We know as parents and educators you ask the question "Why this product instead of that product?" So allow us to provide three reasons we think you will like our product over some of the others out there. 

1) We focus on ACT / SAT Prep

The math sections of the ACT and SAT exams do not focus on your child's ability to use math - instead they focus on whether your student understands the math! Most math courses will drill your child into being able to do math - using brute force to cram through formulas. This approach is similar to your child being trained to use individual tools in a toolbox without teaching them what each tool actually accomplishes on its own. They can use each one, but it is also important that they understand when hanging a picture why, or when, a hammer might be a better option as opposed to a screwdriver.

We approach math this same way. Math formulas and theorems, etc, are useful tools that students need to have. But owning a toolbox full of tools doesn't matter a "hill of beans" as they say, unless you understand what each tool is designed to accomplish. We call this "learning the concepts". We do not focus on getting straight A's (though that is awesome too, and we think we help students acheive that as well) The bigger focus for us is in explaining the why before the what - why we need to use math tools before we get into what the specific tool does. It is only with this level of understanding that a student can perform 60 math problems within 60 minutes on the ACT and SAT. (Trust us, those tests are designed to weed out the "memorizers" by doing the whole "timed test" approach. The best offense is a good defense. Learn the concepts!)

2) Math that is REAL!

We also focus on real world applications of math. The history of math has not been about the study of numbers - it has been about the study of nature, of the life around us every day. The AskDrCallahan courses use lots of real world problems in explaining the techniques of math. We introduce areas such as biology, engineering, economics, astronomy, physics, construction, and chemistry. Math to us is a set of tools to understand and subdue the world around us- not simply repetitious exercises in academics like other math courses.

3 ) Help for the Homeschooling Parent

We homeschool! We understand that even if you do remember the subject matter, your time between normal duties of being CEO of the household and raising and teaching children of multiple ages on multiple subjects limits your ability to develop teaching and testing material. We do not leave that out - in fact we consider it critical that you have the tools to teach and evaluate. We include

• a complete course syllabus
• tests built to reinforce learning
• simple test grading guides so you know exactly how to grade
• teaching videos for your child
• solutions to the key problems
• parent teaching guides on paper and in video