How do you teach math??? Panicking!

[BellinghamCrunchie]

DD is five. She seems very interested in math and not so interested in reading (goes in spurts).

So I've been looking into curriculums/materials. I've got cuisenaire rods and no idea how to use them. We've got Singapore Math 1A and 1B, and we started on that, and after about 5 pages I realized I didn't understand what they were getting at. I've been reading about the Montessori approach to math, and I really like what I've seen so far, and I love the materials, but once I get past the numbers board, I'm lost. The algebraic cube makes no sense to me. I don't even know what trinomials are.

I love math. I loved algebra. I loved calculus. I was a physics major. And I'm beginning to realise that the way I learned math was not anywheres close to the best way to learn math, because I can't figure out what the intention is or the purpose is or even what they're getting at with these materials I'm looking at.

What are you using for math starting around kindergarten? How did you figure out the best way to present math to your child? Did you have to relearn what you already knew? If so, what resources are there for teaching mom how to teach her child math?

I'm really leaning towards Montessori because of the hands-on approach, the almost-sensory approach to learning math, and the materials are so much more than just a workbook. But I'm open to all kinds of suggestions. I want my child to develop an intuitive grasp of mathematical concepts, and not just memorize the rules and shortcuts for solving algebraic problems, which is apparently all I've learned myself.

[Savoir Faire]

I've looked at several different books/methods and ended up with Right Start Math. It is very "hands on" and looks like it is going to be GREAT!

We tried a method with cuisinare rods as well and I, as well, was lost.

My kids are 4 and 5.75 and we'll be using it with both.

[Ravin]

Our options have been limited by our budget--no way could I spend as much as RightStart costs even secondhand. We started off the year with Miquon--DD doesn't like cuisenaire rods, she does like the number line and counting on her fingers or with money or objects.

Then, she asked for a textbook, so I got one that's a reprint of one from almost 100 years ago (Upton-Strayer Practical Arithmetics), and it has games and word problems in it, along with good old fashioned drill. Between that and Miquon (which I still slip in on the sly by putting the problems on the board instead of handing DD a lab sheet), DD seems to be making good progress in math.

[inky leeuhhh]

whoa. LOL. i just posted a similar reading related post less than an hr ago, so i know how you're feeling. for math, i got a list from the school district of everything a kid typically knows going into first grade, and sort of winged it (or i have been so far, the year isn't over with yet obviously lol). k math is pretty darn basic. shapes, colors, number recognition, and simple patterns. basic addition and subtraction using manipulatives. nothing too involved, try not to worry too much! now i just need to take my own advice

[sbgrace]

I think RightStart taught me how to teach math. My mathy kid (and the not mathy one too for that matter) love it.

[EviesMom]

I'm wary of anything that uses it's own terms for math, which includes Saxon, Miquon, and Right Start, too "New Math" for me, personally.

I bought a workbook called Math Made Easy, figuring it was $10 so we'd just see how it went. http://www.amazon.com/Math-Made-Easy...0361112&sr=8-2

DD likes the worksheets, often she chooses one, unless I find one tied to something we're already working on (like time). This is her K year, but she's finished the K workbook and about 1/2 of the 1st grade one. It doesn't teach the concepts, but once she's chosen a page I can explain whatever the topic is in 5 minutes or so, generally off the top of my head.

I also just bought a subscription through a coop to Destination Math, which says it can be used to supplement Saxon, which made me nervous, but it's totally normal terms and no strange terminology so far! I think it does a good job of explaining concepts to her, and she finds it a fun treat to do. Especially while I'm finishing a busy work season and then into the summer when her little brother is more underfoot, less playdates and classes, it's nice to have something computer-based.

Also look at the standards for K, because they're pretty basic in my opinion. Nothing you couldn't teach easily on your own even without a systematic plan.

[Kidzaplenty]

[MissRubyandKen]

OP- How long have you been using the Singapore Math? If it hasn't been very long I wonder if it might 'grow on you'. Also, I did want to give my opinion that 5 seems really young! Singapore does have a K Math, Earlybird K. If you think you'd feel more comfortable with a scripted text, Saxon K is supposed to be scripted and has a hands on approach too, I believe through K to 3. I've read lots of good things about Right Start Math and Math U See. I haven't tried any of these, though. I've researched, read reviews, and looked at the samples. They all seem a bit different than I was taught Math, but that is what it is. Things change, yk? I'd bet if you pick one and stick with it the terms and newness of it will wear off and you'll both gain understanding of it.

