Helping families to learn and enjoy math together.
Writing to Learn Math: When students create their own math, they forge a personal connection to mathematical concepts and relationships. And it’s fun! Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a Continue reading Thinking Thursday: Counting Puzzles
“I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.” —Socrates “There is no education but self-education and only as the young student works with his own mind is anything effected.” —Charlotte Mason Two great teachers of the past agree that a child’s mind is no bucket. We cannot shovel in whatever information we Continue reading The Problem with Socratic Questions
From the very first review of my new book, Charlotte Mason’s Living Math: This book gives parents permission to believe that mathematics is something children can reason about, wonder about, discuss, investigate, and enjoy. It invites parents to treat children as people who have mathematical ideas worth listening to. For many parents, that shift in Continue reading Children Have Mathematical Ideas
This game builds visual thinking skills. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. So what are you waiting for? Let s play some math! Symmetry Challenge Math Concepts: symmetry, geometry. Players: Continue reading Math Game Monday: Symmetry Challenge
Writing to Learn Math: Writing helps students stretch their thinking and make sense of new ideas. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these Continue reading Thinking Thursday: Words Help Us Think
One of my favorite rabbit-trails to explore in middle school math is the science of counting and probability. It’s a great topic because the calculations are relatively easy, mostly multiplication and division. But there’s a lot of thinking that goes into figuring out just what calculations we need to do. Counting is not only for Continue reading Introduction to the Science of Counting
This game builds understanding of decimals, and also of the inverse relationship between multiplication and division. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. So what are you waiting for? Let s Continue reading Math Game Monday: Decimal Product Game
Writing to Learn Math: At its heart, geometry is all about seeing connections and relationships. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic Continue reading Thinking Thursday: Pentagram
The long-awaited deluxe, full-color edition of Charlotte Mason s Living Math is now available exclusively on my Playful Math Store in paperback and hardcover (and ebook, too). Hooray! If you d like to know more about the book, check out my interview with Cindy Rollins on The New Mason Jar podcast: S11E144: Charlotte Mason’s Living Math with Continue reading Charlotte Mason s Living Math Now in…
The following is an excerpt from Charlotte Mason’s Living Math, coming to your favorite bookstore or library this November. But if you’re impatient or if you want the exclusive, deluxe, full-color paperback or hardcover edition you can order your copy now on my Playful Math Store. This section comes from the chapter called “How Shall We Teach?” Continue reading Four Stages of Learning Math (or…
This game builds calculations skills and helps develop fluency. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. So what are you waiting for? Let s play some math! Bowling Math Concepts: addition, Continue reading Math Game Monday: Bowling
Writing to Learn Math: What did the author mean? Put the thought in your own words. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math Continue reading Thinking Thursday: W.S. Anglin
I love math puzzles, and Henry Ernest Dudeney is the foremost puzzlemeister of all time. Whenever I need a diversion from the pressing day-to-day busyness of life, I like to crack open one of his books. And get humbled. He stumps me as often as not, but I enjoy the challenge. Today, I’ve got two Continue reading Probability Puzzles with Obsolete Coins
This game pushes students to consider area and perimeter beyond the basic shapes. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. So what are you waiting for? Let s play some math! Continue reading Math Game Monday: Area Battle
Writing to Learn Math: Measurement is our way of connecting numbers to the things we find in the world, in daily life. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math Continue reading Thinking Thursday: Number Race