TOS Crew Review: FactsFirst Online Math Practice

So you have a child who needs to be more proficient with their basic math skills-but how do you get them the practice it takes to get there?  Knowing your addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts is half the battle to downsizing the time it takes to do lengthy math equations down the road.  But as most homeschooling mommas would attest-with all we have to do, carving out the time it takes (even if it is 15-20 min. a day) is a challenge which usually gets tossed on the "later" pile.. most likely to never to be heard from again. 

When I received the FactsFirst online program from Saxon, I was intrigued, but wondered if it would meet my expectations.  After my son and I have spent some time playing around with the program-we both agree it is a fun and interactive way to polish the ole skill of speedy math facts recall.  The program actually allows for up to four "players" [grades 1-4] to move through a series of levels, with occasional quizzes and tests, updates on how they are doing, and most importantly-access to fun arcade games that provide a great motivation for most students.  The graphics, and different points of interest keep the child engaged and focused too.

This shot shows the Avatar selection center-where the child first sets up their dude/dudette.

 This is an example of the lesson section, but some will have the child working through problems that are simply the equation, with no fancy shots like above. Just look at that face of that dude-makes ya want to shop Math Mart for real, well that, and to pick up some hair gel for him! The characters are all a bit exaggerated and spoofy, but there in lies the charm of the program.

My son looked forward to the "changes of scenery" his Avatar encountered though out the program, and I appreciated the quizzes and tests that popped up along the way.  The biggest "favorite" feature the FactsFirst program for me (and my son really liked it too) is the virtual instruction [you can opt to turn it off] that explains the lesson's activities, and "walks" the student through it.  Meaning, I don't have sit there the entire time helping him with the instructions!  I became a "back seat" passenger and loved it!  I could be nearby doing whatever it was I needed to be focused on, whilst the boy (who does not have great reading skills) could work on his facts and activities on his own. Yes, you read that right-on his own!  I actually would come back and hang with him when he was in the arcade, because the games were so cute.  Well, we didn't like the Putt-Putt Golf-it was frustrating, but the Balloon game was a hoot.

Each time the child completes the next level in this game, they earn a prize which pops up in that basket you see on the right.  Very clever. And they only get 5 minutes to hang at the arcade, so you won't have any problem with "truancy", meaning your student has to get back to work to earn more play time. 

The child is presented with the Math Facts Matrix at the end of each lesson-which shows them how well they did, if they need more practice or a ton of it. 

I have to say, this was a hit in our home.  I like that it just focuses on the four basic areas of math facts, gives me the ability to step away a bit so my son can work through it unassisted, lets us know where he needs to focus his attention, offers up some reward time in the arcade to encourage him to work through the lessons, and it has charming graphics that are far from boring.  Plus, it is an extension of the Saxon Math publishers, which happens to be our choice of math curriculum for our upper elementary, Jr/Sr high schoolers.  Better yet, it is compatible with what the child is learning in their Saxon texts, yet is completely a stand alone practice program that melds into any math program nicely.  Oh, and at $49.99 for 4 subscriptions for a year, it is a really great deal!











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FactsFirst Homepage
 $49.99 for one year -up to 4 students profiles allowed on this subscription
Grades:  1-4

Don't forget to see what my TOS mates had to say about this, and many other fine homeschooling products on our TOS Review Crew Homepage.

***Saxon Homeschool provided us with a free 90 day subscription to the FactsFirst online program to test and use with my family. I have discussed my opinion regarding this product, and have not received  financial compensation for writing this review.

TOS Crew Review: Frederic Chopin Early and Later Years Special Offer by Zeezok Publications

For those who follow the Charlotte Mason method of education, music/composer study is high on their list of must dos.  With each term, at least one to two are studied, in enough depth so that the student has a general knowledge of his/her background, and can recognize their music upon hearing it.  Even though we are not 100% CM with our approach, I try to remain faithful to at least some areas-such as the artist/musician studies.

I was thrilled to learn that I would be reviewing the Frederic Chopin Early and Later Years Special Offer from Zeezok Publishing.  The package includes the Teacher's Study Guide, a free Companion CD (contains songs found in the books and PDF files of coloring pages that correlate to the material) , and the two books, Frederic Chopin, Son of Poland, Early Years and Frederic Chopin, Son of Poland, Later Years.  I was wondering what who we could cover during the Winter Term, and lo and behold-Chopin ended up on our doorstep!

