Review: TenMarks

Founded by entrepreneurial parents searching for a better way to help students achieve their potential in math,TenMarks is an online subscription service covering math content for grades 3-10.

TenMarks approaches math learning with three simple principles:

1. Personalized Learning Makes All the Difference.
2. On-Demand Instruction Provides Help When You Need it.
3. Practice Builds Confidence and Improves Achievement.

When signing up for the program, both the parent and the student receive separate login information.  Each week, the student is assigned a certain number of worksheets to complete.  The default is 4 weekly worksheets, but a parent can adjust the assigned number in the range of 3-7  The worksheets are done completely online (e.g. they are not printed out) with multiple choice answers.  From their account parents can view report cards, customize curriculum, and set up rewards for each student.

While this might all sound a bit ho-hum, TenMarks has a list of features that makes this program more appealing than it initially sounds.

The information is organized, both visually and for teaching concepts.  Each grade has a list of albums to complete.  One album, consisting of tracks, covers an entire concept.  Each track covers one single concept, with worksheets assigned for each track.  Furthermore, parents have the option of removing or rearranging albums.

While the material sequence is very organized, it is also visually organized for the user. When a student signs on, the progress they've made is very clear.  The page shows the album they've just completed, the current worksheets, and what is ahead.  Also, there is a visual display with outline figures that are colored by the percent of work completed.

Students have the option to practice concepts and are also assigned tests.  In the practice section, students can select worksheets from any album from any grade. Whether they need some review, or would like a challenge, the practice section is the place to go.  Also, timed tests are available for every album.  If a student does not score well, the tests can be taken again.

One of the best features of this program is the hints and videos available for each question.  I know that often times my children will call me over for help with their regular math work and all they really need is a little hint.  TenMarks has 3 hints available for each question and 1 video.  The program keeps track of hints and videos used.  Overuse will reduce the level of concept strength, which is also tracked for each concept.  Worksheets that have low concept strength are reassigned to the student.

It isn't just all work and no play either.  Students can earn unlock games as they complete worksheets.  Parents can also set personalized goals for motivation. 

Now, there are a few issues I did have with the program.  One of the greatest irritations was that sometimes the videos did not match up to the question.  For example, my son was working on a problem that required him to determine if a number was divisible by 4.  Not knowing how to approach the problem, he clicked the video.  While the video did talk about determining divisibility by other numbers, it did not show the student divisibility by 4. He was still stuck. Also, one of the videos used symbols for division that weren't the norm.  It had potential to be very confusing for some.  While I loved that the videos were available, they sometimes were not as helpful as they could be.

Another issue is that there were no limits on the games once they were unlocked.  Unlocking the games was very motivating, but the games themselves were very tempting.  My kids were great about not playing the games until after they finished a certain number of worksheets, but the problem cane with losing track of time.  Many of the games weren't related to any math concepts and were mindless (though apparently fun!).

Lastly, while the multiple choice had appeal for my pencil-phobic son, I also had to keep an eye on how he was approaching his answers.  Sometimes he would just make a guess, and he's very good at intuitively coming up with the correct answer without even really knowing how to work a problem.  As with any online program, a parent still needs to keep tabs on the student to make sure they are using the program as fully intended.

Overall, I really felt that TenMarks achieved the three simple principles upon which the program is based.  The learning is personalized, help is available on demand, and the program offers (and forces through reassignment of concepts) plenty of practice.  I felt the visual layout of progress was very encouraging to the student and I liked the control features given to the parent to customize the curriculum.  The minor irritations experienced did not outweigh the variety of positive features offered.

Strangely enough, though they have done numerous online math programs, both of my kids didn’t mind doing the worksheets on TenMarks.  In fact, my daughter would often do TenMarks before her other work, rather than putting it off as she typically does with math work.  The structure of TenMarks, in combination to the progress tracking and reward systems, seemed to appeal to my two indifferent math students. With math not making the top of the list as a favorite subject, it wasn't something that brought on lots of excitement. However, TenMarks was a program they willingly used without much complaint.  In our house, that is quite significant.

