Dec. 19, 2008 - ALEKS Math Review
“ALEKS is a web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system.” It’s an online, interactive Math curriculum that evaluates each student’s math skills and provides instruction in the areas needed.
Click Here for ALEKS
It can be used as a personal tutor, or a supplement to public school, or as a homeschool curriculum. It offers instruction in K-12 mathematics, up to and including Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry, AP Statistics, AP Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, Fundamentals of Accounting, and Business Math.
My homeschooled children have been using this system for the past month.
April is registered in Algebra 2, and Jonathan in 6th grade. After their initial registration, which went smoothly, they were each given an online assessment to find out what they knew.
A list of topics is then assigned to each student in a colorful pie shape, called MyPie. Each time the students log in they are asked to do review work, or they are placed exactly where they left off from a previous session.
ALEKS provides assessment reports for the parents, and the kids can see their progress right on their MyPie charts. They can pick and choose any part of the pie to work in. ALEKS will not let them move on to more difficult topics until current ones are mastered.
Jonathan, my 6th grader, is plodding along quite well. He’s a kid that has meltdowns from mathematics! I have not seen any of these so far. He likes the freedom to pick and choose his topics from the ALEKS MyPie for the day.
The instruction is straightforward and uses diagrams and examples for instruction. If Jonathan gets a problem wrong, he can click for an explanation and it solves it for him. Then it prompts him to practice similar problems.
Jonathan says he likes it better than the Saxon math he’s doing. I have him in Saxon Algebra 1/2 which is a little above his level. His ALEKS level is easier for him, and less stressful.
I’ll continue to use both programs with him. He needs all the math support he can get.
My daughter, April, works in ALEKS Algebra 2. She’s been working slow and steady through it. She wishes there “was more structure to the program in terms of telling her exactly what problems she needs to do and what “grade” she got on the assignment.”
But ALEKS doesn’t work that way!
It doesn’t give grades; it provides mastery!
She will either learn it and master it, or continue to work on it.
Overall, I’m pleased with the ALEKS system. I’d like to continue with them for both of my kids.
Click Here for ALEKS
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Dec. 17, 2008 - The Little Man In The Map - With Clues To Remember All 50 States
By Schoolside Press
Written by E. Andrew Martonyi
Illustrated by Ed Olson
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The Little Man in the Map is an imaginary story about… the little man in the map.
Go get your map of the United States. Really, go get it.
Can you see him.. the little man? Look for him near the middle of the United States.
I’ll give you a hint. His hat is Minnesota. There now… you found his hat.
How about his face - did you find it? That’s right, it’s Iowa with his big nose profile.
Now you see him, don’t you?
What’s that you say? Yes, Missouri is his shirt and Arkansas, his pants. Good job!
Can you find his boots? Right there at the bottom—it’s Louisiana.
You found him – the little man in the map. You never knew he was there did you?
His name is MIM. He travels all over the map, (and this book), teaching you the names and locations of all 50 states.
From the day we got this book in the mail, my kids have been intrigued by it. It’s bright and colorful and full of fun illustrations. Before the younger ones even knew what the book was for, (basic U.S. geography) they liked it.
My Josiah, a three year old pumpkin, carries it around and asks, “Where’s the map?”, “Where’s Mim?”, and “Will you read it to me?”
MIM rhymes his way through these pages giving you clues and clever illustrations to remember all 50 states. It works great! My kids and myself have several of them memorized. Being a southern California girl, I’m still a little fuzzy in remembering the Northeastern states. I’ll work on it!
I don’t want to give away all his secrets, but Andrew Martonyi’s MIM has me thinking about the Monster Montana, MAGS (the 4 table legs), and UCAN. You’ll have to buy the book to find out what I’m talking about.
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Dec. 12, 2008 - Spears Art Studio High School Art Review
By April, an 11th grader
The Spears Art Studio High School Survey is an ideal choice for students who prefer art to be self-taught with a Biblical emphasis.
The format is straight-forward and carefully organized. Each lesson has ten distinct, bite-sized divisions, making the lesson much less overwhelming and easily digested. Each lesson’s sections include titles like:
Objectives,
Vocabulary,
Scripture,
Art History,
Visual Memory Exercises, and
Activities.
The subject matter of each one can be grasped quickly and completed with a fair amount of work.
As I have mentioned before each lesson covers more than just art. The objectives, vocabulary, and scripture are preparatory to the meat of the lesson, while the art history, visual memory exercises and activities are the main learning avenues of the lesson.
learning about art and
creating art.
Everyone who wants to enjoy learning art with a Christian view should plainly decide on Spears Art Studio High School Art Survey.
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This is my daughter’s review of the Spears Art Studio High School Art Survey, written by Diane Shields Spears, Doctor of Christian Education. My daughter, April, is thoroughly enjoying the art lessons. She wants to do nothing else during the day. She says the lessons are easy for her to understand, and they take her step-by-step through the process.
I’ll say when I, as Mom, first looked at the curriculum on CD, I was overwhelmed. But I soon realized, as I began to look closer, that this curriculum leads you through the lessons gently, with plenty of explanations.
There is a 16 page introduction that discusses art supplies, your environment, your internal preparation, how to evaluate your artwork, and a 7-page article “Art is Good for My Brain?” by Diane S. Spears. There are 36 lessons, 75 art activities, and 36 sketchbook assignments.
give me understanding,
that I may learn thy commandments.
Psalm 119:73
I’m happy we have an art program that points to God’s creation and gives scripture with each lesson. So much in the world of “art” or “modern art” is ungodly.
One of the mission statements of Spears Art Studio is to recognize the hand of God in everything and to give Him glory. Amen!
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