Boost Your SAT Scores Easily

This review has been adapted from a review that I wrote for The Curriculum Choice titled Vocabulary Cartoons, SAT Word Power. 

I have to admit, when I find a book or resource that works wonderfully for my family, I love to tell everyone about it. That’s exactly how I felt when I originally found this book and when I found out that I’d be offering a review for the TOS Crew of a product that I already knew well and LOVED.  I was so excited by the results I saw right away that I literally carried this around in my purse so I wouldn’t forget to show it to my friends on homeschool outings.

Are you curious to know what has me so excited? Allow me to introduce Vocabulary Cartoons: SAT Word Power, written by Sam Burchers and published by New Monic Books, Inc.  Though there is an entire line of these incredible teaching books to choose from, my focus will be on the one designed to improve SAT scores because that is the book that we have used.  However, from viewing the website, it looks as though all the books in the Vocabulary Cartoon series are written using the same format.

Written directly to 7^th-12^th grade students, Vocabulary Cartoons SAT Word Power claims that your child can learn hundreds of SAT level words effortlessly, but just how is that possible? And the question you want to know is does it really work? In my experience of using SAT Word Power with my 13, 15 and 17 year old children, I would say, yes it certainly does.

How the book works

These books use mnemonics, a nifty devise that aids in the memorization process. It could be a phrase, a rhyme or an acronym that allows you to remember something by associating it with something you already know.  Confused? How about an example? Do you remember learning the colors in a rainbow in elementary school? My teacher helped me learn them by introducing the mnemonic, Roy G. Biv.  I already knew my colors; I just needed to learn the colors that made up a rainbow in order.  Remembering the mnemonic she gave me I was easily able to picture the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet by associating each letter in the name Roy G. Biv with a color. R= red, O= orange, Y= yellow; okay you get the point.  Another mnemonic you’re probably familiar with is the phrase, Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. The catchy rhyme makes this little tidbit of information easy to remember, doesn’t it?

Vocabulary Cartoons use the same principle but takes it one step further.  Not only are the vocabulary words linked with a word that you would know by association, they also introduce a silly cartoon drawing so you really see the picture in your head.  Are you familiar with the phrase ‘A picture is worth a thousand words?’  Never underestimate the power of a picture. In my opinion, this is invaluable for visual learners like my children and this aspect of the book is what really drives home the meaning and makes it stick.

How we use these books

Since I enjoy learning new vocabulary words as much as my children, we use this book together.  I’ll read the subject word, followed by the definition,  the link word or association word, show the kids the goofy cartoon while reading the silly sentence that describes the picture and then I’ll read the three sentences at the bottom of the page which you can see from the insert above, use the word in different contexts.

After we learn our new word, we will review the words we learned previously.  I do this by saying the vocabulary word and asking them to share it in a sentence of their own.  The book does have its own review system in place. Every ten words you’ll find a chapter quiz with matching and fill-in-the-blank questions that we choose to do orally.  My children love this book and will often pick it up between sessions so they can try to stump each other with the new words they’ve learned.   If you’d like to take a peek at the words included, you can do that here.

Time to wrap this Review Up

According to the publisher, Vocabulary Cartoons boost verbal standardized test scores and students learn 72% more words with 90% retention.

While I can’t attest to the claim that this book will raise SAT scores, since my children have not taken the SAT, I can say that they have learned a new word, effortlessly, in minutes each day and have retained what they’ve learned.

Vocabulary Cartoons, SAT Word Power sells for $12.95 and can be purchased through the publisher’s website.  I encourage you to check out this book and others in the series, you’ll find something for learners of all ages.

I’ve been impressed with the results that I’ve seen; whether my children ever take an SAT test or not, vocabulary is important to reading comprehension and communication skills, written or verbal.  I’ve found this book particularly helpful for my right brain children and look forward to beginning the second book in the series.  

You’ll find other reviews of this product here.

