Math for a 5.5 year old

[BurnsideMommy]

So I've debated for so long on a math curriculum to use and just kept delaying. Lately we've just been counting bottle caps and doing addition with them, and then adding with real coins as well. It's been working good, but I'd like to invest in a K math curriculum.

I've looked at, and liked:
Singapore
Horizon
Math U See
Right Start Math

I think maybe I should buy a curriculum alone and then buy manipulatives as well rather than looking for a complete package - since nothing has all I want.

I love the geoboards, and the Mathusee has a great base 10 set. We had an abacus (Hunter busted it...) and it didn't get used much - maybe cause I didn't know what to do with it? We have pattern blocks.

Other than geo-boards & a base 10 set, and cuissinaire rods (where is a good place to buy a set?) - what manipulatives would be good to have?

And which curriculum would be appropriate for a 5.5 (birthday late April) for K math. He has a short attention span if he's frustrated, but could work for hours if he's 'getting' it and is so happy with himself. He does get frustrated easily (and he does have 2 siblings vying for my time as well) - so we need something laid out clearly.

I'm finding we don't work on math as much as we could because I'm short on ideas for what to do, which is why a curriculum would be nice. We don't do curriculums for any other subject, but here I feel it would help us both.

I'm ready to buy, and we're both looking forward to something fun coming in the mail, so I just need to get my butt in gear to order.

[Tera_&_Gibson]

My son is 5 (october b-day) and we have Math U See. He loves it!!! It is his favorite. I do take out some of the extra practice if he doesn't need it but so far it has been a hit here.

[MsBirdie]

we love right start for my K DD

[elizawill]

i've heard good things about all of those listed. my dd's favorite "workboook" for math is by modern curriculum press though. there are also some excellent free math curriculums, which are perfect for early elementary....



http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/proje...ry/default.htm (scroll down to year 1)

http://www.glc.k12.ga.us/seqlps/sudisplay.asp?SUID=242 (lesson ideas for the whole year)


http://community.learnnc.org/dpi/mat...s_k2_resou.php (lesson ideas for the whole year)


http://www.thevirtualvine.com/math.html (great ideas for teaching math)

[NoHiddenFees]

I highly recommend Right Start. The alabacus is the single best math manipulative for young children I've seen. Its design differs from a traditional abacus, and its function is not primarily calculation, but rather visualization. The program's author, Dr. Cotter, discusses her reservations about Cuisinaire rods here. We're using Singapore now, but IMHO, Right Start Level A/B is far superior to Singapore Earlybird and Primary Math 1A/1B (though Primary Maths is excellent).

[Lillian J]

Another thing to look into would be Patterns in Arithmetic, although it's more for 6 year olds and up. It's based on this idea:

"The skills of a mathematician can be developed in children by allowing them to use manipulatives to build models of the physical reality of addition, subtraction, or whatever subject with which they find and use patterns, and then create their own procedures for doing arithmetic operations. If children are given the chance to discover the procedures instead of being told how to do it and then drilling it in, you will find the results superior, the learning more of an adventure. You will have experiences of delight as your young mathematicians surprise you with methods and models you have never seen." - Lillian

[mamapajama]

We have used Singapore, and liked it. I have a copy of the teachers guide for "Everyday Math" and it has some good ideas for projects.
Mostly we just use math games and what we find around us.


(: Michelle

[Wolfmeis]

(Don't pass out, Lillian, I bought a curriculum for something!)

We bought Right Start this year because it really "thinks" like Montessori and has proven to be much less work for Mom.

Math U See turned me off completely and the others we looked at just kind of didn't attract us.

Originally Posted by mamapajama

Mostly we just use math games and what we find around us.

(: Michelle

Honestly, I think this works so much better than everything else combined for this age group anyway!

