Mad Dog Math

My experiences in school memorizing math facts is not good. I was diagnosed as dyslexic in elementary school though I’m not sure that is completely accurate. I cannot spell worth beans (or is it beens? ;) but I can write well and have always been able to read easily. The area that has been most affected by my dyslexia is math; specifically remembering facts and formulas. Needless to say memorizing math facts was pure torture for me.

I remember sitting in the class for weeks during recess, watching all the kids play in the playground while I sat and did my multiplication timed tests. The teacher was sure I was just not motivated to memorize them and this was his solution. The problem was not motivation. My mom found out that was happening after a few weeks and stepped it. The problem is, I still do not have many of my math facts memorized as I should. I can recall them, but it takes several seconds, it’s not instant as it should be.

Imagine my dismay to see 2 of my children follow in my footsteps in this area. Interestingly enough, it was my dyslexic children. We have done just about every program you can think of for memorizing multiplication tables. I don’t want to punish them, but it is important! I know how hard it is for them so we just keep plugging away at.

When I was sent Mad Dog Math to review, we had been doing just your basic flash cards for a while now with my youngest. I think variety is helpful here and it was time for a change again. The flash cards were getting boring!

She was actually happy to start Mad Dog Math after the flash cards. I let her start with addition and subtraction even though she is in 6th grade and knows those facts well. But it helped her learn the program and get a feel for how it worked. Then we got down to business. I had her start the multiplication facts. She’s been working on these for a while with some success.

I like how this program works. We’ve tried programs with jingles and songs and stories, we’ve tried programs with games and incentives, we’ve tried writing them down over and over, and we’ve tried flash cards. Honestly, as far as computer programs go, I really liked Mad Dog Math’s approach. It has some bells and whistles in the form of incentives, but not too much. The screen is not overwhelming with lots of distractions; it’s just a simple, fill in the blank kinda deal.



Frankly, I’ve not had much to do with Mad Dog Math. I downloaded it on the kids’ computer and let her loose. I did have to set some parameters (like she can’t do only simple addition!) and set the time etc, but overall it’s been her deal. She gets on when she’s done with her math curriculum for the day, she spends 10 or 20 minutes doing her drills and she gets off. No complaining, no fluff, just math.

Now that I like!

If you have a child that struggles with memorization of the math facts, variety is the key in my opinion. Work on one thing for a while, maybe a DVD program, then good old fashioned flash cards, then maybe writing them out and the like. Mad Dog Math is an excellent addition to the Multiplication Fact arsenal! I am very grateful to have it and will continue using it, because it will probably be a long, long time before the facts finally cement in that dyslexic brain of hers.

And now for the fine print...

Ages/Grades:
K-5 (older kids can also benefit!)


Downloadable Software

1 year license: $19.99
2 year license: $29.99
Perpetual license: $39.99

Print Materials in a Binder

$89.99 for Classroom
$69.99 for Homeschool
$89.99 for Middle/High School

You can go here to learn more about Mad Dog Math and you can go here to see what others on The Crew had to say about this product.

Happy Homeschooling!

Institute for Excellence in Writing

Some things you’re good at and some things you’re not. That’s just how it is. I’ve learned in my homeschooling journey of 14 years what each of my children is a natural at, and what is a foreign concept to them. I have also learned what is easy for me to teach and what is hard, like math. But let’s not talk about that. Math makes me twitchy.

Language arts is our thing here in this house. Even with two of my four children being dyslexic; we are a word family. Both of my daughters (one of which is dyslexic) write stories, fables, poems, and have written for our homeschool co op newspaper.

Being that we are a language arts family, I was beyond thrilled that I had been selected to receive the Institute for Excellence in Writing’s, Teaching Writing/Student Writing Intensive Combo Pack Level B

This is what I saw when I opened my box.



I was a bit overwhelmed, but then I saw this…whew, okay. Step by step instructions on where to start. Sort of like the ‘You are here’ on a map.



And this for setting up the student binder.



Here is how it’s described on IEW’s website…

This combination package is the best way to begin with Excellence in Writing. It includes Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS), Tips and Tricks DVD and Student Writing Intensive (SWI). Comes with 2 sets of DVDs (one for the teacher, one for the student), TWSS Seminar Workbook, and Student Notebook with handouts and daily lesson suggestions.
SKU: TWSID-B
Level(s):
B (Grades 6-8)
Price: $239.00
Level B is appropriate for teachers and parents of students in grades 6-8. It may also be used for those teachers and parents who are teaching multiple levels.

If you go here you can watch several sample videos of Mr. Pudewa teaching, and see several sample documents of the program.

I watched the DVD for the teacher as instructed and learned a GREAT DEAL. I found him engaging and funny. At one point in the teacher DVD Andrew Pudewa says this…

“One of the completely great things about the syllabus is that it is not a subject unto itself. Writing should not be a subject over here on the side that we do when we can, while we’ve got to do our math, and science, and history, and literature, and bible, and oh, by the way we’d better do some writing here. No, writing must become a part of the study of history, and science, and literature, and bible; whatever it is you want to teach your children. They should read about it, they should talk about it, and they should write about it. That’s how we learn.”

I could not agree more. That is what I love about this system. It’s not a new thing to learn, a new thing to add to my already overburdened homeschooling schedule, but something to incorporate in, that will complement what I am already teaching! But don’t get me wrong, there is a learning curve. I think I have been doing with my children, something very similar to what is taught by IEW, at least in the beginning. It is the idea that you take literature and copy it. See what works and what does not and then model what works. The difference with IEW is that they tell you exactly why something works. You take it apart (via keyword outlines) and then put it back together. Frankly, this is taking what I have been teaching my children, to a whole new level that I would not have thought to teach.

I’ll not say it’s all been rainbows and lollypops. It’s hard to take something you already know, that you’re already good at, and slow it down, looking at the details and minutia of what makes it good or bad. My daughters balked somewhat against this. However, I can see how it has been good for them to see the WHY. I mentioned that because I think this system is wonderful for the reluctant writer. It takes the guesswork out of how to write. It is also good for the great writer, even though it’s a bit more difficult in my opinion, to slow down, go back, and start over.

IEW is a very thorough curriculum. It teaches the teacher how to teach writing and it teaches the student how to write. Teaching Writing/Student Writing Intensive Combo Packs are not inexpensive; however, I think they are very much worth the money especially for those just starting out in with homeschooling, as they can be used for student after student. There is also a very helpful and active Yahoo group dedicated to IEW.

You can go here to learn more about the Institute for Excellence in Writing, and here to see what others on The Crew had to say about IEW. Those of us on The Crew were sent different things from IEW, so if you are interested in another product they put out, or a different grade level, pop on over to The Crew’s site and look for those specific reviews.

Happy Homeschooling!