Homeschooling Math Online Review
When I look for a homeschooling math online curriculum I’m looking for a few things:
- Is it easy for my child to use? Is it well laid-out?
- Will my child feel like they are successful in math?
- Does the resource explain things well?
- How much help will I need to give them?
- Is it sequential? Can my child easily follow what is coming next?
- Does it fit well with the Australian curriculum? Does it use metric?
- Can I see progress with my child?
- Can I set the lesson times?
- Does it have drill?
- Is there revision?
Homeschooling With Math Online – Our Experience
We used Math Online in our home for over 10 years. There were so many reason I found it worked for us. It met all of the above list and some. Plus it included a summary of work completed that I could use for documenting my child’s work. This was great when applying for registration. You also got certificates that you could print off when sections were completed. These went into the children’s portfolios.
Often I found when I tutored my children in math I helped a little too much. I had a tendency to race them through the steps and they didn’t get it. With Math Online this wasn’t a problem because the children could work independently through their lessons. I did need to help now and then. This usually involved us both watching the lessons online and then me helping with a few of the questions. We set an approximate time limit for daily maths.
Another thing I loved about Math Online was that their built in incentives (certificates and progress bars) were not a distraction to the lesson. In the primary years when we tried another leading math program for kids, my children spent most of their time working below their grade in order to gain rewards and earn points for a new hat for their avatar, or to change their background instead of doing their actual lessons.
Assessing progress is also done easily using their topic tests. During a topic test I realised I hadn’t taught 24 hour time or Roman numerals. You can also quickly work through lessons seeing if your child understands a concept or if they need more work. This is great for remedial work or if you want to fast track your child.
I also loved the search feature. For example, when my high school son was studying for a math test and he wanted to know about polynomials and surds (I had no idea), we looked it up in the math online search box and listened to the explanation. I couldn’t believe it—I even understood the explanation! My son commented that he found the Math Online tutorials so easy to understand.
We didn’t use Math Online exclusively in the primary years, it was mostly a valuable supplement. We moved to Math Online as our main high school resource for Years 7 to 10 (after trying a few programs that didn’t work for us). Two of my children did not choose to pursue math at an HSC level, however they both were able to progress through the grades of Math Online up to Year 10. For the child who did do math at university level he used Math Online as a supplement to what he was learning in his Math course.
We also added revision in high school using Alboe.
Is Math Online All Online?
The lessons/explanations are online and you enter the answers online but you will still need to print off some of the worksheets. Your child will also need an exercise book to complete their working out, especially in the high school years.
Could Math Online Be Used As A Complete Math Program?
Well many homeschoolers use it as a complete course and some choose to supplement. This is an individual decision that really needs to be made depending on your families strengths and abilities. You also need to consider what level of Math your child will need when they graduate your homeschool.
I hope you found this review helpful.
Michelle
PS: You get a 50% discount to the Math Online parent subscription when you become a paid member of the My Homeschool community.
Disclaimer: I have not been paid by Math Online for this review. I do not get any financial compensation if you purchase a Math Online subscription.
They send you a weekly email and a certificate as each section is completed.
Hi MIchelle,
Can I receive an email when my child has finished a workbook or can I easily log on and find the workbooks or worksheets that they’ve completed on a particular day with a mark against it? I.e. an easy way to track their progress.
Thank you.
There are speed kills tests with math online as well.
How would I teach times tables? I never learnt them properly myself so I couldn’t practice or do races like you have mentioned doing with your son.
I was treated very badly by one of the mathsonline team members because I asked too many question and I was not a member. At first she answered a few of my questions but i wanted to know how you can learn more with only 10 question per topic? I never got a proper response and she told me to stop sending emails of which I felt very offender as i just wanted to know before I pay for the service. Never got treated this badly from any customer support here in Australia. I can buy a maths software that can generate many types of questions so you can keep practicing your skills in algebra for example. So i like to know from others how can you progress with so little questions to practice on?
This is what I received just to know more before I pay?
Can you please stop sending emails – as you have stated in your email you are not a membership and you are wasting my time.
We use some drill books- practicing skills like times tables and revision. I have used some Saxon Math tests and worksheets in the early years and we also have ALBOA for Year 7 and 8.
Hi Michelle,
when you say that you combine Maths Online with your bookwork maths program, what bookwork program do you use with MO please?
I also have a subscription to another online program that I will be giving up this year because it was under-utilised. I must confess I’ve never used study ladder.
Thanks for this clear review and link to the discounted price, Michelle! I think at least one of my children would particularly like this program if I decide to try it when our under-utilised Studyladder subscription expires.