Amazon.com

It's a good bet that any American kid growing up in the '70s or '80s learned some elementary lesson from the seminal musical series Schoolhouse Rock!. Airing from 1973 to 1984 (and often revived), the ABC Saturday morning shorts effortlessly introduced kids to grammar, science, multiplication, money, and American history--three minutes at a time. In one smart, comprehensive 2-disc set, all 46 songs and plenty of extras are collected. The four creators developed the series slowly, a welcome diversion from their advertising agency jobs, and ended up taking home four Emmys over the years. The background material includes 10 audio commentaries and a making-of feature for the new song, "I'm Gonna Send Your Vote to College." The DVD subtitle option is a great bonus for those who need to know every word from such favorites as "Three Is a Magic Number," "Interjections," "I'm Just a Bill," and "Conjunction Junction." (Ages 3 and older) --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (108)

This Is So Cool--Facts can be Fun!!
And it's even educational! I was so pumped (now that I have a DVD player) to hear that they were releasing a big-time anniversary edition of Schoolhouse Rock in its entirety. I've had four of the videos for years, but this set is so much better. Disc One has all of the original songs--you can play them in order, randomly, just the top ten--and an all-new song about the Electoral College (inspired, no doubt, by the 2000 presidential election). The way you can navigate your way through any and/or all of the songs is very easy and great for when you don't just want to hear about grammar (or history, math, etc. . .).

What really puts this over the top, though, is Disc Two, with a bucket load of extras: the lost "Weather Show," a new computer three-song set, a making-of feaure, top 20 countdowns, an interactive trivia game, music videos by contemporary artists, audio commentaries, Emmy Award footage, etc. . . . I can't wait to explore even more than I got to last night! This will be such a great tool for my 21-month-old daughter (who will know how a bill becomes a law and how to use a conjunction in a sentence!) and a ton of fun for me in the process.

The video quality isn't MONSTERS, INC., but it doesn't have to be. The old animation holds up just fine, as does the audio, which audiophiles could probably complain about if they want to poop the party for the rest of us. What really stands up to the test of time, aside from the basic content, is the music. These guys (primarily) did some really good arranging, little of it in the rock 'n roll genre, ironically. Jack Sheldon delivers some spectacular jazz vocals on several of the more famous tunes. Complicated yet catchy melodies are the strength--that's why we all remember "I'm Just a Bill" and "Conjunction Junction"--with great backing vocals and instrumentation to boot. The contemporary artists' renditions didn't hold up to the originals, but they were pretty interesting to hear. The interactive stuff will be great for kids hearing these songs for the first time. The interviews and commentaries are really interesting, especially in hindsight. Great new additions, discoveries, and formats all add to the charm of the original forty-six songs. How they managed to get all of that factual information into essentially a music video, while keeping the kids (and me) entertained, is still a mystery to me.

Bottom Line: You'll be hard-pressed to find a better combination of education and entertainment. If there are any factual inaccuracies, they are minor enough to overlook and could actually spark interesting conversations. The basic content is right on-the-money. The fact that they'll actually be talking about and be interested in the grammar, history, science, and economics is important enough to overlook any minor flaws.
The fact that my daughter, who two years (and a couple of months) old, actually knows that "Wow!" is an interjection, a fact that most of my juniors (I'm a teacher) wouldn't know off the top of their heads, speaks volumes. . . !

Schoolhouse Rock totally rocks!
I'd been waiting to see if I'd get this for my birthday, but I couldn't wait anymore. I bought it today and had to pop it in. These great animated shorts helped kids learn multiplication, science, grammar, american history and money. You want an explanation of our national debt? - watch Tyrannosaurus Debt :-).

The first DVD has all the original shorts categorized by groups, you can play them by group, or play them all in order or play them all or shuffle. If you choose a particular group, you can pick the ones you want to play in the playlist or select the Play All button. I was having a blast seeing remembering how many of these I could still sing.

The 2nd DVD is the Extra Credit portion of the set. You can watch with Captions or Audio Commentary. I really had fun with the "Earn Your Diploma" Trivia and the Arrange A Schoolhouse Rock song. The Earn Your Diploma gives you a set of questions to answer to each group (Science, Money, etc). When you get them all right, you get a clue which when you solve all the groups you can then solve the Master Jumble to become a Schoolhouse Rock Graduate. The Arrange A Schoolhouse Rock Song has 3 of the Schoolhouse rock songs mixed up and its up to you to get the lyrics in order. When you get them right, the song clip will play. The music videos section was funny - the first 3 had the original animated shorts but the music/voices were redone by Better Than Ezra ("Conjunction Junction"), Lemonheads("My Hero Zero") and Deluxe Folk Implosion("I'm Just A Bill"). I didn't care for the last one by Goodness ("Electricity, Electricity"). That was just a music video but that one doesn't take away from the rest of the DVD.

