One of the reasons Special Education Philippines featured distance learning this week is because I was inspired by one of the reader’s questions about how can she learn special education course if she is a single-mother working parent. Another reader is asking for a good math program for homeschool.

My research on available distance learning program here in the Philippines is still quite limited. However, during our Master’s class there was one example of grade school math course available via distance learning introduced to us. Below I will be sharing the description of these math courses as discussed by one of my classmates and teacher friends, Ms. Remmaley B. Gozum.

The Calvert Test Series (CTS) offers Home Teachers a complete set of tests with answer keys. With this testing option, parents check their children’s work and maintain their own records of student achievement. The Calvert Test Series uses matching, fill-in the-blank, true or false, and multiple-choice questions to assess content mastery. CTS offers 1st Grade up to 8th Grade Math Course and Testing Program.

On the other hand,  CTS students enrolled in Advisory Teaching Services (ATS) receive access to the online version of ATS tests as part of the ATS program.

Distance Learning Math Curriculum by Grade by Calvert Test Series:

1st Grade Calvert Math Course covers numbers 1 to 100; simple fractions; solid and plane shapes; money; equivalent amounts; fact families; measuring; adding and subtracting 2-digit numbers.

2nd Grade Calvert Math Course covers adding and substracting 2 and 3 digit numbers, money, patterns in addition and subtraction, measuring weight, capacity and temperature, problem solving strategies, telling time in 5-minute increments; 2 and 3 dimensional geometric figures; fractions; sets; introducing multiplication and division

3rd Grade Calvert Math Course covers key math skills and how to apply them to everyday life situations. The program provides daily lessons and step-by-step directions and places emphasis on higher-level critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

4th Grade Calvert Math Course covers fluency, and accuracy drills in four operations, multiply, divide two digits; understanding mixed numbers; probability; adding and subtracting decimals and geometry.

5th Grade Calvert Math Course covers multiplying up to three digits, geometry points, lines and rays, measuring angles, adding mixed numbers, decimals, multiplying and dividing decimals

6th Grade Calvert Math Course covers reviewing common mathematical operations, fractions and decimals; geometry; measurement; integers; graphing statistics; problem solving and ratio.

7th Grade Calvert Math Course covers pre-algebra; equalities and inequalities; variables and formulas; complimentary and supplementary angles; statistics; permutations and combinations; multiplying and dividing integers; pythagorean theorem; pyramids and graphing

8th Grade Calvert Math Course covers pre-algebra, problem-solving skills, geometry, scientific notation; 2-step equation; constructions; vertical/adjacent angles; tangent; sine; cosine; absolute value; rational/irrational numbers; inequalities; compound and open number sentences; surface area; volume; coordinate graphing functions.

Based on the simple description of the Calvert Math Programs above you can have an idea what kind of math program they offer.

How is this significant in special education? There are parents of children with special needs who opt to enroll their children in a homeschooling program instead of traditional schools. Here in the Philippines, we have a choice to follow the Basic Education Program or enroll our children in homeschooling programs that uses the foreign curriculum. If you choose the latter, what I would suggest is that you compare the Philippine BEC with the foreign-program you are eyeing on for comparison. This way you can see which program best suits your child.

After reading more about the Calvert Program I also learned that they have an ATS Program. What is ATS? In a nutshell, it was described as “Specialist support for children with a hearing, visual or physical disability or difficulties with communication, interaction, cognition, learning and behavior.”

Special Education Philippines still needs to update this post if we have a similar program for those children enrolled in distance learning and would like to have a similar support. If you know of any, kindly comment below so we can spread information about them.

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