Have you ever been guilty of math torture?

I confess - I have been.

When we first started homeschooling it never really occurred to me that we could play fun math games to cement learning.

Now, eight years into homeschooling, we are still very strict about math in our homeschool. It gets done each and every day (usually first thing), and we NEVER miss a day of math drills, either.

(Thank you, Saxon Math.)

Giving my children the gift of being 100% solid in their math facts is just something I'm going to do. Period.

I do know, however, that math is a lot more engaging for kids when you provide fun games for them to play. Math games help with mental math, speed, confidence, and just a LOVE of math in general.

I have been compensated by Logic Roots to write this post. I never review items we have not first used and loved. All opinions expressed are my own.

Our Traditional Favorite Math Games for Kids

We've enjoyed many games over the years, and before I tell you about the newest game that has caught our eye, let me highlight just a few that stick out as our favorites over the years:

Mega Fun Card Game Math - all you need is a deck of cards and this book - tons of fun!
Math Dice - a set of these dice can bring hours of math practice and fun - we use them a lot as a family
24 - this game requires some serious thinking and can be used with ALL AGES (I first learned about it in my daughter Challenge I class)
Yahtzee - this classic game is ALWAYS fun, and helps practice addition and multiplication
SKIP-BO - a seriously FUN math game

A Fun Addition Game for Kids

Now that I am tutoring the littlest ones in our Classical Conversations group, I'm thinking about playing math games much more.

And I'm also learning something about math games: you are never too old to play them!

A new game I've been playing with some of my younger friends has been Ocean Raiders.

(And just a secret for you -- a certain 11 year old in my house asks me to play a lot, too... because we've come up with ways to make the game harder for him!)

Ocean Raiders is very simple to play.

Players roll the die to start. On their first roll they put their game piece on the number they roll. On subsequent rolls they add the number they rolled to the number they are on. The object is to get to the treasure (at #49). Players sometimes advance quickly forward or backward (a la Chutes & Ladders) to add a twist to the game.

I found that Ocean Raiders helped children in 1st grade and above with their mental math skills. The guys I played with were adding in their heads, but Logic Roots also provides slates to write on so children can figure the answers that way, too.

The rules were VERY simple and game play was successful from the minute I opened the box. That's important for the younger ages, because too many rules bog them down.

The game is visually appealing and engagement comes from its simple premise and design - all achieving the goal of making math fun for kids.

Two of my little friends told me they had a great time playing the game -- and they gave it 8.7 and 9 stars (out of 10). These are bright little boys, so I considered that high praise!

The really fun thing was that after THEY played, then the big boys came in and wanted to play. They played a quick round of addition, then they went BACKWARDS from 49 to 0 using subtraction, which made things a little harder for them.

About Ocean Raiders and Logic Roots

Ocean Raiders is recommended for grades 1 and up. It is provides ABUNDANT practice with the following skills:

Addition
Number Recognition
Number Sequencing
Subtraction

There are detailed instructions in the box, but they also can be found by scanning the QR code in the instruction book or by visiting the Logic Roots website.

There are MANY other math games (which I will be telling you about in the coming months) from Logic Roots, too. I encourage you to check them out via their website - and their games are also available through

Connect with Logic Roots on Twitter and Facebook to learn more about making math fun for kids!

AND --- they have a MATH BLOG. Good stuff! (Check out some of their amazing LEGO math ideas.)

Do your kids like math? Do you play games to make it more fun? Leave me a comment and let me know how math goes in your house!

Homeschooling b ig kids is tricky business.

The weight of having a child's entire high school education on your shoulders can be daunting and often times scary.

In recent months I have been researching what homeschoolers need to know about the SAT.

While I do preach "faith not fear", it does pay to be prepared when it comes to important things like transcripting, choosing courses, and standardized testing.

In these high school years, I am looking to experts to help me with some BIG decisions. My go to guy for all things SAT is Mr. D, or Mr. D Math . My oldest has taken Algebra Readiness , Algebra I and Geometry with Mr. D, and she is doing SO WELL!

