Teaching Textbooks
A fully independent, digital math program (Math 3–Pre-Calculus) that handles teaching and grading automatically through video lessons and instant feedback, best suited to self-directed learners and parents who want minimal daily involvement.
View course breakdown
- Grade range
- Math 3–Pre-Calculus (roughly grades 3–11/12)
- Format
- A fully digital, app-and-video-based math program (Math 3 through Pre-Calculus) with animated video lectures, instantly-graded practice problems, and full video walkthroughs of missed problems; no physical manipulatives, and works offline for up to six lessons at a time.
- What's included
- App/software access (12-month enrollment with an optional 3-month pause), animated video lectures, auto-graded practice problems with video solutions, on-screen scratchpad, searchable eBook, free tutor helpline access, daily parent progress emails.
- Consumable
- No
- Role
- Core
- Daily time
- 20–30 minutes
Quick decision
In a sentence
The program explicitly markets itself as doing '100% of the teaching' and '100% of the grading' for the parent, and every single assignment includes a review component by design, rather than review being a periodic or optional feature.
A great fit if
Children and families who tend to thrive here.
- Families who want a fully independent math program starting around 3rd grade, especially children who've felt discouraged by other math curricula and benefit from a gentler, encouraging pace with built-in support.
Think twice if
Where it may take more adjusting.
- Parents who want to be actively teaching math alongside their child daily, children needing a more rigorous or faster-moving sequence, families needing a K-2 option, or children who learn best with hands-on manipulatives.
Parent Experience
What day-to-day actually looks like
How much work this is for you, how independent your child can be, and what a week feels like.
At a glance
Your day with this program
Daily time
20–30 min
Prep
Low
Parent at the table
Low
Course Structure
—
Prep required
How much do I do before the lesson?
Minimal; no lesson planning or daily teaching required of the parent.
Parent involvement
How much am I at the table?
Independent — parent acts as monitor via daily progress emails rather than instructor.
Student independence
How much can my child carry?
High; program is explicitly designed to work without a parent needing to get involved.
Daily workload
How much of the day does this take?
Light to Moderate; roughly 20-30 minutes per lesson with 18-24 practice problems.
Cognitive demand
How hard is the thinking?
Rated Moderate; reviewers note the pace is gentler than more rigorous programs like Saxon Math.
Hands-on level
How much making and doing?
Low; fully digital program with no physical manipulative component.
Flexibility
Can we bend it to our week?
Moderately Flexible; 12-month enrollment with an optional 3-month pause, works offline for up to six lessons at a time.
Screen time
How much happens on a device?
Extensive; fully app/video-based with animated lectures, on-screen scratchpad, and a searchable eBook.
A Typical Day
What a lesson feels like
A student watches an animated video lecture introducing the day's concept, completes a set of practice problems that mix new material with cumulative review and are graded instantly, and can watch a full video walkthrough of any missed problem or call the free tutor helpline if still stuck.
A rhythm, not a checklist
20–30 min a day- 1
Read
Searchable Digital EBook
Core - 2
Watch
Animated Video Lectures
Core - 3
Discuss
Talk through the ideas and check comprehension.
Core - 4
Practice
Auto-Graded Practice Problems
Core
Most families move through the core steps and dip into enrichment when there's room — not every activity happens every day.
Learner fit
Fit at a glance
Who tends to thrive here, seen through all three lenses. Tap any lens to see more.
Learning Approach
Best for Persistent Solver & Reflective Thinker
See more
- Persistent SolverExcellent fit
Each lesson includes 18-24 graded problems mixing new material with cumulative review, with quizzes every 7 lessons and immediate corrective video feedback on…
- Reflective ThinkerGood fit
The program is self-paced, screen-based, and largely solitary, with a searchable eBook and minimal built-in oral interaction, supporting independent, reflectiv…
- Curious ExplorerPossible fit
Real-world context and open-ended word problems appear in lessons, but instruction follows a fixed pre-recorded lecture and set sequence with no mechanism for…
- Collaborative LearnerPossible fit
The program is explicitly designed to work 'without a parent needing to get involved,' with no peer or group interaction built in; the closest collaborative el…
Learning Conditions
Thrives with Ownership & Safety
See more
- OwnershipExcellent fit
The program is built for the student to progress through math largely on their own, with the company's own materials stating it does '100% of the teaching' and…
- SafetyGood fit
Instant video walkthroughs of missed problems and a free tutor helpline provide immediate, low-pressure support when a child gets stuck, and reviewers note the…
- StructureGood fit
Each lesson follows a consistent video-lecture-then-practice format with quizzes every 7 lessons, though the 12-month enrollment with an optional 3-month pause…
- Movement & VarietyWeaker fit
Hands-On Level is rated Low, as the program is fully digital and screen-based with no physical manipulative component of any kind.