I saw one review here getting a little too deep in reviewing the american group. I say, don't worry about it - these were meant to help kids learn and I can say they definitely did me good. This collection was well done and it's worth the price :-)

School House Rock
I learned more from this as a kid than in school. To expensive on Amazon, I got it cheaper at my local Vons grocery store.

Wow! Hurray! Hey! Hallelujah!
Yes, I'm using all the Interjections from SchoolHouse Rock to sing it's praises. I grew up with Schoolhouse Rock, but to be honest I thought about it only when my husband and I laughed nostalgicly about memorable songs like Conjunction Junction. Then, he bought the 30th anniversary edition for our daughter (he was trying to qualify for free shipping when he was buying the Tripletts of BelleVille!). So, it can be said that neither of us anticipated how fantastic this DVD would be -- STILL! My 3 year old LOVES it, and I can't say enough great things about the creative lyrics that teach grammar, numbers and how the body works (maybe I should reach into my bag of adjectives, which my daughter charmlingly calls "magictives"). It is the one DVD we own that I don't feel any apprehension about evil or scary characters, dark plots or questionable character influences (which are startling present in many videos for preschoolers).

If you're wondering about getting this video, wonder no more. It is a timeless winner that won't disappoint (unless you're looking for dark plots and questionable character influences!)

Re: Jason James Taylorville, KY
Mr. James I hope you have learned a valuable lesson from this experience. Read the product information before you buy it. You can look at the picture and see that it's animated/a cartoon. Come on don't trash the video because you didn't bother to read the product information before you bought it. I'm sure that you saw the cover on the DVD after you took it out of the package. I can't believe you opened it and actually watched it. Well, to each his own. ... Read more

Description

This is your ticket to scoring higher in math - from Fractions through Algebra!This DVD is 10 Hours in length and features 21 lectures that consists of fully-worked example problems.No boring lectures!Topics include positive/negative numbers, long division, fractions, algebraic expressions, positive and negative exponents, equations, simplification, factoring, inequalities, polynomials, and much more!Most DVDs are 2 hours in length.This DVD is 5 times that length and is packed with fully narrated examples that make learning Math easy.Learn Math in the easiest way possible - by examples! ... Read more

Description

Math has never been mightier!Interactive testing and drill-style quizzes will help people of all ages ace those math tests! This set includes: Algebra 1, Basic Math 1, Pre-Algebra 1, Geometry 1 ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Standard Deviants, funny, well informed - My kid loves it!
My son watched the algebra 1 dvd many times, and even in preference to cartoons on a sick day. He learned to solve all of the problems presented on the interactive quizes laughing out loud all the while. I have a degree in math, and have worked in math intensive engineering work for many years, and I am impressed with the intuitive and amusing treatment of polynomials, definitions of functions, relations, solving equations, and many vocabulary terms the kids need. It is all too rare that a group can make good math this fun. I hope that the Standard Deviants will do many more. Buy this for your kids! ... Read more

Description

Lost in a sea of variables?Master the intricacies of Algebra with our complete, FOUR disk series at a discounted price:Pre-Algebra 1&2 and Algebra 1&2. ... Read more

From the Publisher

Follow the mathematical adventures of Idaho Bones and hissidekick Boise as they search the darkest reaches of Algebra to find thecorrect answers for bewildered students everywhere. Topics coveredinclude functions, algebraic properties, linear equations, and many more.
(Running Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes). ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Very good
I recommend this to anyone having trouble in Algebra. It walks you through problems and gives you the terminology of the subject. Great for reviews.

Savior
I found the tapes helped me a great deal, considering I have been out of school for 20 years and never learned algebra in high school. The animations are wonderful and most of the time very clear. Of course with anything, you have to do it over and over again until you retain the information, but I will definitely say "Do not start school with out the tapes." There's only one catch, Standard Deviants recorded the tapes so that they build upon one another and you'll need to buy the entire math collection if you want a totally clear understanding. I live by Standard Deviants. Good Luck...

