A Revolutionary New Approach to Homeschool Math

Posted on by Denise Gaskins

There’s a great new homeschool math program that can radically transform your children’s experience of math, building understanding through creative exploration.

And you can start now, for free, with the Notice, Wonder, Discover Orientation Course.

Check it out:

Get the free Orientation Course

Homeschool Memories: A bit of history…

What Is Algebra Before Arithmetic?

Back when I was still homeschooling, I read a couple of articles by Keith Devlin about the benefits of teaching children algebra, even before they study numbers.

As a homeschooler leaning toward Charlotte Mason-style education, I found the notion of algebra-first math intriguing. What if we could introduce students to the big ideas of math, the foundational concepts that explain how numbers relate, before they get distracted by details like math facts and memorized rules?

Continue reading A Revolutionary New Approach to Homeschool Math

Podcast: Cultivating Math Curiosity and Reasoning in Kids

Posted on by Denise Gaskins

I have a new podcast interview, and I think you’ll enjoy it!

Check out Learning Is Disruptable on your favorite podcast app, or listen on the website:

Go to the podcast ❱

Here’s an excerpt…

“I think the most important thing that we need to change…we need to radically change what our idea is of what it means to learn math.

    “Our biggest failure, both in the classroom and in homeschool settings, is that we’ve given our children a totally wrong idea of what math is all about.

    Continue reading Podcast: Cultivating Math Curiosity and Reasoning in Kids

    The Creative Way To Help Your Kids Learn Math

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins

    Are you a parent, homeschooler, or teacher? Do your children struggle to learn math? Are you worried about them falling behind?

    So many parents (and teachers, too!) feel like they are “not a math person,” yet they know how important math is for their children to learn. How can we teach something we don’t really understand ourselves?

    Others feel comfortable with math themselves — and may even love it — yet still struggle to pass on their knowledge to their kids. How can we share the joy we see in numbers, shapes, and patterns with youngsters who think they hate math?

    Continue reading The Creative Way To Help Your Kids Learn Math

    Podcast: Math as a Nature Walk

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins

    Pam Barnhill interviewed me for the Your Morning Basket podcast. We had a great talk. I think you’ll enjoy it:

    YMB #94 Math in Morning Time: A Conversation with Denise Gaskins

    “Let me give you this new vision. I want you to think of math as a nature walk.

      “There’s this whole world of interesting things. More things, more concepts, more ideas than you and your children would ever have time to explore. And everywhere you look, there’s something cool to discover.

        “If you explore this world with your children, you’re not behind. Wherever you are, you’re not behind because there is no behind. There’s only, “We’re going this direction.” Or, “Let’s move that way.” Or, “Hey, look what I found over here!”

          “And as long as your children are thinking and wondering, and making sense of the math they find, they’re going to learn. They’re going to grow.

            “So what you want to do is, you want to embrace this adventure of loving God with all your mind and approach math with an attitude of playful exploration.

              “And you know, you’ll be surprised how much fun thinking hard can be.”

              —Denise Gaskins, Math in Morning Time

              Go Listen to the Interview

               
              * * *

              I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Pam. If you run a math, education, or homeschooling podcast, and you’d like to have me on sometime, I’d love to hear from you!

              Are you looking for more creative ways to play math with your kids? Check out all my books, printable activities, and cool mathy merch at Denise Gaskins’ Playful Math Store. Or join my email newsletter.

              This blog is reader-supported. If you’d like to help fund the blog on an on-going basis, then please join me on Patreon for mathy inspiration, tips, and an ever-growing archive of printable activities.

              “Podcast: Math as a Nature Walk” copyright © 2021 by Denise Gaskins. Image at the top of the post copyright © Jessica Rockowitz via Unsplash.com.