2 Digit Multiplication Practice: A Channie's Review

Growing up I had two brothers, I was a nanny for two boys and now I'm a mother of two boys.  I feel like I have a good handle on what it's like to teach boys.  My sons are very active and would rather be busy moving around than not.  That often leads to doing the undesirable things in life (like math for J) in a big hurry!  Doing schoolwork in a hurry can not only lead to messy handwriting, but making simple mistakes becomes a way of life. We  reviewed a handwriting book from Channie's Visual Handwriting & Math workbooks a couple of years ago that had a wonderful format for neat and orderly practice.  Today's review is from the same company only this time we're considering a One Page A Day 2 Digit Multiplication Practice book.

What We Received:
A One Page A Day 2 Digit Multiplication Practice workbook with over 50 tear-out pages, a cardboard back and an answer key in the back.  

How It Works:
Each page contains visually guided problems, beginning with 2 by 1 digit problems and eventually graduating to 2 by 2 digit problems. Each number or number answer has it's own box so that everything lines up clearly.  In the 2 by 1 problems the single digit row is shaded green. The 2 by 2 problems continue with shading, but this time green boxes signify the first calculation and answers and blue boxes signify the second calculation and answers.  On both types of problems there are white boxes for the final solutions.  Near the back of the workbook the shading goes away, but the boxes are still present.  The net is taken away, but the format is still simple and clear.

The intent of this product is clear by the name 'One Page A Day...' so this is a drill type product that encourages the student to actively practice while not being overwhelming at the same time.  Also, all of their products encourage neat and clear handwriting skills, even in math!  The pages are designed to be ripped out, giving you the option to assign work separate from the answer key.

What We Thought:
True confession time! When signing up for this review, I overlooked the 2 digit part and only saw multiplication and 3rd grade.  J had not learned double digit multiplication when we received the product!  At first I panicked, but then I just took this opportunity to teach him double digit since he was already pretty proficient in his times tables.  And guess what?  All it took was one sitting and he figured it out!  Small mistakes are still his way of life when he gets in a hurry, so this was no exception, but the more he practiced the better he got at it.

The visual guidance in this workbook is genius and the best way to practice double-digit multiplication I have ever seen.  With so many new elements with double digit multiplication, it can get really confusing and difficult to teach sometimes.  The color-coded blocks, while seemingly not that important, makes this program highly effective and unique in my opinion.  So effective that a scatterbrained mom can use it to teach the skill from scratch with no issues!

Keep Up With Channie's on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/channiesworkbook/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/channiesvisualhandwriting/

Did you know Channie's offers a variety of workbooks?  Several other Crew members tried out other books as well as this one so click below to find one that meets your education needs!

Smartick: A Math Enrichment Program Review

Doing math and thinking mathematically aren't necessarily the same.  I had a hard time grasping that as a new algebra student who just wanted it to come naturally.  As any parent can tell you, every child is different with different strengths and weaknesses. Logic and reasoning are skills that feelers like me may not have in spades, but need developed in order to excel in school.  Today's review, Smartick, speaks directly to the need for more mathematical thinking rather than just seeking right answers.  The past few weeks J (8) and miss Z (6) have been using Smartick as often as we could with interesting results.

What We Received:

We were given a 6 month subscription for two students to Smartick, "a unique online learning method that helps your child reach maximum potential by using mathematics to increase mental agility, calculation skills, concentration, and studying methods."  This includes online access for me as the teacher/parent to monitor their progress.  It is designed for students age 4-14.

How It Works:

As the teacher, I registered both students and set up ages, usernames and passwords.  When each student first logged on, they set up an avatar that can be changed at any time later.  From there, each session has a consistent format.  Students are asked in emoji form what their mood is and then they begin a 15 minute series of questions and exercises.  As they answer questions, they earn ticks (this program's currency/reward) and for correcting their mistakes at the end of the session they can earn another tick.  After the session is complete, they are allowed access to a play area of sorts.  In this area, they can play games, challenge others, change settings like painting their house, changing clothes, etc., go shopping, make 'friends' and send messages.  

It is intended for students to have a session every day, at least 5 days a week.  Like exercise for the brain, the more you stretch your muscles, the more adept and agile they become.  The difficulty level increases very gradually over use so that is not overwhelming, but adequately challenging.  It is also not viewed as a quick, short-term solution for students.  If your student is struggling or way behind, this program isn't touted as something that can bring them up to speed over a couple of weeks.  Smartick is a long-term program designed to maximize potential.  In that way, it is not a math curriculum at all, but a mathematical training program to optimize a student's ability to maneuver within their curriculum.

What We Thought:


From day one the kids loved using this program.  Whenever possible, they like to watch their sibling do their session in addition to their own.  There were few how-to questions and no complaints other than when it was going to be their turn.  I appreciate the wisdom of requiring their session to be completed BEFORE they are allowed to play around.  They would never want to do anything else otherwise!  

Honestly, using it every day was a big challenge for us.  Part of that was due to a death in the family and then a week long vacation, so certainly not normal life.  Still, once we got home getting 5 days in was harder than I expected.  Most programs like this we would expect to do 2-3 days a week.  Now that I've used the program and have seen how it works,  I absolutely understand the value and importance of engaging very regularly.  Behavioral issues aside, I have been pleased with the kids' school performance in a variety of areas lately.  It sure would seem that this program was contributing to that outcome! I feel like another couple of solid, regular months of use would give me more feedback to confidently confirm its effectiveness. 

Smartick on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Smartick
Twitter: https://twitter.com/smartickmethod?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartick/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD_f6FMb0X1QDp5j7puQh1Q



Do you have different aged kids and wondering if it would work for them too?  Check out other Crew members reviews through the link below and see if they had a similar experience.

