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Ever since my kids math got complicated enough I couldn’t easily solve it in my head, I’ve hated grading their math. A few years ago I researched homeschool math and decided to change to Teaching Textbooks because it was similar to what we’d been using, and had great reviews. I tried the free Teaching Textbooks trial and decided it was the math curriculum for us. I’ve even written about our experience using Teaching Textbooks before, but NOW Teaching Textbooks is new and improved and I wanted to let you know how it’s changed.
(Teaching Textbooks has sponsored this post, opinions are my own, and I was paying to use the product before they sponsored the post)
What’s new about Teaching Textbooks homeschool math?
I’m glad you asked. Previously Teaching Textbooks (commonly abbreviated as TT, so if you’re in a homeschool forum and see that, now you know what it probably refers to) was on your web browser and heavily used Flash.
Now, if you hadn’t heard, Flash is a huge security risk. Jeff gave me a lengthy explanation, but basically, it opens holes in your computer’s security so someone can hack in. Every website that’s been using it has been working frantically to update and figure out how to not use it anymore.
Poor Teaching Textbooks has been struggling because their homeschool math curriculum depended on Flash.
They finally got it fixed, and that has allowed them two new features:
Teaching Textbook is now an app
I have mixed feelings on this because it means for each grade you’re using you need to download that app. Which could be somewhat annoying.
Do you know what the plus side is?
You’re not as reliant on having an internet connection to complete your work.
It still has the same fun avatars my kids like. It still has the hint feature, which according to Batman is helpful when you get stuck. He actually suggested I take this picture because it’s one of his favorite features.
I can still go in and delete math lessons they haven’t done well on, and make them redo it.
It’s now mobile!
Now that Teaching Textbooks is an app, you can complete it on your phone!
That means, completing math homework on road trips if you’re a travelschooler! Or, if your kid interacts better with phones and tablets, they can complete their homeschool math there.
Superman was intrigued by the idea of completing math on his phone and downloaded the app. He tried math on his phone for a few days but figured out it works better for himself.
Try it out with your kids, and see if completing their math on a phone is for them.
Superman isn’t a big fan of phone games and prefers his technology use on his laptop. I think Batman might like math on the phone a bit more because he plays a few games on his phone.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the old Teaching Textbooks, here’s how their lessons work
Each lesson starts with a short instructional time. They watch examples of how to work the problem and then get into practice problems. [Mom, you should get a picture of this too]
The practice problems give kids a chance to work through the idea before there are stakes. It’s not graded. Then they go in and actually do the assignment. [He also suggested a picture of the practice problems, but I don’t want to overwhelm you with pictures.]
I haven’t done this, but friends of mine who use Teaching Textbooks say you can go in and delete individual problems your child has missed, so they can rework the problem until they get it right.
I opt to go with just redoing the entire lesson.
At the end of every chapter, there’s a test. Chapters have differing numbers of lessons, from 5-10 lessons. I like that Teaching Textbooks doesn’t feel the need to keep the chapters uniform, and only use the number of lessons they need for a topic.
I like when extra fluff isn’t added.
Grading homeschool math is still the same
Actually, it’s a bit easier for me now. To protect my kids’ privacy I’m not going to show you the grade book, but the new grade book is a bit smoother.
Previously I had to click on the student, then click on the grade book.
Now, there is a parent page with each child’s grade located in the same place.
Yes, I know it’s only the difference of a few clicks, but those few clicks were annoying before. I’m not sure why it feels so much easier to me, but it does.
Try Teaching Textbooks for yourself
Give it a try, and if you’re like many homeschool families, you’ve got a few kids in your house. Teaching Textbooks has a large family plan which caps the price for your family. A big help for a family on a budget.
More great homeschool ideas
Comments
2 responses to “Teaching Textbooks, it’s new and improved!”
I was excited to see this!
Wow, that must have been a major rewrite for them. Good thing that they had a forcing function of flash no longer being available. PicMonkey had to do it too 🙂
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