As much as I have researched mental math approaches to use with my kids, I had not come across Professor B Math until this product became available for review. Boy am I glad it did.
Professor B Math was created by Prof. Everard Barrett using his methodology that is conceptual, contextual, and is "as flowing as a story". He states that math should not be presented as fragmented facts to memorize but in a natural story-like sequence.
I was provided the online E-learning for this review. There are also books, workbooks, and CD's that can be purchased. Each level is sold individually.
There are 3 levels- (Each containing a printable workbook)
Level 1: pre-k through 2nd grade
Level 2: 3rd grade through 5th grade
Level 3: 6th grade through 8th grade
All of these levels can also be used for remediation of older kids and just moved through at a more rapid pace. The company states that each level can be completed in 10 months. Yes you heard that right- One academic year.
The purchase price for the E-learning is as follows:
-One level (any of the three) $20.00/ month
-Two levels at the same time $15.00 for the second
level
-Three levels at the same time $10.00 for the third
level
-OR you can purchase a yearly membership for each
level ** prices being updated ** It is now $100
for 36 month access to any one level. The website is
working on updating their site, but in the meantime
you can contact them at 678-765-6655 and they will
honor the new price.
You can browse through the physical materials available here.
There are also free placement tests for each level.
I had planned to take the summer off of our regular math curriculum and focus on mental math. Just as we got started, what becomes available - Professor B Math. Perfect timing.
Level one starts out with understanding 1-10 using many different tools including fingers, pictures, and numerals which is leading them up to complements. It transitions nicely from one concept to the next and builds them up as they work through the lessons. There are 28 topics listed in the table of contents and under each topic are anywhere from 1 to approximately 20 different lessons to work through. Some of the topics in level 1 are:
I am using the e-learning with both my 4 and 5 year old. They started at the beginning of level one. I did not do the placement test, for that reason, so I am not sure how accurately it places the kids.
We have been working through 4 or 5 lessons per week with each lesson taking only 5-15 minutes. Once we got to a place where new info was being introduced we had to slow down a bit and repeat the portions of the lessons needed until mastery was acquired. That is one of the things I like about this program-- you can and should repeat lessons as many times as need. Many of the lessons recommend repeating daily for "x" number of days to gain mastery. Some of the concepts I repeated less, some more, depending on how soon mastery occurred. There were also times that I did not introduce anything new until mastery of the last lesson was achieved due to it being brand new material (skip counting by 2's and 3's which also includes addition and subtraction of 2 and 3, from 0 to 10. For example when they learn to count by 2's they learn to count up from 0-10 and back from 10-0 as well as mentally doing the addition facts 0+2=2, 2+2=4, 4+2=6, etc and then 10-2=8, 8-2=6, 6-2=4 etc. Here is a lesson list as an example for counting by 3's...
We spent an entire week on these (2's and 3's) and I think it was well worth it to get them to the point of mastery before moving on. After learning these new concepts we were able to move along more quickly for a bit and then slow down as needed.
Pros/cons-
Pros: Great contextual flow, ability to repeat lessons, it teaches the "whys" from the beginning, the lessons are short, and it uses our built in tools (fingers and brains) which are always available. It approach the concepts from many different angles so as to deepen the understanding and to appeal to many different learning styles.
Cons: At times when we got further into the level the screen shots would go too fast. I realize this is good for mental math and quickly being able to see the answer but I had to pause each one and go over them. I will probably appreciate the quickness once it is only review but a bit tricky in the beginning.
Initially I was surprised that there was not audio with this program but after using it I was glad there wasn't. This allows me to control the flow and the kids know it is not just a game to play, rather a real lesson to focus on and not just click through.
I look forward to continuing this throughout the year and will use it as a supplement to our regular curriculum once we start back next month. If you would like to see if it is right for your kids you can get a free 30 day trial before purchasing.
To read what the other members have to say about the different levels of Professor B Math click on the banner below.
