This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of CTCMath. I was compensated for my time, but this is an honest review and all opinions are my own.
Many times throughout our homeschool journey, I have turned to online programs for help. One of the core subjects where this has been most beneficial is math. None of my kiddos seem to inherently enjoy math; however, using an online math curriculum in our homeschool has been a proven game-changer.
Teaching Homeschool Math
Teaching math in the elementary years was no sweat for me. I felt confident 95% of the time, which I think is pretty good! For the most part, we used a hands-on curriculum that included a physical workbook and teacher guide. We reviewed the daily lesson, my students practiced, and I checked their work. It was pretty cut and dry.
Once my children entered middle school, my confidence level dropped a bit. Some of the topics I remembered, but there were now many more that I did not. Some days, I had to re-learn an entire topic. Even then, I didn’t always feel confident I knew what I was doing!
We frequently consulted random math videos when the curriculum didn’t explain it sufficiently. This was not exactly how I wanted to spend precious moments of our homeschool day.
I was ready for a change.
Knowing that many moms use homeschool math curriculum online, I decided it was time for me to consider making the switch as well. I am happy to say this has been a decision with zero regrets!
5 ADVANTAGES OF AN ONLINE MATH CURRICULUM
1-You Don’t Have to Be the Teacher With An Online Math Curriculum
One of the best aspects of an online math program is that you don’t have to do the teaching. This is a tremendous help when you’re unsure of what you’re doing! It also creates space for you to assist your other learners, and allows for some independent learning.
There was no question that when my son entered his freshman year and needed Algebra I, I did not want to be the primary teacher of this material. Through much research on various online homeschool math curricula, I discovered the CTCMath Homeschool Membership.
This program provides step-by-step video teaching that explains each concept thoroughly. After watching the instruction, my son tries the practice problems. While I’m still available for help, he can work independently. The best part is, no more searching out random math videos! If he’s confused about a concept, I’ll watch the teaching video alongside him.
2-Multiple Learning Modalities Using An Online Math Curriculum
Using a hands-on math textbook may be great for kids who like reading, can learn from that reading, and are primarily visual learners. If they struggle with this, then it can prove challenging. An online math curriculum, however, combines learning through visual and auditory modes of learning.
My oldest son, an advanced reader, started to struggle with learning math from reading a textbook alone. Once we switched to the CTCMath Homeschool Membership, I noticed his ability to successfully complete math lessons daily without my help greatly improved.
3-Access to Help & Support Using An Online Math Curriculum
The third reason you might want to try an online math program is for extra help and support. In my experience, there is nothing like math to turn a typical homeschool day into a difficult homeschool day!
While you may be able to find math support from a family member that loves math (hey, grandpa!), this might not be true for you. Where can you find that extra assistance you may need? Hopefully, the online program you choose will offer plenty of help and support.
The customer support from CTCMath has always been super friendly and responsive. There was one algebra problem my son and I just could not understand. We emailed a copy of our work to the team at CTCMath, and we received a reply the next day.
That was great!
4-Affordability For Families Using An Online Math Curriculum
If you homeschool multiple children, I don’t need to tell you how homeschool curriculum expenses can start to add up. Before using an online math program, I purchased a separate curriculum for each child based on their grade level.
I discovered that the CTCMath Homeschool Membership, however, was one price for our entire family. This was music to my ears since homeschool curriculum choices are strongly influenced by our budget!
With this membership, I have everything I need for all my children! We have access to all the grade levels/courses within the program, without being limited by grade level. This is an amazing benefit! My kids work at their own pace, ensuring they’re challenged appropriately by moving through the levels as needed.
5-Flexibility and Adaptability Using An Online Math Curriculum
Lastly, an online math program will provide flexible and adaptable learning opportunities. When we used a textbook for math, we were limited to using that curriculum as is. Unfortunately, it could not change or adapt to my children’s needs.
An online math program with adaptive learning capabilities, however, can challenge my students according to their skill levels and needs. This gives me the peace of mind that it’s providing personalized learning experiences for them individually.
In addition, we can also access learning from anytime, anywhere. Need to work on math while on vacation? Not a problem! How about math while waiting for little brother’s soccer practice to end? Absolutely!
Check to make sure the online math program you select is compatible with various mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets, as this will make learning easier. The CTCMath Homeschool Membership offers this capability, so there are no worries.
Ensure Your Child Is Working At the Right Math Level
As with any math curriculum I am always concerned about whether it will be too difficult, too easy, or somewhere between. Most companies will give you an idea of the grades they believe it’s appropriate for, and some will even provide a placement test to help you decide. If all goes well (fingers crossed), you’ll choose correctly.
With my CTCMath Homeschool Membership, I get access to ALL THE LEVELS. No more worrying and hoping I’m buying the right one! Because each lesson offers a diagnostic test, I can determine what we need to be working on, and plan accordingly. When we are ready to move on, we do so quickly and easily.
What My Kids Like About CTCMath Homeschool Membership
The kiddos tell me this online math curriculum is easy to navigate. Whether it’s switching from lesson to lesson or finding solution worksheets, they know where to find things better than I do. They also appreciate the short teaching videos, which hasn’t always been the case with other online math programs.
Besides noting the fun Australian accent of the instructor in the videos, my 13-year-old says he likes the level of mastery indicators. It helps him visually comprehend how well he’s doing.
This program also provides my students with certificates of achievement based on the level they are working at: bronze, silver, gold, or platinum. My youngest son is happy to tell me he always achieves a gold or higher. If your students are motivated by awards like he is, they will love this aspect.
Conclusion
Incorporating an online math curriculum into your homeschooling routine can bring numerous benefits to both you and your children. I can personally recommend the many perks of outsourcing math in your homeschool.
If you’re uncertain whether something like this can work for your family, the best thing you can do is TRY IT OUT!
Because CTCMath offers a free trial, you can give it a whirl before you invest a single dime. No risk involved. No ordering curriculum that doesn’t work and hoping to return or sell it. Or worse, using it even though you don’t like it.
No one has time for that!