Math
MyMathAssistant—sign up using code MMA18712 for $5 off!
One of our favorite resources, this is an online program for working and grading Saxon Math. Access is by annual subscription, and it is very worth the expense! The site offers placement tests so you can determine which book your student needs, as well as a free trial before purchase so you can see how it works and if it is a good fit for you. There are also video lessons for many books, and he is adding more all the time. The video lessons consist of a digital “chalkboard” where he works the problems with voiceover explaining the problems.
One thing we love about this resource is that the backend (Teacher Dashboard) is very customizable, so you can set your students’ lessons to give them 1 chance per problem, 2, 3, etc, and also whether they get full credit for getting the answer correct on subsequent attempts, half credit, no credit, etc. We’ve been using it for years now, and it continues to increase in value!
TheMathWorksheetSite
Another favorite math resource that I use primarily for younger students, but it is also great for math drills and some other skills too (NOTE: we have only ever used the features accessible for free). I love using this website for generating simple math worksheets for the varying skill levels of my students, particularly if they need extra practice on a specific exercise, like carrying in multiple digit addition, or borrowing in multiple digit subtraction. Subjects offered are:
- Addition
- Subtraction
- Multiplication
- Division
- Mixed Problems
- Fractions
- Measurements
- Graphing
- Telling Time
- One Hundred Chart
- and then some assorted extra resources such as a DNA model
Quick Flash Math Flashcards
This is simply a flashcard game where students choose their number to exercise, then answer the flashcards before time runs out in order to win a green marker! An answer can still be given after the time runs out, but your marker will be yellow. If it is answered incorrectly, a red marker will appear. Three cycles through the cards complete a round, and after one successful round, you can choose what style of “cards” you have from a small collection (all safe!). There are separate pages for Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division.
There is also a much simpler, more grownup version here for Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division.
One note: there are also other games on this site that we don’t utilize, so I can’t vouch for the safety of those. They might be fine, I just haven’t checked into them. We have simply saved shortcut links for our children to go directly to the pages we have approved.
Language Arts / Spelling / Vocabulary
Rod & Staff: Spelling by Sound and Structure
These are our favorite spelling books! They start out easy (no cursive, simple words, simple illustrations and exercises), and slowly build skills, spelling rules, and vocabulary, eventually working up to etymology and how different languages are related in some of the later books. They utilize easy-to-follow structure, and even incorporate crossword puzzles and similar games to reinforce what is being taught. They are published by the Mennonite publishing company Rod & Staff, so all illustrations are modest, lessons are wholesome, family interactions are healthy, and Bible verses are regularly used. However, they do have a different worldview, so we have had a few conversations about pacifism and other things along the way, just to make sure those messages are addressed. They are very subtle and rare, but still present!
Wordly Wise
Once our students have gone through all of the spelling books above, they move on to Wordly Wise which builds vocabulary and etymology. There are two versions of Wordly Wise though: the older ones which we use (they feature sketch-themed covers), and then a newer series called Wordly Wise 3000. I haven’t seen any of the newer series personally, but have also not read great reviews about them—they seem to be dumbed down and repetitive. The older series is harder to find, but eBay has been a great place!
Miscellaneous
TriviaPlaza
This is another of those sites that is just a treasure trove of learning “games”, but where we only use certain categories. We haven’t explored the more pop-culture categories such as Movies, Television, etc. However, much of the Science, Geography, and Languages games are quite fun. We have let our youngest ones even learn how to use a computer, mouse and keyboard doing some of the “fluffier” categories, like Pictures of Puppy Dogs or Pictures of Cat Breeds. Some favorites of our children have been basic Latin, States, State Shapes, Flags, Pick the Country, various quizzes regarding foods (though we stay away from some in this category), cars, etc. There really is so much here, but again, there is a lot we don’t utilize too. Just peruse with caution. 😉