Thursday, March 24, 2011

Dreambox Learning K-3 Review

As a former elementary teacher who loves making learning fun, I am thrilled to post a review and giveaway for Dreambox Learning K-3

Here are my Three stars and a Wish about Dreambox Learning, the online math program that makes serious learning seriously fun:



Individualized Instruction --
Dreambox Learning K-3 learns your child's strengths and weaknesses and creates an "adaptive learning environment" for your child using 500+ online lessons.

If your child gets stuck on a lesson they can click the "help" button to have the instructions repeated and even click a second time for more specific advice or to have the answer shown step by step.  If your child understands a concept fully, those lessons are bypassed and extra instruction can then be given specifically where it's needed.

The program is continually assessing your child's comprehension based on the answers that are given, the time taken to answer and whether or not the "help" button is required to complete the lesson.


Lots of Fun! -- Dreambox Learning has four main adventure themes: Pirates, Pixies, Dinosaurs and Pets.  While playing, your child is rewarded with coins to use in the carnival, character cards and achievement certificates based on the adventure they've chosen.  The ongoing positive reinforcement contributes to a sense of accomplishment and adds to the fun.

My kids and I laugh and laugh at the 'more than / less than' game with Allie the alligator.  We call out our guess of what silly phrase Allie will say next:  "Delicious", "Scrumptious", "I want to face THIS way!"



Foundational Learning --  Dreambox Learning teaches the basics of math -- those foundational skills that are so necessary for later mathematics.  Check out the Dreambox Learning Demo to play examples of games from various grade levels so you can see how the skills build on one another.

Hands on Learning is a great way to teach the why behind the answers. Through Dreambox Learning your child will use virtual "hands on learning" to show their work as they figure out addition, multiplication and even algebra (did I scare you by mentioning algebra?). 


My wish for Dreambox Learning is that they would offer higher grade levels.  (Grade four and grade five are currently in the works!)  

I would also like the printables to be available in black and white.  Kids could colour the pictures in themselves and parents could save money on the cost of ink for the printer.

Desiree (grade 2) and Elijah (4 years old) are thoroughly enjoying Dreambox Learning!  Elijah is not yet in school (and the program technically starts at the kindergarten level) so at first I sat with him as he played.  Now I just hover nearby and give small pointers if needed.  

Both Desiree and Elijah have so much fun with math on Dreambox Learning that they can be on for 45 minutes or so without even noticing the time has passed. 

Personally, I have played over 17 hours logged in as a grade three student and I found that I am learning.  I am apparently set in my ways when it comes to adding and multiplying, so it was interesting for me to learn new ways of thinking that will help me support my children's learning.  

As a parent, I love that Dreambox Learning is truly educational.  This isn't "busy time" on the computer -- this is quality learning time. Progress updates are e-mailed to you so you can see what skills your child is currently working on and what lessons they have completed.

From a teacher's point of view, I can see amazing benefits.  Years ago I taught a grade 7 student who had no understand of place value whatsoever.  Because she had never understood this foundational skill, everything in math was a struggle for her.  She and I worked one on one with popsicle sticks and elastic bands until it started to make sense to her. Dreambox Learning has a game that teaches place value in a similar way. As a teacher, I agree with Dreambox Learning that: "Kids who are proficient in early math are more successful in school later on."  Dreambox Learning helps students build that necessary foundation for future math.


Try It:  Sign up for your free two week trial at Dreambox Learning.  No credit card information is required so it is risk-free.  

Subscribe:  Check out Dreambox Learning to subscribe.  Subscriptions can be monthly or, for a 23-36% savings, they can be for a 6 month time span.

Win It: One Sowing Dandelion Seeds reader will win a 3 month family subscription for up to four kids to Dreambox Learning ($59.85 ARV).
Leave a separate comment for each entry. Please leave your e-mail in this format: sowingdandelionseeds(at)yahoo(dot)ca  if it isn't public in your profile. All entries will be verified.

Mandatory entry: 
Tell me what you'd like Dreambox Learning to help your child with ie: addition, multiplication, algebra etc. (or just an overall improvement of math skills).

