(Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.)
My son “The Batman” is developmentally disabled, and we have tried ever since he was little to help him learn just addition and subtraction, but he has just never been able to do it. I was very happy to receive Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Addition and Subtraction from Math-U-See for review, because I thought maybe it would help. And oh my word, it is slowly but surely helping!
Accelerated Individual Mastery is a program with both physical products and a digital toolbox. Here is what we received:
This is the book, the integer blocks and the special colored pencils.
Here you see the 13 Fact Check Strategy posters.
And finally, the Fact Check Cards which are printed on perforated Cardstock.
I wasn’t paying attention and didn’t realize the fact check cards were in with the Fact Check Strategy posters, and printed them out on paper! But the ones in the box are so sturdy that we will be using them.
Because “The Batman” has always had such a problem with even the simplest of math, I am so happy that this is working, even though we have to go very slowly for him. Where others might be able to get through this program in one multi-part lesson per week, we have to go MUCH slower. Because this is an individual mastery program, the pace will look different for everyone.
“The Batman” really is enjoying this program, and not becoming frustrated! He is even asking every day if we can do some more of it. I think this is partly because of the hands on manipulatives, but also because he isn’t feeling as though he has to push through faster to “keep up.”
Before beginning, I went through the Before-AIM Assessment with “The batman.”
You can download the assesment here before deciding to purchase this program. It will quickly help you to see where your child is with addition and Subtraction facts. Here is where “The Batman” was at the end of the assessment:
At the end of this program, we’ll go through a post AIM assessment to see how much he’s gained.
Here is his first worksheet, which we downloaded from the worksheet generator in the Digital Toolbox, which you will have a one year access with your purchase of this program.
After the lesson, I read the math facts to him and mark off those that he now knows.
Yiu can see that at this point, he’s all over the board.
After each lesson, I’ll do this again, until the whole sheet is marked. Then, we will move on to subtraction.
In the Digital Toolbox you’ll also find review activities and games to aid in memorizing the math facts. “The Batman” likes everything in the toolbox!
AIM was created many different students in mind, such as:
- Those who have done other addition and subtraction fact methods without mastery (even adults!)
- still need to tally marks or count on their fingers
- struggle as they face harder math concepts
- Have not mastered many math facts at all, like “The Batman”
This program focuses on:
- Specifically single-digit addition and subtraction fact mastery
- Uses language and activities that are updated for more mature students
- does not use distractions and additional topics beyond the fundamental facts
Each lesson has a short video to help you teach the concept. That is where I went to learn how to use the integer blocks most effectively. Below the video, there were links telling me what I needed to print out, what physical materials to remove from the box, and what games there are to cement the concept taught. there are also sometimes activity pages like this coloring page:
One activity that “The Batman” can do is a matching game. Here, he is using a printed out chart of the integer blocks to color the game cards. The numbers are the same color as the matching integer block cards. He is coloring them with the Math-U-see pancils, which match the color of each integer block.
Now, when he wants to play, either his brother or I will do it with him.
“The Batman” really likes this program, as I said above. He feels so much more confident than with any other method we have tried.
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