UberSmart Math Facts – A Review

UberSmart Software is bringing back the foundations of math skills with UberSmart Math Facts.

 

UberSmart Math Facts is a downloadable computer software program.  Once it is installed on your computer, you have access to the program for as long as you want to keep it. The creator of UberSmart, David Kocur, is a dad who homeschools.  He wrote this software to help his own children learn and master their math facts in a fun and engaging way. This software teaches the basic math facts in a simple, flashcard style and helps the student review those facts as often as needed.
     This is not a program filled with a lot of distracting games and bells and whistles.  It is very straight forward and focuses solely on mastering math facts.The program works well for a wide variety of ages because it does everything from teaching basic keyboard skills (number entry) to testing mastery of math facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  My kids are extremely competitive and they really enjoyed the ‘compete’ area of the software.  In this area, kids can compete against time and then compare their scores. UberSmart Math Facts basically is a computerized flashcard-based drilling program. Since it is so important to do frequent review over math facts, a programs like this is nice to have available because it doesn’t require constant parent involvement.

What Did We do with the Software:

My kids are in high school, so we used this program as a drill and practice review to help them keep their skills sharp in preparation for their upcoming ACT test.  This was ideal for review of all addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. I let the kids work in all of the skill areas, but they mainly focused on the multiplication and division areas.  In those areas, the math facts up to the 20’s are practiced.  I even need practice above the 12’s!  They loved to use the compete area and try to beat each other’s scores.  I wish I had installed it on a couple of computers so they could compete at the same time.  That would have been fun!  They will be continuing to use this as a way of practicing their skills on a regular basis. This is good "busy work" to have available when one of them finishes a lesson early or says the infamous ‘I’m Bored!’. As the teacher, I can adjust time limits as needed to make a set of problems or a test more or less challenging.  That has been a real plus!  Tracking is another effective part of this program and I can see what my child's response time is as well as what is just not clicking for them. Downloading the program was simple and set up was a breeze.  The program can be used for up to 8 children which is wonderful for large families!  It is geared toward kids in grades K-6, but, anyone who needs a good review of math facts can benefit from this program.  Note: only for Windows 7, 8, XP, and Vista.

 

Overall, this is a nice program.  It needs a little bit of tweaking to be ‘perfect,’ but nothing that is major -- mainly just a few minor things that would make the program even more appealing to kids, like some certificates or rewards to print,The price is reasonable - $24.95 - and the program is 100% guaranteed.

To read other reviews of UberSmart Math Facts, click on the banner below.

Victory Has Been Won

 

Everything will be OK. Many people tell you this, but they don’t have the ability to guarantee you a true positive outcome. The difference between them and Me is that I do have the ability to guarantee you a positive outcome. Don’t misunderstand Me, I don’t mean that everything will turn out the way you necessarily think it should, but it will work out for the best. I have the amazing ability to work all things together for the good of all those who truly love Me and are called according to My purpose. Even when you experience difficulties in life you can rest assured of My presence with you and My love for you. For My children, even the world’s greatest fear – death – does not prevent me from bringing victory because I overcame death and the grave.

Romans 8:28; Matthew 28:6

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

 

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. I knit you together in your mother’s womb. I have known you since your beginning, since the moment of your conception. You have far more abilities than you realize. You can accomplish much more than you believe you can. You have allowed others to convince you that you do not have it within you to experience success or make a difference. Stop believing that lie. I placed My creative nature inside of you. I have gifted and equipped you to do great things. I do not make mistakes, and I made you. Begin today living in the victory I have designed for you. Think outside the limited box you have either built yourself or allowed others to build around you and use the inspiration, inventiveness, and ingenuity I have placed inside you. You have so much to offer and much more than you can imagine to experience in life. Use the creative nature I placed within you when I made you and begin to accomplish what others believe is impossible.

Psalm 139:13-14; 1 Samuel 18:14; Exodus 31:1-11; Romans 12:6-8; Luke 1:37

I Am Here With You

The unknown often brings fear to you. You are not aware of what will happen next year, or even what will happen in the next minute. You cannot control the majority of what happens to you each day and this frustrates you. You want to be in control of everything but realize that you are really in control of very little. You want to know everything but realize you actually know very little of what there is to know. Did it ever occur to you that nothing is unknown to Me, and I never experience fear? I am in complete control – even when it doesn’t seem like it to you. I know what is about to happen to you and I am prepared even if you are not. When you arrive at tomorrow I will already be there to greet you and will be ready to handle whatever comes your way. Stay close by My side and rest in My peace. I will never leave you or forsake you. Fear not, for I am here with you! Joshua 1:5; Psalm 139:1-4; John 14:27; Hebrews 13:5

Focus on My Creation

As you look around at the vast universe I have made I trust you are inspired and in awe of the amazing displays of beauty. From the gigantic mountains to the vast oceans you can see My creative hand at work. The beauty of the fresh fallen snow is a reminder of My perfection. Every rain drop should remind you of the refreshment My Holy Spirit brings to you. As wonderful as these are, you must understand however, that you are the centerpiece of My creation. I made you in My image. I made you for the purpose of knowing Me and living with Me today and forever. Use My creation to help you focus more on Me and My purpose for you, never allow your love of My creation to replace your love of Me. Psalm 95:4, 148:7-12; Genesis 1:26-27; John 17:3

