Writing to Learn Math: Math journal explanations avoid the formality that turns so many students away from geometry proofs.
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.
This game offers upper-elementary and middle school students plenty of practice doing estimation and mental math with fractions.
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: proper fractions, comparing fractions.
Players: two or more.
Equipment: one set of double-six or double-nine dominoes.
Writing to Learn Math: When students create their own math, they forge a personal connection to mathematical concepts and relationships. And it’s fun!
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.
The question came up on a homeschool math forum:
“My first grader and I were playing with equivalent expressions. We were trying to see how many ways we could write the value ‘3.’
“He wrote down 10 – 2 × 3 + 1.
“When I tried to explain the problem with his calculation, he got frustrated and didn’t want to do math.
“How can I help him understand order of operations?”
[If you think this sounds like too complex of a math expression for a first grader, you may want to read my blog post about math manipulatives and big ideas.]
Order of operations doesn’t matter in this instance. What matters is communication.
The mother didn’t know how to read what her son wrote.
He could help her understand by putting parentheses around the part he wanted her to read first.
He doesn’t need to know abstract rules for arbitrary calculations, or all the different ways we might possibly misunderstand each other. He just needs to know how to say what is in his mind.
This game helps young children build mental math skills. And it’s fun for older kids or adults to play along!
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, number bonds for ten.
Players: two or more.
Equipment: one deck of playing cards, face cards and jokers removed.
Writing to Learn Math: What did the author mean? Put the thought in your own words. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
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.
I’ve been getting questions about my Math Journaling Adventures books:
“I’m so excited to try math journaling! We bought your Logbook Alpha, and my 11-year-old math-averse son is trying to be a math rebel at every turn.
“But I feel uncomfortable with the idea of rebellion. Doesn’t he need to learn how to solve math problems the right way?”
One of my favorite things about math is that there really is no “right” way to solve math problems.
As I pointed out in my ongoing Mental Math series, even a problem as basic as 6+8 can be approached from many directions. So perhaps I should say, the “right” way is however the student wants to make sense of the problem.
In math, sense-making and reasoning are always the most important things.
This game offers a fun twist on the old classic Battleship. Can you discover your opponent’s secret shape before they find yours?
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: coordinate graphing (first quadrant), simple linear equations, irregular polygons.
Players: two players or two teams.
Equipment: printed gameboard or square grid paper for each player, pencils, ruler or other straightedge.
Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math 