Professor B

I have some strong ideas about math. Those ideas have developed over many years of watching students learn and watching them apply what they've learned. I've seen the damage from pushing math memorization too early, before math concepts could be grasped. Again and again, I've seen the love of math grow in students that were properly (but not overly) challenged 

And while I know that every student is different, I was pretty settled on what I felt was the best curriculum available. For years, a friend insisted that I give Professor B a try, but I insisted that it was unnecessary. Nothing could compare to my favorite math program. My boys excelled with my curriculum of choice. Well, okay, we did have to stop for a few months and drill in addition. And, yes, we did have to stop again and drill in multiplication. But otherwise, the curriculum was excellent and they soared on to Algebra by the 6th grade. Why would I need to try Professor B? 

But then my girls left me stumped. They enjoyed and understood my curriculum of choice, but it just was NOT sticking in their heads. It wasn't clicking. We gently but consistently trudged onward. I could have pushed memorization and they would have obliged, but I wanted them to "get it". We lingered over lessons, used money and buttons and kept trying to learn it a different way. They understood the concept of adding and subtracting. They even memorized most of the facts on their own, but they still stopped to count fingers. It still hadn't clicked. After several months of this, we tried Professor B's E-Learning program. Wow!

My 8 year old, Honor, learns from videos very well. I haven't figured out if it is visual or auditory for her, but she seems to be able to remember anything she watches on a screen. My 6 year old, Sarah Grace, is more kinetic, and needs to involve some sort of motion to learn. Professor B combines both styles beautifully. Within 10 minutes of online lessons, the girls were smiling over how easy the new lessons were going to be. I began to wonder if I had chosen far beneath their level. They were well past counting to 10. After another 10 minutes, they were feeling the challenge. And ten minutes after that? They were on fire. They were adding images of stars and pandas and balls as quickly as they popped on screen. It was incredible. MY brain was scrambling to add them fast enough and the girls were flying right along, excited and confidant. I was sold. 

Professor B teaches toward mastery of each concept. Again and again, we sit to down to lessons and I am amazed at how quickly the girls grasp and then master a new concept. In one sitting, my girls learned place value into the trillions. One short sitting! Keep in mind that we have gone over place value many times over the past two years. We have used props of all kinds, worksheets galore...Hours invested in it and they were barely slumping along with the idea of ones, tens, and hundreds. But 10 minutes of Professor B and they were accurately reading this number: 900,060,607,084,005. Truly! And many more like it! 

I think there might be some sort of magic associated with this program. I cannot quite grasp what the ingredient is that makes all the difference, but I know that it works. You can read about the History and Philosophy behind Professor B's methods here  You can also watch samples lessons here. Don't be deceived by it's supposed simplicity. It is magic, I assure you. 

There are 3 levels to Professor B's E-learning program. Each level teaches 3 years of math lessons in one year. Each level also includes a PDF workbook to print. These are between 140 to 180 pages long. The levels are as follows: 

LEVEL I - Pre-k though 2nd graders and remediation of older learners. Introduction to Addition/Subtraction Facts - Counting to One Hundred - Lower Addition and Subtraction - Higher Addition and Subtraction - Place Value Fractional Parts; Order - Time - Money
LEVEL II - 3rd grade through 5th grade and remediation of older learners. Multiplication/Division Facts and Problem Solving - Introduction to Fractions - Fractional Equivalence - Addition and Subtraction Fractions
LEVEL III - 6th through 8th grades and remediation of older learners. Multiplication/Division of Fractions - Decimals - Percents

The levels and free placement tests can be found here, but keep in mind that the pricing listed on this link is not yet updated and does not reflect the excellent price drop. The new price for Professor B's E-Learning program includes a package deal of $100 for 3 years access to each level. As they are working to update the site, customers can call  678-765-6655 to place an order and they will honor the new price. 

I am a tightwad through and through. I frequently receive free curricula and have become a snob when it comes to spending money on programs. I don't casually purchase material. Knowing this, please appreciate the value I place on this curriculum when I say that I think it's price is well worth it and that I will happily purchase this program when my free membership runs out so that we can continue this level of mastery. 

And now I have to go tell my friend she was right and I was wrong. 

For more reviews on this fantastic program, be sure to visit The Crew website:

Disclaimer: I received this material in exchange for my honest opinion as a member of the TOS Crew, and received no other form of compensation. For whatever they're worth, the opinions are mine and mine alone, as stated in my disclosure policy.

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