While I would not use TenMarks as a stand-alone program, it is definitely one to consider for supplement and practice. TenMarks is available at a very reasonable $10 a month, $49 for 6 months or $89 for 12 months. You can try the entire system by signing up for a free trial.  Visit the TenMarks website to subscribe or learn more.

Read what other reviewers had to say about TenMarks by visiting the official TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

Disclaimer: This review was provided as a result in my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew. I was provided the product free of charge in exchange for my honest review. I have received no other compensation.

I strive to give a balanced overview of each product, detailing my opinion of both pros and cons and how the product worked for my family. What works for one family may not work for another. I encourage you to read reviews of other Crew members and research sufficiently to determine if any product will be a benefit to your homeschool.

A Review of Puppetools

When my daughter was younger, she had a favorite friend named Chip. She adored Chip. Together they would talk, play and enjoy their time together. Chip certainly was no ordinary friend. In fact, Chip was just a pair of eyes. Yes, just eyes. This pair of eyes could be slipped on a finger, which transformed into a nose, for an instant friend. The simplicity of Chip became a tool to engage the mind to think, experience and learn creatively. Puppetools, a subscription website, recognizes the power of play in learning through puppets. I'm sure Jeff Peyton, Puppetools founder, would appreciate my daughter's relationship and interaction with Chip.


Jeff Peyton, also known as the Play Professor, has a passion for puppets. This passion stretches across 30 years of research and a desire to change the way education is approached in the classroom. The Puppetools mission is:

"to open the door to sweeping change in education by advancing the principle of play in teaching and learning."

The idea of Puppetools is to provide a place for educators to support each other in using puppets in the classroom. The website contains tutorials, videos, pictures of puppets created by students and teachers and a forum for discussion. Jeff Peyton has designed a paper hinge to be used as a base for puppet creations. Instructions for the hinge as well as 37 templates are included on the site. However, the idea of the site is not to be limited to the templates but to create your own puppets and then share with other members how you are utilizing them in your classroom through pictures, videos and posting on the forum. There are examples of teachers using puppets for unit studies, during reading circle time and even as behavior correction tools.

The best way to describe this website is an accumulation of research on the value of puppetry and creative play along with a platform to brainstorm with other members on how to incorporate puppetry into the classroom.

There are two subscription options.

Trial Subscription (60 days), $20
Regular Subscription (1 year), $99

The regular subscription can have up to 30 users, significantly reducing the cost for individuals.

While there is a lot of information on the site, navigation is more an exploration rather than a quick download of information. I believe the intent is for users to stay awhile and browse the site for inspiration. The forums seem largely under-utilized, though I suspect that Jeff Peyton would gladly answer any question or comment posted there. I would have liked to see more recent teacher and classroom videos as well. The research is long-standing, but the idea of sharing puppetry techniques in this format is fairly innovative and new; there seems to be a lack of members to effectively meet the site's goals. However, the platform for sharing is in place for like-minded puppet users to communicate with and inspire each other.

While we still employ lots of creative techniques in learning, the days of Chip and other puppet friends in our house are sadly gone. However, I believe both of my kids would probably still enjoy making puppets and using them with younger children, giving puppetry continued educational value for older children. While this isn't a site that I would personally use, Puppetools is a unique resource that may benefit others. The site is designed to best fit classroom educators, either traditional or through homeschool co-ops, wanting to routinely incorporate puppetry into their teaching. Those involved in a church puppet ministry may glean information through a membership, especially if they are on a budget and need ideas for constructing inexpensive puppets. For individual users interested in incorporating puppetry at home and having trouble getting started, the trial subscription could provide some starting ideas to jump start imagination and creativity. Visit the Puppetools website to learn more.

See what other TOS Crew members had to say about Puppetools by visiting the Crew's Official Blog!

