Mathletics is my favorite so far of the math products we have reviewed. It is a web-based math program with over 750 learning activities for kids from 5 to 14.

There are so many things on this site to capture a child’s attention! Here are a few of the wonderful features:

• Each avatar character is fully customized.
• Credits earned from activities can be used to purchase items for the characters like new clothes – a big motivator in my house.
• Students can compete live with children from all over the world who are on the same skill level.
• The problems adjust to your child’s weak areas, giving more practice in those areas.
• The animated math dictionary is fascinating.
• Additional games can be played on the Rainforest Maths site.
• My favorite section is the problem solving section – interactive & very clever.
• And to make this site complete, the parent can print out workbooks to go with every level.

Weekly reports are emailed to the parent so you can see how your child has been performing.

The Nitty Gritty:

An annual subscription is $59, but if you know the Human Calculator’s favorite number then it is only $49.95. (It is the number 9)

Value:

I definitely think you get your money’s worth with this one.

See what my TOS Crew Mates have to say about Mathletics!

I received a free trial membership for the purpose of writing this review. No other compensation was given.

Do you have a child who is interested in creating video games? Tektoma offers a safe environment for that learning to take place. Funny Girl (12) got to test drive this one. She dove into the tutorials and spent the entire afternoon creating games. When asked if she was enjoying herself, she replied with an enthusiastic “Yes!”.

Tektoma offers:

•    Engaging video tutorials for ages 7-17
•    Tutorials of varying skill levels and topics
•    Learn at your own pace in the comfort of your home
•    Natural progression helps develop technical skills
•    Customize your learning experience
•    Low monthly membership fee gives access to all our resources
•    New curriculums available monthly

The games resemble the Nintendo games from my youth, very cute. There is a member’s only forum for posting questions and suggesting future games.

The Nitty Gritty:

• $14.95 per month
• $140 per year

Free Membership Opportunities:

• Free 14-day trial
• Earn 15 days of free membership for each friend who becomes a paying member.

Things I Like:

• The site is moderated to provide a safe environment for kids from 7-17 to learn and create.
• The tutorials are easy to follow. Funny Girl did not have to ask for help at all.
• She felt a great sense of accomplishment for all the work she put into her game.

Value: This is a worth-while tool if you have a beginner gamer in your midst.

See what my TOS Crew Mates have to say about Tektoma!

I was given a 3-month free membership in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was provided.

Spelling wasn’t something that I had to really think about with my first child. She is a natural speller and any ol’ workbook did the trick. Child #2 is another story. She can do the work perfectly, but it does not transfer over into her writing. I just knew that All About Spelling would work for her!

All About Spelling is a hands-on curriculum. The lessons are simple to teach and the student follows along with the lesson using letter tiles. It is mastery-based, not grade level-based,  so students of any age can jump in at whatever level is needed. Continual review ensures that the lessons stick.

I also use this for my 7 yr. old beginning speller. The short lessons, daily review, and hands-on work keep him from getting bored and distracted.

I do our lessons on a magnetic whiteboard that I bought at Walmart. A magnet board is not a necessity for this program, but it saves a lot of time since the letters do not have to be lined up each day. I definitely recommend purchasing the magnets for letter tiles. It was so much simpler than cutting my own.

Level 1 covers:

• How to say and write the first 32 phonograms
• How to segment words into their individual sounds
• Short and long vowel sounds
• How to identify and count syllables in a word
  
• How to choose between c and k at the beginning of a word
• When to double f, l, and s
  
• How to spell /k/ at the end of a word
• How to form plural words by adding s or es
  
• Compound words
• Open and closed syllable types

Level 2 covers:

• The open and closed syllable types
• How to divide words into syllables
• How to spell multisyllable words
• When y can say /î/
• How Silent E can make a vowel long
• The vowel-consonant-e syllable type
• Two spellings for the sound of /z/
• The two sounds of long u
• The difference between hard and soft c and g
• Ways to spell long e
• That English words don’t end in i, j, u, or v
• The most common way to spell the sound of /er/
• When to use oi/oy, aw/au, and ow/ou

The Nitty Gritty:

• Starter Kit (letter tiles, magnets, phonogram cd-rom) $26.95 – used for all 6 levels
• Level 1 teacher & student   $29.95
• Level 2 teacher & student   $39.95
• items can also be ordered individually

Things I Like:

• hands-on
• easy to teach
• concepts are taught in a logical order
• works for all ages instead of grade-leveled
• my kids don’t dread spelling!

Value: Spelling is one of those subjects that is worth every penny if it works for your child. This on is particularly budget-friendly for a big family like mine since it is non-consumable.

See what my TOS Crew Mates have to say about All About Spelling!

I recieved All About Spelling levels 1 & 2 and the starter kit free for the purpose of writing this review. No other compensation was given.