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A+ Tutorsoft is a Math Curriculum available online or on CD. Online editions are for homeschool and regular school. The mission of A+ Tutorsoft is to be your "Partners for Better Education."
With a subscription to A+ Tutorsoft, worksheets, exams, online text content, solutions and placement tests are included. A+ Tutorsoft offers programs for 1st Grade through Algebra 1, with Pre-Algebra being the 7th Grade Program.
Our Grade 3 program covered 15 topics:
Basic Number Sense
Additions
Subtractions
Multiplications
Division
Decimal Numbers
Fractions and Basic Operations with Fractions
Math Operations Using a Calculator
Basic Graphs
Time and Money
Measurements
Algebra
Geometry
Basic Probability
Word Problems and Problem Solving
You can view the full Grade 3 Table of Contents.
Within each topic there are 1-12 lessons that contain a "lecture" and practice problems. After doing the interactive practice problems there are online worksheets to complete. The program tracks the progress of the student based on the worksheets and exams. There is an Exam/Test for each topic that can be done online or printed out. All solutions/answer keys are included. In my opinion this is a FULL curriculum and every thing needed to complete a year long (9 month/36 week) school year.
I have to say that the Basic Number Sense really worked us over! Especially Chapter 1.6, which was "Number Combination." I printed out the worksheets for that topic. Up until 1.6 - the 1.1 to 1.5 was fairly straight forward and Noodle grasped everything quite well. Number combinations was what I would call "sneaky" - which ended up being a good thing, but it was frustrating at first. Not being a math minded mama, it took me some time to figure out what was going on. Here is the first question that threw us:
What is the correct number combination for 629?
a. 6 hundreds, 12 tens, 9 ones
b. 5 hundreds, 12 tens, 9 ones
c. 6 hundreds, 12 tens, 9 ones
d. 6 hundreds, 3 tens, 1 one
My first inclination was "none of the above" - what the heck? This wasn't going to be a simple multiple choice. Maybe some of you are laughing and the answer is obvious, but at our house, this just wasn't so. After a couple of minutes I figured out that Noodle was going to have to write out the numbers and add them to discover the right answer, which of course is "b." He wasn't quite ready for this type of thinking so we had to spend extra time (read DAYS) on Chapter 1.6 - His regular math curriculum, which is a very popular homeschool program that he loves, covered this topic, but they weren't "tricky" in asking their questions. This program really makes the student think, instead of just seeing 6 hundreds, 2 tens and 9 ones.
How we used A+ Tutorsoft
Noodle watched the lesson and then did several practice problems for each section. Personally, I thought this was enough, but in order to get progressed tracked the student has to do the online worksheets. I will be honest and say we only did about 1/4 of them. I just didn't feel he needed that many problems. However, for a student that needs more repetition and challenge, the worksheets are great to have.
With the exception of how some questions are asked, none of the material is new to Noodle. I suspect from looking at the table of contents that eventually he will get some new concepts and I am certain the level of difficulty will be stepped up for him as well. I am really looking forward to the 3rd grade Geometry and Algebra sections to see how and what is presented.
We like the program so much that we will continue to use it. Noodle REALLY liked it. He happily wants to do it each day. We recently decided that we don't need one lone math curriculum. We will continue to mix it up and A+ Tutorsoft is definitely in the mix. I especially like the non-traditional way of asking questions (except the multiple choice aspect) that causes a child to have to think logically. I can see that it is great preparation for Algebra when students will have to be able to think logically in order to set up equations from word problems.
I like that worksheets can be printed out as well. So, if you have a student that gets tired of the computer or bored, you can switch it up by printing out the worksheets to do on paper. There is a lot of flexibility in how to use A+ Tutorsoft.
I had an occasion to call the company (user/my lack of understanding something) and their service was friendly, fast and outstanding.
What does it cost?
The online homeschool edition for one parent and one student, which is what we used, is available monthly $19.95, quarterly $49.99 and yearly $124.99. That is a 16.67% discount off the regular price of $149.99. Before purchasing you can sign up for a one month free trial to see how you and your student like it. In my opinion, the price is great for all that is included.
To see what other members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew thought about A+ Tutorsoft, click on the banner below.
Disclaimer: I received a one year subscription to A+ Tutorsoft through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.
4 comments:
Ha! So that question stumped me too. I am so not a math person, and it appears logic is escaping me as well. *sigh* That's why we are using online math programs! :-)
I like the "logic" aspect built in. I would have totally missed that question too. I'm filing this away for when my kids are a little older!
We tried the CD version. Josiah loved it.
I had to think twice about the problem, too! :-) We used the 3rd grade CD version and my daughter really enjoyed it. So glad to be on the Crew with you this year! Many blessings, Lisa
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