Learning Progression
Spiral
Topics return throughout the year, building a little more each time.
Fit is about match, not quality — Teaching Textbooks can work well with the right supports.
Alternatives
If you like Teaching Textbooks, also consider
Go deeper
The full breakdown
Full editorial review
Overall Match
Teaching Textbooks is built for the homeschool parent who needs math to run itself. The company's own promise is direct: 'Teaching Textbooks does 100% of the teaching for the parent' and '100% of the grading,' with the explicit goal of lifting 'the entire burden of math education off the parent' (Teaching Textbooks). Every lesson opens with an animated video lecture, moves into practice problems graded instantly, and offers a full video walkthrough of any missed problem, so a child can move through math largely on their own while a parent checks in through a daily progress email (Teaching Textbooks FAQs). A free tutor helpline is included with every enrollment if something still doesn't click (Teaching Textbooks FAQs).
Best Fit
Families who want a genuinely independent math program starting around 3rd grade, especially kids who've felt discouraged by other math curricula and need a gentler, more encouraging pace with lots of built-in support (Cathy Duffy Reviews). It also fits families who move around a lot or homeschool multiple kids at different levels, since the app works offline and each child can progress at their own pace (Teaching Textbooks; Teaching Textbooks FAQs).
Families Often Appreciate
- No lesson planning, no daily teaching — the program handles instruction and grading automatically (Teaching Textbooks FAQs)
- A free tutor helpline included if a child gets stuck even after watching the video solution (Teaching Textbooks FAQs)
- Daily email updates that let you keep tabs on progress without hovering over every lesson (Teaching Textbooks)
- Works offline for up to six lessons at a time, great for travel or unreliable internet (Teaching Textbooks FAQs)
- A generous 15-lesson free trial with no time limit and no credit card required, so you can test the fit before committing (Teaching Textbooks)
Consider Another Option If
- You want to be present and actively teaching math alongside your child every day — this program is built to work with minimal-to-no parent involvement (Teaching Textbooks FAQs)
- Your child needs a more rigorous, faster-moving math sequence — reviewers note the pace is gentler than programs like Saxon Math or Shormann Interactive Math, and some students test a full level above their grade (Cathy Duffy Reviews)
- You need a K-2 program — Teaching Textbooks only starts at Math 3 (Teaching Textbooks FAQs)
- Your child does best with hands-on manipulatives — this is a fully digital, screen-based program with no physical manipulative component (Teaching Textbooks FAQs)
THS Learner Analysis
How Your Child Learns
Curious Explorer
Possible fitReal-world context and open-ended word problems appear in lessons, but instruction follows a fixed pre-recorded lecture and set sequence with no mechanism for child-directed inquiry.
Reflective Thinker
Good fitThe program is self-paced, screen-based, and largely solitary, with a searchable eBook and minimal built-in oral interaction, supporting independent, reflective work.
Collaborative Learner
Possible fitThe program is explicitly designed to work 'without a parent needing to get involved,' with no peer or group interaction built in; the closest collaborative element is an optional free tutor helpline call.
Persistent Solver
Excellent fitEach lesson includes 18-24 graded problems mixing new material with cumulative review, with quizzes every 7 lessons and immediate corrective video feedback on any missed problem.
Learning Environment
Safety
Good fitInstant video walkthroughs of missed problems and a free tutor helpline provide immediate, low-pressure support when a child gets stuck, and reviewers note the pace is gentler than more rigorous programs.
Structure
Good fitEach lesson follows a consistent video-lecture-then-practice format with quizzes every 7 lessons, though the 12-month enrollment with an optional 3-month pause allows some scheduling flexibility.
Ownership
Excellent fitThe program is built for the student to progress through math largely on their own, with the company's own materials stating it does '100% of the teaching' and '100% of the grading' so a child can self-direct through lessons at their own pace.
Movement & Variety
Weaker fitHands-On Level is rated Low, as the program is fully digital and screen-based with no physical manipulative component of any kind.
How Skills Build Over Time
Concepts return in short cycles, deepening a little each time.
The program builds review into every single assignment by design, described in its own FAQs as 'a proven method for building skills and long-term retention,' rather than gating advancement on demonstrated topic mastery before moving forward.
Research & evidence
Frequently asked questions
FAQs for this curriculum are coming soon. Have a specific question? Send it in.
Related articles
The articles library goes live soon. In the meantime, read about the framework this review uses.
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