, mountains, valley and a plain.
After it was dry, Hailey painted her island.
The completed island.
She drew a map of her island.
Then she wrote a little story about how she found the island and what happened after she discovered it.
This was a super fun unit! Most of the activities came from the unit at Around the Kampfire– and I highly recommend it!!
Other:
Hailey completed her first sewing project! She had a great time and is already working on her next one.
Be sure to like me on Facebook and follow me on Pinterest so you don’t miss any of our fun activities.
Tot School
Apr
Hunter is 28 months old.
We had another fun and busy week at Tot School!
Letter P activities:
(Printables for the letter P are from 1+1+1=1 and Confessions of a Homeschooler.)
Hunter has been spending a lot more time on his coloring lately. He really takes his time and then tells me what he is drawing.
Hunter put together a little letter P puzzle.
He really likes doing the lacing activities.
Tracing the letter P with his finger.
Lining up counting bears on the letter P.
Hunter used his do-a-dot markers to color the letter P.
He used water colors to paint the pencil paper.
P is for Pig.
Manipulatives:
I put Velcro dots on some colorful Popsicle sticks and then we practiced making different shapes with them.
He was very proud of his tower.
Working on lining up his counting bears.
Sensory bin:
We only did one sensory bin this week and Hunter loved it! He requested it several times. He sat and concentrated on transferring plastic eggs from the bowl to the bin.
Other:
Shape practice
Hunter has been asking for paper to just color on a lot the last couple of weeks. Then he sits and works very quietly on making a picture.
Stop by 1+1+1=1 to see what the other tots were up to this week.
Be sure to like me on Facebook and follow me on Pinterest so you don’t miss any of our fun activities.
Week in Review
Apr
Here is a little review of a few things we have done recently:
History/Geography:
We have been loving using the Expedition Earth curriculum! We studied about China and had a great time building the Great Wall of China. We had an educational fair at our homeschool c0-op and decided to share the Great Wall of China for Hailey’s activity.
Hailey was so proud of her hard work!
Hailey’s poster display along with the Great Wall of China.
Science:
We continued learning about landforms in science.
Hailey made a little vocabulary booklet using one of the activities from Around the Kampfire.
Volcano page
Hill page
Mountain page
There are lots more pages and this has been a great way for Hailey to learn the definitions of each landform. Plus, she enjoyed drawing the pictures!
Other:
Hailey is working on her first sewing project.
Hailey recently had a gymnastics show.
She loves gymnastics!
Hailey also takes swimming lessons and she has become a very good swimmer.
Playing basketball during free time at one of her gym classes.
Be sure to like me on Facebook and follow me on Pinterest so you don’t miss any of our fun activities.
