My son’s multiplication success with a free math game

I posted about this free game download a few weeks ago, but wanted to give an update. My son who has Asperger’s (high functioning autism) is still using this game to improve his multiplication memorization. He has a lot of trouble retaining mathematical facts. I don’t know if this is part of his disability, or if he just takes after me! Lol I’ve never been very good at math either.

We’ve tried a variety of things… some of which seemed to help initially, but he could never (or wouldn’t) stick with them. Our current game plan includes him playing TimezAttack for 20 minutes (we try to do this everyday, sometimes we miss! Lol) in exchange for a Pokemon card.  He needs that extra incentive and I’m of the attitude, whatever works! So, I give him Pokemon cards for TimezAttack and for his daily Kumon lessons, which take him between 10 and 15 minutes. Kumon is starting him at a very elementary level. He’s currently reviewing basic addition, but they hope to have him up to grade level in about a year. So, while his Kumon lessons aren’t yet helping him with his grade level assignments, TimezAttack is. I really feel confident that between the two additional resources my almost 10 year old will end up where he should be. 

We started with the free download and my kids took to it so well, I did upgrade to a paid version, but have no regrets. The paid version gives your kids more adventure than the free version and if it teaches them their multiplication facts, it’s worth every penny. They’re also coming out with an addition, subtraction, and a division game sometime this year. I’ll be sure to let you know if I see them launch. We’re planning on sampling the division game as soon as we see it’s available. Hopefully by then he’ll have his multiplication down!

Update on Memorize in Minutes... Decision Made!

You may remember that I recently shared an interesting find for teaching children to memorize their times tables. My son has had a horrible time with this and making matters even worse, he hates to study anything having to do with numbers. I suspect he takes after me in that regard... math was never my best subject either.

I actually found Memorize in Minutes by accident... I was looking for math set to music, hoping I'd find something catchy to help specifically with memorizing 6's, 7's, 8's and 9's... but wasn't all that impressed with anything I ran across... then there was this.

I went ahead and ordered the book and will be introducing it to my son tomorrow once I've further familiarized myself with it's content. What I like about the book so far, is exactly what I expected to like... it has goofy drawings set to goofy rhymes, which help the multiplication facts and their answers stick in your child's brain. I'll let you know if it works for us! lol Fingers and toes are crossed so tight I'm starting to feel dizzy.

The only thing I see thus far that I don't love... I was hoping the flash cards were not part of the bound book. I'm not sure whether I should carefully pull them out and have them laminated or what? Seems like flashcards should be loose, but I really don't like removing pages from books. Sorta makes me cringe a little.

That's a small concern though and one I can totally live with should this system help my son tackle his multiplication monster. I'm really praying he can start 4th grade with the facts firmly planted in his head so we can then take on division without the level of anxiety he carried through 3rd grade. Poor guy!

Here's my original post on this resource, should you wish to check it out! Memorize in Minutes 

I'm not receiving any compensation for this review, either monetarily or through a product exchange. This review was unsolicited by the producer/manufacture and was initiated solely by me. Any books or supplies were purchased through my own pocketbook. 

"Memorize in Minutes" for Teaching Multiplication?

Any thoughts on Memorize in Minutes by Krimsten Publishing?

I'm reading about this method now, which uses pictures and rhymes to help children memorize multiplication facts and really feeling tempted to give it a try. My 9 year old son is on the autism spectrum which may or may not explain his challenges with certain types of memorization, but this really seems like something he might take to. Especially given he has such a silly side, and given that many autistic kids do marvelously well with picture stories, when being taught social and real life learning skills. Maybe pictures and rhymes could teach math too?

My son still cannot tie his shoes, ride a bike without training wheels, and has a horrible time with math. Such that, he's decided he hates the subject inside and out. This is a problem. He doesn't let me instruct him in this subject because he can't stand to "not get it". Does that make sense? If something doesn't make sense to him, he avoids it. This same kid is testing at the 8th grade reading level and received a 97% on his state reading assessment. He's smart, but he's fighting against a disability which affects his ability to inference and sometimes focus. He's also suffering from an anxiety disorder which means when he faces a challenge, we often find him overwhelmed in tears and sometimes rage, which isn't exactly conducive to learning. 

So, I wonder if anyone has any experience with "Memorize in Minutes" and if so what that experience has been? I'm 95% sure I'm going to purchase this and if/when I do, I'll let you know how things go. If it does work with a special needs child, it would probably work for others... even those not on the spectrum.

I'm trying to decide if I should just order the student download or if I need the entire program which is sent via snail mail and includes a teacher's manual, flashcards, quizzes, and lesson plans. The high point is the program is on sale for $20. Hard to imagine how I could go wrong at that price! lol  I'll let you know what I decide!