Pretty good overall for beginners or if having difficulty
I am a High School Freshman just finishing Algebra I & II. I found the tape boring, since it was all review. The little skits reinforced things I already knew. They misrepresented the length. At the beginning of the tape, they said "Part I" would be two hours, but it was only one hour and twenty minutes. If it was all new to me, I would consider it pretty good, since it covered everything, and showed me short-cuts I already knew. The animation was very good. It would probably be very useful to someone who was having problems in Algebra, or just beginning in Algebra. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

New Math Made Simple
As with all of the Standard Deviants educational series, the presentation is zany, and what you need to know is simply explained. It holds your interest so you don't get bored with the dry subject matter.

To compare DVD format to regular video, the DVD has much more versatility because of its interactive testing capabilities. The viewer has an option to test and review the subject matter by using the remote keypad. These little tests are helpful for making sure you understand the points covered.

The Pre-Algebra DVD covers math terminology, explaining each term so that it's easy-to-understand. Then they show you how it works. It takes the mystery out of math terms that intimidate all of us who didn't learn the "new math" during our school years. By viewing this DVD, I experienced a personal breakthrough in my struggle to learn the "new math". It was a tremendous help to me. I highly recommend it to others who struggle with this subject, especially parents and grandparents who found themselves unable to understand their kid's math homework. This subject brings it together for us so we can understand what our kids are learning. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I love this stuff
What an excellent way to learn numbers. The songs are fun and the info is spot on. Learning with the Standard Deviants is the way to go. ... Read more

From the Publisher

Follow the mathematical adventures of Idaho Bones and hissidekick Boise as they search the darkest reaches of Algebra to find thecorrect answers for bewildered students everywhere. Topics coveredinclude functions, algebraic properties, linear equations, and many more.
(Running Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes). ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Very good
I recommend this to anyone having trouble in Algebra. It walks you through problems and gives you the terminology of the subject. Great for reviews.

Savior
I found the tapes helped me a great deal, considering I have been out of school for 20 years and never learned algebra in high school. The animations are wonderful and most of the time very clear. Of course with anything, you have to do it over and over again until you retain the information, but I will definitely say "Do not start school with out the tapes." There's only one catch, Standard Deviants recorded the tapes so that they build upon one another and you'll need to buy the entire math collection if you want a totally clear understanding. I live by Standard Deviants. Good Luck...

Pretty good overall for beginners or if having difficulty
I am a High School Freshman just finishing Algebra I & II. I found the tape boring, since it was all review. The little skits reinforced things I already knew. They misrepresented the length. At the beginning of the tape, they said "Part I" would be two hours, but it was only one hour and twenty minutes. If it was all new to me, I would consider it pretty good, since it covered everything, and showed me short-cuts I already knew. The animation was very good. It would probably be very useful to someone who was having problems in Algebra, or just beginning in Algebra. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Algebra is destined to be regarded as a subject that many, if not most, students regard as agonizing, and trying to make it entertaining seems hopeless.But the Standard Deviants, young performers who use skits, bad jokes, horrendous puns, and flashy graphics to make serious academic subjects memorable, succeed in making both pre-algebra and algebra easier to grasp than anyone would have reason to expect. The two DVDs in this package take a generally irreverent approach, but the actual academic material has been reviewed by an academic panel, so what's presented on the screen is solid math, even if the young actors and actresses are taking part in parodies of movies and TV shows while they are providing the lessons. The DVDs move progressively through the lessons, and each section, for instance on factors or algebraic properties, will be followed by a review and a quiz that the student can take or skip. The general idea behind Standard Deviants programs is that no joke is too bad to use if it makes the material being expressed memorable, and so the mnemonic devices, and the flashy graphics which accompany the lessons, should combine to help a student coping with the challenges of algebra to get a much better handle on the subject. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Standard Deviants are always great!
I am a non-traditional college student. I began using the Standard Deivant video series for my Spanish, and then math classes. The humor on these programs is what makes them easy to understand. The process (in this case, algebra) is made clear because you are given simple step-by-step instructions. You don't get overwhelmed or bored because between learning, you are laughing. I bought the DVD version to use with my 13-year-old son. He was behind in math, and I wanted him up to par in Pre-algebra before starting his Algebra 1 class in the Fall. The DVD version is better than the video version because you can skip directly to the areas you need help with. Also, there are interactive tests so that you can rate your progress and understanding of what you have learned. I highly recommend any Standard Deivant DVD program. ... Read more

Description

This DVD dives into the advanced principles of Algebra. The Standard Deviants’ tour of the world of algebra continues with complete coverage of quadratic equations, quadratic roots and factors, and higher order polynomials. Algebra Part 2 clearly presents these principles in a fun and approachable manner. A completely stand-alone program! Part 1 is not required. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

good for second semester in algebra
a tutor in your home - 24 hours a day, it's wonderful

a teacher in your home
perfect for that little bit of extra explanation - good for intermediate algebra

