Learn Pre-Algebra with Flexibility and Independence {A TabletClass Math / Homeschool Review Crew Review}

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew. 

If you are looking for a middle school or high school math program that is complete, understandable, flexible, and able to be used online and on paper online, solo or with parent input, then TabletClass Math could be for you.

My 12-year old has been trying out the Pre-Algebra and so far, I've been pleased with the course and would therefore recommend it, or TabletClass Math other homeschool math courses as a possible solution for you and yours. 

Other courses offered are:

• Algebra 1
• Geometry
• Algebra 2
• Pre-Calculus

Each course is designed to provide a complete math curriculum that can be self-paced by students with 24-hour online access to a full host of pre-recorded video lessons and printable practice problems and tests/keys and notes. 

Clear Math Teaching

Instruction is offered by Mr. John Zimmerman, a credentialed and proven master teacher who has helped countless students reach their goals - from finally "getting" math to getting into top colleges. His style is engaging as he aims to make math enjoyable and understandable while making complex concepts clear.

Mr. Zimmerman also aims to offer homeschool students the full teaching they would receive in a classroom situation, which means he provides full down-to-earth video lessons which introduce and teach concepts and skills and also bring students step-by-step through solutions to all practice problems. 

You can get a flavor for Mr. Zimmerman's style on his YouTube channel.

Ease of Use

Each TabletClass Math is self contained and easy for students to use on their own with any online device, a printer, paper, a pencil, and, if desired, a calculator. No textbooks or other supplies are needed.

With a well-organized online portal hosted on the teachable.com website, students can use TabletClass Math independently and control the pace of instruction in a way that suits their learning style - pausing videos, replaying them, skipping ones about concepts they "get", moving quickly through lessons or taking thing slow.

The online portal is set up with consecutive links almost like chapters in a text book, so basically, you can self-pace through the online teaching then put pencil to paper by completing printable practice problems, exercises, and tests. Doing so will help you master chapter core math skills and concepts.

Of course, you can also use TabletClass Math as a ready reference or tutorial system logging in any time you get stuck on a particular concept and using the easy to use navigation to find a lesson which targets just what you need more help with.

Or, like my son and I, you can use TabletClass Math as both and independent and parent-supported math program - working independently when life requires it and having some Mom (or Dad)-taught lessons using the printable worksheets when time allows and you ask for such things. 

Parent Support

Although TabletClass Math is set up for students to do on their own, Mr Zimmerman did not forget parents. 

As a parent, you can gain access to a Parent/Admin Portal that includes:

• Chapter Tests / Keys
• Chapter Tests Summary Worksheet
• a Course Guidebook
• Final Exam Directions
• a Final Exam
• a Final Exam Key
• a Course Grade Calculation Worksheet
• a printable Course Certificate

No worries if you don't "get" math or are rusty, all solutions are there!

Plus, you can easily see how students are doing by paging through their printable worksheets or taking a peak at periodic quizzes.

Comprehensive Math Teaching

Some online math programs seem more supplementary than complete. Not TabletClass Math! Each TabletClass Math course is designed to provide much more than a brief overview of concepts.

Each topic is taught in-depth, to include lesson videos, practice problem examples and step-by-step video solutions, a wide range of printable problems, etc.

Lesson videos, on average, are more than 15 minutes long in order to maximize complete explanations and mastery.

Basic and advanced skills, including word problems, are covered and each chapter includes
a comprehensive, printable summary of notes for each concept covered​.

There are also end-of-chapter quizzeswith instant feedback so you can see how you are doing.

Designed for student practice and mastery of core academic skills, TabletClass Math offers more than many other online math courses I have seen.

My Son's Thoughts|

My 12-year-old said:

At first, I hated it, because I did not want to start Pre-Algebra, but once I watched the videos I realized it was not that bad. The videos teach well. They have clear explanations and there are also videos to walk you through the problems.

I like that there are printable worksheets. I like being able to write on paper. Also, the worksheets make it so that I can learn 1:1 with Mom when I don't want to watch the videos. The program gives me options to decide if I want to be online or off and to be able to decide if I want to get ahead. 

