(Trying to) Make Math Fun

I've acquired something similar to  cuisenaire rods.  I think they're from Mortensen Math.  They seem pretty similar, but I think just the colors are different.  I also picked up a couple of books with ideas for introducing children to the rods.  A lot of the beginning ideas are just about having fun and familiarizing them with the tools.  Here are some pictures from the first few times we got them out.  I get asked pretty regularly to "play" math rods.  If Merrick is asleep, I'm happy to let them.  Those tiny little single units are too small for that punk.

Free Play

 

Building clowns

Exploration

 

Staircases

I love that they each built in a different direction.

 

Building upwards

 

We've used the rods for adding, subtracting, greater than/less than/equal to, and fractions as well.  I really like them and that the boys enjoy using them too.

THMJ Week of 6/23/13

Time for another installment in the continuing saga of The Homeschool Mom Journal.  Apparently, I missed the link up deadline, but I'm going ahead with it anyway. 

In our homeschool this week…
Another super fun week of VBS.  This time at Church of the Rock.  We learned how to STAND STRONG at Kingdom Rock!
God's love, friends and family, prayer, trusting God, and the Bible all help us STAND STRONG!

Shhhh!  Don't tell Xav he is wearing a pink dress!

Learning new songs on Day 1.  (That's Xav in yellow.)

My favorite thing this week was…
VBS.  It was hands down my favorite thing this week.  The boys did a great job and handled themselves well.  Mal only had one meltdown on Wednesday.  I thought that was great since there were around 100 children (plus countless adults) there every day.  And he had already been away from home every. single. day. for ten days.  I sat off to the side with Merrick and the boys sat with their groups during opening and closing.  They both loved their crew leaders.  Merrick and I wandered a bit because he is just a non-stop kind of boy.  We spent part of most days playing and snacking in the nursery, out on the playground, and having some quiet time in the nursing room with the lights dim.  It's pretty funny to see some of the things the kids do in the mirror when they have no idea people are behind the glass.  Merrick waved to them all, but only one had his face close enough to the glass to see us!

My kiddos favorite thing this week was…
The chickens!  Oh the wee chickens.  Xav was super excited that HE was getting chickens.  Not we, he.  Here they are.  Introducing Fluffy, Fluffy, Fluffy, Fluffy, Fluffy, and Fluffy.  We won't be able to tell them apart anyway.

I’m cooking… 
I made mozzarella stuffed meatballs with spaghetti this week and I saved the leftover meatballs for subs today.  I also made veggie quinoa patties.  I could have eaten them without making patties if I omitted the eggs, they were so good.  Yum!

I’m praying for…
the Lord to move in the lives of all the children and adults involved in VBS.

I rewarded my kids this week by…
Well actually, Dad rewarded them with headlamps for their bikes.  They took them to bed tonight.  I'm sure the batteries will be dead in the morning.

Something I am ogling or have my eye on…
Math U See Alpha, you will be mine, hopefully at a reduced price.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share (silly, serious or both!)…
I'm sharing this funny video from VBS this week.  Wally needed help from all the children this week to get through his training to become a knight.  Each day he was pointed to ways God helps us STAND STRONG!  After he was knighted, his horse was stolen.  These were his misadventures getting Nightmare back.  I tried to embed the video, but it's too wide for this space.  So click here.  You won't be sorry.