To answer your question, we've mostly winged it! My big kids are 8 and 10. I think they do well at the basics in Math. But I do wish I had started them out in a certain curriculum and had them learning it from at least 1st grade. I'm looking to start Singapore next year, and I can see how it would have likely been easier to start out with it, rather than switch to it this late. I don't regret what we've done for Math, just wish I'd had the forethought to do otherwise. I think they would have benefited from Singapore greatly, especially ds who is Math-minded. I've wrote out my own problems, used my own explanations, taught them the 'tricks' I know, though this year we have used the Spectrum workbooks too. Aside from that we've done quite a bit of playing with hands on stuff, real money, counters, an abacus, whiteboard, Judy clocks, etc.

My youngest is two. When she's of an age I still may choose to wing it for K. I like the look of the Kumon workbooks. I'll probably get those and use the manipulatives we already have to help her see the Math and play and have fun with it. I don't know though. If I'm really impressed with the Singapore I might just go with that for K too. It is a bit pricey though for the K level. I plan to supplement with Kumon workbooks for the big kids next year, alongside Singapore, so we'll see how it goes.

[pigpokey]

Originally Posted by BellinghamCrunchie

I love math. I loved algebra. I loved calculus. I was a physics major. And I'm beginning to realise that the way I learned math was not anywheres close to the best way to learn math, because I can't figure out what the intention is or the purpose is or even what they're getting at with these materials I'm looking at.

My take on it is completely different. I love math. I loved algebra. I finally got calculus, but loved discrete math, and did great in it in graduate school

I suspect the way you learned math was a GREAT way to learn math. I think the attempts to push abstraction down onto children whose brains are not ready for abstraction, are a waste of time at best. Go slowly and briefly, use a lot of repetition if you want her to keep skills at this age, if she has trouble with mastery stop and do something else. Keep in mind that the great mathematicians of the past probably didn't do much more than arithmetic before their teen years. It does not matter. You do not need to start math this year.

I keep Singapore 1A and 1B around in case I want a refresher on what the scope of 1st grade math in a school might look like.

[mom2ponygirl]

Originally Posted by BellinghamCrunchie

So I've been looking into curriculums/materials. I've got cuisenaire rods and no idea how to use them. We've got Singapore Math 1A and 1B, and we started on that, and after about 5 pages I realized I didn't understand what they were getting at.

You might check into the Singapore homeschool teacher's guide. It gives more instruction on ways to teach the material, incorporate manipulatives, etc.

Another program you might like is MEP math - http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm
It is free online with detailed lesson plans.

Another site that I like for teaching concepts - http://illuminations.nctm.org/
Also free!

Deep breathes, she's only 5 and you'll get the hang of it. She will truly be ahead if you spend the year just playing games with numbers, measuring things, and reading fun books. www.livingmath.net is a great source for that. We used Singapore through primary level 6 and it gave our daughter a great foundation for higher math. I don't know what it is like below level 3 though. We bought level 3 from a friend when dd was 6. My intention was to save it for later. She grabbed a workbook to look at on the way home, found a pen, and in the 25 minute drive completed about 10 pages. LOL We started 3A later that week.

[LauraLoo]

I see more "math" threads in this forum than anything else!
There is a thread called "Let's talk math" that has good info on what works and why. It might be a good place to start.

We personally used Miquon and Singapore - those seemed to work well for ds, but we fumbled a little bit to get there.

The Living Math site might give you some other options. We've read a few of the suggested books and ds has loved them.
http://www.livingmath.net/

I just came across this curriculum today, and thought it looks very interesting. I don't know anyone who's used it.
http://shop.everychildisspatial.com/main.sc

By far, our manipulatives have been the most used "toys" in our home. We have a balance scale, 3-D blocks (clear and empty to fill for volume,) thermometers, fraction blocks, base 10 blocks and rods, measuring cups, number lines, rulers, drawing compasses, counting chips, cuisenaire rods, the montessori pink tower, graph paper, and so on. I think that exploring this way gives a very good base for more formal math.

Frankly, I'm envious of your math background. I think you may have an easier time assessing than I did.

[shoefairy3]

We love Kumon workbooks around here and JumpMath http://jumpmath.org/publications but that doesnt start until 1st grade.

[Lillian J]

For her age, I think a very informal approach would accomplish more than enough, and actually more than a more formal one would. Here's a page of links to good articles on simple and natural ways to go about that:

Home Education Magazine - Taking a Closer Look at Math.

Lillian

[Encinalien]

This is way cheaper than Montessori golden beads:
http://www.summitlearning.com/product/DG202073TS

here's some tracing numbers and stuff:
http://www.montessoriforeveryone.com...s_ep_59-1.html

Utube golden beads-nice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWWdF...=youtube_gdata

my guy is younger so the singapore 1a and 1b are working great for us. Looking for matches, finding the differences. If you want to mix in the singapore math with your plan isn't there a placement test? I'm successfully teaching those books to a 2.5 yr. Old and i've read here before that four year olds go through those two books in less than a week. So maybe they're irrelevant to a five year old that knows enough to tell time already. Change cirriculum and/or try the placement test.

