The Stewards Steno

MathGalaxy.com has two parts to help your student master math concepts ranging from Adding & Subtracting Whole numbers to Algebraic concepts.
The first part is web-based, which isn’t as comprehensive as the Full version software.  What surprised me the most was the amount of the software you can try for free at MathGalaxy.com.  Many companies have a small sample of what their product is like, some may even have parts of the games, but MathGalaxy provides you the opportunity to try the majority of their software before you buy.  This, along with their 30 day money-back guarantee, shows they have confidence in the ability of their software to help your student.

The Full Version software CD’s have both Windows (98 or higher) and Mac OS X.  Each of the 10 subjects are $29.95:
1) Whole Numbers Fun
2) Fractions Fun
3) Decimals, Proportions, % Fun
4) Word Problems Fun
5) Pre-Algebra Fun
6) Algebra Fundamentals
7) Whole Numbers Worksheet Generator
Fractions Worksheet Generator
9) Decimals, Proportions, & % Worksheet Generator
10) Algebra Worksheet Generator
The "Fun" CD’s have games to do after/during the explanation of the math concept.  Each of the worksheet generators have unlimited problems and 500 riddles.

Also available in a downloadable eBook format  for $14.95 is:
1) Whole Number Riddles (130 of the original 500)
2) Fraction Riddles (130 of original 500 riddles)

What We Did
We were given the software in a downloadable format.  My children used the Decimals, Proportions, % Fun , and the Word Problems Fun.  We chose these two because they are working on these things currently in their math curriculum.  At first , my dd didn’t like the MathGalaxy software because it went too sloooooooooooowww- she then realized that there was an option to skip the step by step explanations and just do the final answers.  After that, she enjoyed it quite a bit (especially since she wasn’t required to do as much of her other math ). 
My son, on the other hand, was very quick to find the labyrinth game which has a lot more "game" factor than learning factor.  I had to oversee his time to make sure he also included activities that had a higher proportion of math to games- gotta love 10 yr old boys.

During the time we were using MathGalaxy, I didn’t use  the worksheet generators because the children didn’t need any extra practice, but while writing this review I looked over the generators and was quite pleased.  We will probably use the Algebra Worksheet Generator after out children finish their current math curriculum so that we don’t have to be in such a rush to get the next level.  They may use this software to finish out this year, and start Algebra in the Fall.

What We Thought
Our kids love jokes and riddles.  Because they were concentrating on solving the riddles, they didn’t realize how much math they were doing. 
My dd seemed to do better if she didn’t look at the explanations, because some of them differed from the way she learned.
I also found that this software needed more parental supervision to make sure math, not just games, was being done.
I would recommend getting both the Fun software and Worksheet Generator for the level your child uses due to the different ways the two parts come at math practice.
Overall, I would highly recommend this software.

  As a member of the TOS Review Crew, I received this product free, in return for my honest OPINION.

I am a Jane of all crafts, master of none,
Homeschool my children, a daughter and son.
Been married to my sweetheart for 18 years
filled with joy, frowns and happy tears.

I don’t always have it all together,
But with God’s help, I’ll get better.
I’m no expert, and all I can do,
is to say how it works for us and share it in a review.

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