I'm so happy Mr. D agreed to share with my readers about what homeschoolers need to know about the SAT.

With that - today I am turning the blog over to Mr. D!

What Homeschoolers Need to Know About the PSAT & SAT

As you can imagine, I am often asked many different things about homeschoolers taking the SAT.

What should a student expect to see on the SAT or PSAT?

When should a student take the SAT or PSAT?

What is the best way to prepare for the SAT or PSAT?

What are the PSAT and SAT?

The SAT stands for the Scholastic Aptitude Test. It was first administered in 1926 and was originally used to figure out who is awarded scholarships for Ivy League Schools. The SAT has become known as the test to take to “predict” how successful students would be in college.

The first PSAT Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test was administered in the fall of 1959. The test is a shortened form of the SAT and is designed to help students become familiar with the question types and format of the full exam.

What to expect on the SAT

Let’s look at the most current changes from the old version of the SAT to the new version of the SAT.

The SAT has been redesigned and the first “new” SAT was given in March 2015. The PSAT is now in effect as well.

Many people want to know how are the old and new tests differ.

While many things have changed, some things remain the same especially when it comes to math.

Here is a quick overview about the changes on the math portion so you can be prepared!

TIME:

Old: New:

3 tests 2 tests

20 questions 25 minutes 20 questions 25 minutes - No calculator

18 questions 25 minutes 38 questions 55 minutes - With calculator

16 questions 20 minutes

CONTENT:

Old: New:

Algebra I, Geometry, some Algebra II Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II Trigonometry, Data Analysis (Probability and Statistics)

There will be free response and multiple choice questions on the new SAT as there were on the old SAT.

The style of the questions are similar from the old test to the new test but the new test requires a higher level of math skills.

Higher Level of Math Skills Required on the New SAT

For the new SAT, students will need to have a broader range of math skills through Algebra II and into a Pre-Calculus class that has Trigonometry. Students will also need to recognize and work with function notation. Finally, students will need a solid grasp of workingwith probability.

The best way for students to prepare is to practice and get familiar with the kinds of questionsthat will be asked on the new SAT.

The scoring will be similar out of 800 possible points except now there will NO LONGER be points subtracted for wrong answers.

When should students take the PSAT?

Students usually take the PSAT during the 10th grade year in October and then take the SAT the following year as junior. Students can take the PSAT as a th grader if they are ready.

What do I mean by being ready?

That would be students who have completed Algebra I, Geometry and are at least ½ way through their Algebra II curriculum.

In the past if students had completed Algebra I and Geometry they were ready for a first time attempt at the SAT or PSAT. Now, with the new broadened amount material, it is wise to wait.

Students who attempt the new SAT format without having completed Algebra II feel like they were seeing things they had never seen before. They are correct as they just haven’t seen it yet without completing Algebra II first.

Math Topics to Be Familiar with on the SAT

 Slope of a line and what does it mean. (I will share more about this later in this article.)

 Y intercepts.

 X Intercepts which on the SAT are called zeros or real solutions to a quadratic equations.

 Systems.

 Sine, Cosine and Tangent relationships

 Alternate interior angles, corresponding angles, same side interior angles, transversals

creating parallel lines.

 Proportions.

 Compound interest

 Indirect and direct variations.

 The Pythagorean Theorem.

 Triangle relationships.

 Matrices.

 Probability.

 Relationships between the Mean, Median and Mode.

 Equation of a circle and identifying the center.

 Equation of a parabola in standard and vertex form.

 Identifying the vertex or zero of a parabola.

There are more of course, but as you cans see, this is a much broader list than the older version of the SAT.

What is the best way to prepare for the SAT or PSAT?

First, let’s start with the best ways NOT to prepare:

1. Do not take the SAT or PSAT to get a baseline of where a student is.

(I know this is a tough one for some moms!)