I would recommend it and will continue it, which will make my mom surprised because at first I was adamant I would not do Pre-Algebra.

As Mom, I am surprised. My 12-year-old was not thrilled when I suddenly jumped him to Pre-Algebra, but he's realized that with this program, he can do it. Hoorah!

My Final Thoughts

So, far, I have been pleased with the flexibility and comprehensive teaching of TabletClass Math.

I particularly appreciate that my son can use the TabletClass Math system independently and control the pace of instruction in a way that suits his personal learning style and our crazy schedules. Because the system is set up so that students use both technology (any online device) and traditional materials (pencil and paper!) to learn, my son can use it at home and at co-op during study hall when he has internet connection, or or alongside me or his own on paper when we have pre-printed included worksheets and are somewhere without internet connection or when he just wants some Mom-time and teaching.

The TabletClass Math approach seems excellent for retention and engagement as well as flexibility and I encourage you to look into it.

Learn More

About 20 Homeschool Review Crew families tried out a course or more TabletClass Math. Click through to find links to video, social media, and blog reviews.

Find TabletClass Math on social media: Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Get a Homeschool Science Membership for the Whole Family {A Greg Landry's Homeschool Science/Homeschool Review Crew Review}

 Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew.

What happens when a former college professor and veteran homeschool dad spends about two decades teaching thousands of homeschooled students and hundreds of college students in the U.S. and worldwide Science? Whole families get to reap the benefits of Grade 1-12 Science resources with practical, self-paced courses as a part of Greg Landry's Homeschool Science Membership from Greg Landry's Homeschool Science.

Our family was introduced to Greg Landry's in 2021 when my son opted to review a half-semester Biochemistry and Microbiology class. Having met with success with that course, but then veered away from Science studies while concentrating on other things, my son has now returned to Greg Landry's Homeschool Science as he works to complete his high school Science credits.

When I asked him to write out his thoughts for this review, he shared the following.

What Is this Product?

A Greg Landry's Homeschool Science Membership includes access to courses for Grades 1-12, including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy and Physiology, and online labs. Each high school level course contains pre-recorded video lessons and a pdf workbook. The workbooks have worksheets, note taking, and diagrams. 

Why Did I Choose this Product?

I paused my Science studies for a while and now want to finish all of my Science credits in one year. So, I chose Greg Landry's Science, because it has both sciences I need in one place which allows me to get used to the program and then use it through both programs instead of jumping to different ones as I usually do.

When I took Greg Landry's Science before, I found that lessons were easy to complete and more importantly to me, not time consuming. Unlike with other programs I have used, I can speed up and slow down the videos, which allows me to take things at my own pace.

This is a feature I like about these courses.

How Do Lessons Flow?

Let me take you through the process of a lesson. First you log onto your Canvas account, open the course you want, open the next video lesson in it, and grab some paper or the special note taking sheets Greg Landry provides if you have opted to print them out. Then, while watching the video, you take notes. After this you complete the worksheets and can also do corresponding labs from the online labs access.

Would I Recommend this Product?

I have recently realized that I prefer in-person lessons over online ones for subjects such as Science, so while Greg Landry Science is not my absolute favorite style of program, I still find it reliable and easy to use. It gets the job done, and, for this reason, I would recommend it to any high school age homeschool student and their parents who don’t have access or time for in person learning. 

Learn More

A Greg Landry's Homeschool Science Membership offers you and your family access to over $4500 (if purchased separately) of Science and Virtual Labs for grades 1-12 plus things for Mom and Dad. For students in grades six or above, the courses can typically be self-paced with little parent involvement.

My approach to using the high school courses with my son is to let him watch videos, take notes, use the pdfs, etc. as he wishes to and, then, to check up on him by browsing his notes binder and using the optional downloadable True or False tests and require the online labs as well.

I am happy to be able to have my son finish his Science credits at his own now-quickened pace with Greg Landry's Science and recommend Greg Landry's Homeschool Science Membership as an effective resource that makes Science accessible for your family to pace through as needed. With monthly membership payments that decrease every six months, Greg Landry can become your Science "easy button".

