Both of my kids enjoy working on the computer. When I find games that pique their interest and are educational all at the same time, I jump on it. Today, thanks to Dianne Flynn Keith at www.Clickschooling.com, I found this great educational games website: schooltimegames.com. The first game that I found and tried myself was "Pharoah's Tomb." Now, I have to admit that I did not even make it through the first 3 rooms before I died (that was on the easy!). Also, I am not really sure what educational advancement this game will lead to, but it was fun and would go great with a unit on Egypt!
The math section of the website has some great games, too. There are many games to choose from like logic games, multiplication, a "tetris" style game, and others. The "Incredibots" game under the science section is a great thinking game to use with alesson on machines and how/why they work! While I haven't explored the entire site yet, I have already found plenty of great games that we can use to incorporate into our curriculum. Thanks Clickschooling!
Showing posts with label Math. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Math. Show all posts
Friday, May 13, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
GREAT Math Learning Site!
A couple of months ago, I was introduced to the website www.kahnacademy.com through another website that I follow. We have only used it a couple of times because we are actually in the process of "reviewing" another online math curriculum. However, tonight on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, the maker/creator of Khan Academy was featured in the Education Nation portion of the show.
When the clip came on, the kids said, "Hey...it is Khan Academy...we have that!" I listened to the remainder of the interview/news clip and was reminded of why I was so drawn to the website in the first place. The Khan Academy is a great site for just good old math basics practice. The site has educational videos that correspond and help teach the various math concepts. I must admit that I have not used the video clips as of yet, but I am looking forward to seeing just what they offer in the very near future.
On the website, the Khan Academy has a video portion and also a practice portion. In the practice portion, the student works his/her way through a maze of math topics on various levels. If the student is struggling with the concept or needs to be instructed on the idea, there are videos located on that webpage (at the top of the practice area) that the student can click on to be shown how to work those particular types of problems. As one level is mastered, the next level is opened for practice. The student is give a choice of a 2-3 suggested areas of study, and they choose what they would like to learn and click into the lesson. They are taken through a series of problems on that designated topic. The student is then required to master the topic by getting 10 problems in a row correct. At that point, they are allowed to move on.
Throughout the lesson, the student is earning points and "badges" that pop up on the screen at various times. There are badges for "speed," "answering 12 problems," "going transient," etc. You can then click into your point area to see how you are doing and see how many badges you have earned. The student can also see what he/she has mastered and what they have yet to master. Even I have had a lot of fun with the website. I have been working my way through the math progression ladder myself. I decided go through the site on my own that way I would be able to see exactly what my children would be using with the site. Also, it is fun to be able to see how quickly I can answer the questions and get through the topics.
I will say that I am very impressed with what this site has to offer. It is a wonderful tool for any parent - home schoolers and public schoolers alike. Probably the greatest part of all is that it is absolutely FREE! So, check it out and see if this is a program that could work for you.
When the clip came on, the kids said, "Hey...it is Khan Academy...we have that!" I listened to the remainder of the interview/news clip and was reminded of why I was so drawn to the website in the first place. The Khan Academy is a great site for just good old math basics practice. The site has educational videos that correspond and help teach the various math concepts. I must admit that I have not used the video clips as of yet, but I am looking forward to seeing just what they offer in the very near future.
On the website, the Khan Academy has a video portion and also a practice portion. In the practice portion, the student works his/her way through a maze of math topics on various levels. If the student is struggling with the concept or needs to be instructed on the idea, there are videos located on that webpage (at the top of the practice area) that the student can click on to be shown how to work those particular types of problems. As one level is mastered, the next level is opened for practice. The student is give a choice of a 2-3 suggested areas of study, and they choose what they would like to learn and click into the lesson. They are taken through a series of problems on that designated topic. The student is then required to master the topic by getting 10 problems in a row correct. At that point, they are allowed to move on.
Throughout the lesson, the student is earning points and "badges" that pop up on the screen at various times. There are badges for "speed," "answering 12 problems," "going transient," etc. You can then click into your point area to see how you are doing and see how many badges you have earned. The student can also see what he/she has mastered and what they have yet to master. Even I have had a lot of fun with the website. I have been working my way through the math progression ladder myself. I decided go through the site on my own that way I would be able to see exactly what my children would be using with the site. Also, it is fun to be able to see how quickly I can answer the questions and get through the topics.
I will say that I am very impressed with what this site has to offer. It is a wonderful tool for any parent - home schoolers and public schoolers alike. Probably the greatest part of all is that it is absolutely FREE! So, check it out and see if this is a program that could work for you.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Our New Math - MEP
Wow! MEP is great! MEP stands for Mathematics Enhancement Programme. It is a math program that is used in the United Kingdom. Here is a quote from their webpage introducing the founding of MEP: "Much of the material developed for this initiative is based on a Hungarian Series, edited by Professor Sándor Hajdu at the Petö Institute in Budapest, and published by Müszaki Könyvkiadó. This has been adapted and modified for UK schools with the help of Professor Tibor Szalontai and Rita Szalontai."
As I have mentioned before, we were having a hard time finding a math program for Savannah that we didn't dread. When she began her schooling (K-3rd), she was using Miquon math. Miquon is a program that is a hand-on, fast pace curriculum which uses a lot of critical thinking in their activities. We rarely had a boring moment in Miquon. However, Miquon ended at 3rd grade. Since then, we have struggled to find a math program that worked along the same lines as Miquon. Saxon and Abeka were both more worksheet oriented with problem after problem of practice, practice, practice!
