Carrie's hands on math activities...

[StillJulie]

There isn't any place that compiles them all together, is there?

I am trying to decide if it's worth the effort to compile them myself. I have six children, so I'll be using them plenty. We just seem to be off from the guide page (or in a different guide altogether) so often with math that I'd love to have the math boxes for K all together in a booklet... same for 1st and 2nd...


I am already working on a list of the weekly Bible verses for the guides. I have written some of them (when there's no song) into the guides already, but I thought this might be helpful for me, especially on review days.


I generally am a NO PLANS, NO EXTRA WORK sort of teacher, but I am trying to think of things that I could do this summer to make things run a little more smoothly during the school year. Occasionally I've skipped math activities b/c of my laziness. If I have them all together and can glance at them for a week in advance, maybe I could psyche myself up to get them all done.

[Tansy]

I do know that some times I modify the math activities.
Like Instead of having the kid bite off half a cracker I actually had her make a paper cracker and cut it in half, and give half to mr bear and half to herself. Mainly because I didn't want to run to the pantry and open a box of crackers which would then disappear in 2 days.

I have math u see blocks and they sure do come in handy I sub them out for raisins, peanuts. etc. so I'm not running to the kitchen for food. We always do Math first and right after breakfast she's not hungry.

Instead of taping things to carpet I took her outside and drew on the concrete with sidewalk chalk. If it was messy weather I drew on the concrete in the house! but not everyone doesn't have a floor. (hubby promised new tile this year).

I don't think they are complied anywhere but man that is a lot of work. I Kinda took the tack that if I could do the Jist of the activity if not the "exact" activity and the lesson was learned then it was O.K. I did just about ever activity this year this way... And well last time though I did a bit more skipping..

Maybe you could skim through the activities and just compile the stuff you need make a math supplies shelf/drawer/bin? then it's right there when you need it..

[countrymom]

We are off in math too and I use the sticky tabs so I can quickly turn to the correct page when it is time for math. I have one of those 7 drawer plastic bin systems, and each evening I go through the guide and put everything I will need for the next day in the proper bin. It takes me about 5 minutes and I am all set when I sit down and teach. I have found there has never really been anything required for math that I did not have in the house so have not looked ahead for the week. You can always substitute too, which I have done before. Even though HOD is laid out so nicely, I have found having the separate drawers for each subject has helped me so much. I don't have to keep jumping up to go get something and it takes away that temptation to skip.

[my3sons]

The hands-on math activities are just within each of the guides and not compiled in a separate book. My oldest ds is off a semester because of where he places in Singapore. It is where he needs to be though, so I'm glad to have him there. He starts with a "B" each year, and ends with an "A". I just have the sticky note the right place in the right guide, and it works just fine. It seems like rewriting them would be an unnecessary chore, but if it's something you would find helpful in the long run, then you could certainly do it. Whatever method a person takes to get the hands-on activities done each time is worth it, as they are an integral part of the plans at those young ages. Both of our dc are so strong in math, and I really do believe it is due to the hands-on math partnered with Singapore that laid that solid foundation. So you are wise to consider how best to make sure to get those to be a regular part of your day.

In Christ,
Julie