Times Tales question

[klmama]

I just read about this on Trivium Academy's blog, and I'm intrigued. Is this really worth $30 (and I assume shipping, too)? One of my dc can do multiplication and division, but still has to figure out a lot of the multiplication problems with adding or by using a chart. Does this really work as quickly as the manufacturer claims? Thanks for any input!

[birchbark]

YES, it is worth it! We just got it for our 7-yr-old, and he memorized all the facts in two fun sessions. Most of it is non-consumable; there are a couple quiz sheets that you could copy off or do orally. Then it could be used for more children or resold.

This was so much better than my memories as a child, toiling over multiplication flashcards during Thanksgiving vacation! I think it's well worth it considering he will remember the answers for the rest of his life.

[Trivium Academy]

I was very skeptical, so much that I've put off doing it with dd8 b/c we had 'real' math to do. Lol. I've never her giggle so much during math, she's loving it AND it she is getting the regular problems right. She did division without me teaching her!!!

27 divided by 9 = Who is missing?

She thinks of the story and says, the butterfly is missing- which is the number 3. She was thrilled that she could do division without me teaching, really she thinks she is something!

[Kayaking Mom]

At the risk of sounding like an infomercial - it's the best $30 I've spent. My DD, 7, was toward the end of Horizons 2 math - getting into more serious multiplication. It was getting ugly. She could write out the number lines from skip counting, and then use those for the problems, but it took a long time. Two 45 minute sessions with Times Tales and math is her favorite subject. Really. She whizzes through all of her math now (I think it was a confidence builder, too).

BUT - and this is a bug BUT for me - I really feel that you *have* to use the program as advertised. If you try telling a couple of cute stories and not drilling them in, doing the flashcards and then reviewing, it's a waste of time and money. It really only took us 2 45 minute sessions, but the families I know who dabbled with it came away frustrated and disappointed.

[klmama]

Okay, you've convinced me! Is the manufacturer the best place to buy? O/S - Did any of you try the company's chore flip charts for kids? Again, they look intriguing, but I have to wonder if they are really worth the money.

[jenniferlee]

I bought from the website, couldn't find a better deal anywhere else. We just got the basic package with 3s and 4s added. Worked soooo good for us!
Jen

[Colleen in SEVA]

O/S - Did any of you try the company's chore flip charts for kids? Again, they look intriguing, but I have to wonder if they are really worth the money.

I ordered the Zone Cleaning for Kids flip chart when I ordered Times Tales, and I really like it, though most of mine are too young to fully implement it. The pages are coated so you can use a dry erase marker for the kids to mark off what they have done. It has several pages for each zone (bathroom, kitchen, & living room). It has steps listed for each room, with pictures of exactly what needs to be done (especially for the kitchen). There is also one page for each zone to write in additional jobs you would like the kids to do.

A child even as young as 3 could use the flip chart with guidance if they were motivated enough (but really, what 3 year old doesn't WANT to use a feather duster?!?), but I think it would be most useful for ages slightly older -- who can read but still need the list of reminders.

As for Times Tales, I used it only for the couple of multiplication problems Blue hadn't solidified yet, and it did the trick. I don't know if I will use it to begin with or not for the younger kids, I think for our family I'd rather have them memorize as many as they pick up first and just use Times Tales for the others, to eliminate the extra mental step for EVERY problem.