Math Galaxy

MathGalaxy.com

http://www.mathgalaxy.com/  

When I first accessed the Math Galaxy programs, my first reaction was not the greatest. The whole things was yelling 1980s all over the programming and for someone who has reviewed other programs which were developed more in this generation of programming, I was a little bit taken by surprised. My first thought was “How in the world can I review this with objectivity?” After the moment of surprise was passed, I took the plunge and check them out.

“But what is Math Galaxy?” you might wonder… Math Galaxy offers many mathematical programs for homeschoolers or for student to help them in their journey in the world of mathematics. Think as though you would have your own personal tutor for grades K to 12 in mathematics. The best part of it is that the students can go through the problems as their own pace. No need to try to catch up to anyone else. It’s you and the computer only!

Allow me to present you the various products that Math Galaxy offers.

Math Galaxy Whole Numbers Fun is a comprehensive math tutorial that covers all of whole number operations plus Time, Money, and the sections of Length, Area, Volume, Pictographs, Bar Graphs and Probability appropriate for grades 1 to 4. It also includes the whole number sections of the Word Jumbles, Riddles, and Bridge the Swamp games and the Labyrinth mazes.

Math Galaxy Fractions Fun is a comprehensive fractions tutorial with explanations, practice and games that cover fraction operations and concepts, including equivalent fractions, comparing fractions, reducing fractions, improper fractions, prime factors, greatest common factor, least common multiple, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, word problems, plus geometry, graphs and probability appropriate for grade 5. It also includes the fraction sections of the Word Jumbles, Riddles, and Bridge the Swamp games and the Labyrinth mazes.

Math Galaxy Decimals, Proportions, % Fun is a comprehensive tutorial for sixth-grade math that is like having an interactive textbook and your own private tutor, with explanations, practice and games that cover decimals, ratios and proportions, and percents concepts and operations, plus geometry, graphs, data analysis and probability appropriate for grade 6. It also includes the decimal sections of the Word Jumbles, Riddles, and Bridge the Swamp games and the Labyrinth mazes.

Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun provides, in a game setting that's like a cross between monopoly and maze searches, a range of problems covering the core of elementary and middle school math: whole numbers, fractions, decimals, multi-step problems, ratios & proportions, percents, negative numbers, time, length, area, volume, weight, angles and graphs & tables along with other higher-order skills woven throughout the exercises.

Math Galaxy Pre-Algebra Fun is a comprehensive tutorial for middle school math that is like having an interactive textbook and your own private tutor, with explanations, practice and games

Algebra Fundamentals includes all of the algebra topics, with an unlimited number of problems. It also includes the Labyrinth mazes.

Also available are the worksheet generators which permit you to product riddles and worksheets for many topics. The Whole Numbers Worksheet Generator includes all of the whole numbers printable riddles and printable worksheets topics, with an unlimited number of problems and 500 riddles. The Fractions Worksheet Generator includes all of the fraction printable riddles and printable worksheets topics, with an unlimited number of problems and 500 riddles. The Decimals, Proportions, % Worksheet Generator includes all of the decimals, ratio & proportions, and percents printable riddles and printable worksheets topics, with an unlimited number of problems and 500 riddles. And finally, the Algebra Worksheet Generator includes all of the algebra printable riddles and printable worksheets topics, with an unlimited number of problems and 500 riddles.

Math Galaxy also has two ebooks based on two of their worksheet generator sofwares. The Math Galaxy Whole Number Riddles is an eBook in pdf format that contains 130 of the 500 printable riddles and worksheets that are in The Whole Numbers Worksheet Generator software and the Math Galaxy Fraction Riddles is an eBook in pdf format that contains 215 of the 500 printable riddles and worksheets that are in The Fractions Worksheet Generator software for those who would prefer an eBook.

So as I said, once my first reaction was passed and the software installed, I asked my son, Alexandre, who is in grade 3 to product test them. I wasn’t sure how he would react to them since he has been exposed to other type of mathematics software in the past. Well, imagine my surprise when he said he loved it. He particularly enjoyed the Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun which brings him in a game type of screen. To advance in the game, the student has to resolve mathematical problems. He is having a blast everytime he goes to the PC.

For us having programs that also teach our kids something is a priority. And when you get a mathematical software that keep their attention because of the games or challenges that is found in it, I think it is a bonus.

The other documents that I particularly liked were the riddles. It is a fun way to resolve a riddle by including mathematical notions. I had printed some fractions riddles and my son was challenged to find the answer to the question at the top of the sheet. He loved doing it. So much that he wants me to print more of them.

I have learn a lesson while reviewing the MathGalaxy products. Don’t judge the quality of the product by its package. The goal of MathGalaxy is to provide students a foundation for analytical thinking in the modern world and for higher-level math and science. From what I have experience, they are helping the student to have fun with mathematics. If only I was introduced to this kind of thinking when I was younger – especially in high school – maybe I wouldn’t have struggled so much with maths then.

So if you student is having trouble with certain mathematical concept, I would suggest that you give MathGalaxy a chance and look into their products. You might be surprised by the simple programming but the quality of the lessons is worth it. Attached to these products is a 30-day money-back guarantee. Oh and don’t forget to install the Java plugin to do the exercises.

System Requirements: Windows 98 or later or Mac OS X.
(Both Windows and Mac OS X versions are in the downloaded zip file.)