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Kansas City Math Olympiad - study with Cuisenaire Rods
Did you know that the earlier a child learns basic concepts, the greater her capacity for learning later? Children learn best from their own parents, not from pre-schools nor kindergartens. The best way to develop your child’s gifts is to start early at home. Of course, the learning must be joyful, without power struggles. In many areas, public school math curricula have the same flaws as their reading curricula, based on theories that don’t work.
Teaching math early in the right way is as important as reading early the right way. So, the author asked math advocate Laurie Rogers what are some of the best math resources that parents can use at home, before and during school years. The last two curricula are her suggestions.
These materials can be used as supplements to public and private school, or for home school.
“The Complete Book of Fingermath,” by Edwin M. Lieberthal (1983) on http://www.amazon.com
“Bits of Intelligence®” flash cards, by Dr. Glenn Doman, http://www.gentlerevolution.com/ for math products.
“Family Math for Young Children,” by Jean Kerr Stenmark (1997), is targeted for younger children. http://www.amazon.com/
“Family Math,” by Jean Kerr Stenmark (1986). http://www.amazon.com/
“A-Beka” math curriculum from Pensacola, FL. Of course parents must purchase the curriculum materials for each grade level. http://www.abeka.com
“Cuisenaire® Rods” give a visual, hands-on understanding of why 2/6 = 1/3, for example. The Activity Guide gives parents great ideas on ways to use the rods to show different mathematical realities and turns the abstract into the logical for children. They are available at http://catalog.teachingsupplystore.com/connecting_cuisenairereg_rods_small_group_set_wood-p-48101.html
“Saxon Math,” by John Saxon, available on http://www.amazon.com secondhand marketplace and eBay. It's important to get the texts, tests and solution manuals of the same publish date, otherwise the problems and solutions don't match. Additionally, the earlier texts are better - more traditional in nature. Later texts sometimes have a bit of "investigating" in them. Just skip that.
“Singapore Math,” from http://www.singaporemath.com. Get the full set - the workbook, textbook, homeschooling parent's guide, and the solutions manual. The solutions manual covers several years at once. A full year - the A and B - is relatively inexpensive to buy new from Singaporemath.com.
Why is it necessary to supplement and/or teach math at home? Many public schools use “reform” texts such as Connected Mathematics - a truly execrable program. They also use the useless "spiral" approach instead of referring back to previously learned concepts. Also beware of other “reform” texts like "Investigations in Number, Data and Space." Some children are unfortunately saddled with Core-Plus and the loopy way Core-Plus approaches graphs. The reform programs have proven not to work and they are putting our children further and further behind in this world of technological jobs.
Don't hurry. Keep it light and funny whenever possible.
Math advocate Laurie Rogers writes, “In one six-month period, our [6th-grade] daughter went through two Saxon texts, and Singapore Math 5A (twice), 5B, 6A and 6B -- plus many practice problems I gave her. It sounds like a lot, but we didn't push her. We trusted her to do what she could, and we didn't ask her to work in groups to teach it to herself. Our method was very efficient. In return, she took it seriously and did not lollygag. Her teachers were amazed at what she did. They just about fell over when we showed them the binders of work. I think it might have been a wakeup call for a few of them.”
In the Kansas City area, there are math competitions and fun groups called Math Olympiads and Math Kangaroo, sponsored by Noetic Learning and the University of Kansas. The math challenges are a great way to sharpen your child’s skills. The Johnson County Community College also supports Math Kangaroo.
Noetic Learning helps keep kids’ minds sharp with their Leap Ahead program. Online registration for the 2009-2010 Math Challenges will begin online on Aug 15, 2009. Go to http://www.noetic-learning.com/gifted/ Some programs require a fee. For more information contact noetic.learning@gmail.com by email. Or go to Noetic Learning, 11421 Hadley, Overland Park, KS 66210.
Resources:
Laurie H. Rogers, lrogers@saferchild.org, founder of Safer Child, Inc., http://www.saferchild.org and "Betrayed" - a blog on education, http://betrayed-whyeducationisfailing.blogspot.com/
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