More Everyday Math

Basically all we did was play with our food. By the time I thought about getting the camera out we were down to about 20 grapes...we had already eaten more than half. We practiced the all important concept "numbers are made of other numbers".

I was mostly focusing on addition and subtraction and multiplication he threw in division on his own at the end...so we covered all the basic operations. We could have easily gone down the fractions road...but we didn't. Main thing is to keep it simple and fun. Talking about math concepts as you manipulate real world objects helps them understand and add meaning to the abstract symbols they see.

Also the theme of late is math rich environment. That doesn't mean you have to be rich and spend a lot of money on manipulatives you can create a math rich environment pretty easily...just takes a little imagination and an idea of what you want to impart that day. Everyday math activities should be relatively short simple and fun.



You can't go wrong just play math. This is a great preschool math activity...or depending on where your child is and how late you started it could be a first grade math activity, or even second grade. I teach math concepts early using this method compared to public schools. By the end of second grade this boy will know his 45 addends and multiplication tables thru 12. Very little of it will come from drills with pencil and paper or math worksheets. Most of it will come from play. The worksheets and paper and pencil will reinforce what he already knows it won't be the primary tool for learning these math facts and concepts. He will also have tools and algorithms for figuring out problems he hasn't been exposed to and will quickly find there are quite a few patterns and rules that are immutable. A basic concept for teachers to understand is all math is IS COUNTING. So you can do adding or algebra, counting or calculus from day one. It's all just counting.

Seriously. Which way would YOU have rather learned?


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For new comers this may be a little hard to digest. Search this blog and my website you will see how we actually use algebra to teach counting and other basic concepts instead of the mindset where these concepts have to be mastered BEFORE we introduce algebra...