UPDATE: The winner is Cyndy! This year I planned to ease myself into homeschooling. I planned to get Bookworm into the swing of things and then next year start Peanut Butter and Jelly Girl on kindergarten work.
PB & J Girl, however, had different plans. Unlike my other two kids who love to be read to and read, PB & J is all about movement and action. She has already told me the 5 different sports she’d like to play when she’s old enough, and she loves math.
When I got the chance to review Arithmetic Village, I was excited. This seemed like the perfect flexible program for PB & J Girl.
Arithmetic Village was designed to teach math in a new, fun way. Students follow along and read the tales of Polly Plus, Linus Minus, Tina Times and King David Divide. We used Polly Plus for the purpose of this review.
The books are available as either PDF downloads or paperback. We used the PDF downloads, and ours weren’t quite as attractive because we don’t have a color printer. Still, PB & J Girl and Cuddlebug didn’t seem to mind.
Using guidance from the website, I created a castle on a chalkboard. The girls loved it. Then, I added lines and the plus and equals symbol for them to write their equations. For counting the book has Polly Plus find jewels. I didn’t have any jewels, but I did have colorful beads, which seemed to work just fine.
After reading the story a few times, I placed the beads on the chalkboard and the girls counted them and wrote the numbers and then added them together. They each took turns and were thrilled with the process.
We’ve since done this activity a few times, and the girls have loved both the story and using the beads each time.
Of course, my girls are only 4 and 3, so I gave them very light use of the Polly Plus book. If you’re child is a bit older, you can use more supplemental material on the website. For instance, if you don’t have a chalkboard, the website has sheets to print for the kids to practice their addition. There are also “field trip” ideas to bring math to life as well as a game your children can play.
Bookworm hasn’t tackled division yet, but when he does, I’m going to break out the division book in this series. I love this fun way to bring math to life for young kids.
If you’d like to buy these books rather than wait for the giveaway to end, through September 20, these products are 20% off. More details can be found on the website.
The Giveaway
One lucky Mom’s Plans’ reader will receive a free PDF copy of all 4 books for download. To enter, simply state what your favorite way is to teach your child math.
This giveaway is open worldwide to those 18 years and older and will end on Wednesday, September 18th. The winner will be chosen via random.org.
I received one copy for review purposes. No compensation was given. All opinions are my own.
We teach math using manipulatives and pictures as a visual aid. Being able to hold and touch the objects seems to help my kids count.
I like to take my kids shopping with me and give them each $5 to buy food they like. They have to add up what they buy, make sure they have enough money, and figure out if they have any left. If they have less than $1.00 left, I let them keep the change.
We use Math U See for a formal math curriculum, but like to incorporate math into every day activities. Fractions while cooking, talking about money at the store, telling time while waiting for an outing and how long we are gone.
We practice bead math( just using beads as manipulative).. colorful and fun way..
I use Pictures and Songs!!
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We practice math using touch math and manipulatives
I love using real world manipulatives like cooking/baking for fractions, etc.
I try to teach math by using everyday activities, food, also by teaching my boys to save towards something they want or using real money to show them how much things cost.
I buy lots of workbooks, flashcards, and games and we sit around doing them together.
Favorite way to teach math is by playing games.
We work on math while doing everyday things like shopping and pumping gas. The kiddos get to do fun things and learn at the same time!
We like to use counting bears!
I have them count ingredients while cooking – like raisins into oatmeal, choc chips into cookies, blueberries into scones, etc…
Ive been helping in class and there is all kinds of ways. They are really connecting with math in class and Im so happy. I had a rough few days in the beginning but all seem to really like learning math.
We work on math using manipulatives. It’s easiest when you can see it and touch it.
MY husband bought my son an abacus (old school!) and he has been learning simple math with that.
I try to just incorporate math into everyday life and I follow the interests of my kids. Nothing formal here.
I love teaching math by using props
Mine love riddles, like the old one if I have three apples and I give you one, how many do I have left?
With my younger kids we use candies and/or cereal for counting. I find it rewarding and it seems to work. My oldest child we’ve used Singapore and Horizon math, but he’s quite advanced.
We learn math by using flash cards,beads and MnM’s. Whatever works to help get the facts in their little minds 🙂
My favorite way to teach math is to do counting drills with objects (like cereal or candy). Then we eat when we finish our math.
We go to the zoo if they have an issue with their math and we will count the animals, and then eat lunch as they do schoolwork. Just to change the scenery helps!