Math Games Compilation?

[Mizelenius]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a book with math games that don't involve a lot of preparation?

I am thinking about getting this one from RightStart: Math Games.

[SagMom]

Family Math http://www.amazon.com/Family-Math-Eq...9689023&sr=8-1

Math for Smarty Pants http://www.amazon.com/Brown-Paper-Sc...9689082&sr=1-1

The Book of Think

(Just realized your kids' ages--the last two might not work for you--but Family Math has different volumes for different ages.)

[momofmine]

I second the Family Math books!

[Roar]

Are you looking for early elementary like K-3?

If so I highly recommend the books by Peggy Kaye like Games for Math. http://www.amazon.com/Games-Math-Peg...9720142&sr=1-1 You can get it used for next to nothing. The games are fun.

This is also a good book but you need to buy a few different kinds of dice so you need access to a hobby store or some place that would sell them. Once you have the dice the games are ready to go. http://www.amazon.com/Polyhedra-Dice.../dp/156451062X

[Mizelenius]

I am really uncertain as to what I'm looking for , but yes, within the K-3 level.

The only thing I can really ID right now in what my DD (almost 7) needs is in computation of + and - mentally. I don't want to do flashcards or other sorts of rote practice unless I have to. I ordered the RightStart program to see if using the abacus/visualizing/grouping things by 5 will help.

She is a real puzzle. If I ask her what 12-8 is, she has to think about it. If I ask her a word problem like, "You have 7 dollars, but you owe me 12" she can easily say that she has -$5. It seems like when I put things into word problems or games she is much better.

[koru]

How about getting some play money? (this is my obsession lately so maybe I'm just projecting ). But if your DD does well with calculating change, maybe you can work from that angle?

I have the RS math card games kit
http://www.activitiesforlearning.com...PROD&ProdID=12
but we haven't even opened it yet. It looks like it has a lot of fun ideas, though. You're more than welcomed to come take a peek at it someday, if you like.

[tankgirl73]

If you've ordered the RS program, then you'll be getting that games book. IIRC, levels A and B don't come with it (but they do come with the cards and there are instructions for many of the level-appropriate games), but level C and above comes with the complete book.

So, you will be getting lots of games either way. RightStart really, really emphasizes the games -- even if it's not obvious in the instructions, it comes up time and time again on the forums. The author wants the kids to play the games, play the games, play the games -- the "rote learning" aspect of things happens through the games, not from worksheets. That's one of the real strengths of the program IMO.

When I saw the title of this thread I thought "ooh, I need to go in and recommend the RS card games book", it's a great supplement whatever math program you're using. I see you're already ahead of me lol...

Anyway, I do also second the suggestion of the Peggy Kaye "Games for... " books. I used lots of those games when DS was young -- before I'd ever heard of RightStart. He understood the concept of multiplication before he was 6, thanks to some of the games I got from Peggy Kaye.

[Mizelenius]

I ordered the Family Math book. Thank you for that recommendation!

koru: I'd love to see your set! And my girls would love to see your kids soon, too! The play money idea is a great one. DD and I were playing the Millennium Monopoly (I make her be the banker so that it counts as math ) and the money is really hard to see/differentiate, IMO, so some better play money would be great!

tankgirl73: The whole focus on games in RS is what sold me on it. It likened books to learning to read with games to learning about math, and that sealed the deal! I ordered level B for DD, but based on what I've read on the message board, that may have been a mistake. In any case, that means I didn't get the book yet.

Next on my list is the Peggy Kaye book and the others listed here. Thank you for the great resources!