Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division Review

 

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew

My daughter with special needs struggles with her multiplication throughout the years.  I find myself having to revisit multiplication facts often with her. The older she gets the harder it is to keep her attention because you can find all kinds of help for younger kids but how do you help those kids who are older and struggling? Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division from Math-U-See has not only helped my daughter but kept her dignity without feeling like something for younger kids!

AIM Multiplication is intended for kids 10 and older, and to help those who have not mastered certain concepts with multiplication. It is recommended that your student has already completed a course in multiplication and is struggling or not mastered the concepts of multiplication.  This resource is there to help students before they get into more advanced mathematical concepts and to learn strategies to assist them with multiplication and in turn, become successful in math as it gets more complex. This isn’t an independent curriculum and will involve a parent working one on one with a student. You will be able to pinpoint areas that they struggle with using this course. This isn’t considered a core curriculum and should not replace a math curriculum. This is a supplement to assist your child master multiplication.

The method of teaching comes from:

Accelerated (A) -This is done quickly by teaching math fact strategies.

Individualized (I) -Focus on the individual student to help them succeed in memorizing and applying their math facts.

Mastery (M)- You don’t want to just memorize the math facts but also understand the process.

This is the goal and how you will learn with the Build, Write, Say method of mastering multiplication.

Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division comes with AIM Multiplication Resource Guide, 57 Math-U-See Integer Blocks, Math Fact Strategy Poster, Fact Check Cards, and a Digital Code.

Once you get your box you will need to set up the digital component with a code included in the box to access the digital component of the program. You will need to either create an account or log into your Demme Learning account.

A few requirements to consider before using the course that Math-U-See recommends would be able to multiply by zero and one, recall basic addition and subtracts facts quickly, know place value concepts of hundreds, tens, and ones. They should be able to add and subtract two-digit numbers and be able to know the concept of finding half of a number like half of ten is five.

There is an online AIM for Success video to watch before you proceed. This will give you a general overview and how to use it with your student. You will also find information in your AIM Multiplication Resource Guide.

Your first step is to do an assessment for your student that is found in your book. You will want to inform your student that it is okay to not know the answer and to tell you if they don’t. You can do the assessment in 1-2 minute intervals and take a break and continue this format until they have completed it. This is an oral assessment. This will give you a baseline of how much your student can recall with multiplication. At the end of the course, you will also do another  assessment.  

AIM Multiplication Resource Guide and the Digital content you will have a total of 10 lessons and 2 bridge lessons into division. There is information to teach your child the steps using step-by-step techniques on each of the 10 lessons. In each lesson, you will work on additional activities using online worksheets, flashcards, and other activities. I love that this is a hands-on and visual program that has you Build, Write, and Say. 

The lessons are no more than 15 minutes at a time. Once you have done your 15 minutes you stop and come back to it later or even another day. Each lesson is broken down into four parts from A-D and build upon one another. You watch a video and you can watch the videos online over and over. We always started each session with the video. That is not necessary to watch it each time but it was what was needed with my daughter. Session A and B is the hands-on portion with the Build, Write, Say Method where you are using the manipulatives. Session C  you go on to applying what you have learned with word problems which demonstrates use and builds that foundation. Session D  is working on memorizing the facts and then working on mastery and fully understanding the concept of multiplication. You want to get to the point where they are not relying on the Integer blocks by the time you are in section D. There are worksheets you can print out and even ones you can color. You can go at your own pace throughout the program. You don’t move forward in the lessons until you have mastered the fact family you are working on.

You can use the Multiplication Facts Mastery Chart (found in the Digital Toolbox) by having them color the facts they have mastered. You can also use Fact Check Cards flashcards to practice the facts. Each flashcard has 3 stars at the bottom that they have to be able to recall the facts quickly. You will continue to revisit all the problems throughout the lessons to maintain that math fact mastery. To be more successful they recommend that you don’t jump around in the lessons.

My daughter liked the large Math Fact Strategy Poster and Fact Check Cards. The size was good for her to see them easily and to read the words on them.

In the margins of your AIM, Multiplication Resource Guide is teaching tips, notes to prepare for a lesson, resources, and material to print out in the digital resource section. They vary with each lesson.

There are games to play like Cooking with Facts, Mathsketball, Lights Out, and several others in the Digital Toolbox.

The digital component will demonstrate how to use the blocks for that particular math fact family.

How Did I Use Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division in My Homeschool?

My daughter is now 18 and has several learning disabilities. She regresses often and I find us back at square one going over the basics often. For some crazy reason multiplication always seems the worst skill she loses. She just needs a restart often to get back the skills she lost. Currently, she is working at a 4th grade level with most concepts in math, and last year she was doing 6^th-grade concepts. She has been struggling lately with math. 

We started with the Before-Assessment verbally. This confirmed what I felt that she was suddenly not remembering certain math fact again as her score was very low. As you can see my dilemma is unique with her. When she is not regressing with her facts she is super-fast recalling her facts and figuring and leaves everyone else in the dust.

We watched the videos together and worked on each session slowly this time around. She has been a bit embarrassed lately with her math skills and has realized that for her age that her skill level is not typical for her grade. She doesn’t like it and has been getting frustrated lately. The course is gamey and just gets to the point which is what she needs with her age and there is no fluff teaching. This time we have been going slowly and she is just not catching on as quick. We are on lesson 6 and I'm starting to see her speed increase as the skills are coming back. I suspect we will finish up the rest at a quicker pace.

The slow step by step process in short sessions helps her and builds her confidence.

She loves demonstrating the skills to me. For example one problem, “Seven elephants each ate ten peanuts. How many peanuts did they eat all together?” This is in Lesson 4-Session B in which she has to explain the process to me by demonstrating it or teach it back to me using the integer blocks. This is her favorite part of the program is her teaching me! If she isn’t able to then we go back over the Build, Write, Say approach until she has it mastered.

Math-U-See has been very instrumental in my homeschool throughout the years. I’m so glad to see this resource to help kids who struggle to grasp some of the basics concepts that so many of us take for granted.

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I would recommend Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division from Math-U-See. Other families have been using this program in their homeschool you can see what others have to say by clicking here or on the graphic below.