I would have to say maths is the one thing I feel confident about. As in most subjects, we will have a multi source approach. I feel if there is a multi source approach the subject is covered more fully and it picks up any rote responses and gaps in learning. We will use:
- Mathletics
- The AMT Maths challenge
- The AMT Maths competition
- Celebrate Numeracy week
- Celebrate Pi day
- Miquon Maths (for the little bear to use manipulative's)
- Elementary Maths Mastery (next year grade 4 & 6)
- Speed Maths
- And a good text book
Mathletics
Mathletics is a program, the kids signed up for while at school to do in the classroom, or for homework, or Just to do during spare time. Mathletics has been such a hit in Australia that the "home education network" has registering themselves with Mathletics, thus enabling homeschoolers to take advantage of registering as a student (A$30.00 per student, $A99.00 as a individual and $A50.00 as a co-op member of 10 or more)
I feel the designers of Mathletics have done a great job of inspiring the student with fun and the desire to achieve on a daily, weekly and monthly bases. I can't recommend it enough. If nothing else as an adjunct to what you are using. I will probably use it as a primary learning source.
This year while attending school "Monkey" ds9 in his spare time (one of the many reasons we are homeschooling in 2009 is because between school and sports there is little spare time!) completed all of grade 4 and then grade 5 Mathletics - he is in grade 3 at school - Just for fun! I sign him up last week with home education network as he has finished yr 5
AMT Maths Challenge
This was something, that Bunny brought home in grade 4 and then 5. she had three weeks to answer the 6 questions if she got a high enough percentage correct, she progressed to the next level. She was meant to work it out herself, I taught her basic algebra in grade 4 so that she could complete some of the questions. In 2009 we will do 1 - 2 questions per week TOGETHER, so that the kids learn to problem solve and think mathematically
AMT Maths Competition
Both children sat this at school, (I know of a home school family that has sat this) Bunny as upper primary, and Monkey as middle primary, they both did well, Monkey got a high distinction - I put this down to his natural inclination toward maths and all the maths he did while having fun with Mathletics. We will do this also TOGETHER approx 20 questions per week.
Numeracy Week
In 2008 it was the first week of September. I will probably hold my own earlier in the year. During this week we will read as many Maths living books that we can find. Librarything list to follow. We will also play maths and Mensa games. Problem solving Maths problems will be covered during the year with the AMT material. It will be an easier week, focusing fun and how to think mathematically and logically. Games Included:
- Blockus - A family favorite for years, one simple rule!
- Rumikub - If you know 4 colours and can count to 13 you can play (i played it extensively with many 'moves' during my 20's
- Carcasone
- Mastermind
- backgammon
- Cards - Uno, phase 10, 'up and down the river', 500, Canasta
- Suduko
- Rush hour
- Lonpos - 'Monkey' ds9 received it for Christmas two years ago, I became addicted
- Tantrix
Pi day
We will probably have our Numeracy week around Pi day. We'll read the books! - Sir Conference and the dragon of PI, play the games! - more games to be sourced of the Internet and these:
Miquion Maths
I feel it is important that "the little bear" gets an innate grasp of maths, by seeing and doing. That being said, I signed him up for Mathletics last week he as completed 85% of his prep year in just two weeks! at this stage I think he will do fine.
Elementary Maths Mastery
This is one of three curriculum products used as school that i will implement at home. i still have questions re:how to implement at home, as Bunny's class uses a smart board. It is listed as a grade 7 & 8 curriculum on the Internet, but is used by her school as mental maths for grade5+. It replaces the Mental Math I downloaded the sample sheets and got the kids to do them last year.
there are 24 chapters in this book, we (the 2 big kids and I) will go through 2 chapters a month, practicing and taking notes. I'm doing this so that they can see that numbers are relational, they follow patterns, they can be manipulated, and that there are often more that one way to find the answer - and if the answer is the same using multiple methods, then it is correct.
A good text book
I haven't yet chosen it yet. The American text books (Abecka, Horizon, Saxon) all look good, but I think we will have covered enough without them, and we don't have the issue of imperial measurements. I will probably just get a good one from an educational supplier. I would like to do as little of it as possible. It will be used to find any gaps in their (Bunny & Monkey) thinking, - has mastery been achieved? - then move on. Allot of the repetitive practice will be covered in Mathletics, and mathematical thinking will be covered with AMT products and numeracy week, and mental maths in EMM.
