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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: March 15 2013 at 1:29pm | IP Logged
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I started out using Right Start, so I own both volumes A and B as well as all the materials to go with them. It proved to be more mom-intensive than I can handle at present, so we're not using it right now.
But one thing that keeps nagging me at the back of my mind is how a large part of the program emphasizes that playing the games is as big or bigger than the systematic teaching. Simply, that the games reinforce concepts.
I see that they sell their game set as well as this book Math Card Games, and I'm thinking about buying the book, especially since my second is quick at math and now old enough to play the games with my oldest so it isn't all on "mom" 
Has anyone used this book and the games independently of the program? It says you can  Or if you use the program, any insight into the games?
I know that many of the games are explained in B and indexed in the back, but A)I can't find the Basic Card Deck and need to order it again if I want to do most of the games  (found EVERYTHING else  , and my oldest still uses the abacus regularly, so we have that) and B) part of my motivation is for multiplication table memorization, and that isn't covered in B, so the games for those cards are not explained there.
What do you think? Math games good?
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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3ringcircus
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| Posted: March 15 2013 at 4:08pm | IP Logged
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I bought the games book when I was taking a break from level B--actually, G was forcing me to take a break because the lessons were too long and too much. But that's a different topic... We took a break in Dec., during which I switched to LoF. We resumed in Jan., and have hit a better stride w/ 2 work sessions per. lesson.
IDK if I'll use the games much when we're actually doing lessons, but I may do them during longer vaca. periods. Also, in the back of my mind I'm considering instituting a free-choice school activity time so that the afternoons don't get too long w/ electronic time & general boredom. I think the games would fit well into that slot.
As far as the setup goes, the multiplication chapter is nearly 20 pages, and each page averages 2 games. It's very typical RS, in that you (I) have to read everything multiple times to get the point and figure out how to play. Lots of words! I could see these games being pretty useful. Of course, w/ the duration of time I devote to RS to begin with, I don't feel I have much time to fit them in. I'm still glad I bought the book, though. I know burnout is going to come for any or all of us, and I'll pull these out just to be sure we don't backslide.
So yes, Good!
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Christine
Mom to my circus of boys: G-1/06, D-1/04, S-4/10
Started HS in Fall'12
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Claire F
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| Posted: March 15 2013 at 5:35pm | IP Logged
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I really like the math games. We're a little over 1/3 of the way through level C with my 2nd grader (and working through A with my kinder). I can't speak to the multiplication games though; we haven't done many of those. We have used the subtraction games a lot recently, and those have been awesome for cementing subtraction facts.
I do use the games even though we are working through the lessons, but I think what helped me to free up time to do the games was the realization that we don't have to do one level per year of school. I doubt we'll finish level C this year, and I'm fine with that. Knowing we can move through at our own pace and that the levels aren't necessarily grade level specific really freed me up to include a lot more games as we go through. We spent all last week just playing subtraction games and it was definitely time well spent.
I'm not sure how well that answers your question, but I guess my short answer is that I really like using the games and we do them pretty frequently.
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Claire
Mom to DS 12/04, DS 5/07, DD 8/09
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kristinannie
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| Posted: March 15 2013 at 5:51pm | IP Logged
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We absolutely love the math card games. While we usually play them as a family (usually after dinner with Daddy too), my kids do play a few of them by themselves. There are A LOT more games in the game book than in the actual math books. I think I paid about $50 on Rainbow Resource and that was well worth it since you get several decks of cards and other supplies with the kit. I cannot say enough good things about the games. They are fun and they really help the kids to "get" math.
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John Paul 8.5
Meredith Rose 7
Dominic Michael 4.5
Katherine Elizabeth 8 months
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DominaCaeli
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| Posted: March 15 2013 at 6:00pm | IP Logged
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Okay, you all have really encouraged me to play the games more often! We used to play them all the time in Level B, but my kids have seemed to catch on to their facts pretty quickly lately just from the lessons, so they haven't yet been a priority. But as we're moving from subtraction into multiplication (last half of Level C), I'm seeing my daughter take a bit longer with her work not because she doesn't get the concepts (no problem at all, thanks to the way the lessons are laid out!) but because her subtraction facts aren't completely solidified. We already do math only 3-4 days a week, but I think I'm going to bring that down to 3 days/week and make sure we have a day of game-playing in there.
The games we *have* played we have all really enjoyed. I think they are very well thought-out, and there are so many to choose from! My husband, the resident "math guy," was impressed with the book as well. I only wish the directions were a little simpler to understand so that the kids could just grab the book and set up the games themselves. I may make some "cheat sheets" for that purpose because I'd like the games to be a little less mom-intensive. (The playing is definitely something they can do on their own--it's just the set-up and explaining that requires my help.) And now I'm thinking maybe this can be a "Daddy time" activity on the weekends...I bet they would all love that around here!
Now if only I could find those multiplication envelopes for our lessons next week... 
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Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
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Marcia
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| Posted: March 19 2013 at 10:24pm | IP Logged
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LOVE the Math games. I think that's what has really reinforced the concepts for my kiddos. I do a "Math games club" at our local library once a month with other homeschooled kids (and most of them do not use Right Start). Its a way for my kids to play these great games with someone other than mom or each other!
The skip counting games have made multiplication so easy for them! I pick a couple of games from each Level to play each month and the kids play for about an hour. They get to choose any game I have out to play. It goes so well sometimes I have to kick the families out! :)
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Marcia
Mom to six and wife to one
Homeschooling 10th, 7th, 5th, 2nd, PreK and a toddler in tow.
I wonder why
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3ringcircus
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| Posted: March 20 2013 at 1:59pm | IP Logged
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That's a great idea, Marcia! I'll have to try to remember it in a couple of years. There are some families in our group that have kids who'd probably love to play once they are mature enough to learn and follow rules w/o Mom sitting on top of them.
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Christine
Mom to my circus of boys: G-1/06, D-1/04, S-4/10
Started HS in Fall'12
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: March 20 2013 at 2:42pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for all the ideas and affirmation! 
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: Right Start Card Games