A Review of ALEKS

We've all heard of writer's block, but is there such a thing a mathematician's block? Having a math-phobic daughter, I can assure you that it really exists. When it comes to math lessons, she seems to freeze up, despite high ability. She's decided she isn't good at math, though working above grade level. Her perception is somewhat self-fulfilling, making time spent doing math a struggle in our household. We've tried many different math programs, from core to supplement to fun software to straightforward textbooks, in my quest to find torture-free math instruction. I've used ALEKS in the past and was happy to revisit is again for this review.


ALEKS is a web-based service that utilizes artificial intelligence for comprehensive math instruction for grades 3-12. It is designed for independent math learning with tracking for the parent or school teacher. All instruction and work is done completely online using the ALEKS software. No additional materials are needed.

The registration process is easy. Parents are given a master account to oversee the progress of their student(s). Once your child's account is established, the parent assigns a starting course, which can be changed at any time. With the student's first login, they will be given an assessment of their knowledge of the material for that course. Students will not be asked to repeat information they have already mastered in the course and will be given a starting point specific to them. After the initial assessment, if it's discovered the course selected is too difficult or too easy, a reassessment for a different course can be assigned.

One of the unique features of ALEKS is the use of a pie chart. Each course is divided into components, e.g. whole numbers, fractions, geometry, and visually represented in a colorful pie chart.



Students have the freedom to choose what portion of the pie they'd like to work on with a simple click. Each slice is filled in as they've mastered the concepts. If material from other areas need to be learned before continuing on in a particular slice, the software will not allow further work until the child masters the necessary skills in other slices.

ALEKS is not a drill and kill program. Each new concept is presented with a short explanation and practice problem. There is an option to get further explanation if needed. After the practice problem, children work on like problems until 2-3 consecutive problems are answered correctly. At this point, a portion of the pie is earned and a new concept is introduced. Accelerated learners will appreciate the opportunity to move forward quickly. There is no need to worry about retention. ALEKS will later reassess to be sure the concepts are mastered. Automatic assessments occur whenever the student has added 20 new items to the pie, or if 10 hours in ALEKS have passed without an assessment. If it is found that the student did not retain the information, students lose that portion of the slice and need to earn it again. This was one of my favorite features!

Answers are inputed directly; there is no multiple choice. If you are the type that requires your children to show each step of the problem, you may not like the fact that students are required to just have a correct final answer to progress. However, incorrect answers will force the student to review their own written work. Both of my children have learned the hard way that sloppiness will require reworking the complete problem because they can't decipher their own work.

ALEKS will automatically email the parent a report of the student's progress. A quick look at the History portion of the report will reveal the the hours spent working, the number of items learned per hour and the progression made. This will indicate whether or not the child's time is spent productively on ALEKS. The printable report will also show the current pie and portions completed, concepts learned, concepts ready to be learned and more.

As mentioned earlier, ALEKS has been used in our household prior to this review. The first time we utilized ALEKS was a couple of years ago at the height of the math drama in our household. My daughter, 9 at the time, was convinced that either her mother or the math book was wrong and spent more time arguing or crying about doing math than actually doing it. Being ahead in math but developmentally not ready to move forward, I gave us both a break by setting her up with ALEKS for a full year to solidify concepts already introduced. It was money well spent.

Probably our greatest benefit was ALEKS forced my daughter to work and learn math independently while "saving face" when she had an incorrect problem. It was just her and the computer, which would not respond to her crawling under the table and crying. Offense was not taken if the computer told her the problem was incorrect nor could she argue with the computer.

The pie was rather motivating to her, which surprised me some. When she lost part of her pie during an automatic assessment, it motivated her to earn back that portion of the slice in the same session. Having work completed visually represented with a filled in slice was encouraging.

Because the students are assessed and not forced to repeat concepts they already know, I've also used ALEKS as a supplement or a break from whatever math program we are using. When doing this, my daughter has easily shifted to ALEKS for a few months. For her revisit for this review, I selected a topic we were already studying. She was able to review material and learned some completely new concepts as well.

