Weekly Game

I started something this year. On Fridays my daughter answers several questions as an overview for the week. If she doesn't know the answer she can look it up. It is not a test. These questions go on cards for a game. I started out with just questions from history, but branched out to science, math, and missed spelling words. We will add each weeks questions and have a large pot of questions. We made a game board and a spinner (dice can be used too). We will play with dad once a week. I also have a different set of questions for my son (age 4). When it is his turn he gets his questions. We use Lego people as our game pieces. Here is our game from this evening

Math

Tessa does her math independently on her drafting board this year. I am excited about this method. I  put the textbook onto the Kindle app so she does not have to take up too much space on her desk. Last year she was frustrated that the t-square slipped off the board. This year it is all attached. Being a math teacher I am excited that she is learning all about geometry by drawing the actual shapes. She will have a better understanding of the concepts if she draws them rather than seeing them already made in a book. 

Learning Numbers

Today Mr. Wheels was matching his refrigerator magnet numbers on the number sheets. I am always amazed at what he can do.

Patterns

Today we used blocks to build the patterns. I have realized that all the hands on toddler activities for Mr. Wheels are good for Kit too. I know that I don't do enough tactile activities. The math lesson had us look at the beginning drawing and then draw the remaining in the pattern. She had much more fun building it and I believe she learned more because she had to manipulate the blocks to construct picture. I was then able to take it apart as we discussed the pattern. It made a better visual understanding of the concept.

Math Work

When Kit was done with this page she said that she wanted me to put it upon the blog. So here it is.

Keeping Him Busy

Most of the time we do math on the floor in the living room. I bring out the manipulative bin, my IPad, and pencil with paper.  If I don't find ways to keep Mr. Wheels busy he gets into all of the math manipulative. Today I brought out the bin of blocks and it kept him busy for a whild. Here he is building a high block tower. He got it pretty high. The trick is to keep Kit from getting distracted by him.

Multiply Math Game

Every 6 lessons we have a review practice sheet. This helps me assess what Kit remembers and what she needs to work on. If we combine the review sheet with a lesson this frees us to play a math game the next day. Today we played a math domino game I purchased many years ago. I believe that games are a wonderful way to practice math and have fun at the same time. This is a one of the ideas of the RightStart math curriculum that I have chosen to use. 

Top Shot Math Practice

We try to have some math drill time each day. Most of the time Kit uses the Skill Builder Numeracy app, but today for our we had a nerf gun and she had an idea. I would draw numbers on small white board that we have and I would call out the problem and she would have to shoot it and call out the answer. We modified it some and I drew numbers (multiples of fours in random order) on our window with window markers. In the picture at the right you can see her aiming at the window and shooting the numbers. She was to call out the multiplication fact that went with the number on the window and then try to shoot it.

Math Game

Today for math we played a math game. We use RightStart math and they have a corners game. The math game is like dominoes but to match the numbers they have to add to multiples of 5. This is a review from last year. Kit has a score sheet in front of her. She keeps her own score. She has gotten very good at this game. Today's game was more fun that previous games because she is getting better at it and there is not as much frustration.  Today I won by only 15 points. This was a very close game. She was disappointed.




While Kit and I do math Mr. Wheels must have something to do. As you can imagine he would be into everything if he didn't have something to do. I have made some things for him to do. Today he played with his blocks and puzzles. I intended for him to stack the blocks on the letter, but he just wanted to stack them. After he was done with the blocks, I brought out the puzzles. I am very happy with his ability to put a puzzle to together. The video below was the 3rd attempt. He had trouble with the pieces with the same color. He put them in the wrong place. He decide to do the puzzle over and over. When I watch the video it makes me smile to see how excited he gets when he is successful.