If you’re in the throes of attempting to teach middle school math, you have my sympathy — and my empathy because I’m right there with you. So let me share one of my secrets to maintaining everyone’s sanity: MasterMath.
Created and developed by Stan Lisle, MasterMath Middle School On-Line Math offers:
- video lessons arranged by grade and quarter
- downloadable/printable worksheets with answer sheets
- online quizzes
- links to other sites for further practice and explanation
- quarterly exams
- and a final exam at the end of each year
— all for free. Let me say that again: MasterMath is FREE.
At the heart of MasterMath are the video lessons, which are based on Florida Middle School Math Benchmarks and taught by Mr. Lisle. Each lesson focuses on one concept. During the video, the student has the opportunity to pause the video for the “You Try It” problems to practice what she is learning. The worksheet(s) and quizzes reinforce what she has learned. For more practice, there are Cool Links for each lesson, linking to such sites as Khan Academy or IXL.
The home page features a short video, “How to Use the MasterMath Video Lessons.” The website also has a Homeschool page, which offers information for homeschooling families and how best to use MasterMath as a complete mathematical curriculum. Mr. Lisle’s blog is another source for math study ideas and information. Right now, his blog features a series specifically for home educators. He also graciously offers his email address for specific questions. And if you’re interested, Mr. Lisle provides online tutoring as well.
To give you an idea of the program, sixth grade lessons are divided into four quarters with between seven and nine lessons in each quarter. Lessons include “Multiplying Fractions and Mixed Numbers” and “Fraction-Decimal Equivalency.” Other sixth-grade topics include percentages, ratios, rates, and geometry. A Cool Link for the multiplying fractions and mixed numbers lesson is “Converting Mixed Numbers to Fractions” on the Math Goodies website.
In a nutshell, I appreciate MasterMath’s focus on mastering mathematical concepts; links to other websites (now I don’t have to search out supplemental resources myself!); the video-based format; AND the price. Another great thing: you can use MasterMath to aid and supplement your child’s math studies no matter what curriculum you use!
All of this adds up to great news for those of us nervously facing middle school math — for the second time around. With MasterMath at my fingertips, I’m feeling pretty sure I can handle this stuff. (And I’m confident my children will do well, too!)
Written by Ellen
A homeschooling mother, Ellen lives in the Deep South with a transplanted Yankee husband, two middle grade daughters, and two adorable corgis, Jasper and Georgette. She espouses a literary-based education with a Charlotte Mason emphasis. She squeezes in time to write between teaching, managing the household, ferrying the girls to their activities, and volunteering with said activities. Iced coffee and prayer keep her going. You can read about her life at http://bluestockingbelle.blogspot.com.
Ellen,
I read your post today and decided to make sure I checked out the website. We are currently using Mathematics Enhancement Programme (MEP). My daughter just finished the Y6 curriculum and really did excel in it. However, I have been less than satisfied with the next level and the way it is layed out.
So…I think I am going to give this a try. I just had a couple of questions…How long have you used this site and what years have you used? How do you feel that the website compares with other curriculum you have seen? I am asking you, but if anyone has any other ideas…I would greatly appreciate the imput. I don’t want to start something else with her and have to change again in the middle of the year!
Thanks for the input and thank you for your original post. i appreciate you sharing your information!
Karen
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you writing this post and the rest of the website
is very good.
google blog list
Hi Karen! My youngest dd used MEP since the first grade, but she’s now wanting to try something new, hence my decision regarding MasterMath. Moreover, I think she’ll do better with a mastery approach. I’ve looked a quite a few math curricula in my day, and I’m pleased enough with MasterMath to give it a go. I’m of course going to follow Stan Lisle’s directives for homeschooling parents (see his website) in order to ensure the best possible success for my dd.
In the past, I’ve used several MasterMath sixth grade videos as instructional supplements, so I’m familiar with the program. This will be my first year using it as a complete, stand-alone curriculum.
I hope this helps answer your questions! If you’d like more info, feel free to ask. Blessings!
UPDATE: My sixth-grader has used this curriculum all school year now, and we are very pleased. We watch the video together so she can pause it to ask any questions she may have. If she seems to have a bit of difficulty with a concept, we look it up in our math handbooks for further explanation and practice.
All in all, MasterMath has worked well for us!
Yes, i have noticed the children using the math program and the curriculum in the middle school. This is an awesome video explaining about the math. Found the blog interesting. Thank you for the blogging