| Author | |
Angel
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 22 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2293
|
| Posted: Oct 02 2008 at 4:01pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Anyone out there ever written your own math curriculum?
I'm banging my head against a wall trying to figure out what to use with my 9 yo dd. She does all right with Montessori (ish) math, but I have a problem maintaining consistency. I looked into Right Start math for help with planning, but she doesn't want to learn a whole new way to count.
I've tried a number of workbooks in the past which don't work. In order to keep us both on track this year I thought we would use Montessori manipulatives in conjunction with Saxon 5/4. I thought the Saxon approach would help her because she has a tendency to forget *everything*, even place value, if we take a break. But watching her use the Saxon book is physically painful for me. She flops across the table and sighs. She grabs her forehead. I hear a lot of huffing. She says, "This is too hard!"
We're on lesson 12 -- our second week. Most of this is stuff she knows, but she will give answers that have no basis in reality just to give answers. Now, I know that the first month is full of just getting used to doing work again, but... oh my.
I think what I am looking for is an artsy, manipulative, practical based 3rd/4th grade curriculum which is laid out in daily lessons and can be accomplished while walking around with a baby who won't nap and attempting to keep a 5 year old busy. (We've been doing math while the twins nap, or else I'd have to add them into the equation, too!)
If anybody knows where I can find such a thing for a reasonable price, I would be happy to know it! Failing that, I think I'm going to have to write my own daily lessons, and when I'll have time for that, I have no idea. 
__________________
Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
lapazfarm
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005
Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6082
|
| Posted: Oct 02 2008 at 5:46pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have had some of the same issues with keeping on track with Montessori math.
What I have found that helps me keep on track is to have not only the manipulatives, but also laminated cards with problems all made out for her to use with the materials.That way once I present a material, dd can go to it, pull a card, and use it to do the activity independently.It takes some time to make up the cards, but it saves me a lot of time during the school day because she knows to just grab an activity, pull the next card and go to it.
For example, next to the stamp game I have a tray with a dozen or so cards each for 4-digit addition and subtraction, arranged according to increasing difficulty. Each card has 4 problems on it for her to do.She can choose to pull an addition or a subtraction card from the front of the stack, and when she is done, she brings it to me to check, then returns the card to the back of the stack so she can keep track of ones she has completed.
I have a box of laminated problem set cards right beside the addition strip board,so she can pull any card, do the work(she uses a wet-erase marker on them), clean them and return them.
My goal is to have these types of materials to go with every manipulative I have. I am almost there. Plus I ordered the boxes of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems and answers tiles from Alison's, which should help tremendously. All she will have to do is randomly draw problems from the box to use with the colored beads or bead boards.
If she is ever stuck for something to do I let her choose a pair of dice (we have lots of different numbered ones) and she uses them to roll addition problems to go with her colored beads. She then records her work on metal inset paper.You could do the same with multiplication for an older child.
Anyway, I know it isn't exactly what you asked, but I thought I'd share how I am making the Montessori math work better for me since I so easily get off track with that, too.
__________________
Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mooreboyz
Forum Pro
Joined: March 16 2008
Location: Wisconsin
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 318
|
| Posted: Oct 17 2008 at 11:56pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I've tried out a few different math programs over the years and tried out Singapore Math last year and am really happy with it. I have 3 different levels using it and all seem to be good. The nice thing is the textbook is complete enough that even my 2nd grader doesn't need a lot of explanation from me (great for when you have 1 on your hip) and they all really enjoy it. The exercises are a nice mix of fun like puzzles and story problems as well as review.
I use some of the Montessori math in conjunction with daily work with Singapore. If you go with Singapore be sure to check out the pretest b4 ordering as they tend to be about 2 grades ahead of other programs.
__________________
Jackie
7 boys - 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17 years
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
Forum Locked) 
4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: writing your own math curriculum?
