Whatchadoin? #8, math in action

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was math time.  My kids have a love/hate relationship with the subject.  This year there is more love which means more fun for me.

For the most part our math looks exactly like I had planned. "Life of Fred" is their favorite part of the day.  They love to curl up on their bed and read about Fred's adventures.  I didn't feel Merry was quite ready for multiplication so I had her start the series over.  She is enjoying the second time around just as much as the first.  Charry now has to pass a short test in order to advance through the books, this is teaching her patience.  She has to be careful to get things right the first time.

Their daily math is less enjoyable but gives opportunities to see what we haven't studied yet.  It also encourages the girls to try even if they are not sure.  Teaching them to infer how to do things they have not been specifically taught is a challenge.  They are willing to try because they want to color all the squares.

This year we have been stressing the math facts.  I carry flash cards with me all the time and quiz the girls often.  We also decided to work on money (coin recognition was one area daily math showed was lacking.)

Besides fact drills we are trying to use the flash cards in other ways too.  I have the girls work on fact families by matching the addition/multiplication fact with the correct subtraction/division facts.

With the money cards we work not only on remembering which coin is which but then I have them put the amounts in order.

Absent this year have been the wrap-ups.  We will probably bring them out after facts are mastered to stay fresh.

Wrapping up our math is an online site called "xtra-math."  I'm not sure if it is the novalty of using the lap top or trying to get all smiley faces but the girls enjoy the site.

Math is a bit fuller than I had intended, with flash cards and computer time but I've already noticed the improvements so it has been worth it.