Mathematic curriculum - www.LearningAbledKids.com

These math curriculums are selected for their visual and/or hands-on methods for teaching. Such methods are often effective for teaching children with visual learning styles.

Thinkwell - For high school mathematics (except Geometry) - Thinkwell uses multimedia instructional videos to teach concepts. I really like their teaching videos because the video clips are highly focused and eliminate any unnecessary distractions. This is particularly helpful for any child with ADHD / ADD. Most of the time, the videos show only the teacher's hands and the white board where he's working the problem. The instructors talk directly to the student and there is no background class to serve as a distraction (as there is in the A Beka and Bob Jones DVD courses). Thinkwell has online exercises, which are automatically graded for immediate feedback. The feedback gives an explanation for why the student was correct or incorrect. Programs also have books available, which are primarily the content taught in the video on paper. For a child who does not need a lot of repetitive practice, but needs focused, undistracted teaching, the Thinkwell programs are an excellent choice.

ALEKS - For any grade level - "ALEKS is a web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn't know in a course. ALEKS then instructs the student on the topics she is most ready to learn. As a student works through a course, ALEKS periodically reassesses the student to ensure that topics learned are also retained. ALEKS courses are very complete in their topic coverage and ALEKS avoids multiple choice questions. A student who shows a high level of mastery of an ALEKS course will be successful in the actual course she is taking." We find the ALEKS program to be an ideal reinforcement to our math learning, however it can easily serve as a complete, stand-alone program. The perfect thing about ALEKS is that it tirelessly provides ongoing review, as many times as a child requires it, and moves on just as soon as a child has mastered a concept. It is what I consider a "nearly perfect" progression of learning. The main limitation I've found in the program is the reiteration of lessons in exactly the same way--If a child does not get a concept the way the program is presenting the lesson, the child may require additional explanation from another source or the teaching parent. Thus, we use it as our lesson reinforcement to insure mastery of learned concepts, but rely on other programs for additional ways of presenting a concept.

Switched-On Schoolhouse R² Math - S.O.S. Math is taught through an interactive, visual software program. The S.O.S. programs provide instant feedback, which is often essential for children with learning disabilities. Additonally, the S.O.S. software provides visual and auditory reinforcement. The S.O.S. programs are available for all grades up through Pre-Algebra (8th), Algebra I (9th), Algebra II (11th), Geometry(10th), and Pre-Calculus (12th) in High School.

Carnegie Learning - Cognitive Tutor Software - The Cognitive Tutor software helps students understand the relationships between mathematical representations as they explore linear functions. Students work with various representations of functions including tables, graphs, algebraic expressions, and text descriptions. As they translate functions from one representation to the other, students learn to understand how these representations are interconnected. These are complete, higher mathematics courses with texts available to homeschools.

Standard Deviants School - Basic Math - We LOVE these DVD programs. The programs are high energy, dynamic, and use a lot of visuals and graphics. The DVDs are interactive allowing students to answer quiz questions with the remote control to check for understanding. The programs also come in video form, but those are not interactive. There are worksheets that go along with Standard Deviants' School programs, which are available on Teachers' CD-Roms or in workbooks at the Standard Deviants' website. This Edutainment is a 'fun' way to present math concepts to a child.

(continued below..)

Cuisenaire Rods - These mathematical manipulatives are terrific. We use them and they have been instrumental in developing our kids' understanding of complex mathematical concepts.
Buy Rods & Books at ChristianBook.com
Buy Books at Amazon.com (no Rods)

Base Ten Math - This is a great math program using manipulative blocks, rods, and cubes. It is one my child gives rave reviews. The markings on the cubes and rods help with concepts and counting.
Buy Rods & Books at Christianbook.com
Buy Books Amazon.com (no Blocks)

Math-U-See - This is a great program using manipulatives that allow a child to see and experience mathematical concepts. Math manipulatives have been instrumental in helping with our learning. We have been using Math-U-See with great success and enjoyment. These products available only through manufacturer's representatives found on the Math-U-See website.

(continued below..)

Saxon Math - Many children benefit from the detailed step-by-step program that Saxon offers. This math program builds upon itself with plenty of repetitive practice, cementing the concepts cognitively.
Buy through ChristianBook.com
Buy through Amazon.com

Times Tales - While this is not a complete curriculum, if your child is struggling to learn their multiplication tables, particularly the 6, 7, 8, and 9s, Times Tales is a great solution for visual learners. This is an inexpensive and easy to use product that helped solidify my child's recall of multiplication facts in one week of usage.

Math Curriculums