Customer Reviews

The Standard Deviants - Basic Math

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this DVD for my third-grade twins who are having difficulty memorizing math facts, and don't quite understand the relation between these math facts and the real world. I thought this DVD would be perfect, explaining basic math facts with humor and real life examples. But their explanations are way over the heads of this age group. In explaining the concept of "carrying over" while adding, for instance, here is what is said and written out on the screen: "Carrying over means you take the digit in the tensplace of the digit place sum, and carry over that digit to the next digit place to the left in your addition problem. You do this whenever the sum amount in the digit place is greater than nine."

Yeah, *I* get it, but it is not the simplest way to present it to an elementary grade child.

I'm not certain what grade level this series is for -- perhaps middle school and above? -- but definitely not for those just starting out.

While this tape may appeal to children in the 8 - 12 year old ranges and also teaches them some mathematics; older people will most likely find it dull. The problem is that a great deal of time is spent in the telling of jokes designed to appeal to children of that age range. In my opinion, much more time than is reasonable. After all the primary purpose of the tape is to teach math with the humor being a secondary supplement. However, the way the tape is put together, the humor is foremost and the math is secondary.

All of the following basic concepts are covered, but not to the depth necessary for understanding.

*) Integers and how to add, subtract, multiply and divide them.

*) The names of all the components of an arithmetic problem.

*) Fractions, their components and how to reduce them.

*) The order of operations.

*) Prime numbers and how to factor integers.

*) Exponents and scientific notation.

*) Ratios and percents.

While I think this tape would be good as a supplement, I don't think that it could be used as a primary learning tool. Too much focus on entertainment and not enough on learning.

Standard Deviants DVD's are the Best made only if they are the 2001 or older ones not these new ones that are updated 2005 and up. It looks like the Goldhil Educational bought out Standard Deviants and changed every thing that was good with the old DVD's and change the way you buy them, they cut them up into smaller DVD's so you can buy just what math learning you want like addition or just fractions, or you can buy the full DVD like this one.

Don't wast you time and money, keep looking for the old version ones
The new ones have little teaching and poor skits, poor humor.

I must say that the video was entertaining to watch.Perhaps it may have appeared goofy to some looking for a more classroom structured type video but I picked some things that I may have forgotten or was never taught in class because the public school system is not as regimented enough to prepare our children to suceed in higher education.therefore we get discouraged and give up.And yes there were some pretty women in the video i have to keep it real.But not to the point where one become distracted unless you are at a pubescent stage of life.In conclusion, this video deserves two thumbs up for it's effort to educate as well as entertain the masses like myself who bought the video.

My 11 year old son really needed some math review - he's a slow learner and I thought this might be more fun than some of the rote memorization. Well - he enjoyed it but also thought one of the actresses was "hot" and that totally distracted him. He was able to learn some but spent much of his time watching for his "favorite girl". So while this could be of good use for some kids, it didn't work so good for him.

My daughter thought there was too much entertainment and not enough teaching. She went through Spanish one in a hour or two and took the Spanish final test and passed.

What an excellent way to learn numbers. The songs are fun and the info is spot on. Learning with the Standard Deviants is the way to go.