My 9-year-old son is a very different math student, but he also seemed to like ALEKS during his time using it for this review. Being a child that hates to write and prefers mental math, he really appreciated not having to show work or even write answers. On occasion he seemed to tire of reading the explanations of how to work the problem and would miss important instruction. When this happened it didn't take much explanation on my part to get him back on track. He mostly worked independently. Overall, it seemed to be an effective program for him as well.

A subscription to ALEKS is

• $19.95 per student, per month, or
  
  
• $99.95 every 6 months, or
  
  
• $179.95 every 12 months.

Family discounts are also offered. When compared to other web-based math programs, ALEKS comes at a very reasonable price and is just a fraction of the cost of tutors.

A 48-hour trial is offered on the website, but clicking on the link below will give new users access to a full 1-month free trial.

http://www.aleks.com/webform/eb3-104

The ALEKS website contains tutorials, course lists, and FAQs for more information.

If you were looking to permanently outsource your math instruction, this would be an excellent choice and much cheaper than other options. It works wonders as a supplement or temporary core curriculum for times when your child (or you!) needs something different. Independent and accelerated learners will thrive with this program. Based on our own experience, I'd say it is effective with strong-willed students too. In general, students needing detailed instruction or that crave interaction with others may need other long-term choices, but ALEKS may be an effective short-term supplement.

I would love to have ALEKS as a permanent resource in our homeschool, but our budget doesn't allow use of it as our core curriculum on a permanent basis. It has been a great tool for our family as a supplement or core curriculum on a semi-permanent basis. Definitely take advantage of the trial offer if you think ALEKS may be a good resource for your family.

Read what others thought about this program by visiting the TOS Homeschool Crew's Official Blog.

A Review of Time4Learning

If you've been homeschooling for any length of time, I'm sure you've experienced homeschool burn-out. If not a full-fledged burn-out, you've probably had days where it seems like there was little time to teach. Overscheduling is difficult to avoid and we homeschooling moms wear many hats. It would be nice to just hand a hat over on occasion. Fortunately, there are programs like Time4Learning to help the busy homeschooling family.

What is Time4Learning?

Time4Learning is a multi-subject, state standardized, online subscription service for preK-8 students. The subjects of language arts and math hold the primary focus with social studies and science offered as supplemental and bonus subjects. Upon registering for a subscription, getting started is extremely easy. You can read a previous posting on our experience in the first weeks of using Time4Learning here.

How does it work?

Once logged on, your student can choose what subjects they'd like to tackle from the Launch Pad. Each subject has a clickable button graphic. Subjects are further broken down into lessons. With each lesson being marked as complete when done, the student can systematically work through the lessons of each subject independently. A parent can sign in and preview any lesson without having that lesson marked as completed, if closer parental supervision is desired. If you'd like to assign your student subjects and lessons to complete, the Activity Finder is available for use. Each assignment is given a number, which can be referenced in the Lesson Plans in the Parent Administration Area. Simply give your student a list of assignment numbers they are to complete and they'll be able to quickly find them with the Activity Finder.

How do you know whether your student has completed the assigned tasks? Time4Learning tracks all assignments completed, date and time of completion, and scores earned on quizzes. Knowing Time4Learning is helping parents keep accountability, your student will be motivated to complete tasks. Perhaps an even better motivational tool is the Playground area. You can read more about this feature in a previous post here.

How are the lessons presented?

Lessons are presented in a fun way through animation. My kids enjoyed the lessons and working independently on the computer. My youngest particularly liked the science section and quickly competed all that was available for his grade and continued on to the next. Both of my kids, ages 9 and 11, would request Time4Learning when given the option of what school work to do next. For children that are visual learners and tire easily with a lot of written work, Time4Learning is ideal. The lessons also keep the attention of children who can be distracted easily. Advanced students will appreciate being able to work as fast as they'd like and at various grade levels among differing subjects.

Time4Learning sets the stage for individual work, but parents need to check on the progress of their student for full optimization. While Time4Learning does track progress, the software allows the student to progress on through the lessons, or continue to repeat lessons, regardless of how they are performing. My son did not perform well on a quiz, yet he was able to continue on to the next section. All lesson can be repeated at any time and it is easy enough for a parent to reassign lessons that need a bit more work. Parents will need to log in to see if there are any areas where their student is struggling and need addressing. Time4Learning is not intended to replace the homeschooling parent nor should it.