Ten Homeschool Review Crew families have been blessed to review Greg Landry's Homeschool Science Membership. Click through to find reviews of each family's experience.

You might also like some of the free resources Greg Landry offers.

Let Students Take Control of Their Learning with CTCMath {A CTCMath / Homeschool Review Crew Review}

 I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew.

Have you ever cheered over a math program?

I have! 

In fact, I cheered when I found out that we'd been selected to review another 12 month family membership from CTCMath.

What Is CTCMath?

CTCMath is an online math curriculum for grades K-12 that allows students to self-pace through math while giving parents quick access to checking up on how students are doing.

Some excellent features of CTCMath are:

• adaptive questions that change in difficulty depending on a student's ability which help students build confidence and master 
• concepts
• a function that allows questions to be readout so that struggling readers are not held back in math
• interactive questions based explicitly on clear, concise video tutorials
• extensive reports for parents and progress notations students can see, too

One thing missing from CTCMath - at least in our experience - is stress. Neither I as a parent not my children as self-paced learners find CTCMath stressful and that is huge!

What Has Our experience with CTCMath Been?

Since we first reviewed CTCMath in 2019, it has become a staple in our home.  We so appreciate how it provides a full K-12 curriculum, including Calculus that offers teaching videos, practice questions, games, tests, tasks, weekly revisions sets, and more which make it a flexible, easy, self-paced program for my children to access and use.

My youngest, now 11, has moved through several years of math using CTCMath and has also practiced his facts using the Speed Skills portion of the program. Currently, he is on a break from screens, and, thus, from online math, but he looks forward to using CTCMath again and says:

I like CTCMath. I was using it until last week and want to continue using it. I enjoy it, and it is easy to use.

I love that my youngest favors CTCMath, can use it independently and can pause, then pick up with his math work with it easily. Self-paced and flexible, with clear teaching, CTCMath is a win for him. 

My middle child, now 15, prefers book-based math programs, but, we occasionally, use her CTCMath login to learn or practice particular skills. The fact that CTCMath has pre-recorded Video Tutorials that explain and teach each and every concept for grades K-12 and allow students access any time on any device worldwide makes it prime for such supplementary use even if it is meant to be used as a one-stop, full math curriculum.

The program also works as intended, of course! In fact, my eldest child, now 16, uses CTCMath as his sole math program and thoroughly appreciates the independence it gives him. When I asked him for his current thoughts on CTCMath for this review, he said:

CTCMath is an online math program for students in  grades K -12.

I am on my third year of using CTCMath for high school. I have used it from Algebra I, through Algebra 2 and Geometry, and now I am into Pre-Calc/Trigonometry, which has allowed me to become quite familiar with the program.

Its style of videos followed by a short set of around ten questions works well with my independent learning style. For those who work better with worksheets, that’s an option as well. In fact, for some lessons, worksheets are the only option because the covered subject is too complex for a set of online multiple-choice questions.

Recently the site has undergone some changes which have been mostly graphical.  Among the changes has been the addition of a mastery bar. This video explains what the mastery bar is about:

Overall, I have greatly appreciated CTCMath. Out of all the math programs I have used, I have stayed with CTC the longest. It is easy to use and, typically, helps me move through math learning independently. The only issue I have is sometimes the videos are not enough to help me understand a concept clearly. On such occasions, I sometimes need to ask someone else for help or I just keep working through problems until I get them. As a self learner this works fine for me as I usually just learn by trying.

I would highly suggest CTCMath to anyone who wants to take more control of their education or for parents who want to have to be less hands-on with their students. It has been great for me, and I hope the same can hold true for you.

CTCMath has truly been a blessing to our family, fitting each child's needs in a different way and carrying two of my children through multiple grades of math with very little oversight or help from me.

I Highly Recommend CTCMath

Over and over since we first began using CTCMath in 2019, I have recommended it to others in person and online as an excellent, user-friendly program that can help students take control of their learning. I am doing so again today:

CTCMath is an easy to use program that allows students to self-pace through lessons and even move between grade level math courses. It also allows parents to easily check student progress by providing extensive reports that can help parents and students identify weaker areas that require further study and applaud progress in stronger areas.

