We received two Math Tutor DVDs to test: Word Problems, and Algebra 2. Wow! There is a lot of math on these DVD sets! The instructor, Jason Gibson, is a NASA scientist and engineer. He truly desires to help people understand math.
The children and I have viewed these DVDs together. My 7 year old son keeps asking me if he can view the Word Problems DVD with pencil and paper to work the problems as his math lesson for the day. My 12 yo daughter viewed the dividing decimals section of the Word Problems DVD to help clear up her confusion on dividing decimals. My 13 year old daughter said, "If only I'd had this sooner!" while viewing the first part of the Algebra 2 DVD. She hasn't yet reached Algebra 2, so it quickly went over her head, but his graph explanations did help her understand plotting points better.
These are very helpful DVDs to have if your child struggles in math. But they can help any homeschooling family, as another voice to explain concepts clearly. This can be very important if your child resists listening to Mom's explanation. The Math Tutor DVDs provide a neutral third party to explain the problems calmly and clearly.
Pros:
- Thorough step-by-step explanations
- Conversational tone
- Menu takes you directly to the section you need
- Uses a variety of problems to explain the same concept
- Works the problems out on a white board as he explains them
- Covers many concepts on each DVD set
- Each DVD set packed with sample problems and explanations to help your child
- Can help a struggling student
- Can help a Mom who needs to brush up on her math skills to better teach her own children
- No distracting backgrounds, music, or flashy "stuff"
- Focused math tutoring
- Available for lower and upper level math
- Available for college courses, consumer and business math
- Affordable (ranging from $26.99 - $31.99 per set)
- Less expensive than paying a math tutor
- Can be viewed at home, 24 hours a day, over and over ... unlike an actual tutor
- Can be bought in bundles to save money
- You pay the same shipping & handling for 1 DVD set as you do if you buy 10 DVD sets
- 30 day money-back satisfaction guarantee
Cons:
- There are a few mistakes, where he says the wrong number, but thankfully writes the correct number.
Some children will find these Math Tutor DVDs boring. But that's not the point, is it? If they are struggling in math, it doesn't matter if they think the DVDs are boring ... as long as they learn what they need to learn. When I first viewed them, my artistic mind thought the instructor needed a brighter colored shirt. He was blending into the white board, it seemed. But then I realized that was also a good thing. It keeps HIM from being a distraction from the math he's teaching. So while those two things could be cons, I can't really list them under the con list. They're beside the point, I decided. The only true con I could think of were the occasional mistakes.
You can view samples of his DVDs on the Math Tutor DVD website. The website also has worksheets available for Algebra 1 and Algebra 2. Plus, there is a chance to win the entire Math Tutor DVD collection each month if you join their email list.
I recommend the Math Tutor DVDs if you, or your child, are struggling with certain math concepts. I believe the Math Tutor DVDs can help. I'm thankful to have had a chance to review them, and will find them useful in my own family as we begin to work our way through upper level mathematics.
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Trusting in Him,
April