Montessori's just too cool.
Here's another MDC'ers blog with an easy to make lesson in the middle of the page:
http://homemade-homeschool.blogspot.com/

there's a cheap thin kids book on amazon called one hundred ways to get to one hundred.

Those leapfrog videos you won't like "math adventure on the moon" even though it introduces skip counting because it focuses more on sorting and patterns. But you will like the leapfrog math circus because it uses cubes to teach counting adding and subtracting, looks very Montessori-ish. Gotta go. Got a Easter party to get ready for.

[LuxPerpetua]

My dd is only 4 so we won't be starting any sort of math for at least another year. However, with that said, I've been looking a lot into math resources because I am NOT a math person at all. I want something very hands-on for dd, and not so much drill and kill or worksheets (we favor a holistic, whole-body approach). What I'm planning on doing is Enki for kindy-2nd (which I think includes math in kindy, but if not, we'll wait until 1st grade). I also plan on supplementing with A Little Garden Flower's math book (story math) and RightStart math starting in 1st or 2nd grade. I really like Singapore too, just not in the early years, so I think we'll add that on after age 9 or so.

[Encinalien]

Irrelevant trivia: when there's two rows of stuff and they want the kid to draw a line between one thing on one side and one thing on the other side it's to teach a 1:1 ratio so that later when kids who don't use manipulatives cirriculums start to use numbers they have more of an idea what one means before they try to add and subtract it.

[Shelsi]

I have to say I'm a little surprised no one has mentioned Math U See yet!

I'm like you OP, I love love math! And ds and I are loving MUS. It is a mastery program instead of spiral so I'm not sure how you feel about that. Ds and I blasted through the Primer and we just started Alpha last week.

Not sure if it's still on the MUS website but check out the video explaining quadratic equations using the blocks. Amazing!

Anyways my ds "gets" this math and so do I. I can see where they're going with it each time. For example teaching units (ones), tens, hundreds, etc. Then the next chapter is explaining how you can only add things of the same kind. It was so so easy for ds to go from adding 2+3 to 20+30 because he just says "2 tens plus 3 tens equals 5 tens which is 50!"

[skueppers]

My daughter is obsessed with math, and has been demanding regular math lessons since shortly after she turned five. I hadn't planned to start math with her until next school year, but I don't believe in denying kids educational activities if they're asking for them!

I am definitely much more interested in fostering a conceptual understanding of math than in encouraging the rote application of algorithms. I didn't really find that I had much relearning to do, as the materials we use make sense to me, but I'm one of those people who always liked the "New Math." Addressing what pigpokey was saying about abstraction -- I think it depends on the child. I don't know how some of these concepts would fly with other kids, but my kid does really well with them.

We use a variety of math materials -- Miquon, MEP, a bit of Math Mammoth, and other things. To my mind, one of the advantages of starting young is that it gives us an opportunity to really explore math broadly, rather than making the fastest possible progress on learning arithmetic.

I will say that nothing I've encountered so far in any of these programs has required the use of any special terms (something EviesMom was discussing).

[EviesMom]

I mean statements like this from Right Start: "The "math way" of counting (for example, 2-ten 3 for 23)"

I remember seeing it in other programs when I looked at them, but I don't know about the ones you mentioned.

[moominmamma]

I don't think there's any need to panic. If you understand and enjoy math, and your child seems the same way, there's nothing you can do to wreck things forever. At this age the more child-led exposure to different ideas and different ways of looking at and thinking about math the better, IMO. The real risk of messing up early math education is when you lock your child into one particular adult-led or curriculum-prescribed approach and expect that your child learn that way, unquestioningly, even if that way isn't appropriate or sufficient for your child.

My kids are all very math-adept and I too enjoy math. At age 5 we had Miquon math around (but never used it systematically), a variety of manipulatives (for free play and to help with answering the questions they asked), a lot of board games and card games that we played simply for the pleasure of playing (but which contained a lot of math and logic), we did a lot of measuring and comparing and mathematical observing in the course of daily life, and we played a lot of guessing games about numbers (because my kids loved these).

None of my kids took a nice organized approach to early math. Their learning course was charted by them, led by their own curiosities. I remember that my ds learned about square numbers before he really took on addition and subtraction and place value. My eldest loved fractions most of all in the early stages of her math education. My youngest was totally smitten with negative numbers. Nothing was introduced in a tidy organized fashion by a textbook. Gradually they picked up all the basics and discovered the sense of how they all fit together. They're all excellent with math, well above grade level and doing more formal coursework now without difficulty. (They're working from 5th through 12th grade levels.)

Curiosity and optimism, if inspired and nurtured in our kids, are IME pretty fail-safe guides to basic mathematical reasoning.

Miranda