How I Teach Math in My Homeschool: CTCMath Review
This is a sponsored post, however all opinions are my own.
Getting Started:
When you first get started you will add your children to the program. I added all four of my children, 1st, 3rd, and placed my twin preschoolers in the kindergarten level. Note: I think that four-year olds can start the kindergarten level to be prepared for school. I do the lessons with my twins and we usually do two each a day.
Each level has diagnostic tests that you can assign to your child to see where they are. I assigned my daughters their current grade level to see where they are now. Although they did well on the diagnostics, I still kept them in their current grade level so that they could go through each lesson.
CTCMath is very detailed, so you can see exactly what your child needs help on. So for example, my first grader needs assistance in Money. It shows that she is having difficulty adding coins, so now I know exactly what I need to work with her on.
Major Features:
- Kindergarten through 12th Grade
- U.S. Curriculum
- Flexible Grade Placement
- Interactive (Videos & Questions)
Pros:
History
This is my favorite feature! I love clicking on the timeline and being able to see what my children have done throughout the day. The history tab allows parents to see when your child has logged in, what they viewed, and what they completed.
Emails
CTCMath sends weekly emails so that you can monitor your children’s progress. They also send certificates to your email as well. My children get motivated by the awards they receive and I can easily display their accomplishments.
Parent Area
In the tools tab, you can browse through the lessons beforehand. It gives the option view the video or download a pdf. This is good for children who need additional practice, and you want to teach it to them.
Checklists
You can download checklists for each grade level that shows the topics of each lessons. I can put the date that we completed the lesson, as well as their grade.
Easy to Use
My children had no problem logging in to CTCMath. The lessons are short and are helpful video explanations. After each video, there are questions to check understanding.
Cons:
I like that the lessons are flexible and can go in any order, however I wish that I could lock them and place in the order that we are teaching. My oldest likes to choose her lessons and always starts with the easiest first.
Overall:
I think CTCMath is great for all children, even those who are not homeschooled. It helps children understand math, and is like a personal tutor.
Children get better at math with practice, and CTCMath gives children that confidence in the comfort of their own home at their own pace. I also think that you could complete two grade levels in one year. Even if your child does attend traditional school, he will have a head start because the material will not be new to him. If your child ever needs assistance, there is a feature that allows you to reset the assignment and complete it again.
I also like how you can switch grade levels, so whether your child needs review or is advanced, they can work at their needs.
My children actually ask to do their math because of CTCMath. I am happy that I can now focus on Math as much as Reading.
We will definitely continue to use CTCMath throughout my children’s school career. Especially as a mom of four, since I’m teaching three different grade levels I need all the assistance I can. CTCMath acts as my math helper and assists my children until we can go over it together.