Students who have never seen the format of the test are now dealing with not only the content, but the style of the question and the time limit constraints. The baseline you will have is not a true assessment of where the student really is. There are likely questions they could have answered if they understood the style and formatting of the question.

Translation - They knew the material but did not know what they were being asked.

2. Do a question or two a day for several months before the SAT test date as the only preparation. The SAT comes at you in a timed fast pace setting. While the “question a day” is a great tool, don’t let it be the sole source.

3. Practice 50 problems of slope then 50 problems of alternate interior angles formed by parallel lines, etc. The SAT doesn’t deliver the content in this format, so saturating yourself with drill and practice on these topics usually doesn't produce the intended result.

Let’s look at the best ways to prepare:

1. Learn the language of math.

Here are some examples!!!!

a. Slope - when a question on the SAT or PSAT is asking about the slope of a line, it will likely not say “what is the slope of the line?” Instead, it will ask what is the rate of change or how many hours per month or for each inch. The word “rate of change”, “per an interval” or “for each unit” refer to slope. Slope is a rate of change looking at how one variable is changing in relation to the other.

b. Y- Intercept – The y-intercept students will say happens when a graph crosses the y axis. What they sometimes miss is that the y-intercept occurs when the x value of the graph is 0. The x axis usually refers to time which means what is happening when something begins. The SAT will when asking about a y-intercept will use words like “start, begin or initial.”

2. Take practice tests.

The SAT publisher, https://www.collegeboard.org/ has prepared some great practice tests that are available on their website.

3. Use a timer with the practice tests and take the test the way it will be given.

Once a student has seen what they know, how the test is structure and what to expect,

preparing becomes a game plan as opposed to a guess. What I see over and over again with students these days is young people are just as busy as their parents.

Students tell me often, "I have to make time to study for the SAT."

Something I have noticed about the word "study" is that it is a little like going to the dentist. We should but if we can put it off, we will.

Something I have noticed about the word "study" is that it is a little like going to the dentist. We should but if we can put it off, we will.

For me, studying for the SAT is something that doesn't really work anyway. While there are plenty of 700 page "study" guides for the SAT, what students really need to is practice. Just like an athlete, artist or musician, the way to become great at something is to practice.

When I ask students when they are going to practice for the SAT, they are not as opposed to picking a time and then doing just that, practicing for the SAT. Knowing how long to practice and what to practice makes all the difference.

Having a scheduled time each week or even a few times a week as the test date draws near is the best approach. Just like dance class practice or soccer practice, the practice is scheduled and you know you will be going.

SAT Prep With Mr. D

The live 6-Week Online Math SAT Bootcamp gives you immediate access to the Mr. D Math Test Prep Portal with over 6 hours of video training for the SAT math sections, plus online practice tests and additional resources for the SAT, ACT, and PERT tests in all subject areas.

What Homeschoolers Need to Know about the SAT

In this interactive program, we will cover everything your student needs for success on the math portion of the SAT.

In addition to test-taking "secrets" and strategies mentioned above, we'll review all the formulas they'll need to memorize. Students will take multiple practice tests so they can see the results of what they've learned in action.

Dennis DiNoia has been immersed in education for over 25 years. He holds a M.A. in Education from the University of South Florida and has been a Florida State Certified Secondary Mathematics Teacher since 1988.

10 years ago, Mr. D left the public school system to develop an online curriculum for all levels of high-school math, from pre-algebra to pre-calculus. His unique and effective approach teaches students to understand math as a language, and he infuses problem-solving skills that transfer to everyday life.

Mr. D has had great success in assisting students to raise their test scores on SAT/ACT/FCAT and other standardized tests. Due to the need for assistance in this area, he created specialized test preparation seminars and online videos based upon his years of experience in the school system and private tutoring industry.

Thank you, Dennis, for equipping and empowering high school parents everywhere!

I can rest easy knowing we have a plan for SAT prep for Anna over the next couple of years.

Fun Math Games For Kids