by I was compensated for my time and provided with a copy of this curriculum for review purposes, but all opinions expressed are my own.
One of my favorite things about using CTCMath is that I don't have to teach math anymore. I don't have to sit there while they learn or even grade their assignment when it is finished. This is only partly true with a squirmy kindergartner, but it is still so much better than traditional curriculum.
I never had any intention of starting her on CTCMath as a kindergartner, but she finished her Kindergarten math curriculum well before semester, so I needed something for her to do, and with a Homeschool Family membership there was no reason to to try kindergarten and see how she did with the computer controls.
I was blown away.
Not just because she had zero problem learning the computer controls including that annoying laptop mouse pad that I still can't work, but also because she was able to sit "still" long enough to pay attention to a lesson I wasn't teaching.
In fact she loved her "computer math" so much that finished kindergarten through CTCMath in just a few months as well. So we moved on to first grade.
Now a curriculum that will challenge this little squirmy worm.
Why CTCMath Works for Squirmy Kids
I don't know about your kids, but my if my youngest gets distracted by something she thinks is funny, she will just keep repeating it and laughing rather than paying attention to what she is doing. CTCMath uses short videos explaining the math the kids are learning without excess frills or silliness to distract them. This is one of the biggest reasons CTCMath works well for squirmy kids without a long attention spans!
The fact that CTCMath is on a screen helps keep their attention as well. Most all kids are allured by the sight of screens in general, but they do lose some interest it seems if there is a person just talking to them from the screen. Instead of the lessons on CTCMath being a lecturer with a white board, they show the moving pieces of the math with a voice over explaining what they are being taught. Watching the numbers and shapes moving while listening to what is happening helps keep these kids engaged with the content.
The lesson is of course half the battle when kids have a short attention span like my squirmy one. They still need to complete practice problems to check for understanding. CTCMath includes around 10 problems per lesson, so it does not take a long time to complete. Also, the kids only view one question at a time on the screen rather than being distracted by a page of problems, although there is the option to print a worksheet if they happen to focus better that way.
The on screen questions also have built in mechanisms to help keep kids from struggling through. First, for these littles who aren't strong readers yet, there is a little symbol they can click to hear the question being read to them. This keeps them from getting bogged down trying to sound everything out which could definitely cause some frustration.
The second way the on screen problems work with the kids fidgety nature is to have moveable parts. So if they are asking the kids to see how many boxes fill a shape, they can literally move boxes into the shape. Likewise they can move pieces to add and subtract or to count out money. Using an iPad or a touch screen makes this even easier.
More Tips to Use CTCMath with Easily Distracted Kids
One of the biggest bonuses to using an online math curriculum is that you can let your kids do the math and not even have to grade it. Math becomes very hands-off which is good for some of us. This is not entirely true when dealing with a little kiddo, especially one who is easily distracted.
So, don't expect to let go of math just yet. These distracted kids still need guidance to stay on track especially if they are like mine who start giggling because the onions they are counting have eyes. Just sit with them, listen to short lesson, and get them back on track should they get distracted by the onion's eyes or anything else.
I love that the kids can move things on the screen to work out some of the problems, but there are other problems that simply include numbers and nothing visual. For these, it can be helpful to add a manipulative. I use homemade Montessori beads for addition and subtraction, but any math manipulative would be fine or even cute little erasers for the dollar store. Anything they can use to figure the problem out with their hands will be great for the squirmy kids among us.
Another thing that will help focus kids that need to move is a bouncy chair or an exercise band under their chair. Something to distract their squirmy body, so they can focus on math.
As I said earlier, my youngest loved doing math on the computer, and sped through kindergarten! She finished first grade as well this last year, but she didn't even do math everyday. In fact there were days that she refused to do much more than listen to books. Sometimes she couldn't clam down enough to sit let alone focus on math, but that's ok because when she did feel like working, she nearly always did at least 2 lessons. She would get on a roll and complete several on some days. This was great because I could let her do more on those days she could focus and take the days she (or I) needed off off. Basically be sure to take advantage of good days and always ask if they want to do another lesson if they do well on the first.
CTCMath is Flexible
One thing I haven't mentioned, but should clear up is the flexibility of CTCMath. I mentioned above that my daughter finished both Kindergarten and First Grade math in a single year, well I didn't pay for 2 levels. In fact my eldest daughter finished algebra, my second daughter pre-algebra, my son Fourth Grade and half of Fifth, and my youngest Kinder and First all for one price. When you sign up for with the Homeschool Family Membership, you get access to all levels for all your kids for an entire year, and using my link you can get half off! Such an amazing deal especially when you need some flexibility!
Need to test drive CTCMath? Grab a free trial HERE. You can also enter below to win a year of math!
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