Review: Lone Star Math Vocabulary Cards

These past two months or so we've had the chance to use Lone Star Learning's Math Target Vocabulary Pictures.  We have also had the opportunity to check out their Science Vocabulary Pictures!  What are they?  Awesome flash cards that make use of visual mnemonics to help children learn the vocabulary of different subjects.

I (currently!) favor a classical approach to education.  The classical approach suggests a heavy emphasis on memorization of facts, and the grammar of subjects, in the 1st-4th grades.  Grammar in this sense is not meant to bring to mind English, alone, but refers to the basic vocabulary of every subject that is the foundation for understanding of the topic.  Math has a grammar as does science. English, of course, does too!

With that being said, you can probably guess that I'm a big fan of teaching my kids what words mean (and - even better - of having them remember the words).  Remembering can be the tricky part and I'm all for anything that makes it easier.  Enter - visual mnemonics!

What are visual mnemonics?  Mnemonics are any type of memory aid "tricks" that help us to remember something.  Visual mnemonics make use of images.   For example - do any of you hold up your hands and form an L with your thumb and finger to remember which direction is left?  I do!  That's a visual mnemonic.

A few months ago Bentley started encountering more geometry in his math program and he was having some trouble keeping all the new terms straight.  I made a note that I should look for some visual flashcards, and then, the next week - I learned about Lone Star Learning's flashcards.  It has been great timing for us to receive/review these cards.

An area card with the word area created out of many small squares.  The word cone in the shape of a cone (which it is in!).  The word obtuse sprawled out on an obtuse angle.  The word blizzard with snow dripping all over it.  An octagon with an octupus's body coming out of the octagon shaped O!  Carnivore with the c shaped shark eating the a shaped fish!  These are fun, fun fun.

What I like:

• All the bright colors!  These cards are lightly laminated, a nice size (with big words that are very easy to read), and bright and cheerful.
• They are *cool* enough to invite children to pull them out and peruse them during their free time.  I've caught my daughter studying them on her own because she likes them so much!
• The word/pictures with the "built in" definitions are intuitive enough that my 7 year old can puzzle out a word he doesn't know just by looking at the picture.  Not on all of them (if you don't know what a conductor is a clever picture won't help you) - but on ones where he has a general idea he can narrow in on the definition, or remind himself, by looking at the picture.

Other Thoughts:

• Educational aids are, obviously, only useful when used.  I have to remember to pull them out when the opportunity presents itself during our math and science time.
• I think the cards are not quite sturdy enough to withstand heavy wear.  I might laminate them.

What do we DO with them?  We pull them out during math lessons and book readings and science experiments, whenever the words on the cards come up in the course of conversation.  Which is surprisingly often!  These are a particularly nice compliment to the Life of Fred books we read.  The cards do a great job with reinforcing definitions and helping the kids get a handle on what the words mean.  It's easier for my kids to remember the words when they are introduced in the context of what we're already working on, but we also pull out one or two new ones just to discuss sometimes.  We look at the card, talk about how the pictures help describe the word, and discuss definitions for the word.  As I write this Bentley and Jake have the cards all over the floor and are busy giggling about the words gear, carnivore, and exponent.  It makes me happy!

The cards are designed for use with 3rd-8th graders.  I think they are useful for both younger students who are studying more advanced topics (like mine) and for older peeps (like myself) who still can't keep deciduous and coniferous straight.  They cost $29.99 for a set of cards (55-60 cards) in the smaller size, 4.5 by 5.5, for math, and the only size, 5.5 by 8.5, for the science cards.  There are 3 sets of math cards and 4 sets of science cards, in addition to a K-2 offering they have in each category.

I've enjoyed having these cards around to reinforce new vocabulary discussions, and will definitely be considering purchasing more of them.

Want to see what other members of the TOS Review Crew thought about these math cards and science cards, as well as other products from Lone Star Learning?


**** I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.