CapJax Math Facts

CapJaxMathFax is a fun, educational, online math facts program that helps your children do their math drills differently.  My kids don't like working on the basic math facts but if you do drills they become quicker and quicker and before you know it they automatically know their math facts.  This program has really helped my 4th grader with his math fact skills, he does NOT like flash cards but responds well to computer games....hmmm, imagine that a boy that likes computer games!  Kylan said he actually feels like a calculator while he's playing the game because he's becoming faster and faster with each session.  Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are all included in the practices.

Here are a list of reason's to use Cap Jax Math Fax (taken from their website)

1. Uses a computer to provide drill and practice so that practice time is not limited by teacher availability.
2. Automatically generates exercises. Teachers don't prepare quizzes. They merely provide the parameters for them.
3. Builds exercises for any of the four math tables (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) or any combination of tables.
4. Guarantees student success by taking small steps through levels of 
   difficulty.
5. Can focus practice at a single level of difficulty or may review earlier levels.
6. Randomly generates problems without repetition.
7. Allows variable numbers of problems in an exercise.
8. Reduces learner stress by timing facts individually.
9. Provides immediate positive feedback for correct answers.
10. Provides extra reinforcement for fast, correct answers.
11. Displays an overall performance report at the conclusion of each exercise.
12. Prints reports for teacher review and for use as certificates of achievement.
13. Displays and prints item diagnostic details.
14. Uses a rating system that allows students to keep personal scores and 
    set goals.
15. Charts student rating progress graphically.
16. Maintains a database of student activity over time.

CapJaxMathFax is easy to use, you either download it once you purchase or you can buy a CD rom. 

 CapJaxMathFacts is available starting at $29.95 for the download or a cd version is also available, with a small additional charge.  My TOS crewmates have also been using CapJaxMathFacts.  To read what they have to say about it, click here.. 

Thanks for reading,

 

ALEKS

This was taken from the ALEKS website.

Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces is a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn't know in a course. ALEKS then instructs the student on the topics she is most ready to learn. As a student works through a course, ALEKS periodically reassesses the student to ensure that topics learned are also retained. ALEKS courses are very complete in their topic coverage and ALEKS avoids multiple-choice questions. A student who shows a high level of mastery of an ALEKS course will be successful in the actual course she is taking.

ALEKS also provides the advantages of one-on-one instruction, 24/7, from virtually any Web-based computer for a fraction of the cost of a human tutor.

So far both of my kids really seem to like ALEKS, no arguments when it's time for math.  They actually work ahead on it because they thinks it's fun to finish out their pie chart.

I love the fact that each of my children has a program specifically tailored for their math needs.  This ensures that each of them is learning what they need to learn and that I haven't accidentally missed something in their math education.

ALEKS even offers some fun games that help keep them interested while they are learning.

You can even print worksheets out.  I print out the worksheets and have them do these while we are in the car driving to dance or to a field trip. All of the rest of their work is done on the computer, which means we don't have any workbooks to keep track of or any DVD's to misplace.

Once your child masters a topic they are automatically moved on to a new topic.  Each topic builds on the previous topic and before you know it your 6th grader is doing 8th grade math. Neither of us even realized it until I was looking through our master account and saw an 8th grade level next to my daughter's info.  It made me happy to know she's enjoying math and getting a lot out of it and she's happy because she can boast a little about her fabulous math skills.  The Master account keeps track of your child's progress, you can create quizzes for them, review their attendance report, and change the grade level of their work. 

My Opinion

I recommend this program it really seems to work!  I do think it can be a little dry at times but you can help by adding fun games and hands on manipulatives.   Subscriptions are available for $19.95 a month, $99.95 for 6 months of access, or $179.95 for 12 months.  For families with more than one child, discount pricing is available.

If you would like to see what members of the TOS crew have to say about ALEKS click here.

Thanks for reading, 

Pyramids

In our homeschool curriculum we are doing a unit study on Egypt!  So far the kids have loved this unit, we worked on Pyramids last week and it was a lot of fun.  We experimented with straws to make different types of pyramids and to help figure out the volume.  Then, we played with cards to make tessellations which are pyramids that fit together without any gaps.  Today we are working on a sugar cube pyramid and will have pictures later in the week once it's finished!

1.  Makenzie built a tetrahedron pyramid which is a triangular based pyramid

 Kylan built a square-based pyramid which is the most common pyramid

 We experimented with other shapes to show that pyramids are very strong

We also figured out that 3 pyramids could fit inside of the cube!

We are using the book  Pyramids (Fantastic Facts) and the magazine Kids Discover