What is the content like?

Academically, the content is based on state standards. The Math and Language Arts sections are considered to be comprehensive and serve as a core resource. The Science and Social Studies topics are provided as a free bonus, though they certainly could be used as jumping off points.

While alignment with state standards can be seen as positive, some Christian homeschoolers may want to be aware that this alignment means evolution content is in the lessons. Also, the humor in the lesson is definitely geared towards the child user and sometimes crosses over into crude category, especially in the upper grades. While kid appealing, it may not always fall in the realm of what is appropriate within each individual family. If this may be a concern, I would suggest you preview lessons to get a feel for the content in this area.

Is Time4Learning adaptable?

Time4Learning has put an effort forth to help make its product adaptable for many. The tools and support are in place to make this program a foundational curriculum, a supplemental resource and even a remediation tool for tutoring or after-school programing. Whole subjects can be removed from an account upon request. For example, if a parent is not ready for their child to be exposed to evolution, they may have the science lessons completely removed from the account. This could also be done with any other subject that you'd prefer learning take place from another source. Also, grade levels can be adjusted up or down for each subject, making this a resource that can be customized to your child.

Time4Learning has set up a moderated Parent Forum covering a variety of topics. Here parents can chat and share about the various ways they use Time4Learning for their own homeschool. I spent some time browsing the Parent Forum where parents can share how they adapt by posting in a variety of topic message boards such as Supplemental Resources by grade, Special Needs, Time4Learning for Summer Use, Christian Perspective and more.

Is there parent support for subscribers?

I found the parent support and customer service to be fabulous. The information provided when getting started is well-organized and comprehensive. Time4Learning really goes to great lengths to make sure its users understand how the system works and can be utilized. Furthermore, feedback is requested and appreciated as they are always trying to improve the site to meet the needs of members better.

The experience of other parents has always my best source of support and the Parent Forum proved to be quite useful in answering any questions or concerns. Members can also join in a real-time chat Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-2pm EST to ask questions of Time4Learning Member support. Any time I needed to contact customer service, I always received a prompt, professional, and courteous reply.

Who would most benefit from Time4Learning?

Time4Learning can be used as supplemental or as a core curriculum. To use as a core curriculum, a Scope and Sequence and Lesson Plans are provided to help in planning. I personally liked to use the program for those busy times of the week when I couldn't give individual attention as much as I would have liked.

In addition to busy families, Time4Learning would work particularly well for families with multiple ages. Younger children can be more independent and continue on with school lessons while individual attention is given to older students. Because the subscription can be renewed on a month-to-month basis, this would also be an excellent option to consider during time periods when homeschooling is more difficult, e.g. when the family has new additions or during prolonged illnesses. It would also be a great tool for working homeschooling parents or new homeschoolers.

Time4Learning is available for $19.95/month, with each additional child at a discount price of $14.95/month. If you pay for twelve months at once, your fee is only $169.95 for each child. You can get a pretty good feel and overview of the program by viewing the lesson demos, where you can try out some of the lessons, visit the Playground and more. If this product is of interest, I recommend you take advantage of the 14-day risk-free trial offer. This will give you an opportunity to fully explore all that Time4Learning offers as a helping hand to your homeschool.

Time4Learning, A Continuation

I posted last week about getting started with Time4Learning. I have a few more thoughts now that we've jumped in. I'd like to discuss what my children like most about Time4Learning...the Playground!

The Playground is an area where your student can kick back and play games after doing some of the more academic activities. Of course, this is the favorite part of the program for my kids!
As I mentioned earlier, we used Time4Learning for a few months last year. At that time, my youngest had not discovered the Playground. This time around, being older and wiser, he found that area shortly after the first log in.

