When Math is Easy and Inexpensive – Math Mammoth

Math is one of the most important topics we will cover in homeschool.  I firmly believe that.  When my kids talk about what professions interest them, engineering almost always comes into play.  But math is used in most professional areas these days.  The problem with math is that it has to be learned from the bottom up.  It’s hard to sneak by when you don’t understand the basics.  Having a great base is vital.

Math Mammoth:  The TLDR Version

• Inexpensive
• Easy to Use
• Baloo approved
• Mom approved
• MathMammoth.com

 

As a result, we are continually looking for great math curricula.  My list for curricula is as follows:

1.  Easy to use.
2. Covers each topic extensively
3. Ideas for hands on activities
4. Little prep time
5. Review

Math Mammoth seemed to fit all of these requirements, but of course, we delved further.

 

This post is a review of Math Mammoth Light Blue Series Grade 5.  I was compensated for my time in reviewing the product  The opinions in this post are my own (and my kids).

What I Like About Math Mammoth

• No Prep
• Fast Pace
• Engaging
• Short Lessons
• Bright and visual

 

No Prep

When looking at Math Mammoth for Fifth Grade, I was immediately impressed.  First, I felt like I could open the book (or the PDF, as it were) and just start.  I read over the material before we began but the prep time was essentially none.  We were able to just jump in and get started.

Fast Pace

Baloo tends to get bored with repetitive math so I was quite pleased when the lessons didn’t dwell on one topic for an extended period of time.  Instead, the concept was introduced and practiced.  Then we moved on to the next part and eventually it circled back around.  For instance, with the first multiplication and division section it started with writing fact families.  Next was drawing models.  Then it went into technical terms and explanations.  Then back to fact families but with a bit of a twist on the original.

Engaging Material

Baloo never had the chance to complain.  This doesn’t sound like a big concession, but it really is.  He is not confident in math so math time can be tedious.  But with the Math Mammoth lessons he was interested and engaged.  The visuals hooked him and the pace kept him going.

Short Lessons

Overall, we kept the lessons short and the material easily allowed for that.  I never felt like we were stopping in the middle of a lesson.  Each concept is presented in a clear and concise manner.  And while the lessons feed into each other, there is a clear stopping point on nearly every page.

Bright and Visual

I hesitate to use the word bright because Math Mammoth is not flashy and full of large color pictures.  Instead they use color conservatively to draw certain parts into view.  It’s just enough that you’re not looking at a black and white page, but not so much that it’s overwhelming.  The colors are used to emphasize certain points.  Take this image on multiplying two 2-digit numbers.

The colors draw attention to how the different numbers interact.

Learn More About Math Mammoth

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Baloo’s Thoughts on Math Mammoth

I hesitated to add this but Baloo is old enough to contribute his thoughts and it be meaningful.

 

Benefits of Math Mammoth

• Easy to use
• In PDF Form for easy storage
• Inexpensive (Check Educents for great deals)
• Explains each topic in multiple ways
• Short lessons (can be longer if desired)

Check Out The Product:

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series