enVisionMath Review

I always loved school.

I love the look, feel, and even the smell of a brand new textbook.

I was transported back to my own public school days when I received the 3rd grade enVisionMath textbook from Pearson Learning. You know the stamp in the front of a textbook that has a place to write who is issued the book each year? I don’t think it has changed since I was in school.

When I actually opened the book, I quickly realized that this was not the 3rd grade textbook that I had in, um, 1979. For one thing, it is WAY more colorful. The illustrations in the book are bright and engaging. I think that the content has changed significantly since then as well. This text places great emphasis on problem solving. There are also fun facts throughout the book that integrate other subjects with math.

For example:

Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on Earth. It can grow about 36 inches a day. Can it grow more than 200 inches in a week?

and

What is the record length of the “World’s Longest Apple Peel?”

The text is very well organized with a predictable format for each topic. Every lesson includes Guided Practice, Independent Practice, and Problem Solving. There are Going Digital exercises to be completed on eTools. Also included is a comprehensive Electronic Teacher’s guide and a QuizShow math practice computer game.

The Electronic Teacher’s Edition is loaded! It has teaching helps, printable pages of all the exercises in the book, plus extra practice pages, tests, the answers to the exercises, ideas and printable pages for centers, and more.

I think this would make a great text for many children. It might be an especially good choice for a student

• who is transitioning to homeschool from the public school (and was doing well in math there.)

or

• who needs to stay on the standard scope and sequence because he is likely going to be attending public school in the future.