As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received this product, at no cost to me, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Professor B Math was created by Prof. Everard Barrett using his methodology that is conceptual, contextual, and is "as flowing as a story". He states that math should not be presented as fragmented facts to memorize but in a natural story-like sequence.
I was provided the online E-learning for this review. There are also books, workbooks, and CD's that can be purchased. Each level is sold individually.
There are 3 levels- (Each containing a printable workbook)
Level 1: pre-k through 2nd grade
Level 2: 3rd grade through 5th grade
Level 3: 6th grade through 8th grade
All of these levels can also be used for remediation of older kids and just moved through at a more rapid pace. The company states that each level can be completed in 10 months. Yes you heard that right- One academic year.
The purchase price for the E-learning is as follows:
-One level (any of the three) $20.00/ month
-Two levels at the same time $15.00 for the second
level
-Three levels at the same time $10.00 for the third
level
-OR you can purchase a yearly membership for each
level ** prices being updated ** It is now $100
for 36 month access to any one level. The website is
working on updating their site, but in the meantime
you can contact them at 678-765-6655 and they will
honor the new price.
You can browse through the physical materials available here.
There are also free placement tests for each level.
I had planned to take the summer off of our regular math curriculum and focus on mental math. Just as we got started, what becomes available - Professor B Math. Perfect timing.
Level one starts out with understanding 1-10 using many different tools including fingers, pictures, and numerals which is leading them up to complements. It transitions nicely from one concept to the next and builds them up as they work through the lessons. There are 28 topics listed in the table of contents and under each topic are anywhere from 1 to approximately 20 different lessons to work through. Some of the topics in level 1 are:
- Understanding one to 10
- Complements of 10
- skip counting (2's, 3's)
- >, <, = using 10 or less
- lower/higher addition with and without regrouping
- lower/higher subtraction with and without exchanging
- Place value
- Rounding, estimating
- Missing number
- Problem solving
- Fractions
- Time
- Money
We have been working through 4 or 5 lessons per week with each lesson taking only 5-15 minutes. Once we got to a place where new info was being introduced we had to slow down a bit and repeat the portions of the lessons needed until mastery was acquired. That is one of the things I like about this program-- you can and should repeat lessons as many times as need. Many of the lessons recommend repeating daily for "x" number of days to gain mastery. Some of the concepts I repeated less, some more, depending on how soon mastery occurred. There were also times that I did not introduce anything new until mastery of the last lesson was achieved due to it being brand new material (skip counting by 2's and 3's which also includes addition and subtraction of 2 and 3, from 0 to 10. For example when they learn to count by 2's they learn to count up from 0-10 and back from 10-0 as well as mentally doing the addition facts 0+2=2, 2+2=4, 4+2=6, etc and then 10-2=8, 8-2=6, 6-2=4 etc. Here is a lesson list as an example for counting by 3's...
We spent an entire week on these (2's and 3's) and I think it was well worth it to get them to the point of mastery before moving on. After learning these new concepts we were able to move along more quickly for a bit and then slow down as needed.
Pros/cons-
Pros: Great contextual flow, ability to repeat lessons, it teaches the "whys" from the beginning, the lessons are short, and it uses our built in tools (fingers and brains) which are always available. It approach the concepts from many different angles so as to deepen the understanding and to appeal to many different learning styles.
Cons: At times when we got further into the level the screen shots would go too fast. I realize this is good for mental math and quickly being able to see the answer but I had to pause each one and go over them. I will probably appreciate the quickness once it is only review but a bit tricky in the beginning.
Initially I was surprised that there was not audio with this program but after using it I was glad there wasn't. This allows me to control the flow and the kids know it is not just a game to play, rather a real lesson to focus on and not just click through.
I look forward to continuing this throughout the year and will use it as a supplement to our regular curriculum once we start back next month. If you would like to see if it is right for your kids you can get a free 30 day trial before purchasing.
To read what the other members have to say about the different levels of Professor B Math click on the banner below.
As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received this product, at no cost to me, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. 
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