 Disclosure: I received this product from New Monic Books  free of charge in exchange for offering my honest opinion to my readers.    

Math Tutor DVD: a Review

As a homeschooling mom, I sometimes worry about gaps in my children’s education. Though some subjects don’t necessarily require a sense of mastery to continue, when it comes to math, that is simply not the case. Basic math concepts have to be fully understood and mastered before your student can successfully continue to a higher level of math instruction. If there are gaps, by the time your child begins pre-algebra or algebra, you may begin to see some frustration like I have in my own home. The beauty of homeschooling is that you don’t have a classroom of children pushing your child ahead if they aren’t ready, you don’t have the pressure to unnecessarily rush your child along when they aren’t ready. We have the luxury and ability to slow down, back up or start over if needed and when it comes to math, we’ve done just that.

One of the products that I discovered to give my children a boost in their math comprehension has been the DVD’s sold by Math Tutor DVD, so I was thrilled when I received not one but two videos from the company free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion and review of the product.

Before I continue with the review, I’d like to mention that the company, Math Tutor DVD is known for their award winning DVD’s. In fact, their slogan is ‘Press play for success.’ The company is so confident that your child’s grades will improve that they offer a money back guarantee. Math Tutor DVD is exactly what the name says it is; a math tutor on a DVD. With the purchase of each DVD, your child will have access to a math instructor in the comfort of your home 24-hours a day for a mere fraction of the cost of a live tutor. Your child can watch each segment over and over again until they have mastered the material and are confident to move forward.

Pre-Algebra Volume 1 is a two disc set that contains 5 hours of video instruction in the following areas:

· Real Numbers

· The Number Line

· Greater Than, Less Than, Equal To

· Absolute Value and Adding Integers

· Subtracting Integers

· Multiplying Integers

· Dividing Integers

· Powers and Exponents

· Order of Operations

This DVD is currently sells for $26.99.

I also received The Texas Instruments T1-83/T1-84 Calculator Tutor which is a 3 DVD set that contains 8 hours of instruction. I was really excited about this because I’ve not seen a similar product on the market. In all fairness, our family does not own a scientific calculator, and though I’ve tried to use one in the past, I was never quite able to figure it out. I wish I’d have had this product then. The step-by-step instruction is perfect for students that learn best by seeing and not reading a lengthy manual.

This program can also be purchased for $26.99.

Though I did watch part of the DVD’s that I received with my children, I thought I’d share some of their thoughts.

What my children like about this program

· The instructor walks your child through each problem step by step.

· The instructor speaks clearly and concisely and is easily understood.

· The instructor is thorough.

· The instructor does not complicate things, but systematically teaches in a step-by-step fashion, simplifying the procedures as he goes.

· The instructor assumes that your child has no knowledge of the subject at hand so he starts at the beginning when walking through a concept.

· My children enjoy the DVD’s offered by this company better than others we’ve used in the past.

· The sections on the DVD are clearly labeled and easy to skip back to if they feel that they don’t quite understand something.

· If they have a math question, they can simply watch the DVD instead of waiting for me to figure out how to help them.

What my children did not like about the program

· The instructor is thorough meaning the video may contains too much repetition- depending on your child may or may not be a negative factor.

If you are a homeschool parent that is fumbling to teach basic math, algebra or physics or if you have a child enrolled in a program outside the home and are looking for a product to reinforce what they are learning, allow me to encourage you to check out the products offered at Math Tutor DVD. The website offers sample video tutorials, articles and free mental math podcasts.

I was also excited to learn that Math Tutor DVD now offers a member’s only area that allows you to view all video courses online for only $19.95 a month which is perfect for families with children of varied ages and grade levels. As a member you are also able to access new material as it is released, as well as participate in member’s only discussion forums.

Math Tutor DVD has programs for all ages and can be purchased online at their website or by calling 1-877-MATH-DVD.

You can read other reviews of these products at The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew blog.