The Old Schoolhouse® Product & Curriculum Reviews
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Math Skill Builders Set - 10 CDs Review by Jennifer Loucks
Educational Activities, Inc.800-797-3223
P.O. Box 87
Baldwin, NY 11510
http://www.edact.com/
What an interesting concept: Math drills on CD for children to use independently. Students turn on the audio CD, and the teacher gives instructions, whether they be to just "think" the answer or write it down. Each case includes the questions asked and the answers. The 10 CDs give practice in the following math concepts, and each disk is labeled with an approximate grade level it can be used for:
Easier Facts
Harder Facts
Combination Numbers Facts (multiple operations in one problem)
Measurement
Writing Numerals (place value)
Multiplying by Tens and Hundreds
Rounding Numbers
Estimating
Problem Solving
Harder Problem Solving
My daughter used "Problem Solving." There were 4 tracks on the CD, each track being a separate exercise of about 20 problems. After a word problem was read, she decided whether multiplication or division was needed to solve it. The spoken directions were simple and clear, no distracting music. The answers were given orally so students could self-check. It was fun for a change from her usual math lesson. There was no math instruction given; the problems were strictly skill practice.
The audio component is good practice in listening and following directions, and is a nice change from workbooks. The tracks can be used over and over by both the same student and different students. They are very easy to implement; all you need are a CD player, paper, and pencil.
The set of 10 disks is $79. This seems expensive for skill practice which could just as easily be accomplished with workbooks. Homeschoolers whose math instruction is more informal, or who are looking for a change of pace, will find these useful supplements to their math curriculum.
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