Smartick: A TOS Crew Review

Smartick

We have been improving our math, reading comprehension, logic and reasoning skills in just 15 minutes a day with a 6 month subscription to Smartick.

Smartick is an online, subscription based program designed to reinforce skills and provide vital math enrichment exercises by using it just 15 minutes a day, at least 4-5 times per week.  For students ages 4-14.  By using advanced technology, the program actually adapts to your child's skill and and pace (instead of standard grade levels).  My testers completed a placement exercise during their first session - and the program has decided the rest.  So easy to use! 

The program has both a parent login - where we can see progress, speed, a calendar of completion, and more, and a student login. In addition, daily emails are sent directly to my inbox detailing their progress, or letting me know if they missed or stopped their session.  Very handy!

Both of my students could login and create their personal avatar and password.  The program is very intuitive to use, so all I had to do was to introduce it.

Let me show you some of the features:

The goal is to earn "ticks" by answering questions correctly.  The student simply begins, and the program has determined the level.  I love that my students are getting valuable practice in math skills while improving their speed too.  Immediate feedback is given after they answer...either a satisfying (but sometimes annoying to siblings) ding!  Or, a red x with the correct answer shown.

Once they have earned enough ticks - they have options of how to use them.  This is what my testers loved most about this program...the rewards.  Surprising how hard they will work for these...  The ticks can be use to purchase items for their virtual rooms, or even send items to friends.  My girls love this feature.

The program also has an arcade that allows them to play a wide variety of games -shhh...don't tell them they are actually working on memory, reasoning, flexibility and attention skills, it just seems like fun!  One of their favorites was Rush Hour - a puzzle game moving cars on a grid (just like the physical game).

They can also play games, or challenges with a friend. They get to choose the topic to compete in, and then the challenge appears on their login.  This was super fun for the sisters to get to compete against each other.

The students get plenty of feedback on their progress from their login as well. 

They really enjoy this program, in fact - it's the first thing they do daily.  The program has a nice parental feature, it that it only allows them to complete one session per day (otherwise, we'd never get anything else done!).

I'm thoroughly impressed with this program.  It's well designed, and easy to use.  I've already seen massive improvement in their math skills. 

Don't miss it!

Find Smartick on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Smartick
Twitter: https://twitter.com/smartickmethod?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartick/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD_f6FMb0X1QDp5j7puQh1Q


Hashtags:  #hsreviews #Smartick #SmartickFamily #Education #Edchat #Edtech #Mathematics #Math #Homeschooling #Homeschool #Homeschoolmom #Teaching #Edapp



See what other members of the Crew thought here

Online Drawing Program from Creating a Masterpiece: A TOS Crew Review

Online Drawing Program from Creating a Masterpiece

My students love the online Drawing Program from Creating a Masterpiece!  This easy-to-use online program is so easy to use - they were off and creating, without any help from me.


The Drawing Program consists of 4 different levels of video-guided drawing lessons. 

• Beginning - 8 lessons
• Level 1 - 7 lessons
• Level 2 - 6 lessons
• Level 3 - 8 lessons

Each project is designed to teach different drawing techniques with skills, increasing in difficulty as they move through the levels. 

Students are guided step-by-step by video instruction done by Sharon Hofer, a master artist, as their guide.

 

The videos are designed so that you feel you are with her, in the studio.

My testers really enjoyed the lessons.  One thing we really like, is the ability to work at our own pace.  They could pause, stop or rewind whenever they want - an advantage over a class room.

The supplies needed are limited to just paper, pencil, colored pencil, and charcoal, each lesson gives a detailed list.  This makes it a great place to start learning to draw and developing skills.

 From their first project, my testers were hooked.  The guided lesson made it easy for them to break it down to manageable steps, and they loved what they created!

The lessons teach them how to plan, develop and enhance their drawings.  As they worked through the levels, they were learning plenty of art theory like incorporating value, shading, two point perspective and more.  They were also developing concentration and confidence.

The program is specifically designed so that students can work independently.  All I had to do was put out the supplies, and get out of their way.

Here's a few of their masterpieces.... I really like how they are similar, but distinctly their own at the same time.

They keep begging for more drawing time.  You'll want to check this one out - it's a great program!

  Find Creating a Masterpiece on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/createamasterpiece


Hashtags:
#hsreviews #artinstruction #homeschoolart #onlineartprogram


/

See what other members of the Crew thought here

Brain Blox Wooden Building Planks from Brain Blox: A TOS Crew Review

Brain Blox Wooden Building Planks from Brain Blox

Remember when your parents told you all they had to play with was a block of wood?  Well, I'm thinking they were the lucky ones...  We have not been able to put our new Brain Blox Wooden Building Planks from Brain Blox away!

These simple blocks are precision cut out of natural pine wood and smooth as can be.  Our box came with 200 planks and a sturdy drawstring bag to hold them. I love products with real-life packaging!  Way to go Brain Blox - you really understand that a quality toy needs a quality way to store it...can I hear the amen moms?

While these blocks seem like a fairly simple toy - they are really anything but simple!  They are one of the best tools I've encountered for turning on your child's thinking and problem solving skills.  Bold statement, but it's true.  I simply opened the box, and several eager testers were clamoring for a handful of blocks.

What happened next surprised me even more - my testers, ages 10-13 started building things together.  These blocks are a great way to encourage your kids to turn off the screens!

Brain Blox Wooden Building Planks offers a section of free building ideas online - which includes videos, an idea book you can download, idea cards, pictures of characters you can create, and some pretty challenging building ideas for your more advanced builders. A printed idea book comes along with your blocks and storage bag.

I'm impressed - not only were they having a great time...with each other. But, these blocks are great tools for building so many valuable skills! Math, physics, engineering, logical thinking, spatial awareness and more.

 

Let me show you a few:

This was literally minutes after opening the box...

The instructions are very easy to follow, and they could build complex structures right away.

They decided to build a roman Colosseum!

This kid is definitely interested in engineering, and these are the perfect way to practice.  I see these delightful blocks used all over my house, in many different ways.

I loved seeing my children use their very own, God-given creativity to build and explore ideas.  These are way better than any video game!

They are great for all ages, and come in 100, 200 & 300 planks. 
 Christmas is right around the corner and these would make a great gift Find on Amazon here.

Find Brain Blox on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mybrainblox
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainblox
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpUttakNtthj_haX8LwRlwA


Hashtags: #hsreviews #BrainBlox

See what other members of the Crew thought here