Math Mammoth is the creation of Maria Miller, who desires to create affordable math materials that can be self-teaching, so that students and parents alike can use them easily. She’s created a series that covers individual topics, a series that covers all the topics by grade level, a series that is only practice without instruction by topic, and a series that is practice without instruction by grade. For more details, view the charts here. Free samples are available at the website by visiting each individual page or signing up for her newsletter, which will give you 280 sheets in one download.
Ease of use: While we aren’t a big workbook family, sometimes that is the only method that works for math. For the purpose of this review, we were sent Make it Real Learning, Arithmetic I, Place Value 1 and 2, and Clock. For each of the workbooks, I simply printed out the pages and gave them to my children. They were able to follow along with the instruction and complete the activities. Other than a couple activities that required gathering supplies for her (beans or other counting objects for place value), I didn’t have to do anything for Maggie. With the Make it Real book, Nathanael was able to work through it without any input from me.
Make it Real Learning, Arithmetic I attempts to answer the question When am I ever going to use this? “From figuring out how to determine the difference between the populations of two countries to analyzing the number of visitors to a website, learners get to use basic math skills in meaningful ways. Each activity integrates real world information, companies, and issues (e.g. Webkinz, Australia, South Africa, sharing snacks, borrowing money), not just "realistic" data.” It is intended for students in grades 3-6. Nathanael, in grade 5, found most of the activities too easy.
Maggie chose Clock and Place Value for her topics. We received both Place Value 1 and 2, allowing me to look at two grade levels. She has enjoyed working through them as a review of concepts we had already covered.
The pages for each were laid out simply with not a lot of distracting images. Each worktext includes the answers, allowing the parent to easily evaluate student progress.
Cost: Most of her individual e-book workbooks cost between $3.00 and $7.00. Once you’ve downloaded the e-book, you are granted permission to print copies for as many children as will use it. It is a workbook that is non-consumable except for the cost of printing each sheet
Bottom Line: I’m excited to keep this product line in mind as we continue our schooling. The programs are flexible, affordable, and usable with multiple students.
Disclaimer: I was provided copies of these materials for the purpose of review. The opinions expressed are mine and my children’s. We received no other compensation.
