CalcuLadder® consists of pages of timed math drills that help students develop speed and accuracy with math facts. Students repeat a given drill page until they can complete it accurately within two minutes.
CalcuLadder has six levels:
Level 1 covers basic addition and subtraction
Level 2 covers advanced addition and subtraction plus beginning multiplication
Level 3 covers intermediate and advanced multiplication and beginning division
Level 4 covers intermediate and advanced division, beginning fractions, and decimals
Level 5 covers intermediate and advanced fractions
Level 6 covers percents, measurement systems, and geometric concepts, while also reviewing fractions
There are three formats from which to choose: download, CD, or print. The printed option is purchased individually for each level. Downloads and CDs are sold as CalcuPak 1 and CalcuPak 2, each containing three levels. You can also purchase both CalcuPaks together to save money. (You need to select either Windows or Mac versions for both digital options because of the indexing feature of the program. The drills are PDF files.) CalcuPak 1 contains CalcuLadders 1, 2, and 3 plus Ready Writer®, a beginning penmanship course that teaches fundamental strokes that will be used to form printed letters. CalcuPak 2 contains CalcuLadders 4, 5, and 6 plus AlphaBetter®, a dictionary skills tool.
All three options (download, CD, and print) include drill pages, answer keys, instructions, and achievement record forms. With the digital versions, you still need to print out the pages. Students do not enter their answers on a computer. However, with the programs you can set up timers, record student scores, maintain records, and access reports.
The print option consists of drill-master sheets that come with a SuperSlate™. The SuperSlate has a base with a plastic overlay that holds the drill master sheet. Students write on the overlay with a pencil. Answers on the overlay and can be easily lined up with the answer key for scoring. The slate can be cleaned with petroleum jelly and used over and over again. Three overlays come with the slate, and additional overlays can be purchased if needed.
CalcuLadder can be used with all of the children in your family, making it very cost effective if you have more than one child. This is a product that has been around for years, and it continues to be a popular format for drilling math facts.
