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Charlotte Mason Math: Practice Your Principles

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
La Fable, painting by Berthe Morisot

In our search for a Charlotte Mason math education, we must take into consideration Mason’s approach to all learning, not just the things she said about math. We must be guided by the core principles of her philosophy, even in math

“We hold that the child’s mind is no mere sac to hold ideas; but is rather, if the figure may be allowed, a spiritual organism, with an appetite for all knowledge. This is its proper diet, with which it is prepared to deal; and which it can digest and assimilate as the body does foodstuffs.”

 — Charlotte Mason, Principle 9

For instance, we must offer our students living ideas (not mere facts) in math, just as we do in literature and history.

Masons “20 Principles” outline the essentials of her educational philosophy. If we truly apply these principles to math, it can radically transform how we teach the subject.

Let’s examine a few of her principles in more detail…

Continue reading Charlotte Mason Math: Practice Your Principles

Charlotte Mason Math: Reason and Proof

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
“Woman with Child and Two Children,” Léon Augustin Lhermitte, public domain

The two ideas that Mason considered important in math — rightness and reason — are connected. It is our reasoning that convinces us an answer is right or wrong. How do we know we got a sum correct? We can take the numbers apart and add them another way, to see if we get the same answer. Or we can subtract one of the numbers from the sum and see if we get the other number. Or … well, how would you prove it?

More than anything else, Mason wanted her students to discover in math a sense of immutable truth, a truth that stands on its own, apart from anything we say or do, a truth we can explore and reason about but can never change.

This sense of rightness, of solid, unalterable truth, inspires a feeling of wonder and awe — she calls it “Sursum corda,” a call to worship — that delights our minds. It’s that “Aha!” feeling we get when something we’ve been struggling with suddenly fits together and makes sense.

From the very beginning, children should be doing this sort of informal proof, explaining how they figured things out. Don’t wait until high school geometry to let your children wrestle with ideas.

Continue reading Charlotte Mason Math: Reason and Proof

Introduction to Charlotte Mason Math

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
Woman with children, painting by Michael Ancher

“The Principality of Mathematics is a mountainous land, but the air is very fine and health-giving. People who seek their work or play in this principality find themselves braced by effort and satisfied with truth.”

— Charlotte Mason, Ourselves

Charlotte Mason (1842-1923) was a British school reformer at the turn of the twentieth century, a contemporary of William James and John Dewey. She advocated strongly for poor children, arguing they were equally capable of learning a wide and liberal curriculum as were the children of privilege.

Mason believed that all children from the time they are born share a natural curiosity and hunger for learning, and the adult’s role is to spread a “wide and generous feast” of inspiring ideas.

She was also a homeschooling pioneer, and the homeschooling revival of the late twentieth century rediscovered and popularized her books. Many found her principles a refreshing balance to the dominant educational paradigm of pragmatism.

Continue reading Introduction to Charlotte Mason Math

The Rhythm of Math Games

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
Family math game night

The art of homeschooling math begins with the rhythm of puzzle play. It continues with games, which are social puzzles.

Games are fun, building a positive attitude toward math. They give students a refreshing break from textbook work and make kids willing to practice their math.

But more important than the fun, math games push children to think about what numbers mean and how they work. A good math game reinforces the idea that math is about reasoning, using the things you know to figure out what you need.

For more about homeschooling with math games, check out my post Gameschooling Math.

Continue reading The Rhythm of Math Games

Limited Time: A New Set of History Strategy Games

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
Wiki Histories strategy game

There’s just one short week left to go on Gordon Hamilton’s new Kickstarter project, Wiki Histories: Snapshots of world history in mini-games.

Sign up now so you don’t miss out!

Wiki Histories are two-player snapshots of world history and prehistory. They are pencil-and-paper games. Each has a pair of maps, a simple set of standard rules, some unique rules, and a historical paragraph.

    Time: 15 minutes. Age: 9+.

    Back the Kickstarter Now

    The Rhythm of Math Puzzles

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins
    Father and son homeschooling math

    Homeschooling families naturally build patterns and routines that help us keep our sanity as we go through our homeschooling day.

    No matter what resources we choose or which curriculum packages we buy, we never end up following the book exactly as it is written. So don’t worry if you find yourself wandering away from the lesson plan. You’re not getting behind; you’re just discovering your family’s natural learning style.

    If you and your children have fallen into the rut of traditional math lessons, have patience. Give yourself time to adjust to a more relaxed mindset about math.