So right away my mind flew to avenues to present and retain the information we would be learning through this study.  I decided we would put together an Envelope Book project to complement it, along with using the materials included in the package.  The Early Years and Later Years (by Opal Wheeler) books are written in an engaging and charming manner (and yes, Jesus Christ is honored and acknowledged) that seems to be missing in many books today.  These stories take you from the start of Chopin's life to the end.  You learn about his family life, his love of music, and how he interacted with the world around him.  The language Wheeler used, dances off your lips as you read it, drawing the listener in to the melody of the words and the stories they weave. I had no problem keeping my 8 year old interested, and even my 15 year old was drawn into this study.  The CD was great for a music illiterate like myself...it helped to hear what the music sounded like, which is shown in the book penned in the musical note fashion (sheet music-well, OK don't laugh at me you musically gifted folks-that is what I call it).  To add to it, I dug out a book (Lives of the Musicians-Good Times, Bad Times and What the Neighbors Thought) which I have on my shelves. When I turned it over-I saw that I had purchased it from the Book Peddler company, which is Zeezok Publishing's retail store.  So, I am familiar with the Book Peddler company and recommend them-as I have shopped their company since-well, way back when! 

Another nice feature in this package is the Study Guide, which was useful in clearing up some information for me, but for my son-it was "above his head and below his feet".  I had to pick out a few tidbits that I knew he could grasp, and left the rest for my teen to learn from.  I will dig that out again when we revisit Chopin to study in greater detail with him, a few years from now.   With the images from the PDF file (on the CD) I was able to create a lovely cover for my son's keepsake book, and print off pictures of images contained within the 2 books (Younger Years and Later Years) that offered him some familiar scenes to color, as well.   I am so impressed with this collection, that I am looking forward to procuring a few more of the famous composers special offer packs, for future studies.  Zeezok's selection of books, which they reprint/publish, is quite admirable and refreshing.  Their choice of Opal Wheeler's books about Chopin, most certainly meet their goal:

"Established in 2003, we believe "It is better to build children than to repair men." To that end we strive to provide quality literature and educational books for use in training the next generation. We trust our products will assist you in developing your family's love for God and country."

"Zee", you "zok" my socks off  with this great collection!



The books themselves have mention of God and Christ, but it isn't totally dripping with it-hence this icon. Also, the folks behind Zeezok are Christian, but again-the icon is for the actual products I reviewed




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Zeezok Publishing Homepage

Chopin Early and Later Years Special Offer package:  $30.90

Don't forget to read what my TOS mates had to say about this and many other fine homeschool products on our TOS Review Crew Homepage.

***Zeezok Publishing provided me with a free Frederic Chopin Early and Later Years Special Offer package,  to test and use with my family. I have discussed my opinion regarding this product, and have not received  financial compensation for writing this review.

TOS Crew Review: MathTutor Young Minds-Numbers and Counting DVD

Here is another company that I reviewed for last year, and you can read my post concerning the MathTutor Basic Math and Algebra II DVD series, to get a better idea of what they have to offer. But unlike the previous products, this is actually is for the younger set-babies, toddlers and young Pre-Ks. This one is more "Hollywood" if you will, done in an extremely professional manner that is comparable to the Baby Einstein video series.

The Young Minds-Numbers and Counting DVD uses the classical music, has a child narrator who goes over the same number for a period of time eventually covering 1-10, with images that are familiar to the child because they see these (or most of them anyway) daily. The material is presented in beautiful still life photography which pans in and out while the numbers are added, with a splash of live action video sprinkled in. The child will also hear the sounds the animal or objects make, the colors noted (depending on the section), and the description of what it is they are looking at. All of this, combined with the background of  classical music,  provides a wonderful video for a young or learning disabled child (perhaps even an adult who needs to relearn the basics-such as a stroke victim) to view and enjoy-not to mention learn from!

