I was given two subscriptions of Teaching Textbooks 3.0 to complete this review. However, we were a Teaching Textbooks family before I became a blogger, and all of these opinions are 100% my own.
(Be sure to stay tuned all the way to the bottom for a giveaway!)
If you’ve been homeschooling for any time at all, you’ve heard the words “Teaching Textbooks.” It’s like it’s the most popular kid at the homeschool co-op. All the moms are using it, and it’s all the rage. See that ultra hip homeschool mom in the corner; she’s using Teaching Textbooks. The crunchy mom in the other corner, yelp, Teaching Textbooks. I mean, what is it with this program? Is it all they’ve hyped it up to be?
Yes. I’m here to tell you that the answer is YES!
Teaching Textbooks is like a magic homeschool elixir that will cure all your homeschool woes. (Okay, I’m exaggerating, but it is a life saver!) Before we made the Teaching Textbook switch, I was THAT homeschool mom. You know, the one that no one wants to be, the one that threatens to chase down the school bus every single day.
Now before you report me to the Charlotte Mason powers that be, let me explain. Before Teaching Textbooks, math ended in tears here every day. That’s right, EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. It was like I was living in the homeschool version of Groundhog Day in nightmare mode. So when I say that Teaching Textbooks was a lifesaver, believe me, it was!
You see my oldest child inherited her math skills from her mom, basically meaning that they are non-existent. If I could recoup all the money spent on math programs I could pay her way through college.
So what makes Teaching Textbooks different?
1). The lectures are short and easy to follow, with plenty of examples.
If you struggle with a subject, the last thing you need is hours of drawn out, confusing instruction. Teaching Textbooks lectures are clear and concise, without overkill. The step by step instructions and hands-on examples make the concepts easy to understand.
2). Each lesson contains the perfect amount of practice.
Each lesson contains five to six practice problems that are followed by about twenty problems that are used for grading. This seems to be the perfect amount for my girls to get genuine practice without simply adding busywork.
3). It works great for non-readers.
This brings me to child #2. My youngest daughter is dyslexic so she struggles with reading, but has crazy mad math skills. Sometimes though, these math skills can be hidden by her reading struggles. For example, if you would give her a worksheet with several word problems, she would automatically shut down, despite being able to complete the actual math work with ease.
When I first started discussing this review with the rep from Teaching Textbooks I was VERY skeptical of my youngest daughter’s ability to complete the program. However, the rep encouraged me to try the program. I’m so thankful I did. My youngest is thriving with Teaching Textbooks. She loves math, and it has given her extra confidence, which she needs in her academic life right now.
4). Teaching Textbooks is self-grading.
That means that I don’t have to grade a single bit of it. That’s right. I don’t teach it, and I don’t grade it. It takes one more thing off of my already overflowing plate. With Teaching Textbooks, it’s like I have a tutor that comes to my home every day and does ALL the work. It’s amazing!
I also love that I still have control. I have the option to delete a single problem or even an entire lesson. I like having the ability to offer more practice if they need it.
But Wait There’s More…..
Because I am sure at this point I sound like a Teaching Textbooks infomercial, right? (I know, but I can’t help it!) This year Teaching Textbooks has released the 3.0 Version, making it even more spectacular!
So what’s up with the new and improved version?
Well for starters, it’s entirely online.
That’s right, no more looking under the couch cushions for disk #2 because it’s all conveniently stored online. In fact, your work will continue to be stored online, even if you are no longer a Teaching Textbook user.
Still want a book? There’s a handy ebook option available for those who want to use it, or you can still order the physical book. My kiddos do great with just the lecture and some scrap paper but you can customize it to meet your needs.
The price is better, at least for some of us.
Teaching Textbooks pricing varies based on grade level, and of course, price comparisons would depend on your specific family situation. Here is the price comparison for my family. Teaching Textbooks also offers a large family plan to make it even more affordable.
(Could I buy the books used? Yes I could, but Teaching Textbooks seems to sell for a premium used price. Plus there are already three levels between my girls. If I buy used my youngest will be using a math program that is a minimum of 4 years old.)
The ability to access the program from any computer.
One of the things that frustrated me with Teaching Textbooks 2.0 was that to check (or change) a grade I had to use my daughter’s computer. This meant I would often forget that she needed to rework a problem. She’s a perfectionist, so this drove us both nuts. With the 3.0 version, I can see my portal while she is working. I can also access both students from the same online portal, which makes things super easy.
There are more buddies.
Oh, those cute little buddies. The new buddies caused plenty of “eeeeks” and “awwwwws” here. There’s also wallpaper that each student can customize. My girls LOVE all the options. They are fun and add a personal touch.
So is there anything I don’t love? My ONLY complaint with Teaching Textbooks, and it’s a small one, is that I wish the program included more math fact review. However, this is easy to remedy using a math app or game. Plus the benefits of this program far outweigh that one tiny complaint.
So now that I’ve told you ALL about Teaching Textbooks you can enter to win a one FREE year of Teaching Textbooks 3.0. You can also check out a free 15 day trial here.a Rafflecopter giveaway
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