Reviews

Mathematics Worksheet Factory 3

This Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Wordsmith

Mathematics Worksheet Factory 3

Are you using Miquon, Singapore, or other math resources that focus on conceptual skills? Developing an understanding of math concepts is a very important goal, but sometimes these types of programs don't provide enough practice to increase speed and retention of math facts. Schoolhouse Technologies' Mathematics Worksheet Factory nicely meets this need. From daily math fact drills to weekly reviews of previously learned skills, you can create worksheets that specifically meet the needs of your children. This software covers basic math facts through early Algebra. The publisher also offers a free Basic Facts Worksheet Factory. To read more about their software titles or to download their free version, visit their website.

This Old Schoolhouse

This Old Schoolhouse is a full-color quarterly homeschooling magazine written from a Christian perspective. The Fall 2004 issue carries a wide variety of articles - editorials, reader letters, interviews, "how I homeschool" tidbits from readers, national news and issues, religion, higher education, curriculum and resources, art, science, home economics, foreign language, math, field trips, reviews, contests, and more. Although I found it difficult at times to distinguish the articles from the ads, this magazine seems to be a favorite among Christian homeschoolers for its combination of homeschooling and religious content. Their magazine and website definitely meet a need in the homeschooling community. The publisher has offered a 25% discount on a year's subscription for Carolina Homeschooler readers. To take advantage of this, mention the discount and code CarolinaDiscount when you order via the internet or phone.

Wordsmith

Wordsmith is my favorite writing program for middle-school students. I also recommend it for high school students who need a gentle introduction or review. It's described as a creative writing course, but it's really more than that. It discusses writing basics such as word usage, sentence structure, and grammar in a non-threatening way. Once it helps students become comfortable with those basic skills, it moves on to more advanced writing topics. The author is a writer who enjoys her craft and it shows. Her explanations and descriptions are interesting and clearly written. Her examples inspire students to match her level of skill. The publisher's website (Common Sense Press) has samples of this text and the other two texts in the series - Wordsmith Apprentice (for children in grades 4-6) and Wordsmith Craftsman (for students in grades 10 and up). More information about the series is available at the Common Sense Press website.