The Young Minds-Numbers and Counting DVD consists of music from well-known composers such as: Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Pachelbel, Vivaldi, Mozart and Brahms. The child narrator speaks in a well-spoken manner with clear enunciation. Which is a must, as you do not want the listener to pick up poor language skills from hearing baby talk. There is also Bonus Material which provides puzzle-shaped images on the screen, black and white images where the speaker "Connects the Dots" while the numbers/lines are added to end up with a full color image at the end. The Guess the Animals section is fun and offers a bit more deductive reasoning skills for the child, while they see partial images and then decide what it is they are seeing. The movie itself may be too long to watch in one sitting for the babies or antsy toddlers though, which is an easy fix- just stop and restart later by using the Chapter Selection option.

Since I do not have any little ones in my home anymore, I passed this off to my friend Carla, who has an young toddler, and a 3 year old. Her opinion on the Young Minds-Numbering and Counting DVD is noted below:

The pictures are extremely colorful and very interesting!  I was very impressed with the quality of the program. My usually very active 3.5 year old plopped himself down on the couch and watch it mesmerized. As soon as it was over, he said, "Play it again!" That says something! He now calls it his favorite movie. All in all, it's a fantastic video for young ones!

I personally, am very impressed with this DVD. The high-quality and engaging material is well worth the price tag. This is something that a child would want to watch over and over again. I am sure you will agree.







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Young Minds-Numbers and Counting info

$19.99
ages infant to 3 years

MathTutorDVD Home Page

Don't forget to see what my TOS mates had to say about this, and many other fine homeschool products, on our TOS Review Crew Homepage.

***MathTutorDVD  provided me with a free copy of the Young Minds-Numbers and Counting DVD to use and test with my family. I have discussed my opinion regarding this product, and have not received  financial compensation for writing this review.

TOS Crew Review: Apologia -Debra Bell's book: The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling

Well, you know being that I have homeschooled (officially speaking, I was doing the homeschooling thing way before I even knew I was) for so long now, I have pretty much read every book I can get my hands on directly relating to homeschooling. No joke here folks-if it is written, in the library system or available through friends or my own personal purchase fest-I have read it.  I have poured over all the "classics" one would be expected to read, and some that should be used for doorstops-due to the lack of any worthy material.  I have read Debra Bells book, The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling, not once, but perhaps 2 or 3 times (first edition) since I came across it  a few years back (well make that 4x now, except this is the revised and updated version I am discussing here) -and even though my brain does what I call the "Spock Mind Meld" with what I read (blending all that knowledge together so I cannot recall where exactly the info came from or which author said what, as they are now just one huge conglomerate), I can tell you that I thoroughly enjoy her writing style and wit. I must, because I would not have reread it if it weren't so.

So what exactly does this book offer the reader?  Loads of useful advice, down to earth stories and thoughts to ponder and well-that is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg!   New homeschooling families, those who have been around the block a few times and even those who "own" the block since they are the matriarchs of the homeschool world, can benefit from reading this book.  Chapters touch on the following topics:

determining if homeschooling is right for you, choosing a curriculum (remember to reflect upon each child's personality, learning style and tastes before buying anything),  organizing and planning, preventing burn-out (this one spoke the most to me right now), what-when and how to teach, homeschooling your teenie boppers (my term for them-the book states "homeschooling teens"), using computers in your homeschool and creative solutions for those with mixed families (babies, toddlers, special needs).  There are also a couple other sections which touch upon testing, assessing the success of your homeschool, and loads of resources to make this journey more beneficial to all involved. Just remember that with any "homeschool-how-to" book-you will need to discern for yourself what advice and ideas will work for your family. You will need to decide what parts you can use, and what advice/sections you should drop because it doesn't line up with your way of doing things. This is one lady's ideas and experiences-and yours may be very different.  Use it for what is was intended to be:  a really helpful  homeschool resource.

Interestingly, if you are not aware-Apologia Press now holds the publishing rights to Debra's book!  They (meaning Dr. Jay Wile) was bought out by Davis and Rachael Carmen in 2008, and since that time they have been busy beefing up the other areas of the Apologia line (I know, I know-you only think science when it comes to Apologia-but not so any more). I have been scrolling through the website to see the new changes, and I think they are certainly on the right track by providing books, such as Debra's, for your reading pleasure.

