Math-Whizz Blog

Math-Whizz 101: Recommended Usage

August 3rd, 2011 by Rita

Like any good tool, Math-Whizz should be utilized properly in order to be fully effective. Luckily, Math-Whizz already comes fully assembled and there isn’t even any packaging to try and pry open! That being said, this next video in our Math-Whizz 101 series is going to answer the important question of “how exactly should my student/child be using this tool?” While this video is directed towards teachers, it is absolutely applicable to educators of all stripes as well as parents or mentors.

One of the most important roles a parent or educator plays in helping their child or student succeed is setting realistic goals and weekly routines. Teachers can turn to the “best practices” document as Richard suggested, but for you parents out there here are some tips just for you:

  • Here at Math-Whizz we love that your child is enthusiastic about using our product – we just recommend that you do your part to ensure they don’t experience “burn out.”
  • Aim to have your child actively using Math-Whizz for 60 – 90 minutes per week for best results.
  • To get to into that 60 – 90 minute time frame we suggest scheduling 2-3 times per week at sessions ranging from 20 – 45 minutes.

So, if you are ready to get on the track to success why not create your own calendar? You and your students or child can pick an appropriate picture and work together to choose which days of the week they’d like to use Math-Whizz. There are many free calendar resources out there – I used Calendar Labs to create this special calendar just for Carol Whizz. Once your calendar is created continue to reward and motivate your student, by using stickers or just color coding the days on the calendar after they’ve successfully kept up with their routine. If you’ve had success using a calendar with your child to keep them on track, or have other helpful tips – let us know!

 

About the Author: Rita Rogers grew up in the PNW and despite her “low-tech” houseboat upbringing, went on to complete her Master’s of Communication in Digital Media at the University of Washington in 2010. She is passionate about the convergence of education and technology, educational gaming, and outer space.

Math-Whizz 101: Student Assessment

July 20th, 2011 by Rita

Math-Whizz 101 is back for our second installment in the series! Now that you have an understanding of how the Math-Whizz tutor works, you are certainly ready to take a deeper look into one of the first things a Whizzer will accomplish – the assessment. Our very own Whizz Professor is going to take us on a guided tour of the initial assessment that, after completion, will help the tutor begin assigning individualized, targeted math lessons. This video tutorial is a great way to get your student, or child, excited and ready to begin using Math-Whizz – let’s take a look!

The first question of the assessment will be delivered based on the actual age of the student. If the student should correctly answer this question, the level of difficulty will increase with each subsequent question until the student reaches a point where they no longer demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the area. Conversely, if a student has difficulty answering the first question presented, questions with a slightly lower level of difficulty will be delivered.

Typically, the assessment will last about 20 -45 minutes, although this time can vary based on the amount of knowledge (and concentration!) a student brings to the session. Remember it is more than OK to take breaks during the assessment, the progress will be saved. This adaptive and responsive assessment is the foundation upon which Math-Whizz is built, ensuring that each student continually receives precisely the right lessons for their needs. Essentially, the assessment provides a snapshot of the student’s math ability by topic, and assigns them a beginning Math Age™ which will help in determining their initial lesson plan. Now the student is ready to begin using the tutor and exploring all that Math-Whizz has to offer.

It’s worth mentioning that the assessment can be reset at anytime – just contact us!

About the Author: Rita Rogers grew up in the PNW and despite her “low-tech” houseboat upbringing, went on to complete her Master’s of Communication in Digital Media at the University of Washington in 2010. She is passionate about the convergence of education and technology, educational gaming, and outer space.

Summer Fun with Math

July 5th, 2011 by ben

Summer is here. Your kids are finishing up with school and hopefully have a fun-filled summer break ahead of them. Maybe you are heading on a family vacation, or the kids are going off to camp. Perhaps it will be a case of getting the sprinklers out in the garden and listening out for the ice-cream truck. Hopefully there will be some baseball, soccer or other fun activities planned. However, I am sure the last thing you or your kids want to think about right now is math! While we are all for your kids having the most fun summer imaginable, it is important that they keep their math skills honed. Research has shown that kids who don’t do any math over the nearly 3 month summer break actually regress in their math ability. Yet, when they start the new school year they are expected to carry on where they left off. 

At Whizz Education, we  understands the importance of a fun summer break, which is why we have done all we can to incentivize our Whizzers to login over the next few months. As always there are credits to be earned, challenges to be won and perhaps even a pet dragon to be fed. We have also brought back our hugely popular Summer Adventure. Your kids will need to help the friendly Whizz Professor find his way through the Amazonian rainforest, and to do this they will need to do their lessons which will unlock games and fun facts about the Amazon. All the time you will be able to monitor their progress and watch their growth and they will be able to login anywhere they have a computer and an internet connection. All of us at Whizz Education wish you a fun and sunny summer break.