Time4Learning automatically sets a default of 15 minutes of lessons for 15 minutes of Playground time. This might be fine for younger kids, but I didn't want my kids to spend half of their time in the Playground area. Changing the time allotted on the Playground was easy. I simply signed in, clicked the parent icon, and changed the settings for 30 minutes of academic time to 10 minutes Playground time for my younger. For my oldest, I changed it to 45 min/10 min.

There is a timer in the corner of the screen that shows how much longer the student needs to work on lessons before being allowed to go to the Playground area. I have to admit, even though my kids have plenty of computer games, the whole idea of earning the right to play on Time4Learning has been motivated.

In my next installment of this review, I'll discuss the actual learning aspect of the program. Stay tuned...

A Review of Rime to Read

Mosquitoes. Whispered. Flashlights. Mountains. Sailors. Bounced. Disappeared. Squashed.
Would you consider these words at an appropriate level for the emerging reader? I wouldn't. Yet, all of these words came from the pages of popular Level 1/PreK readers from my shelves.

I remember clearly when my oldest first broke the phonics code. Once the mechanics of phonics had clicked, my first instinct was to foster a simple love of reading. I had fond memories of my own cabinet of books when I was a child and I was anxious to build my daughter's personal library with readable books. The first thing I did was run to the local discount store and purchase several of those leveled readers found in the book section. However, once I returned with my stack of Level 1 / PreK books, my excitement quickly waned. Every single book had words that I knew my daughter was not yet ready to read. I soon discovered there is a lack of reading material that fosters confidence and success with early readers. Fortunately, there is a new product that not only fills this need, but also utilizes modern technology to do so.

Rime to Read, authored by Sara Hine and Lynn Klaiman and illustrated by Shari Hookman Berger, is a beginning reading program comprised of 20 online books. Rimes, upon which the program is based, are not to be confused with rhymes, which are simply words that sound alike. Rimes are words that both sound and look alike, eg. at, hat, cat, bat. It is these word families that are the foundation of the Rime to Read program. In addition to the 20 word families introduced in the books, 35 high-frequency words are also presented through repetition.

Rime to Read books are devoted to only the short vowel sounds, with four books per vowel sound. Each book introduces a new word family with simple drawings and repetition of previously introduced rimes. If you've ever reached for a highlighter to help your child see the familiarity between words, you'll appreciate the color coding used in the books. A different color represents each rime or word family throughout the series; sight words are black. Each book has 12-14 pages, which are displayed two-sided. A simple illustration and a list of the rimes used on that page are on the left side. The text on the opposing side is anywhere from one word to three short sentences, depending on which book of this cumulative program is being read. In the upper right-hand corner of each page are the sight, or high-frequency, words introduced on that page.

Overall, I would consider this program supplementary to whatever phonics program you are using. The Rime to Read series of books remind me a lot of Bob Books, which were a life saver in my quest to find books that would bring successful fluent reading to my beginning readers. However, a virtual book adds a few new features not previously available. Each purchase gives you permanent online access to the books in your account. This means that your readers will be able to enjoy the books wherever there is a computer and Internet connection. The books will not become lost, worn out by use of several children, or eaten by the dog. If you prefer a hard copy as well, you can print the books as long as they are for personal use and intended to be used within your own family. Also, a sound feature is available for the reader to click on any colored word to hear it spoken for them.

At first I was hesitant about the concept of virtual books, but I think young readers will enjoy the opportunity to learn on the computer, especially if they have older siblings doing so. The books are simple to use with a large page-turning arrow on the screen. There isn't a lot of clutter on the web pages and focus can be directed to the book itself. Unfortunately, the sound feature is newly added and not yet fully functioning. These glitches are currently in the process of being corrected and it is expected that they will be fully running soon. Once consistently functioning, the sound component will be a nice value-added feature to the virtual experience.

If Rime to Read looks to be a match for your emerging or struggling reader, you can currently purchase the complete set for $44.95 or a vowel set of 4 books for $9.99. I was told by author Lynn Klaiman that other books are in the works for the future. I do think the price is a bit steep if your child is just going to read each book once or twice, but more reasonable if you intend to use this program with multiple children or if the books will be read again and again. Also keep in mind that the effectiveness of a program is worth much more than the physical product. I know many parents that would pay quite a bit to introduce their beginning or struggling reader to the sheer enjoyment of reading.