    And when you find the rhythm that fits your family, you’ll discover that math lessons flow so much more smoothly.

    Continue reading The Rhythm of Math Puzzles

    Learning Math with Puzzles

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins
    Mother and daughter homeschooling math

    Learning mathematics begins with puzzles. As stories are to history or science, puzzles are to math.

    In ancient times, math began with puzzles like:

    • How can we keep track of our herds, or predict the cycles of the moon, or figure out how much to pay for taxes?

    • How can we draw perfect right angles, or make beautifully symmetric designs?

    • What are the ratios of harp strings that create the most beautiful sounds?

    Math puzzles touch every area of life. Puzzles inspire curiosity and solving them brings joy.

    And we can enrich any homeschool math program with puzzles that invite children to think about mathematical concepts.

    Even those monster topics that often bring homeschooling families to tears, such as fractions.

    Continue reading Learning Math with Puzzles

    New Math Game Books and a Back-to-School Sale

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins
    Tabletop Math Games Collection books by Denise Gaskins

    After wrestling with some technical issues to connect my book printer to the store, I’m pleased to announce that the new Tabletop Math Games Collection, Volume Two books are now available in digital and print formats on my Playful Math Store.

    Visit the New Products page to find everything in the image above:

    Or check out the Tabletop Math Games Collection page to see the Volume One books also:

    I’m working on getting the paperback and hardcover editions of these books into all the regular online bookstores, but that’s been a slower process than normal. You can purchase ALL versions through my store now, and I’ll let you know whenever I find out the other bookstores have them available…

    Back-to-School Sale

    Would you like to add a playful challenge to your homeschool or classroom planning?

    For many years, I led math enrichment classes through our local homeschool co-ops. In recent years, family health issues have kept me from teaching and from doing library meet-ups.

    But even if you’ve never done one of my classes — or even if you live far from my hometown — you can still give your children a taste of creative math through my books and activity guides at Denise Gaskins’ Playful Math Store.

    Back to School Sale: Save 20% off problem-solving ebooks and printable activities through September 30th.

    Because thinking hard can be downright fun!

    Homeschooling: The Rhythm of a Math Lesson

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins
    Mother and son homeschooling math

    If there’s one thing common to all new homeschoolers, it’s a feeling of being overwhelmed. One solution is to develop a basic homeschooling rhythm, a daily routine of what you do first, and then next, and then next.

    Most new home schoolers try to adopt the rhythm they remember from their own school days, their own classroom experience. But our home is not a classroom, and that pattern can lead to burn-out.

    The secret to successful homeschooling is to find a natural rhythm that fits your family. Even in math.

    Continue reading Homeschooling: The Rhythm of a Math Lesson

    New Book: Farzanah and the 17 Camels

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins
    illustration from Farzanah and the 17 Camels

    Now’s your chance to promote creative math for kids, with Sue Looney’s new book on Kickstarter: Farzanah and the 17 Camels.

    You can order the book in digital or paperback format, get multiple copies for a classroom or book club, or just donate to support the project.

    Visit the Kickstarter

    Farzanah and the 17 Camels celebrates the excitement and the rewards of solving a challenging and intriguing math problem. Set against the backdrop of the ancient Silk Road, with bustling markets, stunning carpets, fun characters, and camels, the story draws readers into the magic of Farzanah’s surroundings. 

    As Farzanah searches for an unusual approach, a way of solving the problem that no one else could think of, she follows the wise advice of her mother: 

    “My dear Farzanah, don’t be discouraged,” said Mama. “Sometimes, being stuck is exactly where you need to be. I find the best thing I can do is to step away. I free my mind to think about other things. It is in that space that the magic happens. I am able to look at things from a different perspective. With wait time and wishful thinking comes the solution.”

    Farzanah embodies the joy of productive struggle in mathematical problem-solving. She is patient, persistent, and curious, using these qualities to tackle a perplexing dilemma that has troubled everyone.

    For a bonus math puzzle you can play today, based on Farzanah’s life, download Farzanah’s Sheep Dilemma.

    Looney’s earlier book, Ying and the Magic Turtle, is available on the Natural Math website. Or check out her Same But Different discussion prompts for all ages on her website.

    Visit the Kickstarter

     
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    Illustration above copyright © 2024 Noemi Sophia James, from the book Farzanah and the 17 Camels by Sue Looney.