If you are wondering about the science line-have no fear, as several of us reviewed products from Apologia last year, so you can visit the TOS Crew Review postings to check out those as well.  I stand by their books and cannot say enough good things about them.  You may also read my review of the Biology and Flying Creatures books to get my take on these two products.

As for Debra Bell's Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling,  this is one resource I actually have recommended, and will continue to do so to anyone who inquires about "good, thorough and useful" homeschool help books (and even if they don't ask per say-I will still be sure to mention it!)  This puppy will remain a part of my library of "Needful Resources" which I plan on referring to frequently [yes, an old dog can learn new tricks].




This is for the homeschooling parent to read, refresh and renew themselves with.The author/publishers are Christian, but the book in of itself is not geared to just Christians-any homeschool parent can benefit from this-so I gave it a world icon for that reason.

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Product Info
Found under Apologia Press info:
$20.00

Apologia's Homepage

Don't forget to check out what my TOS mates had to say about this and many other fine homeschooling products on our TOS Crew Review Homepage.

***Apologia provided me with a free copy of Debra Bell's Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling, to use and read.   I have discussed my opinion regarding this product, and have not received  financial compensation for writing this review.

TOS Crew Review: Keyboarding for the Christian School

I have to admit-when I first saw that I would be reviewing a keyboarding product, my mind went to piano lessons.  I suppose that dates me, because I call it typing-but in this 'puter age it is referred to as keyboarding, and that is exactly what this product teaches-how to type on the keyboard.

Only one of my brood does not know how to type yet...after all he is 8-and I usually don't push it at this age.  But, I had planned on starting something with him this coming semester, and now I have the very product for him to use.  The lessons themselves are very short, nicely laid out, while providing just enough info/practice material to keep the younger ones focused and involved. Because this is an eBook, I did have to print (chose to do so in gray scale) off the pages, but that was not really that big of a deal.  One I did choose to print the keyboard page (shows the division of the rows) in color, since this is vital to getting good hand placement and is referred to throughout the lessons . I was quite pleased to be able to do this, because the colors are ones my son can "see" fairly correctly, as he is color blind.  Believe it or not, that issue has caused me to not be able to use many programs, simply because the color choices make it impossible for my son to distinguish things correctly.  If you too are blessed with a child who cannot see certain colors, I suggest you contact the author so she can list those used in this program, to save you the expense of purchasing something your child cannot use properly.  To create a sturdy book,  I slipped the pages into sheet protectors inside a 3-Ring binder for him to use.  As the name implies-this is a Christian product.  Each lesson starts with verse, then moves into the material to be worked on.  What I like best about this is that it is just keyboarding lessons-not a mixture of activities that distract from what is being taught.  I have some other products littering my shelves that contain a variety of subjects (including keyboarding skills)-which I choose not to use to teach the typing, because it is too hard to separate them from the other material within the product.  I like that there is nothing else but the actual goal right in front of my son, and that is it-especially because my precious boy can be quite distracted at times.

Contained within the eBook are 32 lessons covering the keyboard and finger placement, with the last 3 focusing on centering, enumerated lists and timed writing sections (given after finishing lesson 6 and so on).   I do have one small issue with this level  though.  The font points are too small, making it kind of hard to "see" what it is they are to be typing.  With the material positioned off to the side of the computer, my son had to lean in and squint to see what letters he was to type.  This became frustrating for him, since he tends to flip around some of the letters (b, d, f and r) and it confused him because they were not on the line he was working with (which I pointed out, but it still was an issue). This certainly is an easy fix, as enlarging the font will solve this dilemma.  Other than that, I am rather pleased with it. My son has really enjoyed working through the Keyboarding for the Christian School  lessons, so we will definitely continue to use this one to completion.