Not many math programs make me cheer, but CTCMath does: Hoorah for CTCMath making math easy and independent for students while simplifying things for parents, too. I truly think it is the best online math curriculum for homeschoolers out there.

Get a Discount on CTCMath!

One more reason to cheer about CTCMath is that they have a homeschool discount right now.  Click through if you would like to try CTCMath for 1/2 price!

Also, be aware that there is no risk involved. CTCMath offers a 12-month money-back guarantee with no questions asked if you find the curriculum is not for you and your
family. 

Learn More

You can see if 30+ other Homeschool Review Crew families love CTCMath as much as my family does by clicking through to read blog, video, and social media reviews from different families using the program with students of varying ages and abilities.

You can also find all of my family's CTCMath reviews here and connect with CTCMath online at:

Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

My Child's Go-To for Math Learning {A Homeschool Review Crew / Math Essentials Review}

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew. 

Some folks need their math learning to be unfold with a straight-forward, simple approach. I've got a kid like that and that is why we chose to review and use Mastering Essential Math Skills, Pre-Algebra Concepts from Math Essentials - a 120 page, softcover worktext written by "America's Math Teacher" Richard W. Fisher.

Like other Mastering Math Essential books, Pre-Algebra Concepts offers a concise, self-contained, easy-to-follow math program which includes a system of Review Exercises, Helpful Hints, Practice Problems, and Problem Solving (word problems) which can help students master, maintain, and reinforce math skills through consistent. incremental practice and review.

Each lesson in the book is meant to be completed in about 20 minutes and can be accompanied by free online video tutorials.

Topics included in the book are:

• Positive and Negative Fractions
• Positive and Negative Decimals
• Exponents
• Square Roots
• Order of Operations
• Properties of Numbers
• Scientific Notation
• Ratios & Proportions
• Percents
• Number Theory
• Number Lines
• Coordinate Planes
• Slope of a Line
• Graphing Equations
• Solving Algebraic Equations
• Algebraic Word Problems
• Probability
• Statistics

Our Experience

One of my children is veering away from homeschooling in the fall to try out technical high school. There, my child will have to take a traditional Algebra course. In order to ensure readiness for this, we decided to move through Mastering Essential Math Skills, Pre-Algebra Concepts so that the child can solidify foundational Pre-Algebra skills and have them fresh in mind for the fall.

This is what my child has to say about the Pre-Algebra worktext so far:

The Pre-Algebra book is a very thin book which makes it less foreboding. It does not make you think, "Oh my goodness. This is going to take for-e-ver to do," which is good.

When you got to a lesson, the page is split into multiple sections. The first one is Review Exercises so that is several questions about skills you've already learned.

After that review section, there is a Helpful Hints section which basically quickly goes over what you need to know to complete the problems in the lesson. You could probably just use the Helpful Hints to teach yourself without the online lessons, however, I would recommend using the online lessons because they are fairly quick and easy to follow.

After the Helpful Hints, you get two sample questions which someone else can go through with you to help you understand things better, or you can go ahead to do them by yourself. Then, there are the rest of the exercises for the lesson of the day.

At the very bottom of the lesson page there is a Problem Solving question. I sometimes miss these word problems. I forget they exist even though they are clearly on the page.

After all of the lessons in the book, you can find practice problems for each topic.

After those, there is a final review test. Then, there are Solutions (a answer key), a glossary, a list of symbols and their meaning and charts for multiplication, commonly used prime numbers, squares and square roots, and fractions and decimals.

 

Overall, I think that this is a good and easy program to follow with, however trying to access the online lessons does take multiple steps, signing in with your account password and signing in for the videos. I would like to see an easier process if possible in the future.

I would definitely recommend this book to people who want a compact way of going through Pre-Algebra and for students or parents who don't have or want a ton of time working together. This resource can be mostly self-paced with the video lessons.

Math Essentials is my choice for Middle and High School learning because it reviews what you have already learned so you don't forget it, teaches you in non-overwhelming increments, and there is no fluff.

