The authors state that "two common problems found in all levels of math classes are the inconsistencies of math terminology and the lack of self confidence in students when answering simple math questions." This series of books was written to address these problems and to provide practice in solving math problems both mentally and quickly. The use of terminology from standardized tests is also beneficial; my children have been confused by different terms even when they understood the concepts well. To a first-grader, "add" doesn't always mean the same thing as "plus". This series of math supplements is available for grades 1 to 5, and is designed to be used each day of the school year for the first 10 minutes of math class. These courses provide practice and review, but no direct instruction; this is not a complete math program. In addition, these courses require the active participation of the teacher; Mental Math cannot be considered an independent program. From my perspective, this is a particular strength for homeschoolers. Many students work on their math independently, and these courses give the homeschool teacher an opportunity to casually and regularly assess the progress of their student. First graders begin in the second semester of the school year while the other grades start at the beginning of the school year. With the exception of the first grade book, each book begins by reviewing material from the previous grade level. The instructions for each book clearly state that the teacher is to read the questions to the student twice and then to go on to the next question. The student is not permitted to ask questions, to talk, or to request that the problem be repeated. The student is also not permitted to use scratch paper. Because these courses were designed for the classroom, the student is instructed to write the answer. In a homeschool setting, the answers could be given orally as well. The only confusing part of the program to me was the numbering system used on the daily worksheets. Each sheet is coded with the grade level and the types of problems being practiced. A key is provided to explain it, and the system makes sense, but I floundered a bit until I developed some experience. This is done to provide flexibility; the program does not have to be used in a specific order. My children have enjoyed these books, and they look forward to showing me just how much they have learned. Sometimes they are quicker to find a solution than I am. Reviewed by S.K.