Our first year homeschooling did not go well. Math was pretty near a disaster. I guess you could say it was the year my son learned to hate math. At the end our first year I discovered that my son learned best by thinking and applying concepts. As a result,…
Several years ago I made an observation and decided to go in a different direction with math instruction. Teaching math backwards seemed like a rather ludicrous thing to do. Math is by nature a sequential beast that requires order. Yet, I was starting to accept that not all children fit…
Everywhere, parents are abuzz with complaints about Common Core math. Parents are astonished how teachers can be instructing their kids on a math method that complicates an easy problem. I’ve been flummoxed at the uproar. I went to have a look at the common core standards. I chose 2nd…
A couple years into our homeschooling journey, I started doing math on three different levels. Maybe some kids do well with doing math on one level, but my kids have needed a three-pronged approach to math especially during the elementary years. Lowest Level – Math Facts I’ve had my kids…
Math apps can be a fun way to practice math facts or explore new concepts. We have tried out many different math apps in the past year and I’ve put together a list of apps that are some of our top choices. The other day my kids and I sat…
I never thought I would say this. I never thought I would ever utter the words that so freely came out of my mouth today. I love math. My past relationship with mathematics was pretty much one of boredom. Math was boring. I did fine in the subject, but never…
This school year I splurged and purchased a Zome Tools kit. We are probably a bit heavy on STEM in our household, but that is because my kids have dreams of STEM careers unless you count my youngest child’s desire to be a lumberjack when she grows up. I suppose…
Earlier this school year my son finished Singapore 5 and started Art of Problem Solving Pre-Algebra.This course takes a little different approach to mathematics. It has you solving problems before teaching you how to do it. The whole process of puzzling out the problems is designed to help you…
This school year I’ve adjusted our math to better meet the needs of my kids. Last school year I had some psycho-educational testing done on my boys to figure out their skills, abilities, and how to best teach them. Testing gave me some valuable information and as a result I…
I wanted to share an interesting exchange I had with my 8 year old yesterday. 8 year old proudly crooning to siblings: “I don’t like math.” Mom: “But you are good at math. It is one of your better subjects.” 8 year old insisted: “I still don’t like math.” Mom:…
