CTC Math is one of my favorite homeschool math programs. It’s so good that we’ve used it in my ADHD homeschool for about 6 years. I now have enough experience to offer a complete review of this amazing math curriculum.
Let’s talk about the ins and outs of CTC math and how it can help you and your neurodivergent student take the stress out of math.
** After paying for 5 years of CTC Math, we received one year of access to CTC Math in exchange for my product review. Nevertheless, the opinions expressed are solely my own.**
9 Reasons I Love CTC Math For ADHD and Autism
CTC Math is an online math curriculum based in Australia. However, their US Math program is fantastic. Here are nine things I love about it.
1. Video Lessons Are Short
One of the things I love about CTC Math is a non-negotiable when teaching kids with ADHD or other executive function issues. The video lessons are short!
In the elementary years, lesson videos can be around 2 minutes long. In the high school years, teaching videos can be anywhere from 5-7 minutes. These are the perfect length for kids with a short attention span.
2. Video Teaching Lessons are To-The-Point
Each video is broken down to teach the most essential information specific to the math concept at hand. CTC Math lessons are short and to the point.
Short lessons make all the difference for neurodivergent (ADHD, autism, dyslexia) students. These students have no extra mental bandwidth to waste on superfluous information. CTC Teaching Videos are clear and concise. This is a HUGE WIN for the neurodivergent brain.
3. Video Lessons are Minimalistic in Design
Neurodivergent brains receive and process more sensory input than neurotypical brains. This is one reason for the sensory overwhelm, overstimulation, and ADHD paralysis that we see in neurodivergent children and adults.
CTC video lessons and practice exercises are perfect for ADHD and Autistic learners. The video lessons are minimalistic in design making it easier for the learner’s brain to focus on what’s important. Less visual clutter leads to greater attention and easier processing.
Clutter stresses us out for a reason and CTC doesn’t mess around with visual distractions. Thank you, CTC!
Learn more about the value of a clutter-free design for ADHD brains.
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4. Practice Activities
Once your student watches the teaching video, there are practice questions. Typically, there are 10 math problems to work through to apply the learning. Here’s why it’s amazing!
Each problem is presented one at a time. No overwhelming sheets of paper full of 50 math problems. Step-by-step presentation. Brilliant for autistic and ADHD students!
Small Whiteboard
In our homeschool, we take out a blank piece of paper or small whiteboard and work through the math problems. Depending on your child’s capacity and confidence with the material, they have the option to do more practice problems as needed.
5. Grades Are Adjustable
ADHD, Autism, and those with learning challenges have to work harder than their neurotypical peers. This can have a damaging effect on their sense of self-worth as learners.
One of the greatest parts of CTC Math is the ability to modify grades to reflect your child’s accomplishments. Here’s what I mean.
More Practice to Mastery
Your child bombs the first round of practice problems. Most programs average that failing score into the student’s final grade. This means that even though your student eventually achieves mastery of the math concept, they still get a low grade. How defeating is that?!
With CTC Math, your child can work through the practice problems without worrying that mistakes will their final grade. After all, mistakes are part of the learning process.
When they’ve finally mastered the concept, you as the homeschool teacher can clear the grade. Now, your student can work through the practice problems confidently. They can achieve the final grade they’ve worked so hard for.
Yes. They had to work harder to get there, but they did it. See below for how I modify grades in CTC Math.
6. Diagnostic Assessments
When you begin with CTC Math, diagnostic assessment options help you choose the right level for your child. When assessing your child, you can choose from three assessment options.
- Short (16 Questions)
- Standard (24 Questions)
- Comprehensive (32 Questions)
This is helpful depending on your child’s capacity and your goals for your child.
7. All Grade Levels and Lessons Accessible
With CTC Math, your annual subscription provides access to all 12 grade levels. So, if your child struggles with a math concept, you can go back to previous grade levels to review.
This is a HUGE bonus especially if you’re switching to CTC Math from another curriculum. You don’t have to worry about missing previous math concepts.
8. No Timers
I don’t recommend timed tests or any form of timers for neurodivergent students. By living in a world designed in complete opposition to how they’re wired, neurodivergent children often struggle with anxiety.
This means that timed tests or timers can backfire. Timers can often push neurodivergent students into a sympathetic state (fight-or-flight). They then lose the ability to learn properly.
With CTC Math, I don’t have to worry about my ADHD and autistic learners being harassed by a countdown timer. Less stress increases access to the prefrontal cortex (the thinking center of the brain). That’s a win!
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9. Speed Skills, Math Facts, and More
CTC Math also offers fun bonus activities and games to practice basic math facts. They have three ways to practice the foundational math skills:
- Speed Skills Activities
- Addition,
- Subtraction,
- Multiplication,
- Division,
- Order of Operations
- Times Tables Games
- Multiplication
- Swap the Pieces
- Logic
The speed skills activity does not use a visual timer (yay, CTC!). Students just practice problems and try to beat their previous scores. Each of these activities is optional.
How to Modify Grades in CTC Math
Here’s how to modify grades in CTC Math.
- Step 1: Log-in to your CTC Parent/Teacher dashboard.
- Step 2: Choose the profile of the child whose grade you’d like to modify.
- (See below.)
- Step 3: Once in your child’s profile, choose the correct Course.
- CTC math provides access to every grade that your child has completed. Be sure to choose the correct course.
- Step 4: Once in the correct math course, turn on the option to edit.
Step 5: Find the grade you’d like to remove and click the RED X.
Viola! Fresh start for your student to show what they’ve learned.
3 Ways I Teach Using CTC Math
Here are 3 tips to help you stay engaged with your child’s online curriculum. Using CTC Math as an example, here are some ideas to get you started.
1. Sit With My Student
Sit with your student and watch video teachings together.
2. Pause and Check
Pause videos at appropriate intervals to check for understanding. It’s critical to do this, especially for students who struggle with speech, language, and auditory processing.
If your child struggles with multi-step directions or reading comprehension, DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP.
3. One Sheet of Paper
Use one sheet of paper or small whiteboard for each math problem. Pause teachings and work through multiple equations together.
These are especially important when your child has a learning difference such as ADHD, dyslexia, or other processing issues.
(Note: these strategies would work with any video-based curriculum such as CTC, Teaching Textbooks or Math U See.)
Recap: CTC Math for ADHD and Autism
If it isn’t obvious from this review, CTC Math is one of my favorite homeschool math programs for neurodivergent students. Highlights include:
- Short Lessons
- To-the-point
- Minimalistic design
- Access to all grade levels and math concepts
- Quality diagnostic testing tools
- Practice exercises are clear and not overwhelming
- Grades are adjustable
Further, the price is excellent, parents can choose what counts as a passing grade and can assign specific assignments if they so choose. So, Friend. Check out CTC Math by signing up for a FREE Trial.
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About the Author:
Lindsay is a trauma-informed educator with a Master’s Degree in Teaching. Her mission is to support moms to equip neurodivergent kids (ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Anxiety) to thrive as exactly who they’ve been created to be. Wait until you hear the story that led to it all…