Economics for Everybody–a Review

 Roman Roads Media is a company renowned for publishing Classical, Christian curriculum for homeschoolers.  Their products combine technology resources with high quality instruction to help your child love learning. We were given the Economics for Everybody Curriculum to use and review.
 Economics for Everybody (instructor R.C. Sproul, Jr.) is an economics curriculum written for students in 5th grade and up.  It covers the inner workings of economics, the relationship between economic freedom and religious freedom, the difference between many different economic systems, and the importance of stewardship in a healthy economic system.  This DVD based curriculum includes 2 DVDs and a spiral bound guide (236 pages).  This course would count as 1/2 of a High School Economics credit.  It retails for $45.
     This study contains twelve lessons. Lessons 1 to 5 introduce key economic principles; Lessons 6 and 7 explain the relationships between theology, philosophy, and economics; Lessons 9 to 12 examine the application of economics in real-life systems. Everything fits together, with each lesson generally building on the lesson before it. The lessons are video bases and students complete exercises in the guide to reinforce the concepts presented in the videos. 
     My son has been working through this curriculum as his economics course for his senior year.  Even though it is written for 5th grade and up, it is not watered down.  The topics he has been studying have led to some great discussions about the current economic situation of our country and how we got into this situation.  I love the way that this curriculum ties together theology, philosophy, and economics.  I want my son to understand that economics is more than just finances and see the relationship between godly stewardship and economics.  This curriculum provides just that. 
     A sample of the videos and workbook pages is available here. Viewing the sample video and workbook pages is a great way to know if your child will enjoy this curriculum. We found the videos very engaging and interesting.  My son is not very good with a lot of ‘paper and pen’ type work, so I assign what I though he needed in the guide from a written perspective and we cover the rest orally. There have been some lessons where he has watched the video a couple of times because the concepts were so new and he had to watch it to understand. The videos in the early lessons are all less than twenty minutes.  After lesson six, the videos are around 20-27  minutes.  The Study Guide includes an expanded outline of each lesson with additional material not included in the lessons; it also includes related Bible readings, discussion questions, short answer questions, and multiple-choice questions. The expanded outline is a great feature.  My son uses this as he watches the videos.  He highlights and makes notes of things that he wants to remember as he is watching.  We have been looking at the related Bible readings and discussion questions together.  The short answer and multiple-choice questions are quick and easy to complete and are appropriate to check for understanding.  He enjoys this type of question the most.
     All in all, I would recommend the Economics for Everybody curriculum to anyone who is in need of an economics curriculum.  It is biblically-based, thorough, and completely enjoyable by students and parents alike.  This course could easily be completed in a semester or less by covering one lesson per week.  It takes my son about two weeks right now to complete a lesson, but that is because we are on a summer schedule.  Once we begin school for fall he will be finishing up the course by completing one lesson per week.  We are truly enjoying our experience and I know I will be using this curriculum with my daughter in a couple of years.  We typically study economics in the twelfth grade along with government. 
    Roman Roads Media can be located on social media as well as through their website.  To link up with them, simple visit:
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/romanroadsmedia/videos      My friends on the schoolhouse review crew have been using and reviewing the Economics for Everybody curriculum as well as many other quality products from Roman Roads Media. To read their reviews, click on the banner below.

Mathletics–a Review

My kids have been needing a fresh look at math skills practice for quite a while.  We were given a full year subscription to Mathletics, an online math program providing math skills practice for children in grades K-12.  Mathletics is a division of 3P Learning and is utilized in both schools and homes as a supplement to any standing math curriculum.      With Mathletics, the overall system is fairly user friendly.  Once students are enrolled and assigned to a course, students work on skills within that course.  Parents set the level at which the student is working (from the parent page) and, in case of a student finishing a level or needing to change to a more appropriate level, parents may change the course in which the student is working up to five times during the year.  The different courses are standards-based and thorough, although not intended to serve as a stand-alone math curriculum.      We were working through the Algebra and Geometry courses.  The main part of the courses is the activity section.  In this section, students work through the course content topically.  Within each topic, students take a pretest, complete multiple tasks (each containing ten questions and requiring 80% mastery to move on), and a post test.      When a student completes a task with 80% mastery or better, he/she earns a gold bar.  These gold bars, along with other tasks, help the student accumulate points which can be used to add new features to his/her avatar. Honestly, this is the one part of the program that my kids did not get into.  They felt it was more for younger kids.  It is a nice incentive for the younger bunch.      I had access to printable workbooks for each topic.  This is really helpful for learners who need pen / paper practice.  There are video explanations of the topics and interactive, blackboard demonstrations of different problems.  In the Live Mathletics section, students compete for speed and accuracy with another student in their grade level. This is a great perk for competitive students!      Parents are able to assign up to 10 particular tasks to the student. Upon signing on, the student will be required to do these tasks before attempting anything else on the site. Another nice parent feature is that the parent is able to log on, or to receive email updates, to see the time each student has spent practicing, the particular skills practiced, and the scores earned.      My kids have enjoyed their experience with Mathletics.  I enjoy the parent features, especially the email updates.  The website itself takes a bit of learning to navigate, but is easy once you get the hang of it.  The kids enjoyed the fact that they only had to do ten problems for each task.  I have been using this with them to help them review for their ACT test and felt that the topics covered were thorough and easy to understand.  It takes the kids anywhere from 15-30 minutes to complete a task.  They usually complete 1-2 tasks in one sitting. I also appreciate the fact that this is not a download product.  It is entirely web based, so you can login and access the program anywhere you have internet access.  There is also a mobile app available.  Mathletics is not a math game website.  The program is colorful and does offer some small incentives / rewards and does provide for some competition.  Priced at $59 per student for a 1-year subscription, Mathletics delivers quality math practice.      To read other crew reviews, click on the banner below.