Mind Power Math Middle School (Grade 6-9)

by The Learning Company

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006AAJ6
• Item model number: 381668
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 7, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,084 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #10 in Software > Education & Reference > Secondary Education > Math
  • #48 in Software > Children's Software > Math
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From Children's Software Revue® -- "Subscribe Now!"

Based on Riverdeep's online content, this program slowly doles out tutorials on fractions, decimals, geometry, statistics, pre-algebra and algebra. As the content was originally delivered online, the CD version runs through your browser, making it somewhat awkward and clunky. The interactive lessons are informative, however, showing kids how to manipulate the numbers, but these seem to start at a level too high for most struggling math students. When learning to calculate percents, for example, basic elementary concepts are not reviewed. Rather, students are thrown right into tough content like "What percent of 600 is 132?". The lessons are straightforward and relatively easy to understand, and the activities involve lots of word problems and real-life situations. The workouts could offer more time practicing concepts learned (e.g. in rote fashion), although the number of question sequences offered is plentiful. This set might be a nice supplement to middle school curriculum, especially home schoolers, but may be too advanced (and lacking in practice exercises) for students who need a boost.
Teaches:
Age Range: Copyright © 2001 Children's Software Revue

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Expect problems with this program if you have DSL, September 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Mind Power Math Middle School (Grade 6-9) (CD-ROM)

I purchased this program for my seventh grader with great expectations. I've always been very impressed with all The Learning Company's products. Unfortunately, this program wouldn't work on any of the four computers I tried to install it on. After going back and forth with The Learning Company's tech support people, for over a week, they finally told me that the problems I was having trying to get this program to run was a problem they'd seen many times with people who had DSL and there is no fix. Right now I'm in the process of trying to return this program.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Little green math tutor..., February 9, 2005

By 

Esther Allerton - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mind Power Math Middle School (Grade 6-9) (CD-ROM)

I'm a homeschooling mum and I bought this for my 9 year old son who loves math. It's an absolute dream! I had no problems whatsoever installing the program and my son was captivated from the start. The package is presented by a green alien by the name of Digit who is totally engaging and explains carefully everything your kid needs to know. The only problem I have with it is limiting my son to one lesson per day.

The 4 cds are a whole course, designed to be worked through systematically. I would imagine it would get pretty confusing if you just dipped in at random as the lessons build on one another and rely on concepts and terminology introduced in earlier lessons. It is assumed that the player (student?) can add, subtract, multiply and divide competently. If you get stuck, you can click 'Show Me' and you are guided through a step by step breakdown of the current problem. If you make a mistake, a relevant explanation is usually given. After every lesson there are practice problems to work through, usually with a good 'real life' theme.

The only drawback I've found is that the program is so good at teaching your kid mathematical terminology that they end up asking you awkward questions like 'Mum, do you know what the multiplicative inverse of 22 over 7 is?' at inopportune moments...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My son loves it!, December 15, 2002

By 

Jeffrey D. Sebaugh "advent35" (Park City, KY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mind Power Math Middle School (Grade 6-9) (CD-ROM)

My son is in fifth grade and loves it, he is working on the first disk (4 disk set) and is very excited with the program. I don't remember being excited about learning math when I was his age.
I had a problem when the program was first installed, the splash screen came up and when you clicked on the start button, the window opened up in Internet Explorer and was just a blank screen with a blue background (never loaded the Flash menu). I went to Macromedia's web site and reinstalled Flash Viewer and the program loaded correctly. I am running a PII 450 with Windows XP, I have not had any other concerns with the software and would recommend the program.