Seeing a child come to the realization that all those funny shapes called letters can be strung together to form words is enough to make any parent's face beam. When your child experiences the thrill of reading a book on their very own, thereby opening the door to the joy of reading, their face will beam too. Rime to Read just may open that door.

You can read a bit more about the program, the background of the authors and even download the first book in the series for FREE at the Rime to Read website.

Read what other Crew members had to say about this program at the Official TOS Crew Blog.

Getting Started with Time4Learning - A (Pre)Review

Time4Learning is an online subscription-based educational program for grades preK-8th. There is much to explore and I thought I'd share my initial thoughts with getting started before my final review.

Getting set up was extremely easy. After a few questions regarding the academic level of each child, we were up and rolling in no time. I had used Time4Learning for a few months last year for my son (9), but this is the first time my daughter (11) has used the program. My son is currently using the Lower Level and my daughter the Upper Level, allowing us to compare the two.

For kids, such as mine, that are familiar with working with computer programs, navigation was pretty intuitive. However, there is a "Getting Started Guide" for the less computer-apt parent as well as a "Hints and Helps" section and parent forum. If you can't find your answers here, how to contact a customer service rep by phone or email is clearly displayed.

Time4Learning's customer service has been impressive so far. After a few days, I decided I needed to adjust the level on a couple of subjects for each of my children. Many times this can be done by the parent, but in our case it required contacting customer service. The response time in making this change was fabulous.

To date, I have been very pleased with the ease of getting started, using the program and finding answers. As for my children, I have yet to hear any complaints or grumbles about using this program. In fact, it is the first thing they suggest when it is time to do school.

Come back to hear more about how our experience with Time4Learing progresses.

A Review of HelpMe2Teach.com

Have you ever needed a bit more information on a relatively simple topic to round out your lesson and decided to do a quick Google? After putting just a few words of phrases into the search box, presto...immediately 2,563,567 of the closest matches are returned. Hmm, perhaps you need to narrow down your search. A quick add of a few more words in the search box narrows it down to a lean 976,938. Even if your search does yield more defined results, browsing through the content takes time. If your children are doing the browsing, appropriate content is even more concerning.

Elaine Taylor, a teacher for over 40 years and the author of www.Helpme2teach.com, understood the need to spend less time looking for resources and more time teaching. HelpMe2Teach is an accumulation of over 7 years of Internet searches with over 2200 links on various topics of interest to teachers and homeschooling parents. The directory of websites is categorized nicely in a Table of Contents, viewable only to the subscriber. At the time of this review, the main categories included:

• Academic Benchmarks and Standards
• Animals
• Arts and Crafts
• Character
• Christian Stories and Bible Studies
• Computers
• Cooking for Kids
• For Teachers/Parents Only
• Foreign Languages
• Health and Safety
• Holidays
• Jewish Curriculum
• Kites
• Language Arts
• Lapbooking
• Magazines/Students/Student News
• Mathematics
• Media
• Multi-Subject Sites
• Music and Dance
• Olympics
• Preparing for College
• Primarily Primary
• Science
• Social Studies
• Special Pay Sites
• Specialty Topics

Most topics were further broken down into subtopics to assist in the search. Each website listed has a brief description of the content. An easily viewable coding system is used in each description to rank approximate grade level of the content. Levels are categorized as Primary, Elementary, Secondary, and Teacher. Subscription lengths and rates vary, as follows:

1 year @ $29.95
3 months @ $15.95
1 month @ $9.95
3 days @ $4.95

Note: Until December 1st, there is a buy-one-get-one-free special for 1-year memberships. You’ll get two years for $29.95. Coupon code: TOS

Usability

My initial impression after my first visit was that the site was fairly easy to navigate and well-categorized. Using the Table of Contents was straight-forward and the links were categorized in an appropriate manner. I thought the coding system used for the level of content was very helpful. I did not discover any dead links, but inquired about site maintenance. I was informed that regular checks are made for dead links and new information resulting from ongoing searches routinely added. The look of the site was clean, free of unnecessary graphics and advertising.