I do understand that practice is necessary, especially with math, but these curricula seemed to over do it a little for us. Savannah was bored, the math took forever, and I was tired of making her do so many problems with a concept that she knew well. ( In all fairness...she usually did not argue about the math, it just took forever because she hated every moment of it.)
I took my question to the forum at www.cafemom.com. That is where I was introduced to the MEP plan. It is a math curriculum that is on line and completely free to use (free except that you do have to print it off). So, I knew that I would be able to try it without having to spend more money on a curruculum that we might or might not like. The website has the student sheets, lesson plans, and even the copy sheet masters for teaching. (I do not print off the lesson plan sheets because I can just use my laptop each day and save paper!)
The website has math levels beginning at "Reception" which would be our kindergarten and going through secondary advanced level mathematics. The Primary Math page divides each year 2 parts (a & b except for reception year) and each part into 3 sections. Each section has a separate link for student pages, lesson pages, and copy master pages. We have not used the copy master pages so far because we just use our white board.
After our first week with the curriculum, I asked Savannah how she liked it. She said that she loved it. She really likes the one-on-one interaction that we (Savannah and I) have with this teaching method. It does not give a short instruction lesson and a page of work to do like most math curricula. Instead, each page is divided into teaching type sessions. We work on a concept, use the board and then she is assigned a section of the worksheet to complete with a time limit. Then you check the work together and move on to the next section. It does have review built in to each lesson, but it is constantly building upon previously learned math concepts. Also, she said she likes having the time limit for each section. She has always loved a challenge so I think the time limit gives her something to work toward and try to beat! (Note: She always loved the Miquon, but prior to starting this curriculum if you were to mention math like Abeka or Saxon...she would quickly let you know that she hate it by the dread you could see written all over her face!)
Conclusion: For those who are transferring from Miquon, this seems to be a great transition mathematics. I searched and searched the internet when I was trying to find a program after Miquon and could not find anyone who had a suggestion as to what to use after Miquon. So, if you are struggling with choosing a math program or just beginning and wanting to find a great math learning tool for your child, give MEP a try.
As I have mentioned before, we were having a hard time finding a math program for Savannah that we didn't dread. When she began her schooling (K-3rd), she was using Miquon math. Miquon is a program that is a hand-on, fast pace curriculum which uses a lot of critical thinking in their activities. We rarely had a boring moment in Miquon. However, Miquon ended at 3rd grade. Since then, we have struggled to find a math program that worked along the same lines as Miquon. Saxon and Abeka were both more worksheet oriented with problem after problem of practice, practice, practice!
I do understand that practice is necessary, especially with math, but these curricula seemed to over do it a little for us. Savannah was bored, the math took forever, and I was tired of making her do so many problems with a concept that she knew well. ( In all fairness...she usually did not argue about the math, it just took forever because she hated every moment of it.)
I took my question to the forum at www.cafemom.com. That is where I was introduced to the MEP plan. It is a math curriculum that is on line and completely free to use (free except that you do have to print it off). So, I knew that I would be able to try it without having to spend more money on a curruculum that we might or might not like. The website has the student sheets, lesson plans, and even the copy sheet masters for teaching. (I do not print off the lesson plan sheets because I can just use my laptop each day and save paper!)
The website has math levels beginning at "Reception" which would be our kindergarten and going through secondary advanced level mathematics. The Primary Math page divides each year 2 parts (a & b except for reception year) and each part into 3 sections. Each section has a separate link for student pages, lesson pages, and copy master pages. We have not used the copy master pages so far because we just use our white board.
After our first week with the curriculum, I asked Savannah how she liked it. She said that she loved it. She really likes the one-on-one interaction that we (Savannah and I) have with this teaching method. It does not give a short instruction lesson and a page of work to do like most math curricula. Instead, each page is divided into teaching type sessions. We work on a concept, use the board and then she is assigned a section of the worksheet to complete with a time limit. Then you check the work together and move on to the next section. It does have review built in to each lesson, but it is constantly building upon previously learned math concepts. Also, she said she likes having the time limit for each section. She has always loved a challenge so I think the time limit gives her something to work toward and try to beat! (Note: She always loved the Miquon, but prior to starting this curriculum if you were to mention math like Abeka or Saxon...she would quickly let you know that she hate it by the dread you could see written all over her face!)
Conclusion: For those who are transferring from Miquon, this seems to be a great transition mathematics. I searched and searched the internet when I was trying to find a program after Miquon and could not find anyone who had a suggestion as to what to use after Miquon. So, if you are struggling with choosing a math program or just beginning and wanting to find a great math learning tool for your child, give MEP a try.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Divisibility Rules Chart
Savannah is deep in the heart of division, fractions, and factoring in school. We have been reviewing the divisibility rules for numbers. (FYI: Divisibility rules are the little "helper rules" that are used to figure out easy ways to know if numbers can be divided by another number.) I found a great mathematics divisibility tool/sheet on a website. It has a list of all the diivisibility rules for the numbers up to 11. The site is here: Divisibility rule site.
I took the sites information and made a compilation of the rules on a pdf to print out for Savannah's use. It's a nice sheet to have around when you are looking to factor a number or when you are just trying to find a common denominator between 2 fractions. We taped the rules sheet right in front of her so that she always has it available.
I took the sites information and made a compilation of the rules on a pdf to print out for Savannah's use. It's a nice sheet to have around when you are looking to factor a number or when you are just trying to find a common denominator between 2 fractions. We taped the rules sheet right in front of her so that she always has it available.
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