Fractions:
A great visual exploration of multiplication of fractions using rectangles and sliders:
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_194_g_2_t_1.html?from=category_g_2_t_1.html
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Math Options for Elementary
I know preschool and kindergarten is a time to play -- and find learning in everything we do. However, I also know that some kids are really searching for more in certain areas at different stages. And, sometimes a curriculum or a spine or some other framework can provide more sanity for an over-committed Mom who may not have "preschool play" energy!
If I was to look at math philosophy, the closest math curriculum to fit my style would be Math on the Level where students need to cover a certain amount of the concepts but the order and timing is really up to their individual learning styles. Sometimes students are in "fraction mode" and just want to keep exploring fractions way beyond what "2nd grade" fractions entail. Sometimes you need to go with the window that's there and keep moving.
However, it's sometimes more work to be on top of those areas and know what to pull in next, it's often unsettling to go with a completely flexible route --especially for a math-uncertain parent, and many traditional math programs have great aspects to incorporate.
Guess that's why we've used many different programs over the years with my oldest.
Here are some to look at for Early Elementary.
Right Start Math (if one agrees with their math approach, it's worth starting as you mean to go on, rather than re-learn some of the approaches)
Singapore Math -- for $8/workbook, if you have a workbook kid who wants to do more school, this is an inexpensive approach and is great at approaching math concepts in a couple different directions to give a really solid understanding of what's going on.
Moving Beyond the Page -- some of these 5 to 7 yo units look like they'd be a great fit for Jm.
For Bj, we had great success with Math-U-See -- the best parts were: Decimal Street (an amazing intro to adding and subtracting, place value, carrying) and Skip Counting.
If I was to look at math philosophy, the closest math curriculum to fit my style would be Math on the Level where students need to cover a certain amount of the concepts but the order and timing is really up to their individual learning styles. Sometimes students are in "fraction mode" and just want to keep exploring fractions way beyond what "2nd grade" fractions entail. Sometimes you need to go with the window that's there and keep moving.
However, it's sometimes more work to be on top of those areas and know what to pull in next, it's often unsettling to go with a completely flexible route --especially for a math-uncertain parent, and many traditional math programs have great aspects to incorporate.
Guess that's why we've used many different programs over the years with my oldest.
Here are some to look at for Early Elementary.
Right Start Math (if one agrees with their math approach, it's worth starting as you mean to go on, rather than re-learn some of the approaches)
Singapore Math -- for $8/workbook, if you have a workbook kid who wants to do more school, this is an inexpensive approach and is great at approaching math concepts in a couple different directions to give a really solid understanding of what's going on.
Moving Beyond the Page -- some of these 5 to 7 yo units look like they'd be a great fit for Jm.
For Bj, we had great success with Math-U-See -- the best parts were: Decimal Street (an amazing intro to adding and subtracting, place value, carrying) and Skip Counting.
PreK-1 Math Story Books
A set of PreK-1 math books to check out of the library for Jm:
http://www.stuartjmurphy.com/books/level_1/
Lots of science, math, stories -- and accompanying activities on the website.
http://www.stuartjmurphy.com/books/level_1/
Lots of science, math, stories -- and accompanying activities on the website.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Technology 2.0 and up sites
Rethinking Education Technology -- book about using the new technologies in education
http://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Education-Technology-Education-Connections-Education-Cnnections/dp/0807750034/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264994196&sr=8-1
EduCon 2.2
An online (and in person) conference about using Education and Web 2.2 technology. Worth exploring some of the different people who attended.
http://www.educon22.org/conversations/The_Decoupling_of_Education_and_School_Where_do_We_Begin
The wiki for the conference above:
http://i3educon.wikispaces.com/
One of the speakers at the EduCon conference -- haven't explored it much yet.
http://sites.google.com/site/sunilityching/
ScienceOnline 2010 Website
Some interesting local people and websites to look at (see the attendees list):
http://www.scienceonline2010.com/index.php/wiki/
Math future wiki -- for the scienceonline website
http://www.scienceonline2010.com/index.php/wiki/
http://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Education-Technology-Education-Connections-Education-Cnnections/dp/0807750034/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264994196&sr=8-1
EduCon 2.2
An online (and in person) conference about using Education and Web 2.2 technology. Worth exploring some of the different people who attended.
http://www.educon22.org/conversations/The_Decoupling_of_Education_and_School_Where_do_We_Begin
The wiki for the conference above:
http://i3educon.wikispaces.com/
One of the speakers at the EduCon conference -- haven't explored it much yet.
http://sites.google.com/site/sunilityching/
ScienceOnline 2010 Website
Some interesting local people and websites to look at (see the attendees list):
http://www.scienceonline2010.com/index.php/wiki/
Math future wiki -- for the scienceonline website
http://www.scienceonline2010.com/index.php/wiki/
Visual Technology Tools
Mind mapping:
http://mind42.com/
Poster creation for whatever topic is being used -- a very cool idea, however if you go to the website and browse it, it is full of female teen angst and stories. Not necessarily a place for younger kids!
http://www.glogster.com/
Here's one with Harriet Tubman that is very cool:
http://mariaha.glogster.com/harriet-tubman/
A periodic table of visualization methods -- so many types of visualization methods but inspiring to look at:
http://www.visual-literacy.org/periodic_table/periodic_table.html
http://mind42.com/
Poster creation for whatever topic is being used -- a very cool idea, however if you go to the website and browse it, it is full of female teen angst and stories. Not necessarily a place for younger kids!
http://www.glogster.com/
Here's one with Harriet Tubman that is very cool:
http://mariaha.glogster.com/harriet-tubman/
A periodic table of visualization methods -- so many types of visualization methods but inspiring to look at:
http://www.visual-literacy.org/periodic_table/periodic_table.html
Learning Math with Python
The Python Rag -- a newsletter for beginning python users.
http://www.pythonrag.org/
Pythonic Math -- how to teach math using Python (a bit "up there" but interesting...)
http://www.4dsolutions.net/ocn/pymath.html
A forum/discussion about using python to teach math:
http://mail.python.org/pipermail/edu-sig/2009-April/009281.html
There's also a Python Users Meetup group in Raleigh that would be interesting to attend -- or to find out if they would do a career field trip.
http://www.meetup.com/trizpug/
http://www.pythonrag.org/
Pythonic Math -- how to teach math using Python (a bit "up there" but interesting...)
http://www.4dsolutions.net/ocn/pymath.html
A forum/discussion about using python to teach math:
http://mail.python.org/pipermail/edu-sig/2009-April/009281.html
There's also a Python Users Meetup group in Raleigh that would be interesting to attend -- or to find out if they would do a career field trip.
http://www.meetup.com/trizpug/
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