We were also given the option of using the Upper Elementary, Jr/Sr high level program as well.  I decided to opt out of this because my daughter already knows how to type.  But after looking through it (so this is my take on it without using it), I have decided to  have her do some of the timed typing tests, and some of the report/essay format, and business letter pages to give her a chance to practice these valuable techniques.  From what I saw by strolling through this eBook, it comes across just as nicely organized as the Elementary one.  The lessons are more advanced (after lesson 32) than what we saw in the lower grade, so if you have a student who does have basic skills, but needs to know how to type up MLA, APA reports, the cover, bibliography and works cited pages, and type personal/business letters and envelopes correctly, than this program will be most beneficial.  The lessons also include proof reading marks, timed tests/scales and tables.  And if your student hasn't a clue on how to type properly, then this all in one program could teach them to do just that.  There is very minimal teacher prep (just copying off the pages and organizing it into a usable book) which offers you more free time to work with the other children whilst your budding speed typist works independently.  I do wonder though, if the beginning lessons should have larger fonts too?  It would be easier for the student to see what it is they are to be typing, but then again-as they move into the "real world" they very well may be looking at that sized font material anyhow. So maybe getting used to it from the start is the best for the older students.  Well, again-that is about the only issue I have with either product, so I guess that really isn't too bad.

I am rather pleased with the Keyboarding for the Christian School series, as it fits our family's learning style quite nicely. For those looking for a straight forward keyboarding program-this is a great one to consider.
And to satisfy your curiosity, you may try some of the pages for free by visiting the site.








for older children who can read and understand what is being asked of them

The younger children may need some assistance from time to time

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Keyboarding for the Christian School Homepage

Elementary level: $12.95 eBook download
K-5

Upper Elementary/Jr/HS level: $15.95 eBook download
6-12
Buy both for $22 and from now until Feb. 28, you can use the code NewYear5 to get $5 off the set!

Don't forget to see what my TOS mates had to say about this and many other fine homeschooling products over on our TOS Review Crew Homepage.

***Christian Keyboarding provided me with a free eBook each on Keyboarding for the Christian School Elementary level and a Keyboarding for the Christian School Revised (Upper Elementary-Sr High) edition eBooks, to use and test with my family. I have discussed my opinion regarding this product, and have not received  financial compensation for writing this review. 

TOS Crew Review: MathScore Online Math Practice

If you have a child who enjoys working on the computer to practice their math skills, then this is another online option to consider.  MathScore was designed to provide "worksheets" based on grade level material, but is also a great tool to assess your student's skills/retention of it.  Unlike a lot of the other programs, this one "computes" and generates new equations that are based on your child's budding skills, at a  pace which suits them personally.  Not a bad concept at all! And since this is a timed process, they are gaining the ability to answer speedily-which is what cuts down on the time it takes to answer those lengthy equations one finds in higher math.  Half the battle is knowing your basic facts, so you can then pull them out of your brain quickly-and by working through the MathScore program (which is more of a supplemental program-not a curriculum per say), your child could do just that.

Frankly speaking here-I need Steve Yang (the man behind this program/company) to just move in and take over our math instruction.   He obviously is well qualified, but since that is not an option-I was left to explore his program.  Feeling that most education software out there are a tad too heavy on the fluffy foo-foo stuff and not enough emphasis on the main learning of the concepts, he set out to create MathScore-a new generation of online supplemental math assistance aimed at providing a balance of the two issues at hand.  So what he developed is a bit less colorful than the other ones I have reviewed, and more toward just "cut to the chase" in approach.  For many-that is exactly what the doctor ordered for folks who learn in such a way, that the "blitz of color and animated cyberavatars" only serve to distract and befuddle a person. 

That said, you may try a FREE 2 week trial of the program, which is the path I chose for this review.  Being that this covers material from 1st-Algebra I, there is a lot to see and go through. I signed up my 2nd and 10th grader to see how it would work for them.  Once they logged in, they were directed to the page (header shown below) which contained the selections to choose from-but mostly they stayed in the Topics area. 

Initially, the first thing they were to do was the Copy Cat section which primed them and determined their typing speed.  Then from there they moved into the topics which interested them (or mom).  There is also a tab to click for a "mini lesson" which discussed what they would be working on (briefly) and also a tab for a "sample problems" which also linked to the lesson/worksheet activities.  Unfortunately for us (and anyone else with a notebook/laptop) there is no number pad section on the keyboard (man I miss that!) but all is not lost.  The program has an enabled click able keypad to use during some of the worksheet lessons.  So the child is moving the cursor instead of their hand wildly across the top of the actual keyboard.  But during the Copy Cat sections, and some of the other worksheets-I did not see this. Ultimately they will have slower response times, unless they are speedy typists.  I would like to see that option available in all the areas, for those of us using laptop computers.  So keeping that snafu in mind,  the student  may have different results when they move into the subtopics sections, to do the worksheets which may or may not have the virtual "keypad" available. 

