Gymathtics
www.exploramania.com
This DVD is available for $24.99 and currently offers free shipping.
We received this DVD free for our use in order to share this review with you.
Exploramania’s DVD Gymathtics combines a children’s exercise video with math reinforcement. The target age group is 2nd-5th grade. This seems about right to me based upon the math concepts throughout the video. The exercise leader has an encouraging attitude and speaks well so that she is understood easily. We have seen some fitness videos where you just have to follow along the best you can because you cannot hear well what the instructions are. The different moves are tied to different concepts. The warm-up/stretching time covers lines and shapes. The faster paced calisthenics feature counting, skip counting, etc.
We have heard about and experienced much success with incorporating different learning styles to help things really sink in for our children. Math seems to be one subject that children often need some additional help with. Tying in kinesthetic movements and math concepts sounds like a great idea. We have tried this a little with our eldest DD. She needs to really be moving. Bouncing on the exercise ball has worked wonders while covering basic math drills for example. We were really looking forward to this DVD. Our eldest DD just turned 9 and felt this video was too young for her. Our 5 yo DD did enjoy it, though most of the math was beyond her, and I’m not sure she really noticed it anyway. We will keep it around and use it from time to time as the weather is less than ideal for playing outside. Unfortunately, we probably won’t be seeing the desired effects from it.
Exploramania does offer other products combining fitness and math reinforcement. They have also won some awards and have positive feedback on their website. Just because this was not a fit for our children at this time, does not mean that Gymathtics may not be just what your family is looking for. I really love the idea of what they are doing. I cannot point out specifically what doesn’t work for us, just that it doesn’t–at this time.
To see reviews from my fellow Crew mates click on one of the links found here http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HomeschoolCrew/745118/