New Year, New Breakfast, from Math-Whizz

January 4th, 2011 by admin

A hearty ‘Happy New Year’ from all at the Math-Whizz US team!

It’s been a frosty holiday season for many, but Math-Whizz Tutoring is all-weather (provided you have an internet connection), and it’s a great way to keep kids boosting their confidence and ability in math over the cold months still to come.

To start off your 2011 on a math note, here’s a nice little roundup of 2010′s math craft projects from Make Online’s weekly Math Mondays, including their fabulous ‘mathematically-correct breakfast’:

Mathematically correct breakfast!

"One Two-Twist Mobius Bagel with cream cheese, to go!"

Math-Whizz ready for Halloween

October 27th, 2010 by kate

Maths-Whizz goes ghostly for Halloween this year.

Math-Whizzers can get Percy Pumpkin, Geary the Ghost, Bonnie Bandage, and Bones McCreeky to adorn their bedroom for only 30 Whizz credits each.

Hallowe'en at Math-Whizz - Spooky!

Hallowe'en at Math-Whizz - Spooky!

Math-Whizzers can decorate their online math tutoring bedrooms for one week only! Buying an interactive Percy Pumpkin is certainly easier than carving your own…

Summer Math Games

June 17th, 2010 by admin

Get your game on with Math-Whizz this summer – the famous Whizz Adventure is now available!!

The challenge (if you’re up for it) - Help the Whizz Professor find his way out  the jungle. You’ll be racing the clock while solving math puzzles, exploring mazes and finding your way out of tricky situations.  Every level you complete unlocks a new piece of the story!

Log in to your Math-Whizz account to get started, or visit the Math-Whizz start page, create a free account and – if you like the look of Math-Whizz (we are confident you will) – sign up!  Complete a few lessons to earn credits so you can go on the adventure!

Access the summer adventure by clicking the postcard that lands on your Whizz Bedroom doormat. This will load the Summer Adventure experience.

Good luck!

The comic book story

The comic book story

The adventure map

The adventure map

Math-Whizz Tutoring on Better Northwest

April 22nd, 2010 by admin

Catch Math-Whizz’s very own Ben Keogh discussing online math tutoring with Penny LeGate on KIRO’s Better Northwest.

Check out the video on the Whizz Education YouTube page, or on the Better Northwest site.

If Ben has convinced you (and if not, why on earth not??), then get busy signing up to some personalized math tutoring.

Holiday Adventure 2009 live!

December 10th, 2009 by admin

This year’s Winter Adventure is live for Math-Whizzers!

Log into your Math-Whizz student account and check it out. For the first time ever all Math-Whizzers can try our Holiday Adventure. If you’re not a Math-Whizz user then there’s no reason not to give it a try.

Register for a free math tutoring account and get access to five free lessons and a taste of the figgy-pudding seasonal fun we have in store.

Get Spooked with Math-Whizz!

October 30th, 2009 by admin

In time for Hallowe’en, a spooky theme has been added to the Math-Whizz bedroom!

Students logging into our online math tutor this weekend through Tuesday will get a seasonal treat with a rolling pumpkin head, cobwebbed corners, and rolls of thunder beyond the window.

Whizzers can get a fright with some of our witch-themed measures lessons, ghoulish multiplication questions, and goblin-infested graphing problems. It’s all in Math-Whizz, with over 1200 more animated games to teach (nearly) every math objective under the clouded moon this weekend.

Have a happy Hallowe’en, and may your treat for 2009 be all the tasty maths skills you need!

In the meantime, check out this ghostly math lesson from an inspired teacher who takes some serious time with lesson preparation:


(via Seattle PI Big Blog)

Learn math, bring storms!

September 1st, 2009 by admin

Math skills can make you a weather god.

Actually, that’s a lie. Everyone knows that you need math, physics, a superhuman control of natural forces and an MPA (Masters in Polytheism Administration) to become a weather god.

Even so, with a few powerful math algorithms, you can at least get a sense of the power your common-or-garden master of the elements possesses, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

The Thunderstorm Environment Strike Probability Algorithm, or THESPA, is a radar-based system which uses mathematical data to estimate strike probability in a defined area as a storm starts to build or move.

Developed by Sandy Dance at the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, it can produce ”nowcasts” for up to one hour ahead.

”Based on probability, we can be far more confident in estimating the … geographic point where the thunderstorm is likely to strike,” Dr Dance said. ”It will prove invaluable in helping forecasters with risk assessment and emergency decision-making.”

Predicting where lightning might strike – yet another reason to get busy with our powerful online math tutor.

Build those math skills and be the envy of your weather-afflicted neighbors as you batten down the hatches in anticipation of the next storm.


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