Would I Recommend It

Mastering Essential Math Skills, Pre-Algebra Concepts from Math Essentials is a resource I would recommend with the following notes:

• The lessons are concise and broken into parts. Each lesson is self-contained and written to be completed - sans video - within 20 minutes and, with the video, in perhaps a bit more or less, depending on the child. The program can also be used with a 15 minute timer. Since each lesson page is divided into Review Exercises, Helpful Hints, Practice Problems, and Problem Solving, it is easy to take break when a 15 minute timer goes off no matter if you have finished a lesson or gone onto the next one. Then, you can set another timer if you wish. Doing so can help children with focus while avoiding overwhelm.

• If you have someone with dyslexia or vision issues, please note that the like other Math Essentials books, this one has little text and plenty of white space around problems.

• A notebook of whiteboard could be helpful. Despite white space on the clean, no-nonsense pages of the worktext, students like mine may find that there is not enough space for to work out problems. Copying problems onto scrap paper, into a notebooks, or onto a small whiteboard one by one or in groups of 2-4 at a time to figure them out is an easy solution for this.

• The online videos are helpful, but not necessary, depending on your child's style and the time you have on hand. A parent with some math skills could easily "teach" the lesson at hand using the Helpful Hints and sample problems. A child with some understanding of prior math skills could self-teach doing the same. Or, the video lessons can take students step by step through the material.

• If you have a child that likes to cut corners, you may wish to tear our the answer key. Having the key IN the book is a blessing for kids, like mine, who wish to self-pace and self-correct, yet will come to you when help is needed. For others, the included answer key may be too much temptation for cutting corners.

• For those with children who have memory issues, the glossary, symbols list, and tables at the end of the book is helpful. My child appreciates these in the Math Essentials books and has, at times, used them to check that basic facts and figures are being remembered correctly.

• It really does get the job done. The child I have been using this worktext with truly appreciates the Math Essentials way of making math no-nonsense in book form and learns from it.

• It recognizes some children need a bit more practice. Starting on page 66, the worktext has additional practice problems organized into sets of 20 problems per type, which can be quite helpful for students who need extra practice or want to go back to revise skills after learning other ones.

• It does not leave you hanging. Starting on page 89, there is a Final Review. This, of course, can be used as a final test to see if students have gained mastery of concepts. It could also be used as a pre-test to indicate which skills and topics a student might want to focus the most on.

There are no bells, whistles, nor gimmicks with Mastering Essential Math Skills, Pre-Algebra Concepts. Rather, like other Math Essentials worktexts, this one provides clear, concise, and well-designed review, practice, and application of math skills which can lead learners to greater confidence and success.


Get Three Months Free and Learn More

Math Essentials has been generous enough to offer a coupon code for our readers to try free three-month trial for their video lessons!

Simply go to mathandalgebra.com, then use the coupon code:

CREW2022

Thank you, Math Essentials!  Enjoy your free 3-month trial!

Other Homeschool Review Crew families reviewed one of two Math Essentials titles. Click through to find links to all of each blog and social media review.

You may also wish to see our prior reviews of other Math Essentials products.

Are You Looking for an Offline Stand-Alone Algebra Resource? {A Homeschool Review Crew Review}

 Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew.

Math may not change, but approaches to learning it often get tweaked - at least in my family they do. If the same goes for your family, and if in your current season of life and learning you are looking for an offscreen resource for learning math,  The Critical Thinking Co.™ is worth a look. 

My 11-year-old son and I recently had the chance to review Understanding Algebra, I from The Critical Thinking Co.™ and, although it was not a right-fit-for-right-now resource for my family, I can see its merit and am saving the rest of it for another season here. I also believe the book could be right-for-right for others, so let me explain more about it. Maybe it will be just what you are looking for!
 
What is Understanding Algebra 1?

Understanding Algebra, I is a 380+ page, full-color, soft-covered, reproducible student math book with answers included.  It was written by award-winning math teacher Terri Husted - who has over 30 years of teaching experience - and is targeted for students in grades 7-9.

