ScienceandMath.com is a step-by-step video course that teaches math and encourages exploration in science.
Created for Grades 4th and up, ScienceandMath.com Math DVDs provide students and parents with detailed explanations as to why problems need to be completed in specific step format. Each DVD provides visual lessons that show students how to work problems step-by-step. Each DVD also provides printable worksheet practice also.
We had the opportunity to try out ScienceandMath.com, Mastering 5th Grade Math - Essentials of Fractions (Grades 4 - 6, List price $21.95 for DVD--On sale for $15.95, download $14.99) with the boys recently. Math is not a strong subject for Joey, so I was very curious to see how he would react to this learning approach.
The Mastering 5th Grade Math - Essentials of Fractions has 16 lessons ranging from What are Fractions? to Writing a Whole Number as a Fraction.
Lessons included are:
Lesson 1: Review of Fraction Concepts
Lesson 2: Writing Fractions as Words
Lesson 3: Finding Factors of Numbers
Lesson 4: Finding the Greatest Common Factor
Lesson 5: Finding the GCF of 3 Numbers
Lesson 6: Prime Factorization
Lesson 7: Equivalent Fractions
Lesson 8: Renaming Fractions
Lesson 9: Simplifying Fractions, Part 1
Lesson 10: Simplifying Fractions, Part 2
Lesson 11: Review of Improper Fractions
Lesson 12: Review of Mixed Fractions
Lesson 13: Writing Mixed Fractions as Improper Fractions
Lesson 14: Writing Improper Fractions as Mixed Fractions
Lesson 15: Thinking of Fractions as Division
Lesson 16: Writing Whole Numbers as Fractions
Each lesson is broken down in about 10 - 15 minute videos. There are practice worksheets to print that go with each concept being covered in the lesson.
Here is a Sample from Lesson 1:
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How we used this in our school......
I know I mentioned this earlier, but math is not Joey's strong subject. Brayden claims to not understand anything, but he really does understand. He just doesn't always realize it. (Somedays I think he shocks himself.) I was intrigued with this concept for Joey, and curious to see if the explanations would help him.
Since Joey does move slower in math, I planned to cover topics as mastery of that lesson's skill was shown. So we really covered this material at a much slower rate than most.
I would print all the practice sheets for the week and assign one per day. We would sit and watch the video together. I would then work through a worksheet with the boys right after the lesson. The next day, I would start them out working the steps on the first problem on the worksheet with them. And then walk away and watch how they would work the problems independently. I always provided them with scrap paper or a whiteboard to use. If they were still struggling, I would have them watch the lesson again, work a few problems and call it a day in math.
The next day I again would introduce the first problem with them. Showing them the steps and explaining why we did each step that way. Leave them to attempt the problems with plenty of scrap paper or a whiteboard. Brayden worked really well at this, and has finished half the lessons so far. He seems to do well and does not feel overwhelmed with the assignment of one worksheet a day. He is able to understand the concepts by watching the video daily for at least 3 days a week.
Joey is slowly working his way through. He is further behind than Brayden. But unlike Brayden, Joey does not understand the concept of multiplication, which has made fractions a bit more difficult to get. But the lessons that he has completed he has done very well on. He also seems to be able to understand the concept shown by watching the video daily and completing one worksheet daily. It keeps him from getting overwhelmed.
Joey is grasping concepts using this program. It has helped me see some areas where he needs to improve so that he can keep on progressing and not get frustrated.
We have seen Brayden making progress, using ScienceandMath.com - Mastering 5th Grade Math - Essentials in Fractions DVD lessons. He is getting the concepts well and keeps moving forward. He seems to really enjoy the concept of watching the video and doing the worksheet. His math lessons are not drawn out for long periods, which would be difficult for him. I also can control if we watch the video daily or just at certain times.
Each ScienceandMath.com - Mastering 5th Grade Math - Essentials in Fractions lesson really takes me only roughly 30-40 minutes complete, and that is working with both boys to watch the video and work through the problems step by step correctly. The videos are not flashy, and do not cause distraction, like some educational videos can be. They cover the information in a clear and concise way. I really like that since both the boys are easily distractible.
My favorite part about using the ScienceandMath.com - Mastering 5th Grade Math - Essentials in Fractions DVD is the flexibility that I have enjoyed while using it. I am able to stick with a concept for as long as we need to. The boys are able to watch the lesson as many times as they need also. I wish they offered an entire 5th grade math curriculum. It would be so worth it for me to use with the boys. I didn't need to purchase anything extra to use the dvd the way it was written. No expensive manipulatives or expensive calculator. I was able to print a couple worksheets, pop the DVD in my computer and we were ready for math. Can't find it too much easier than that!!
We are going to continue using the ScienceandMath.com - Mastering 5th Grade Math - Essentials in Fractions DVD with Brayden and will start back up with Joey after we work on a couple of math concepts that it appears he has forgotten and needs refreshed. He really does like the way that ScienceandMath.com - Mastering 5th Grade Math - Essentials in Fractions is presented to him. He doesn't whine about doing his math, and told me the video is help in understanding the concepts and the steps.
ScienceandMath.com has a full line of Math DVDs from 5th Grade to 12th Grade Math. They also offer an Amazing Science Volume 1 DVD that features many different at-home science experiments (List Price $24.95, Grades 1 - 3). We have an the chance to use the Amazing Science Volume 1 DVD and it's also a great product and we love pulling it out when we are looking for some science fun.
Please take a little bit of time and visit the ScienceandMath.com site to view samples of the lessons and see how these products would benefit your family. I do recommend these products and will continue to use these DVDs to help our kids gain a stronger Math foundation.
Be sure to check out ScienceandMath.com on Facebook.
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