Writing to Learn Math: Number play doesn’t have to follow school math methods.
Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own?
Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: Notice. Wonder. Create.
Over the course of this series, we’ve seen how mental math relies on a child’s own creative ways of thinking. In mental math, children develop understanding of how numbers interact with each other in many ways.
In this way, they learn the true 3R’s of math: to Recognize and Reason about the Relationships between numbers.
And the principles that underlie mental calculation are also fundamental to algebra, so that flexibility and confidence in mental math is one of the best predictors of success in high school math and beyond.
But as we went through the various example problems, did you find the written-out calculations hard to follow?
Don’t force your children to write down their mental math. It looks dreary when I write the calculations out step by step, but that’s not how it works in a child’s mind. With regular practice, this sort of thinking becomes second nature.
This simple counting game helps children grow comfortable with 2-digit numbers and learn the value of coins.
Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children.
And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play.
Math Concepts: counting, addition, coin value.
Players: two or more.
Equipment: printed hundred charts, six-sided dice, and a large pile of assorted coins.
Writing to Learn Math: Writing helps students stretch their thinking and make sense of new ideas.
Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own?
Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: Notice. Wonder. Create.
Ever since the school year started, I’ve been getting questions about how to use my new Math Journaling Adventures logbooks.
[SIDE NOTE: These logbooks are included in this month’s Thanksgiving Sale! You’ll get an automatic 10% discount off all print books, applied at checkout, no special code required.]
“I love the way your math books get my children thinking.
“Finally, they are having fun with math!
“But sometimes I have no idea what the journaling prompt is all about or how to teach it. Where can I buy a solutions manual?”
Um, that’s not how math journals work.
The cool thing about journaling prompts is that they have no “right” answer. They are explorations into different parts of the world of math, nature walks in the land of numbers, shapes, and patterns. Springboards into whatever our children want to investigate, whatever sparks their interest.
A few of the problem-solving prompts may have specific answers, but it really doesn’t matter if our kids find the exact solution a math professional might give. If they write what makes sense to them, they’ve accomplished the goal.
If later, they think of something they hadn’t noticed, or they want to change their answer — well, that is mathematical thinking, too.
This game is simple to learn, allowing kids to focus on their strategic thinking. Then ask your students to invent their own tic-tac-toe variation.
Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children.
And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play.
Math Concepts: Logic and strategic thinking.
Players: only two.
Equipment: pen and paper.
Writing to Learn Math: At its heart, geometry is all about seeing connections and relationships.
Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own?
Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: Notice. Wonder. Create.
November is the traditional month of thanksgiving, at least here in the U.S. The harvest is in, and we have holidays just around the corner. It’s a great time to take stock of our blessings and practice gratitude.
I’m thankful for YOU! 😍 And for everyone who reads my books, blog, newsletter, etc., or backs my Kickstarter campaigns, supports my Patreon, or whatever way you choose to share the Playful Math adventure.
But especially, for those of you who cut out the middleman and buy direct through my store or on Kickstarter.
I was updating my business bookkeeping last weekend (How do I get so far behind?!), and I noticed that my direct-to-you sales this year have blown far past my sales through the normal online retailers.
Wow!
So I decided it was time for a Thank-You sale.
I can’t mark down my print books very often, because the cost of printing and shipping lurks like a monster behind the scenes, eager to take a bite out of every purchase. There’s nothing I can do about those fixed expenses, and they keep going up.
But this feels like a month for celebration, so here we go:
ALL PRINT BOOKS—paperback, hardcover, and spiral bound—are included in the “I’m Thankful for You” Sale. A 10% discount applies automatically at checkout, no discount code required.
This would be a great time to grab a book for someone on your holiday gift list—and treat yourself to something new, too.
With my thanks!
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Image at the top of the post copyright © tupungato / Depositphotos.
This game gives young children practice adding numbers within twenty. And it’s great strategic fun for all ages!
Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children.
And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play.
Math Concepts: addition to twenty, thinking ahead.
Players: two or more.
Equipment: two decks of playing cards (face cards removed), six tokens per player.
As our children grow and develop their math skills, the mental math strategies grow with them.
The basics of mental math don’t change:
But we have new ways to help children do math in their heads as the numbers get bigger and the problems more challenging.
For example, how might kids figure out a multi-digit subtraction like 67 − 38?
First, we need to adjust our mindset…
Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math 