CTCMath: An Online Math Program for the “Math-Hating Kid”

In a former life, I was a high school math teacher. Before that, I was a CPA. You might say there's math in my blood. So, for fun, I like to check out math curricula.

Now, I know that makes me a bit odd. I get it. But, I find it's very helpful to my readers.

Because of my obsession with math programs, I've tried out many. Some I've loved, and some, well, not so much. So, when I find one that I believe is a great program, I want to share it with you. Today is one of those days.

For years now, I have heard about an online math program known for its ease of use, especially with homeschoolers who aren't fans of math.

Introducing CTCMath ~ An Online Math Program

This new, highly recommended online math program was CTCMath. Several of my fellow homeschool moms shared stories of using it with their "math-hating" kids.

So, we tried it out with the high school junior. She needed to choose a Geometry curriculum for the next year, and I gave her several options. After testing it, she decided CTCMath was the curriculum she wanted for the following year.

This is fairly profound.

This is my "math-hating" kid.

The "Math-Hating" Teen's Review of CTCMath

Now, this teenager is no stranger to online math programs, but she's also never been a fan of any. This isn't to say the programs were bad, but she has a hard time separating the subject from the program.

However, she did like this online math program, and this is exactly what she liked about it:

• Short-lessons: For teenagers with limited attention (and, honestly, limited time available), CTCMath is an excellent option. The lessons are very short and get to the point. She didn't have to allocate a large portion of her day listening to a lecture. Plus, after about 15 minutes, she could move onto things she didn't hate!
• Straight-forward questions: Teens often feel like they are given "trick" questions -- questions that don't resemble anything from the lesson and are difficult to understand. Not so with this program. The questions were relevant to the lesson. She feels like questions are sometimes asked in a way to confuse the student, and she's not wrong. When I taught high school math in the traditional school setting, there were often questions that were deliberately unclear.
• Instant grading: When she missed a question, she was immediately told the answer. This helped her to understand the material better because it was fresh in her mind. And, as a bonus, it made it obvious when she made a careless error like not writing the problem correctly or forgetting to include a negative sign.

The "Math-Loving" Mom's Review of CTCMath

After spending the last year using CTCMath, I now have an understanding of why these homeschool moms recommended this online math program. I'm a little more selective when it comes to this area of homeschool because of my former career as a high school math teacher. So, my perspective is two-fold: as a homeschool mom and a math educator.

After seeing how it works in the "real world of homeschooling," here's what I like about it:

• It's online: So, I love a good online program. You save trees, and the kids put it on the level of more fun than a textbook! But, seriously, some kids really enjoy the online aspect of learning, and this program works well online. It also meant that when we were out of pocket, she could grab her tablet and work on her math from wherever we happened to be at the time.
• It's self-paced: This program is entirely online and completely self-paced. This means your student can spend as much or as little time on a lesson as they need. The bonus for the "math-hater" was that she could slow down when things got a little more challenging.
• It's easy to use: I was able to start our membership and immediately go through a lesson. The teen had no trouble getting into a lesson or working through the questions at the end of the lesson. Adding tasks for her to complete was so easy that I could add weeks at a time and then move them if we had a scheduling conflict.
• It's flexible: I found it was easy to jump from lesson to lesson. This is especially helpful if you are coming from another program and your student has already mastered a concept. On the other hand, your student can spend time working through a specific area that needs some attention. In fact, when she finished Geometry, I tried to convince her to move on to Trigonometry. Sadly, that was a no-go. I guess I shouldn't expect this program to cure her hatred of math. Sigh.

• It promoted independent learning: As high schoolers, I expect my kids to be taking the lead in their education. The teen would have chosen no Geometry at all, but that wasn't an option in our state (and, honestly, Geometry is a terribly useful math). Since she was required to take Geometry, it was great to use a program that helped her to work independently and take ownership of her progress.

Online Math Homeschool Family Membership

One of the things that sets CTCMath apart is its Homeschool Family Membership. They realize that homeschoolers often have children at different levels of math. So, they offer a fascinating incentive for homeschoolers. 

With a family membership, homeschoolers can get:

• All lessons in all grade levels (even high school!)
• Choose between a single membership or a family membership that includes access for the whole family
• And, the best part, CTCMath offers homeschoolers 50% off!! That is a fabulous deal for access to a math curriculum for your entire family. Just click below to get the offer.

But don't take my word for it. I have a lot of respect for programs that offer a free trial. They aren't trying to hide anything and genuinely want you to ensure the program is a good fit. This program worked great for my "math-hating" kid, but you should give it a test drive for your "math-hating" kid.