I used to love flash cards. I collected a wide variety of them, put them on my school shelf, and occasionally used them. Occasionally, but not often enough. Then the toddlers and preschoolers discovered them. Now, if I want to use them, I have to first make sure that all the flash cards I need are still present and accounted for. Others have gone missing, maybe swallowed by the dust-bunnies under our furniture.I don't like flash cards, but my children DO need to practice their math facts. One solution to this problem is to use a software game for math facts drills. Mad Dog Math has developed a software that allows multiple children to practice their math facts in all four math functions: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Within each level, and each math function, you can choose the fact family (group of numbers) to practice.
Product Description
The first two levels of Mad Dog Math focus on addition and subtraction. The first level leaves a blank at the end of the equation, but the second level places the blank in the middle of the equation for a greater challenge. The third level focuses on multiplication and division. The Challenge level has two games. Mutt Math drills on all four math functions mixed together. Kennel Trouble has the children fill the blanks on different charts.
To begin their drills, the children push the Time Me button. They can issue a new set of problems by clicking on Fetch. As they take their drills, each child can track their progress and earn virtual stickers for successes. The drills can be timed for 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes or left un-timed . To view your child's progress, you just log in under their name.
You can view this video from Mad Dog Math to learn more about the program:
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ElCloud Thoughts
We had some minor issues getting started with the Mad Dog Math software. Once it was installed, we could not open it from the desktop shortcut. We had to open it from the Start Menu instead. Additionally, the only way we could get it to recognize the license key and show us our expanded version was to right click and "Run as Administrator" from the Start Menu. The Technical Support people were very willing to help, and quick to reply to my requests.
Once we had it running, we were able to adapt it for each of my two sons. My older son (4th grade) worked on practicing his multiplication and division tables, with the 2 minute time limit. My 1st grade son practiced his addition and subtraction facts, with an unlimited time limit. The program is basic, without a lot of bells and whistles, but it is effective. The fact that it isn't complicated with games helps to keep them focused on completing their drills quickly and moving on. But, it's not something my boys would ASK to do unless I was allowing them to replace a regular math lesson with math drill practice.
If your child only needs a little practice to learn his math facts, then the 1 year license may be all you need. If you have multiple children, or a child who struggles with math, and you plan to use this program for more than two years, you might as well purchase the perpetual license.
Samples and Prices
You can test out Mad Dog Math in your own home with their free trial download. The free trial version unlocks the lowest level of each math function. You must know if your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit before downloading it. Sorry, Mac users, this is a Windows-based program and not Mac compatible.
To unlock the upper levels of Mad Dog Math, you must purchase a software license. The Mad Dog Math software license costs $19.99 for the one-year license, $29.99 for a two-year license, or $39.99 for the perpetual license. Mad Dog Math also sells a Complete Instructional System for Home Use for $69.99, as well as other products like flash cards.
A 3 month trial of this item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion. Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.
Trusting In Him,
April