On my second visit, I was in search of specific information. I typed "Mayans", my son's current history topic, in the search box and came up with nothing. "Aztecs"and "Incans"...zero. My daughter is currently interested in the Holocaust. Again, nothing. I followed with "writing transcripts" and the results were general writing instruction sites, even though I did put the phrase in quotations to help narrow the search. A few days later, my daughter (11) was in need of a website that referenced different macroscopic pond life. She was able to easily navigate HelpMe2Teach on her own to conduct her search. While many sites were returned with a search of "pond life", none actually had the words "pond life" in the basic description. Instead, the search function listed all sites listed under the category of Life Science. My last test to the search box was a topic that another reviewer was disappointed to not find on the site, but that I had actually found just browsing the categories, Dr. Seuss. While the site www.seussville.com was indeed among the categorized sites, searching for the words "Dr. Seuss" did not yield results.

While possible that some of the topics searched did not have links to find, this was not always the case. All in all, I found the search function to be very unreliable and frustrating. It was much easier to find information by using the Table of Contents. My suggestion would be to avoid the search box and search from the listed categories.

Content

The list of categories was certainly not exhaustive, but it is to be understood that this is a work in process. It has already been an evolving site within a very short amount of time in response to reviewer feedback. Browsing through the links listed, I noticed that some of the links were from the same website. I would have much preferred to have a different website for each listing, since once I find a particular site I tend to browse within to discover all that it has to offer. Others, however, may prefer having a direct link to exact information.

Many of the categories and sites seemed to be the result of researching for classroom teaching and topics. There is a rather large list for Holidays, a common classroom topic. The topic of Kites had its own category, with 13 sites underneath it. Therefore, my impression was that the original target for the site was classroom teachers, which is not surprising given the author's background. Being a rather eclectic homeschooler, I use a lot of interactive sites (e.g. free educational audio and video downloads, computer-spoken language translations, customized spelling games) rather than those with worksheets or lesson plans. While I was still able to find some great websites that fit my criteria, the information currently contained on this site would appeal more to those who trend towards traditional schooling, unit studies, worksheets, subject-related crafts and display projects.

I did want to mention that several of the reviewers were disappointed that the site was absent of Christian content. Bible study and character training are important subjects in many homeschools. After the first few reviews mentioned the lack of content in this area, the categories of Bible stories and Character Development were soon added. While it is important to realize that perspective will largely determine value and usefulness of resources, I admire the willingness to be flexible and listen to what people desire. It is my understanding that suggested links are also welcome. Additionally, subscribers who purchase an annual subscription may request a topic not already covered and the website author will conduct a search for you. This is a fabulous value-added service.

Level of Value

Probably the greatest strengths of HelpMe2Teach are its safety, customer service and potential. Knowing that all of sites had been preapproved for content, I felt safe allowing my kids to browse the site. Furthermore, the response to email inquiries and suggested changes by reviewers was impressive. I even had to revise my initial draft of this review because some of the things I had commented on had already been changed prior to my review completion. The author is very open to suggestions to create a useful tool for the homeschooling community. In the days of impersonal and unresponsive customer service, this is absolutely wonderful! While this site has not met its full potential, it might be something to keep an eye on as it develops.

For the seasoned homeschooler and Internet user with an exploding Favorites list, HelpMe2Teach will probably be underwhelming. Those just starting out, inexperienced with Internet searches, or more traditional school oriented may find it valuable. In this case, I would recommend first starting out with either the trial or 1-month subscription. You will be able to better determine if the site fits your personal needs and likely be able to find a number of new and useful resources for the long-term that justify the cost. To subscribe, please visit www.helpme2teach.com. For more reviews and opinions on this product, please visit The TOS Homeschool Crew Blog

Update! Want to try before you buy? HelpMe2Teach is offering a free month to check out their site. Visit the TOS Freebie page for information.