UberSmart Math Facts #hsreviews

Members of the Review Crew recently got a chance to try out UberSmart Software.  They were given a downloadable software called UberSmart Math Facts to try out with their children.  Up to 8 children could use the program.  You can purchase the program for $24.95.  This is for the standard version or family version price wise.  They also offer professional versions which are geared more towards a public school setting.  The program is geared towards grades K-6 or for those at a higher grade needing the remedial help.

 

UberSmart Software came about when David Kocur was asked by his wife to find a flash card program for their children.  He couldn’t find anything he liked so he decided to make his own!  One of his daughters has learning disabilities due to epilepsy and they were told she would always struggle with math facts.  Not anymore!  This program helped her to master her math facts.

UberSmart Math Facts is a downloadable software that features Dot Cards(adding numbers in the form of dots together on domino type cards), Keyboard Entry(10 key numbers), and Flash Cards(addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).   For the addition and subtraction the facts go up to the 9’s while for multiplication and division they go all the way up to the 20’s.  

Let’s talk real quick about the program.  It is not a math curriculum.  It will not teach your child math.  It’s not intended to.  This is merely intended to help your child learn their math facts.  It’s not some cool computer game system that teaches them how to do math while having fun.  Nope.  It’s not.  This is basically flash cards in our high tech day and age on the computer.  Simply put it’s what I used as a child but not the pen and paper version.  

I was a flash card kid.  I loved flashcards!  I would use flashcards to help me memorize facts, dates, events, etc, anything that I needed to memorize for school I would make them into flashcards using notecards.  This wasn’t just for elementary, it was for high school, and even college.  Now, I wanted to start making them for my children to use, but I’ve had a hard time actually using them as I’m teaching so many at once and trying to divide my time as mommy in there too.

This is the perfect solution for me.  Well, almost perfect.  It would be so much better if we actually had more than one computer to use for the kids for school.  I had six children using this program.  They ranged in ages from 9 down to 6 years old.  Two are 3rd grade level math, 2 are 1st grade level math, and two are kindergarten level math.  

This program is based on making memorizing fun for your child.  In essence, to help them memorize and retain all the math facts they need to know.  It is geared for grade K-6.  The software has software requirements and will only work on Windows 7, 8, Vista or XP.   Once you download it, it’s yours!  You can keep and use it until you decide it is no longer for you.

My kindergarten level math guys used the dot cards.  These are super simple.  You just count up the dots.  No number punching in, just counting.  They also used the keyboard entry to help them get familiar with the number pad on the keyboard.  They had not used the computer before this.  I have to say both of these guys were boys.  I wanted them to use the program three times per week for a good 10-15 minutes.  It was like pulling teeth to get them to use it!  Seriously, they were not that interested.  The first week or two it wasn’t so difficult because they were getting to use the computer which was new and cool, but after that it was just a tedious task for them.  I had to be beside them making them count out loud and overseeing their progress.

My next level of learners are two girls that are in 1st grade math.  I had them work on the addition and subtraction math facts.  They also worked on keyboard entry as they have not used the computer very much either.  They would do 3 days a week for 10-15 minutes as well.  It helps me if I’m not trying to schedule each child on the computer each day for the same program.  However, if you really want your child to get the facts down quickly, I’d recommend using it daily.  The girls did well with the program and I noticed that they were retaining the facts and doing their math coursework faster with the program.  This is a huge improvement for them and I am definitely going to keep using the program with them.

My last two students are at a third grade math level.  One boy and one girl.  This really showed me the difference in the sexes so to speak.  Neither of them found it fun, but my daughter would rather get on and get it done so she can go read while my son would sit to do it and get bored or worse mistype and then get made because he didn’t get the right answer in.  They use the keyboard entry for the first two weeks but after that I didn’t see a need for them.  They worked on the multiplication facts.  We are doing really well getting these memorized and I foresee starting on the division soon.  Regardless of whether they like it or not, this program is really helping them.  We may still make up some physical flashcards so they can quiz each other, but they will continue using the program 3 times per week.  They tended to use it for closer to 20 minutes each day just because they were working on something a bit higher level.  

 

 

Somethings that I as the mommy like.  Each child can log in individually so their reports are saved under their login.  Makes it easier for me to check up on their progress this way.  Once your child hits a certain age, this becomes very helpful.  I say once they hit a certain age not because it is not helpful before, but because you no longer have to sit next to them and help to make sure they are doing the program and doing it correctly.  For the price you can’t ask for a better deal!  You get to use this forever!  Seriously, once you download it it is yours to use until you delete the program.  I think you will enjoy it.  I know I am.  It’s a great way to learn those facts and start getting them rolling off the tongue and brain quickly!

Make sure to visit the Main Crew Blog Post to check out the reviews to learn about how this program works with more children, and to know what the parents think of it!