Thank you to Teaching Textbooks for sponsoring this post and providing us with the newest 3.0 version to try. We’ve been happily using the 2.0 version for years and were excited to try the newest version. All opinions are 100% my own.
As a homeschooling mom to eight kids, there are several important factors I take into consideration when choosing a curriculum for my large family.
I have very specific needs and requirements when it comes to homeschool curriculum and there are many options out there that just don’t fit the bill for me. I’m happy to be able to say that we found a math curriculum that works for our big and busy family early on in our homeschool journey (I actually found it even before my oldest son was old enough for the first level that they offer, so I had to wait a couple years before we could actually use it).
Teaching Textbooks checks off many of the boxes for what I look for in a homeschool curriculum. We have been using Teaching Textbooks 2.0, which is a physical version and includes CD-ROMS and a textbook (we just used the discs), for about 8 years now but have recently switched over to the new 3.0 subscription option which is an online version. All of the academic content is still the same with the 3.0 version, but the 3.0 option has some new features and can be used on multiple devices (more about that later on). The 3.0 version even includes an eBook version of the textbook.
Keep reading to find out why Teaching Textbooks works for us and why I believe it’s the BEST homeschool math option for large families.
Teaching Textbooks is affordable
Teaching Textbooks 2.0 and 3.0 are both affordable math options. When using 2.0 I could reuse the discs with subsequent children; because it is non-consumable, I didn’t have to purchase it again when my next child was ready for that level.
The Teaching Textbook 3.0 subscription prices are very affordable considering it’s a whole year worth of math. But it gets even better for large families because they have a large-family discount plan.
The large-family discount plan is for families with 4-8 students. You pay one price, $199.08, for 4-8 students in the same household. Each student on the subscription will get one level of math for the year.
Teaching Textbooks is digital
I have been switching more and more of our curriculum to digital if it’s available, because over time, I have found there are some really great benefits to digital curriculum. The biggest ones being that digital curriculum reduces the stuff and clutter in our house (which I don’t have time to maintain and keep up with) and digital curriculum won’t get lost or damaged (at least not as likely). I can’t tell you how many times my homeschool day went south because I can’t find a resource I needed for that day.
Teaching Textbooks requires NO prep & low teacher involvement
My visions of working 1-on-1 with my kids and learning right along with them as we homeschooled went out the window when we added child #3 to our family; we were then out-numbered. And now with eight kids, 1-on-1 time doesn’t come easy at all.
Of course I spend time teaching my children, but as they get older and become independent readers, I like to find curriculum that fosters that independence and also frees up time for me to spend with the younger children.
With Teaching Textbooks, math instruction for me is minimal! I don’t do any of the teaching unless a child is struggling with a concept or topic and then my husband or I will go over the lesson with them that they are having trouble with. This isn’t needed often though because after every problem is answered (whether right or wrong), Teaching Textbooks gives the student the option to see how the problem is solved. I require my kids to do this if they get a problem wrong (before the second chance – more on that later too) or had trouble understanding the problem but managed to get it right.
Teaching Textbooks does the grading for me
Another thing Teaching Textbooks takes off my plate is grading! One of the things that takes up A LOT of my time when it comes to homeschooling is checking and grading my kids’ work. Not having to do this task for math is a HUGE time saver for me and I need to save time anywhere and any way I can!
Even though Teaching Textbook does the grading for me, I am still able to go in and make some minor changes if necessary, like changing a problem from wrong to right and vice versa, or deleting a problem or lesson grade completely so the child can do it again.
I do wish the grade book gave the parent a little bit more control by offering some additional features like changing the actual lesson grade and being able to click on the problems the child got wrong to see the problem and the answer the child gave. Another awesome feature would be to have the date a lesson was completed added to the grade book.
Teaching Textbooks is mobile
With Teaching Textbooks 3.0, you can do math anywhere! That’s helpful for our busy family because sometimes while waiting for a sibling at a music lesson or sporting event or doctor’s appointment, we can use those blocks of time and still get school done.
Teaching Textbooks 3.0 works on MAC, Windows, and Chromebook. It also works on tablets and phones via the Puffin browser. That time on the road or time just waiting can now be more productive!
With Teaching Textbooks 2.0, the student would have to use the same computer whenever they did math so that the grade book would reflect all of their work and be up to date; with Teaching Textbooks 3.0, you aren’t confined to one computer and I (or my husband) can log in from anywhere and look over the grade book.
Additional info you should know about Teaching Textbooks
Above are the many reasons that I feel Teaching Textbooks is a great option for large families, but there are some additional features and important information I think you should also know about Teaching Textbooks.
Placement tests
Teaching Textbooks offers free placements tests on their website. It is very important that you have your child take a placement test to ensure that you are purchasing the right level for them.
Hints and second chances
Teaching Textbooks allows students to get a hint if a problem is tripping them up and it also gives them a chance to try the problem again if they get it wrong the first time. With the new 3.0 version, parents are able to turn these features on and off.
Pause feature
When you purchase the Teaching Textbooks 3.0 online subscription option, your child will have access to one level of math for 12 months. But sometimes the school year just doesn’t go as planned and you might need to take some time off. If you need to, Teaching Textbooks allows you to pause your 12 month subscription for up to 90 days total. This way you can take breaks or vacation and not lose any of your subscription time.
Try it for FREE
When purchasing a new curriculum, there is always that thought of ‘what if it’s not a good fit’ running through a homeschool mom’s head. Thankfully, Teaching Textbooks allows you to try the 3.0 version before you buy it! You can try lessons 1-15 in any of the levels of Teaching Textbooks 3.0 absolutely FREE. And, this trial never expires, so take your time. If you decide to buy, the lessons that were completed in the trial will be transferred over to your account so that no information or grades are lost.
If you have questions about the free trial, click here. If you have additional questions about Teaching Textbooks in general, click here.
Teaching Textbooks 3.0 Giveaway!!
Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter for a chance to win the newest version of Teaching Textbooks!