The book presents all the essential concepts and skills needed to master Algebra I, highlights vocabulary and notation, and has examples from math history. In doing so, it aims to help students see the connection between the math they already know and algebra.

In moving through the books, students work on:

•  Set and Set Notation      •  Number Lines      •  Graphing      •  Rationals      •  Operations      •  Expressions      •  Equations      •  Inequalities      •  Word Problem      •  Percent Problems      •  Ratio Problems      •  Motion Problems

•  Work Problems      •  Absolute Value      •  Polynomials      •  Factoring      •  Radicals      •  Linear Functions      •  Slope      •  Elimination      •  Graphing      •  Substitution      •  Absolute Value      •  Algebraic Fractions

So, as you can see, the book truly hits all the important aspects of an Algebra 1 curriculum. 

Plus, since it is reproducible, families can use it for more than one child. For me - because I am using it with my youngest - this is not as big a deal, but for families with many children, it can be a huge boon - saving families money! 

The answer key can also help students use the book independently or help older siblings help younger siblings with it.

Mom Made a Mistake, not the Writer of Understanding Algebra, 1

Because I want my 11-year-old son offline for math and thought he was ready to try Algebra concepts even if technically "young" for them, I was eager to review Understanding Algebra, I with him.

What I did not realize, however, is that he is stronger at computation than he is at vocabulary and theory and that his current online program - which has been working fairly well for him at his age and level - has somewhat trained him to see only one problem at a time and looking at a whole page of concepts and/or problems can be daunting to him. So, I quickly discovered that I was premature in introducing Understanding Algebra, I to my son.

Basically, the first time we used the book, we sat on a swing outside reading the beginning lessons together and working through the listed questions orally and on scratch paper.

Because the first lesson was heavy on text about sets, set notation, types of numbers, and vocabulary - which are not things my son favors - we had a rockier start with the book than I had hoped for and my son was not excited about continuing to use it.

Still, we carried on... Sometimes, I worked with my son again and sometimes I asked him to set a timer, read the text, and do problems on his own, coming to me when he struggled. One of the times when he did this, he chose to start the entire book over again from the start.

In this manner, we persisted enough to honor this review, but, due to the hard start and the temptations of warm weather, my son, sadly, has yet to take to the curriculum.

When I asked him his thoughts about it, he frankly said:

When I first started this book, my mom and I did it together and I did not like it. When I continued, it got a little better, but I still did not fully enjoy it. I felt like there were too many questions on a page and in a chapter, and it made me feel frustrated and bored... I am used to a math program that gives on problem at a time in very short lessons.

 

Even though I did not like the beginning at first, I began to like how they explained everything at the beginning so you could go back and review it.  

 

I would recommend the book to Algebra enthusiasts and those who enjoy workbooks. I might try it again later... just not right now.

Partial Mom fail! NOT Terri Husted (the author) fail.

Partial for me (Mom) because I prematurely introduced this book to my son and did not do so in a way to draw him in, but somehow he is still willing to try it again later.

Not a fail on the author's part, because Terri Husted has written a sound curriculum which I am confident could work well for my son later and for many presently. 

Would I Recommend Understanding Algebra, 1?

If you are looking for something that is offline, can be used with multiple students in the same family or classroom, has perforated pages for ease of use/copying, and, of course, covers Algebra 1 completely as a stand-alone resource, despite my son's current lack of favor for Understanding Algebra, I, I would recommend looking at it. 

I have examined different chapters in the book, think it is well-presented, and believe it can be quite helpful in teaching students who are ready for Algebra 1. 

If, however, you have students that don't do well with vocabulary, etc., you may want to start with computations and then double back to the initial pages of the first lesson as I wish I had done. 

Further, if you have a child who does not favor many words or problems on a page, you might need to work together or cut things up a bit.

All things considered, though, Understanding Algebra, I is sound in my opinion.

Learn More

Find special offers and free printables and reosurces from The Critical Thinking Co.™ here!

Click through to discover what other families thought of Understanding Algebra, I and other resources from The Critical Thinking Co.™ resources.

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