The Parent's section is laid out in a nice orderly fashion, and offers up an overview of what is going on with your students.  You will be kept abreast of their progress through the activity summary, which you can get via your email box too.  There is also the option of seeing how they are doing in each topic-so you can really determine what they need to work on in their regular math instruction.  That is always most helpful.  And printing the reports is especially useful, if you live in a state that requires documentation.

So, you may be wondering how we fared with the MathScore program. Well, my son panicked a bit because of the time constraints, and for him-he needs more visual "fluff" to maintain his interest.  Because he is a bit delayed in his reading skills, I was seeing that many of the topics would be difficult to do efficiently, because I would need to read the instructions and answer choices to him.  Again-making it not such a good fit.  The program seemed a bit on the higher end of skill level too.  As he will not hit multiplication until 3rd grade...many topics were above his abilities, so I would have to bump him down for some time to the lower level in order to keep him along the same lines as his math curriculum.  Even though the 2 week trial was quick, I was able to assess that it was not a good fit for him at this point in his education.  Now this is personally for us-but if you have a child this age who is reading at higher levels, and is ahead in most math topics, this may be just the ticket.

For my teen-it is always a battle to get the girl to "want to work" on her math skills via the computer.  It simply doesn't interest her enough to maintain a subscription for her. We did work through some topics and found it to be all right. I liked how it provides the correct answers/solutions after the student completes the worksheet-but felt the timing of the process made her (and for me as well, because I decided to test it out here and there) become flustered trying to complete the answer before the timer hit 0.  So at times, we were not focusing on  the actual problems, because we were watching the clock (which meant more wrong answers than correct ones).  My daughter was mostly disinterested because it is not her way to remember this stuff (she is hands on, and leans toward auditory methods of learning)-but that is my kid, as she is not a math gal to begin with so that very well may be the issue at hand, and not necessarily the program. 

For our family, at this time-it is not a good fit.  But that may not always be so, because down the road I may consider it for my son who happens to enjoy math and practicing using online programs-time will only tell.  The best advice I can offer is to take advantage of the free 2 week subscription to see if it fits your student's learning style. 

The younger set may need more of your assistance, and you will need to visit the parent section on occasion to monitor the student's progress.

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Before I end this review-I did want to highlight the payment fees, as at first I was a bit confused.  So I figured I would share the clarification I received from Steve-to help you better understand it.

Home Service Prices Per Month
1st Student	$14.95 $9.95
2nd Student	$5.00
Each Additional Student	$3.95
Coupon Benefits: ½ month free and $5 off for 1st child. Discounts valid for 2 months.

You have 2 students. One month of service costs $14.95.

They also have the great feature of "freezing" the account whilst you are away on vacation or break.  That way you will not "lose" time because of well-life.  This is something other companies do not offer-so consider that a big bonus as well.
To better explain the pricing-I have cut and pasted Steve's notes about it:

"When you start your free trial, regardless of the number of student accounts you create, you get a half-month free trial.  Generally, parents know within the first few days of use whether they want to purchase MathScore, so the trial period is sufficient. Once you log in, you can also pay for a 9-month subscription that
> reduces the price for the first child to $9.95/month.  Once the purchase is made, the new pricing is locked in permanently, so after the 9 months, you can still pay the new rate on a monthly basis without prepaying for 9 more months.
Another price option is a lump sum payment.  If you prepay $50, you can get $60 account credit (20% bonus credit).  If you prepay $100, you get $140 account credit (40% bonus credit).  The lump sum payment option
is most favorable for parents who have already locked in the lowest rate."

MathScore Homepage
Pricing noted above.

MathScore as a HS supplement info

Free Trial and Sign-Up info

Don't forget to read what my TOS mates are saying about this, and many other fine homeschool products on our TOS Review Crew Homepage.

***MathScore provided me with a free 2 week trial subscription to MathScore online, to use and to test it with my family. I have discussed my opinion regarding this product, and have not received  financial compensation for writing this review.