Matths for little people

[wahwahwah]

Firstly, DS isn't home-ed - so this may not be the right place, but I think that you guys would be the best place for advice!

I recently found some of my late fathers maths books from school and university and, bloody hell, they were so advanced. I never really appreciated how smart he was. He rarely used a calculator (only to double check his work) and taught maths at uni when I was little. I am seiously crap at maths - always have been. I got the 'creative' gene in the family.

Anyway - I want DS to have a chance to be good at maths. He learned his numbers early and can do sums (he is 5). I am worried that my crappiness at maths will hold him back. I really am very bad (not bad at arithmetic but that is pattern-based, so easy really).

I am not sure where to go from here. I have seen books, classes, DVDs... but where can I get decent worksheets or booklets that actually explain how to teach, what approach to take, how long each day...? I am not trying to hothouse a genius, just give the little fella a chance!

I guess I am unclear what you are trying to achieve. At 5, your best bet would seem to be to give him plenty of opportunity to do mathematical activities (rather than worksheets):

• games that involve pattern matching and shapes (tessellation) or numbers (Yahtzee)
• Sudoku and other logic problems (e.g. puzzle books with logical stories)
• cooking and baking (changing amounts of ingredients in proportion)
• building models (LEGO, cardboard castles, Airfix, jigsaws)
• "mind reading" tricks

Basically, do enjoyable and fun maths outside what is done in the school curriculum.

Maths Enhancement Program

We do Maths Enhancement Programme and it is good. Check out the lesson video for Year 1, good ideas for fun approach to maths.
But do agree, lots of games - 'Shut the Box', Rush Hour, cribbage, blackjack, dice games etc. Plus my 6yo likes talking about numbers, especially really big numbers - two billion plus three billion and quite likes the idea of negative numbers - which are quite easy to show if you have a number line.
There are also lots of good maths games on internet - BBC bitesize, funbrain maths, tutpup etc. and he also likes the lego catalogue and working out how long it'd take him to be able to afford a Deathstar on his current rate of pocket money (he'll be about 32).

I use Miquon. It's been around since the 60s and is really good IMO. It's based on using cuisenaire rods - it really teaches them how to understand maths rather than just doing sums. Maths.

www.cymaths.co.uk/khxc/gbu0-prodshow/Miquon_math.html

You need to start with the orange book and also buy the lab annonations to explain how to teach the books.

There are also lots of good ideas on this website.

www.livingmath.net/

Also see my blog for lots of ideas for maths with littlies
ifnotschool.blogspot.com/search/label/Maths

You can do an awful lot just in 10-15 minutes a day so it doesn't need to be really boring and tough!

Alice
ifnotschool.blogspot.com/