Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through
the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not
required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.
Play is king when it comes to learning methods. If you can find a game or some kind of playful activity to teach or reinforce a concept, you are miles ahead of a stale presentation format. Today's review of Spelling Shed and Math Shed from EdShed knows that fun repetition leads to mastery. When it comes to spelling and math facts, at the end of the day, you just need to get them memorized in order to move on to greater things. Let's talk about how these programs help students do that!
What We Received:
We received a one year subscription to the online programs Spelling Shed and Math Shed for up to 5 students.
How It Works:
Spelling Shed consists of 4 different styled games that can be played in a web browser on any device. The main Spelling Shed game is a spelling bee setup where you are told a word and then you choose letters from a group to correctly spell the word. The faster you spell it, the more points you get awarded. The second is a hive game that is played against other players that have the same code. This requires a parent/teacher to set up the game from the Teacher Hub account. In a homeschool setting, this is limited to the people and device within your home or other friends who use the same program. The last two games are a version of Hangman and Fill in the Blank with beedis. Every game has multiple difficulty levels. In addition to the games, Spelling Shed offers a full printable Spelling curriculum for grades K-5. Spelling lists are provided and easily used for any level.
MathShed is a straightforward math facts game where you answer problems for points. This includes Number Bonds, Times Tables, Powers of 10, Add & Subtract, and Negative Numbers.
Collecting points turns into honeypot currency where you can make changes to your avatar.
What We Thought:
The students using this program were my 6 year old daughter and 9 year old son. Both of them had an easy time playing both games with no technical difficulty. The favorite and the biggest complaint were over the same thing. The Hive game that is designed for students competing against each other in a quick spelling contest would be a great motivator in a group setting. For my two kids it was a great motivator - they love competing against each other. However, they are not on the same grade level so no matter what level we put it on, my daughter was going to be frustrated because her brother beat her every time. Obviously it wasn't a waste, but she tolerated the constant defeat only so long before getting cranky. Still, they keep asking to do it so it must be fun!
Some online programs require specific apps that don't always work on multiple devices very well. EdShed worked the exact same on the iPad mini, Kindle Fire, and Windows computer we used. The spelling curriculum that goes along with the online games is a super easy way to incorporate effective spelling training that is fun.Follow EdShed on Social Media:
A lot of families tried out EdShed's program and maybe their perspective will give you a more complete picture of all they have to offer. Read their reviews through the link below.
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