Math Doesn't Have To Be Your Downfall

When we choose to homeschool we often find that a subject isn't our favorite to teach or it's not our child's favorite subject. That doesn't have to be our downfall.

Math is one of those subjects in our family. I'm going to focus today on what I've done to make sure Math isn't our downfall. 

Speak Positively

I always try to speak positively about Math in front of my children. No child wants to hear how much their parent hates math or how annoying math can be. If we speak positive about it our children will be more positive about it! When my kids speak negative about math like "I hate math." I try to reword it, "You may not like it today, but later down the line math it's going to be so helpful." Showing positivity can be hard at times but its worth it in the long run. 

Make Math Fun

Most kids that don't like math are really just bored with it. Make it fun. Add in math manipulatives, go on math centered field trips, or play math games. Making math as hands on as possible has really helped my children not just with the boredom but also the learning aspect. 

Cooking

We all know that cooking is math. Make it fun. Let your kids dive in and little do they know they are learning how to add fractions when measuring out a recipe. 

Talk It Out

Talk with your kids. Give them your expectations of math. Let them tell you their frustrations. Talk about what you both can do to make math work for your family. Keeping an open conversation about math can really give them relief and they will open up about their troubles or even what they enjoy!

Teaching Textbooks

I have mentioned Teaching Textbooks before and it has really been what makes a difference in Math with my kids. It's a computer based program with a lecture and problems that the kids can easily learn and do. It has fun buddies that they can choose and a wallpaper that they can pick to personalize their experience. My kids absolutely love that it feels like a computer game to them. They're learning and having fun at the same time. 

Some reasons you may like Teaching Textbooks.

• It can all be done online with their new 3.0 subscription. 
• They have a free trial!
• Instant feedback with every problem the child does. 
• You can choose if the child gets to try again if they miss a problem.
• Level 3 to Pre-Calculus is offered. 
• My kids confidence to Math changed completely when we started using Teaching Textbooks.
• A lot less stress when it comes to Math time for both parents and kids! 

Math is no longer a struggle with my children. Most days they complete their lesson and want to do another. It makes me feel good as a parent to know that I am giving them a Math program that really works and makes it fun!

Teaching Textbooks 3.0 GIVEAWAY

This year we chose to use Teaching Textbooks new online subscription. Last year was our first year using Teaching Textbooks and we love it!! I found it took the stress out of math for my oldest and he actually started to enjoy doing math. This year I knew I wanted both of my children to use it.

The reason I decided to continue using Teaching Textbooks is because it is fun and my kids are learning at the same time. I hear laughter every lesson.

My goal as a homeschool mom is to create a love for all subjects and areas that they are working on. I want them to enjoy what they are doing even when they might be having a hard time with a problem. 

Another reason I love Teaching Textbooks is that it is very independent. My children have a schedule everyday and when it is math time they know how to get to the website and log in to their own area and continue with the next lesson. It makes it easy on me and I think it makes them feel more responsible for their time and work.

As you may or may not know Teaching Textbooks 2.0 was book and discs that were shipped to your house before the 3.0 version was released. Everything from the lectures to problems is all online in the 3.0 platform. 

So you may be asking yourself if there is still an option to have a book with the 3.0 version. In the parent area of the 3.0 platform they offer an E-book for each level you are subscribed to. The answer key is also available there. 

This year I love how flexible it is. My boys can use any of the computers in our household and even their tablets because it is online based. 

One thing my kids both have loved is the new buddies and new backgrounds. We use them as rewards. When the kids get a 100 on a lesson or a quiz, they can chose a new background or buddy. It gives them a little incentive to really master the lessons and quizzes. 

As you can see in the picture below the program even offers hints here and there throughout the lessons. They get to chose if they want to use it or not, but it gives them a little information that may help them with solving the problem. You also have control on if you want them to have hints offered.

When they are working on problems, you can set it to allow them two chances or turn that option off. It is extremely functional and easily changed all from the parent area.

My favorite part is that with the 3.0 version I can keep track of grades on any computer. It is not stuck on just one computer as it was with the 2.0 version. I can pull up their grade as soon as they finish a lesson right from my smartphone because of the permanent grade storage they now offer. It makes it so easy to keep up with how they are doing without being right over their shoulder.

The new version 3.0 is extremely affordable now too!

They now offer a Family Plan if you have 4 to 8 students you can get the versions you need at a discounted price. 

They even offer a Free Trial to try it out!! 

When you subscribe you are given a year long subscription to the level of your choice. You are also given 3 months of pause time. This is great if you are traveling and plan to not have school time, just pause it for the time you are away. 

Teaching Textbooks is so kind to offer a GIVEAWAY of a one year subscription of any level that the winner chooses.

Giveaway ends Oct 1 at 12 am.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Basic Learning Pack

My first Learning Pack is ready! I have been working very hard at this as I wanted something that covered a lot of the basics but didn't really have a theme. I wanted it to be something that we could use over and over again through out the school year. 

It has 50 pages plus ideas and tips for using it!

Included:

Alphabet match

Flash cards

Word cards

Numbers

Counting

Prewriting Practice

Sorting Colors

Shapes

Size Sorting

Sentence Practice

Addition

Subtraction

Missing Numbers

Count by 2's, 5's, and 10's

Plenty to use during the school year for Preschool, Pre-K, or Kindergarten! 

You can get it HERE 

It is on sale for $4.50 for 8/29-8/31 

(sale price shows on page of product)

 Returns to $6.00 September 1st! 

It will go great with my Alphabet and Number Tracing Pages!

Enjoy! 

Add or Subtract Game

(image is linked to download)

I have noticed lately my son is starting to get more and more into math so I needed something to focus on that more with him. I made this game up so that I can do subtraction and addition and also have the counting pieces for him for visual reference as well.

To play you  put the subtract or adding pieces between the 2 green squares on the left. Then place the numbers you want in those first 2 squares. Then we use the counting pieces under each number to represent the number. and put the answer in the right square.

Included in the Download:

Game Board

Addition and Subtraction piece

Numbers 1- 10

3 sets of different counters

Enjoy!