Algebra 1 - Part 2 by The Standard Deviants
This is an excellent tool for learning Algebra. It is entertaining as well as informative. The illustrations of Algebra rules and concepts helps the viewer to visualize what is usually only written in words. I highly recommend this for junior high, high school and college students as a learning tool. ... Read more

Description

Every year, millions of high school and college students walk into their first geometry class thinking: "Circles and squares. How tough can it be?" Then they encounter the postulates, statements and theorems. As any builder or contractor can tell you, mistakes can be costly - if not disastrous. But have no fear, The Standard Deviants are here! With a simple, straightforward format and tons of examples, students will find their retention and understanding grow!

The Standard Deviants: Geometry Part 1 covers: Euclidean geometry, Inductive and deductive reasoning, Points, lines, planes and space, Parallel lines, Postulates, Theorems, Converse statements, Inverse statements, Contrapositive statements, Biconditional statements, Angles, Acute angles, Right angles, Obtuse angles, Straight angles, Adjacent angles, Complementary angles, Supplementary angles, Angle bisectors, Perpendicular lines, Reflexive property, Substitution property, Transitive property, Proofs, The parallel postulate, Corresponding angles, The corresponding angles postulate, The alternate interior angles theorem, The alternate exterior angles theorem, The same-side interior angles theorem, Equilateral triangles, Isosceles triangles, Scalene triangles, Equilateral triangles, Right triangles, Obtuse triangles, Acute triangles, Remote interior angles, Congruent triangles, Side-side-side postulate (SSS), Side-angleside postulate (SAS), Angle-side-angle postulate (ASA), Angle-angle-side postulate (AAS).

With our DVDs, you can jump around with the touch of a button and skip over those sections you have already mastered. These highly interactive DVDs also permit you to interact directly with the tutorial through drill-style quizzes and multiple-choice tests. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Good Compliment to Geometry Study
This goes over basic geometry principles in an entertaining way. It also explains it on a low level that is easy to understand. It could be used in a classroom or for home tutoring purposes. I bought it to review for a basic skills certification test for public school teachers. It helped me to remember a lot of the things that I had forgotten from high school geometry. It would be a good compliment for high school students also if they are having difficulty with this sometimes tedious subject. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

It's also a superb review for the GRE math
I was in desperate shape. Middle aged, 20 years since my Masters' degree, 30 since my Bachelors' degree, and trying to get into school to change careers. I might be able to tell flash RAM from a Seagate drive, but I sure didn't know a linear function from a hole in the ground.

The GRE review material was frustrating and tended to put me to sleep. My husband tried hard to help, but it was obvious that I'd be lucky to score a 10 out of 800 on the GRE analytical. And then I came across the Standard Deviants' Algebra series that we got for our daughter and remembered there was a SAT review. I sent for it in a desperate hope thought that maybe it could teach me something.

It was a miracle. The GRE is somewhat similar to the SAT (only MUCH nastier) and after spending a week on the Standard Deviants' Algebra DVD and a week on the SAT review I was able to understand the practice exam problems. Today, three weeks after I made the decision to take the test, I passed the Analytic section of the GRE with a 530 -- good enough to be admitted into the grad school I had selected.

It's not often you get miracles this cheaply! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Proofs and theorems and all those angles aren't exactly material forentertainment, but the Standard Deviants are, as ever, undaunted as they happilytackle "The Many Sided World of Geometry." The approach of taking seriousacademic subjects and presenting them in a lighthearted but purposely memorablemanner is employed here with such diversions as a cartoon rendition of the greatpioneer of geometry, Euclid, and animations showing the differences betweeninductive and deductive reasoning. The energetic young performers aren't afraidto ham it up, such as a young man who introduces the section on triangles bywearing a horrendous plaid sport jacket and playing the part of a used-carsalesman on a late-night infomercial. Despite the sometimes raucous proceedings,and encouragements like a young woman who notes that geometry is "really kind ofcool, it doesn't involve equations like algebra," serious math is presented, andthe entire presentation has been assembled by a panel of college professors. Themain sections, on geometry basics, angles, and triangles, are each filled withlessons that are followed by reviews and quizzes, which a student can take orskip over. The DVD also contains what are essentially flashcards with essentialmaterial, and a final exam concludes what amounts to a valiant attempt to makegeometry entertaining and therefore memorable. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Good Compliment to Geometry Study
This goes over basic geometry principles in an entertaining way. It also explains it on a low level that is easy to understand. It could be used in a classroom or for home tutoring purposes. I bought it to review for a basic skills certification test for public school teachers. It helped me to remember a lot of the things that I had forgotten from high school geometry. It would be a good compliment for high school students also if they are having difficulty with this sometimes tedious subject. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The intrepid Standard Deviants, a troupe of young performers unafraid to shamelessly ham it up in the cause of making difficult academic subjects memorable, turn their attention to "The Pumped Up World of Pre-Algebra" in this DVD.Using lots of examples and flashy computer graphics to illustrate them, the cast jumps into the basics by answering the question "What is an integer exponent?" The rules of exponents are explained, and these initial segments are followed with a review. The basic format is followed throughout, with the concepts of prime factorization, roots, fractional exponents, and inequalities being covered with a variety of techniques, including some skits and jokes bad enough to serve as brilliant mnemonic devices. This subject matter doesn't sound like anything fun, but the cast does its best to explain things thoroughly, and the high production values make the content visually appealing on the screen.The DVD format lends itself to a feature that presents what are essentially on-screen flashcards showing formulas, and a "Pumped Up Exam" can also be administered, with the viewer answering by using the buttons on the DVD player's remote control.An academic panel oversaw the production to ensure that the math is solid, and this is as entertaining a treatment of pre-algebra as could ever be expected. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (1)

New Math Made Simple
As with all of the Standard Deviants educational series, the presentation is zany, and what you need to know is simply explained. It holds your interest so you don't get bored with the dry subject matter.

To compare DVD format to regular video, the DVD has much more versatility because of its interactive testing capabilities. The viewer has an option to test and review the subject matter by using the remote keypad. These little tests are helpful for making sure you understand the points covered.

The Pre-Algebra DVD covers math terminology, explaining each term so that it's easy-to-understand. Then they show you how it works. It takes the mystery out of math terms that intimidate all of us who didn't learn the "new math" during our school years. By viewing this DVD, I experienced a personal breakthrough in my struggle to learn the "new math". It was a tremendous help to me. I highly recommend it to others who struggle with this subject, especially parents and grandparents who found themselves unable to understand their kid's math homework. This subject brings it together for us so we can understand what our kids are learning. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The 2-disc set The Standard Deviants - Math Basics DVD 2-Pack contains:

The Standard Deviants - Basic Math
In "The Zany World of Basic Math," the Standard Deviants, an ebullient troupe of young performers whose specialty is taking serious subjects and making them offbeat enough to be memorable, tackle the most basic concepts of mathematics. Starting off with explanations of integers, the program proceeds to cover addition, subtraction, and multiplication before moving into more advanced concepts such as exponents and division. Throughout the program the cast cracks painfully corny jokes and occasionally dresses up in some bad costumes to make their points. Indeed, this must be the only math lesson to have a "comedy editor" listed in the opening credits. The underlying principle is that if the performers make spectacles of themselves, that serves as a mnemonic device and makes the serious material they're imparting easier to remember. After covering the basics, the program moves into decimals, fractions, ratios, and percents. Following each section a quiz appears, which the student can either take or skip, and a "Grand Slam Exam" concludes the entire set of lessons. While the presentation may be unorthodox, the academic material has been approved by a panel of professors. Though it's not intended as a substitute for classes in math, students would benefit by using this as review material. --Robert J. McNamara

The Standard Deviants - Geometry, Part 1
Proofs and theorems and all those angles aren't exactly material for entertainment, but the Standard Deviants are, as ever, undaunted as they happily tackle "The Many Sided World of Geometry." The approach of taking serious academic subjects and presenting them in a lighthearted but purposely memorable manner is employed here with such diversions as a cartoon rendition of the great pioneer of geometry, Euclid, and animations showing the differences between inductive and deductive reasoning. The energetic young performers aren't afraid to ham it up, such as a young man who introduces the section on triangles by wearing a horrendous plaid sport jacket and playing the part of a used-car salesman on a late-night infomercial. Despite the sometimes raucous proceedings, and encouragements like a young woman who notes that geometry is "really kind of cool, it doesn't involve equations like algebra," serious math is presented, and the entire presentation has been assembled by a panel of college professors. The main sections, on geometry basics, angles, and triangles, are each filled with lessons that are followed by reviews and quizzes, which a student can take or skip over. The DVD also contains what are essentially flashcards with essential material, and a final exam concludes what amounts to a valiant attempt to make geometry entertaining and therefore memorable. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more