Additional entries:
* follow my blog publicly
* post my button on your blog (leave the link)
* subscribe to Sowing Dandelion Seeds via e-mail
* leave a comment on 1 non-giveaway post (leave the post title below)
* blog about this giveaway (leave the link)
* like Sowing Dandelion Seeds on Facebook
* like Dreambox Learning on Facebook
* follow @DreamBox Learning on twitter
* follow @SowDandelions on twitter and tweet this
     (can be done daily -- leave the link each day)

#Win a 3 month subscription from @DreamBox_Learn and @SowDandelions.  Make learning math fun!  http://tinyurl.com/63p28lr (April 9)

Open to Canada and the United States
Ends April 9, 2011

Disclosure: Dreambox Learning provided me with a free family subscription to review in exchange for my honest opinion. 
For Complete Giveaway Rules and Disclosure Policy Click Here

~❀~ Chelsey ~❀~

53 comments:

  1. I would love to have Dreambox Learning help my child with 1st grade math skills such as measurements, chart and graph concepts, telling time vocabulary, etc.

    Thank you for this opportunity to enter your giveaway! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I "like" your blog on FB. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I commented on your previous post about daylight savings. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would like the addition version. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'd like Dreambox learning to help my middle child master addition and get a head start on subtraction.

    ecarian at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. And I blogged (thanks for submitting this!).

    http://suchfuntogive.blogspot.com/2011/04/easy-blog-wins.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. And I put your cute button on my sidebar:

    http://suchfuntogive.blogspot.com

    ecarian at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. And I already commented on the Ultimate Blog Party post. Having fun with that...hope you are too!

    ecarian at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. my son needs overall improvement and this looks great! thanks for the chance
    kendraco22 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. blog GFC follow
    kendra22
    kendraco22 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. follow dreambox twitter
    kendra22007
    kendraco22 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. http://twitter.com/#!/kendra22007/status/55344348023369728
    kendraco22 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'd really like to just improve my little girls overall math skills. Although subtraction is the toughest for her.
    Jessica Stewart
    Domima1098 at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. like Sowing Dandelion Seeds on Facebook
    domima1098 at msn dot com
    Jessica Stewart

    ReplyDelete
  15. like Dreambox Learning on Facebook
    Jessica Stewart
    domima1098 at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Follow you publicly on GFC
    domima1098 at msn dot com
    Jessica Stewart

    ReplyDelete
  17. I would love to have any help with addition for my little boy. Great giveaway! Thanks so much!
    dana10879@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Telling time, multiplication, working with money would be some things I'd like to see. annejk112233(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I follow you via gfc. annejk112233(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I like Dreambox Learning on FB (i'm anne dall on fb) annejk112233(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I follow Dreambox on Twitter (I'm wowtotweet). annejk112233(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I follow you on Twitter (I'm wowtotweet).
    Here is tweet link:
    http://twitter.com/#!/wowtotweet/status/56610754194964480
    annejk112233(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  23. My little girl is just starting kindergarten next year, and I'd like it to help her get a better grasp of all math skills in general. jmlwilliams at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I follow via GFC!
    Dana West
    dana10879@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I like you on FB
    Dana West
    dana10879@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I like DreamBox Learning on FB
    Dana West
    dana10879@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I follow DreamBox on Twitter
    @SETexasMama
    dana10879@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I follow you on Twitter and tweeted!
    @SETexasMama
    dana10879@yahoo.com

    http://twitter.com/#!/SETexasMama/status/56786195111358464

    ReplyDelete
  29. I would love with some help in math for the kids.
    supergrand2009 (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I follow GFC
    supergrand2009 (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Email subscriber
    supergrand2009 (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Like you on FB-shirley e
    supergrand2009 (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Follow you on twitter @countrynest
    Tweet-http://twitter.com/COUNTRYNEST/status/56805897195884544
    supergrand2009 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. My lil guy is just starting to learn & I want to offer him all the help I can get him.
    fastkat (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  35. my son would love this to practice his multiplication. heinzmom at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. new gfc follower. heinzmom at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  37. facebook fan. heinzmom at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I like dream box on facebook heinzmom at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Overall improvement of math skills

    sps1113 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. follow gfc publicly
    gladys p
    sps1113 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  41. subscribe to SD via email
    gladys p
    sps1113 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  42. like SD on fb
    gladys p
    sps1113 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  43. follow SD on twitter and tweted
    @sueparks2003
    gladys p
    sps1113 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  44. like DL on fb
    @sueparks2003
    gladys p
    sps1113 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  45. follow DL on twitter
    @sueparks2003
    gladys p
    sps1113 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  46. My son could really use help with multiplication
    Morrisonmom01(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  47. I follow you on gfc!
    Morrisonmom01
    Morrisonmom01(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  48. I like sowing Dandelion seeds on Fb!
    Chandra Johnson Morse
    Morrisonmom01(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  49. I like dreambox learning on Fb!
    Chandra Johnson Morse
    Morrisonmom01(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  50. I follow dreambox learning on Twitter!
    ChandraM0123
    MOrrisonmom01(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
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