[ALittleBitCrunchy]

I have a 5yo with a short attention span, too We use Singapore and like it. He wants to start everyday with Reading and Math, so he must like it

[mamabohl]

Originally Posted by Lillian J

Another thing to look into would be Patterns in Arithmetic, although it's more for 6 year olds and up. It's based on this idea:

"The skills of a mathematician can be developed in children by allowing them to use manipulatives to build models of the physical reality of addition, subtraction, or whatever subject with which they find and use patterns, and then create their own procedures for doing arithmetic operations. If children are given the chance to discover the procedures instead of being told how to do it and then drilling it in, you will find the results superior, the learning more of an adventure. You will have experiences of delight as your young mathematicians surprise you with methods and models you have never seen." - Lillian

This link isn't working for me, but it sounds really great, i wanna see it!

We aren't using a curriculum right now, we talk about math and read fun math books (one called "Give Me Half!" is a favorite) and sometimes I find a game idea here - http://www.ilovethatteachingidea.com.../subj_math.htm I just had to reply though cuz my son was born April 28, 2002!

[Monda]

My wiggly son is 5 1/2 too. We love Math U See and are using Alpha. I love the DVD and blocks. So simple.

[Krystal323]

if you'd like a nice interim between a full-on curric. and "cheerio math" I reccomend DK's Math Made Easy workbooks. They are offered as the math curric. in Michael Olaf's Montesori catalog. My 5.5yo dd is challenged just the right amount by the K workbook, I think

[Leersia]

I am using RightStart Math with my DS twins, who are the exact same age as your DS. Or, I should say, I'm using it with the twin who is ready for it. With the other, I just try to work in fun games that have to do with estimating, one-to-one correspondance in counting, etc.; he's just not ready for a math curriculum yet.

I have to say that while I love the basis of RS Math, I don't love implementing it. It feels very scripted to me. I have to read ahead and really digest the material and then present it to my son in a way that feels more natural. I'm hoping that as time goes on that we'll get into more of a groove with it, because I really think the material is excellent, and I seem to be in the minority with this complaint.

[Wolfmeis]

Originally Posted by Krystal323

if you'd like a nice interim between a full-on curric. and "cheerio math" I reccomend DK's Math Made Easy workbooks. They are offered as the math curric. in Michael Olaf's Montesori catalog. My 5.5yo dd is challenged just the right amount by the K workbook, I think

This is what we used up to now to supplement her Montessori activities. I lurve them.

Originally Posted by Leersia

I have to say that while I love the basis of RS Math, I don't love implementing it. It feels very scripted to me. I have to read ahead and really digest the material and then present it to my son in a way that feels more natural. I'm hoping that as time goes on that we'll get into more of a groove with it, because I really think the material is excellent, and I seem to be in the minority with this complaint.

This is something with which I am struggling. I don't want to be incomplete but I frankly have a hard time being self-disciplined enough to do the prep work.

[melissel]

We love Right Start. It can be pretty scripted, but I kind of need that, and I'm finding that the script ensures that the building blocks are there. I've been tempted to skip things and decided not to, only to find that we need them in the next lesson or so. It's the one part of our curriculum that we do regularly, and it breaks down to just two lessons per week for us--maybe 15 minutes at a time, or more if we're having fun with it. It's working out VERY well for us, and my DD is really absorbing what she's learning.

[homeschoolingmama]

I don't find there to be much prep work at all in Right Start. I like Right Start because it tells you what the goal is in the lesson and then you do it. It lays it all out for you. It tells you what manipulatives you will need before you start. My daughter started at 4yo and loves it still. They have made it very fun and teaches them in a way they understand. I had no idea what an abacus was used for until I bought one with the program. Another good thing about this program is the younger children can play with some of the manipulatives while the older one(s) are doing a lesson with you. The lessons are short enough and fun. We love the math games. For ex. one of the games is Odds and Evens Match. They just reinforce what they have learned. I am horrible in Math so this program is perfect for us! It really is an amazing program!

[Wolfmeis]

This is our first year using it and I am excited by this feedback on it. We have never been truly tempted by a curriculum before so this was a big step for us.