addition

My Book of Addition
$6.95
Basic math is best taught by repetition, and this book is very good.

We have our 1st grader do one page each night. We check it right afterwards and if she gets 100% then she gets to have us write 100% in some funny font (e.b. block style, flowery and ornate, etc) It's enough that she looks forward to it.

One page each night (except Saturday) keeps her from getting overloaded. She's also allowed to work ahead so she can skip days.

One day I found an error and she was very puzzled and flipped back to an earlier page - it turns out she would often go to earlier pages and check her answer against worksheets she had previously done (and had been corrected)

Not what we had in mind, we have since explained to her how she should do them (without peeking at earlier worksheets) Rather an ingenious adaptation!

If you've found this review helpful, please let me know!

SCHOOL ZONE Flash Action -- Addition/Subtraction (Windows/Macintosh)
$12.99
This is a GREAT program. The main screen allows 1 or 2 players, play against the clock, challenge another player, or practice one set at a time (0s, 1s, 2s, etc.). The second screen is a Magic Square (table)from 0 to 12 to help the student find the correct answer, and posts the math family group in upper right-hand corner that will repeat back the equation clicked on. It can be used to solve a problem on the main screen, or as an exercise in itself. It has rewards after each set is successfully completed, it keeps track of progress, and can adjust the difficulty of the problems. In a word, Fantastic! My kid loves it, too!

Addition Annie (Rookie Readers)
$4.95
All Rookie Readers actively engage young readers, encouraging language development, building fluency, and promoting independent reading. By targeting a skill, like being able to count, use numbers and recognize shapes, young readers are building fundamental skills with the help of fun, lively, colorfully illustrated stories.

Rock 'N Learn: Addition & Subtraction Rock
$19.99
I liked the Rock-N-Learn Telling Time video and the Rock-N-Learn Money and Counting Change dvd. My 6yo learned to tell time in one afternoon after watching that video. The Money video was clear and well presented - even if the music in both was dated and somewhat annoying even downright corny, overall I felt as though the materal was, again, clearly presented in a logical, well-thought out presentation. And, my child learned the principles as they were set forth on the video.

Having had a positive experience with the first two, I went ahead and ordered Rock-N-Learn Addition and Subtraction Rock without previewing it. School was due to open soon and I wanted my 6yo going into 1st grade to have a supplement that reinforced basic math principles. Wrong! The Addition and Subtraction Rock dvd has nothing - nothing! - but a sing-songy voice burbling out addition and subtraction equations over and over and over again. No explanation of math principles or how to read an equation or even how to prove your work by working backwards in an equation, such as: 1 + 3 = 4, thus 4 - 3 = 1. It is very frustrating to sit through the entire length of the dvd listening to nothing but a voice singing repetitive equations the entire time. Silly idea and nonsensical presentation of the material. This is simply awful and not worth the money. After 10 minutes both of my children were pleading: "turn it off, it's driving me crazy!"

I wish I was exaggerating, but really, the entire dvd consists of people singing: "four minus three is...one!" "Five plus six is...eleven!" Between the wacky music and the kooky mathematical mantra, it is a very curious addition to the otherwise solidly good Rock-N-Learn series.