Math Shed and Spelling Shed Review

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Spelling is not my specialty so we were excited to receive 12 months of access to both Math Shed and Spelling Shed.  If you are looking to add some spelling and math digital learning to your homeschool, let me tell you about Math Shed and Spelling Shed.

What is Math Shed and Spelling Shed?

Math Shed and Spelling Shed are part of EdShed.  The programs are designed to help your student improve their math and spelling proficiency.  Math Shed and Spelling shed are an online subscription. The program is web-based so it works on both a computer and also on the iPad.

Spelling Shed – Spelling Shed is a full Spelling curriculum program.  There are six levels (called Stages) plus a beginner level for phonics.  Each level has spelling lists that focus on a particular spelling rule.  For example, Stage 3 has a list for Long /a/ sound words. You can assign your student a Stage and even a specific Spelling word list.

You set up students and give them assignments in the “Teacher Hub”. You can also set the password for your student there or keep the recommended one.

They can work on spelling lists or play a game called”buzz” where they try to make different words with letters on the screen.

There are three kinds of game:

  •  Play – This is the main game type and use used for assignments
  • Bee Keeper – Can you guess your words by choosing letters.
  • Buzz Words – Make words using random letter tiles.

 

MathShed – MathShed is a web-based program with games to help your child learn different math facts.

The math games have a question and three answers to choose from.  There is catchy music and sound effects.  This is what the gameplay looks like.

Both games allow you to earn honeypots to buy different accessories for the avatar.  That is the main motivation for the student. There are also points so you can have a competition between students.  If you have two computers you can also set up a head to head competition by creating what’s called a Hive.  The teacher or the student can set up a hive competition game.  I tried it with my boys however we had issues with the iPad not showing the keyboard so we were not able to fully try that level.

What we thought

Math Shed and Spelling Shed were definitely helpful for my children working on spelling and math facts.  The boys enjoyed the games and were challenged.  I usually set up the game difficulty level for them depending on what I thought their level.  The Easy level shows all the letters that are used in the spelling word but the most difficult level does not give any help.  The instructions say not to worry about it using the easy level and to use the hard levels towards the end of the week.

One of the other nice features I liked about Spelling Shed was the curriculum guide.  There is a pdf and PowerPoint that you can use to teach the new spelling list.  I thought it was very helpful to see all the spelling words and the instructions on. how to teach and use the program.  Each week has a lesson plan, activities and printable practice/homework sheets with answers

I hope you consider EdShed to help your child spell better and build math mastery!

Be sure to visit the Homeschool Review Crew blog to read more reviews of Math Shed and Spelling Shed.

Spelling Shed & Math Shed {Education Shed Reviews}

Math Galaxy app and ebook review

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Math Galaxy provides math games and math worksheets such as the Whole Numbers Balloon Pop app and the Math Galaxy Time and Money Riddles eBook.

Apps:

I had the opportunity to review several apps.  Most of the apps I reviewed, 3rd Grade Math, 4th Grade Math, 6th Grade Mathwere similar but just for different grade levels.  The other app I reviewed was the Times Tables Balloon Pop app about multiplication.

The Times Tables Balloon Pop app starts out with you first select the Times table you would like to work on.  Then the app is a simple app that displays a multiplication fact with several balloons with numbers on it.  When you tap on the right answer the balloon pops and another multiplication question comes up.  This was a fun way for my children to practice multiplication facts.

The other Apps I reviewed were comprehensive math apps that were 3rd Grade Math, 4th Grade Math, 6th Grade Math.  The apps are pretty much the same except the concepts are more difficult for the higher grades. The 6th Grade Math app only has one game but that’s understandable since its for older kids.  I was pleasantly surprised by my son picking up the app and playing it on his own without my prompting.  Many times, I like to download an app and see how long it is before they start using it.

His favorite game to play was the Labyrinth game.  I suspect this is since he really likes mazes.  To play the game you must earn a robot by working on other math facts.

 

Even though my son hasn’t worked a lot on fractions, he really liked the game for fraction addition.

Along with interactive games, there are also videos

Lastly you can even save your progress.

ebooks:

We were also provided ebooks which provided riddles that you solve by answering all the math problems.  I received Whole Numbers, Fractions, Decimals, Proportions, Percents, and Algebra ebooks.

The ebooks provide plenty of fun practice for all the math problems.  The solutions are well worked out like the Fraction addition shown below.

Overall my son really enjoyed the apps and I found him numerous times playing them for fun.  The ebooks provide a great supplement for any math program you use for your homeschool.

Please click on the picture below to see other reviews form Homeschool Review Crew members.

3rd Grade -Algebra Fundametals Math Apps {Math Galaxy Reviews}

Why Tablets are good for Homeschooling

Advantages for using tablets for homeschooling:
  1. It is more like a book and can be less like a computer.
  2. You only have to keep track of one item as opposed to many books.
  3. You can have your children gather around the tablet. (this may not work so well with 7 inch tablets)
  4. Touch interface is more relaxed and a little more hands on.
  5. Many ebooks are available for free
  6. Software/apps can be cheaper or free
Disadvantages:
  1. They can be expensive
  2. Software is not mature for education
  3. Limited or no flash web page support. Many of the interactive education web pages use Flash.
  4. Children tend to touch things so there will be a lot of smudge marks on the screen that will need to be cleaned off.