Typing Tournament Online and Maths Invaders Online: An EdAlive Review

If you're like me, you probably feel weary of always being the gatekeeper between your kids and the black hole of screen time and online gaming.  One of the ways I try to make my job easier is to surround them with educational options rather than too many mindless ones.  Today I'm going to share with you two online games, Typing Tournament Online and Maths Invaders Online from EdAlive that are entertaining AND teaching important skills at the same time.  It's a win-win for sure in this household.  

What We Received:
We were given a one-year subscription for two students and one parent/admin to Typing Tournament Online and Maths Invaders Online, which are both accessible on all devices. How It Works:

Typing Tournament Online  TTO is a series of exercises and games that introduce and increases typing skills.  It is designed with a brand new student in mind where they can learn proper typing form and begin to build up words per minute.  The program is divided into locations on a map with each stop containing lesson material, drills, 3 games - Siege, Powder Keg & Dragon Chase, Progress Report, and a Test.  In order to progress to the next location the only material that is require is passing the test.  With a total of 16 locations and a changeable Words Per Minute goal, there is plenty to do within this game.

Maths Invaders Online 

MIO is a game of testing and practicing math skills. There are three main areas, Galactic Campaign, Space Rescue and Practice.  There is also a section to view your progress and the ability to print worksheets based on the problems you were given in a particular game.  The Galactic Campaign is simply firing a correct answer at floating equations in an outer space skin.  The level of questions can be changed as desired to change difficulty.  Space Rescue is an online outer space themed version of Battleship where players must guess where a ship might be.  After each turn, a player is required to 'recharge their battery' by answering math questions.  Finally, there is a practice area that mimics the Galactic Campaign area, but the results are not maintained and you are able to choose the content you are practicing.

 

What We Thought:

Any reason to play an online game is a good reason in my children's minds so they were pumped to try these programs out.  

Math Invaders was the favorite by both my 8 and 5 year old.  It was easier to dive right into because they were more familiar with math than typing.  There was some debate about how best to use the control keys and when to move the gun from side to side, but it all gave opportunity to talk strategy.  They felt like they were playing a video game and I knew they were practicing mental math with increasing speed.  Overall, we had no complaints and plan to use this as reward and in supplement to other math practice.

Typing Tournament wasn't always first choice, but I think it has been the greatest blessing.  While both of my children have experience with our computers, they have not officially been taught to type.  That meant they were true beginners and were substantially challenged by the program.  I don't believe it to be too difficult in any way, but my impatient children desired more rapid success than they first experienced.  My 8 year old son would head straight to the tests and then come to tears when he wouldn't pass them.  Come to find out, there was little practicing done and mostly just attempts at typing very fast.  My 5 year old daughter did alright once she understood what the pace had to be for success. In addition to learning to type, I think this program will support their need for a more disciplined approach to learning skills.

EdAlive on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdAlive/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/edalive
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/edalive/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edalive.education/

Do you have middle school aged kids?  Follow the link below to read what other families had to say about these games!

I Know It: A Math Practice Site Review

My son got a couple of new books of a series he's reading from the library and (as usual) ever since, all he wants to do is read.  I'm not complaining about that, but it does make him even less motivated to dig in to math practice than normal.  It's not that he can't do it, he's just not motivated.  Thankfully, he loves trying new things so when we got the opportunity to try a new math practice site, the gap between his motivation and successful engagement was filled!  I Know It is the newest thing from the creators of SuperTeacherWorksheets.com, a great printable website we reviewed last year.  I Know It is an interactive supplemental math practice site for elementary ages K-5 that provides skill practice across grade levels.  

How It Works
For this review we were given a family subscription that allows for 4 users, of which we used 2.  As the parent/admin user, I choose what skills/assignments each student is to work on including how many problems and they can then complete them in whatever order they choose.  This program is only a practice site and NOT a full math curriculum.  Skills are not taught, but merely practiced.  Each question does allow for a hint, but that is the extent of instruction.  Since miss Z is still learning to read, that is sometimes a hindrance for her with online programs set up for K and older.  However, each question was accompanied by an audio option that would read it to you.

When setting up each user you provide a grade level, but as the teacher I can assign practice skills across any grade.  That feature is one I really appreciate and have not seen in previous math programs we have used.  J really enjoys multiplication and division, but gets weary of multiple digit addition and subscription.  It helps to start him with things he finds easy and work up from there.  That covers 2nd grade AND 3rd grade.  
Each user's homepage features their assignments, but also has access to all of their level topics if they want to explore or practice on their own as well. There is a Progress section that allows the parent to see the students' status in multiple ways, including Recent Activity, Individual Progress, and Assignment Progress.  If, for example, a skill was completed but still not mastered, I can assign it again.

What We Thought

Overall, it was a win for us!  Both kids were able to use it and enjoy it.  During each practice session there is an animated character that reacts to successfully answered questions.  As kids are known to do, they loved this part!  One minor thing that caused frustration was that it would automatically sign us out after we stopped using it and would convert to a trial version, which lets you use it for so many questions or so much time.  This would result in me having to log back in in the middle because their session would quit working.  Not a big deal, but it took us a while to figure out what was going on.
Other than that, this is a great resource for boosting those math skills!

Interested in trying it out?  Right now they are offering a free 60 day trial to homeschoolers and teachers.

Follow IKnowIt on Social Media : 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iknowitcom/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/iknowit_com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iknowit_com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/iknowitcom/pins/

Interested to see what other grade level students thought?  Read more of the Crew Reviews below: