Comparison, math
Teaching Textbooks vs CTCMath: which one suits your child?
Teaching Textbooks gives each child one grade-level course with fully narrated lessons and built-in review in a fixed order, while CTCMath opens every level to the whole family with very short videos and leaves more of the planning to the parent.
The short answer. Neither is better for every child. Choose Teaching Textbooks if your child likes a clear daily lesson that says exactly what comes next. Choose CTCMath if your child loses focus in long lessons and does better in short bursts. Whichever you pick, the level matters more than the brand, so find out where your child is before you buy.
At a glance
| Teaching Textbooks | CTCMath | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | 3 to 12 | K to 12 |
| Faith content | Neutral, faith-friendly | Secular |
| Teaching style | Spiral review, Video lessons, Open and go | Video lessons, Mastery |
| Format | Online, Video, Textbook | Online, Video |
| Parent time | Little | Little |
| Price | Low cost | Low cost |
| Placement test | Yes | Yes |
| Often chosen for | Independent workers, math anxiety, children who are behind | Short attention spans, independent workers, visual learners |
How they differ
| Teaching Textbooks | CTCMath | |
|---|---|---|
| How a lesson runs | An animated lecture, then a problem set in the app; each problem is read aloud, with hints, a second chance and a video solution. | A video of about 4 to 9 minutes, then auto-scored questions until the parent-set pass mark is met, with an optional printable worksheet. |
| Review (spiral or mastery) | Every assignment mixes in earlier topics, with a quiz about every seventh lesson. | Sequential by topic; review comes from repeating a lesson until it is passed and from weekly revision sets the parent assigns. |
| Parent role | Enroll the child, then check the gradebook and daily emails; the program sets the order of lessons. | Pick the start point from diagnostic reports, set pass marks and attempts, and assign lessons and review sets. |
| Screen time | All teaching happens in an app on a computer or tablet; up to six lessons can be downloaded for offline use. | Runs in a web browser on most devices; paper work comes from printable worksheets and review sheets the parent chooses to use. |
| Pace against school grades | One course per grade from Math 3 to Pre-Calculus, with a gentle pace; strong students often place one level up. | Courses by grade from kindergarten to 8th Grade, then Algebra 1 to Calculus; every level is open, so a child can move up or back anytime. |
| Faith content | Publisher pages mention no religious content. | Secular, with no religious content. |
Which one suits your child
Choose Teaching Textbooks if
- Your child likes a clear daily lesson that says exactly what comes next
- Your child benefits from every problem being read aloud and explained
- Your child needs steady built-in review without you assigning it
- You want the program, not you, to set the order of topics
Choose CTCMath if
- Your child loses focus in long lessons and does better in short bursts
- You teach several children at different levels and want one membership for all
- Your child has patchy skills and needs to move between grades to fill gaps
- You are comfortable reading progress reports and planning the next lessons
Why parents choose Teaching Textbooks
- Automatic grading frees the parent
- Friendly step-by-step explanations
- Kids can work alone
Why parents choose CTCMath
- Short video lessons
- One price for the whole family
- Easy to use as a gap-filler alongside another program
Watch out for, Teaching Textbooks
- Reviewers often find it a grade behind other programs
- Easy to click through without real understanding
Watch out for, CTCMath
- Thin as a sole curriculum for some kids
- Little hands-on work
Switching between Teaching Textbooks and CTCMath
From Teaching Textbooks to CTCMath
Run CTCMath's diagnostic tests for the child's current grade and the grade below, then skip topics the tests show are mastered. Because every level is open, a wrong start is easy to fix. The main loss is Teaching Textbooks' built-in mixed review, so plan to assign CTCMath's weekly revision sets.
From CTCMath to Teaching Textbooks
Take the Teaching Textbooks placement test for the level you are considering, the higher level first if unsure. The test checks readiness for that level, and the publisher says a child just under the cut-off should not be moved down. The free first 15 lessons give a second check.
Which level of Teaching Textbooks? → Which level of CTCMath? →
What parents often say
- Parents of easily distracted children often like CTCMath's short videos, while some, especially with teens, find the single narrator dry.
- Families with several children value that one CTCMath membership opens every level; Teaching Textbooks enrolls each child in one course at a time.
- Teaching Textbooks is often described as patient and friendly for anxious children, though some parents feel it runs behind and add challenge.
- Parents of both programs often insist on written working on paper, since screen answers can hide gaps in multi-step problems.
Point of Progress in 20 seconds
Ready to see where your child stands?
See where they stand →Questions parents ask
Is CTCMath a full curriculum?
Yes. CTCMath covers kindergarten to calculus and can be used as a core program, though many families also use it as a gap-filler beside another program.
Which has shorter lessons, CTCMath or Teaching Textbooks?
CTCMath videos run about 4 to 9 minutes, plus practice questions. Teaching Textbooks pairs each lecture with a full problem set; the publisher does not state a lesson length.
Can siblings share Teaching Textbooks or CTCMath?
CTCMath's family membership covers every child at every level. Teaching Textbooks enrolls each child in one course for 12 months; a family plan for four to eight children still gives one course per child.
Which level should my child start in?
Use the publisher's placement guidance for the program you choose; levels rarely line up one to one between programs. If you are not sure where your child stands, an independent adaptive test such as Point of Progress (grades 3 to 10, about forty minutes at home) shows their level and the skills that need work.
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Sources
- teachingtextbooks.com/faqs
- teachingtextbooks.com/placement/
- teachingtextbooks.com/familyplan.html
- ctcmath.com/how-it-works/home-school
- ctcmath.com/faq
- ctcmath.com/how-it-works
- cathyduffyreviews.com/homeschool-reviews-core-curricula/math/math-grad
- cathyduffyreviews.com/homeschool-reviews-core-curricula/math/math-grad
Know where they stand before you buy the book.
About forty minutes at home, math and reading & writing, grades 3 to 10. The report is ready as soon as the test finishes.
Test your child, $9.99 →or with the ten-week workbook, $19.99This page is Point of Progress's own research, compiled in November 2026 from publishers' websites, placement materials and parent reviews. Publishers update their products, levels, placement tests and prices from time to time, so please verify all information with the provider before you buy. Point of Progress is independent and is not affiliated with any publisher named here.