Fun Ways to Learn Math and Algebra

If you follow this blog, then you know that Algebra has been a real challenge, for me to teach it, and my son to understand what I am teaching him.  Math U See is awesome, and we both love it, but sometimes Math needs to be fun.  I have not tried this app yet, I just found it yesterday, but we will be trying it today.  The first one is free, I am not sure about the others.  Once we get through the first one, I would like to progress up more.  The name of the website is, Hands on Equations.  Check it out, and see if it can help you in your Algebra adventures.  I found some other fun hands on Math games too.  I will share them, as I go along.  Yesterday, we did a fun Math card game.  You set your cards up in a circle, or spiral circle.  Then, depending on the age of your children, they roll a dice and move that many places.  We used pet shops, because that is what we had.  The number on the card they land on is to be added, or subtracted from the dice.  That is the original way to play.  Because, I have one older child, and a child that I am pushing multiplication for, I mixed it up a bit.  You can make any math problem you want.  We did addition, subtraction, multiplication, fractions and decimals.  I threw in a couple of Algebra formulas, just for fun, lol.  We don't do the games everyday, but about once a week. The kids like it, and it breaks up the boredom of a textbook.  Oh, and check out the website Teaching in Room 6.  She has some awesome hands on activities, for all subjects.  I am looking at using the Root Words game, as well.

I still have not found my log book.  So, I went ahead and started a new one.  The other one will show up, I hope. 

Learn Math Concepts with Music

My kids love music. I read that they can learn Math concepts by listening to music about those Math concepts. So, below are two videos, to begin with. One for Multiplication facts, something my daughter needs, and Algebra for my son. They will watch, or listen, at least a few times a week. I will add more videos, as I find them, and we go along. Try them with your kiddos, and see how it works.

Perfect Weather for Lawn Work

Even though we do mow all Summer, the weather yesterday and today, was perfect for raking leaves and doing some of the extras we don't do when it is too hot.  It was actually 59 last night, which kept the house cool most of the day, even though it got up to 85.  Tomorrow will be a repeat of the same.  So, we will be washing walls inside the house, and cleaning up the garage a bit. 

Since we have to also do school, I do a lot of this stuff during school hours by myself.  That is fine, the kids help when they can.  DJ learned to operate the riding mower today, so he is excited about that.  He has been using the push mower since the beginning of Summer.  Tomorrow will be Spelling, Vocabulary and Grammar tests.  DJ will be finishing up his Knight writing assignment, on his blog, and Caitlin will continue reading Dolphins at Sunrise with chapter reviews.  And of course Math.  Speaking of Math, DJ has been going along quite smoothly without any snags.  Until this week, lol.  He can not seem to catch on to Reciprocals.  No matter which way I explain it, he is still unsure.  He has been watching a video, but I think he might appreciate reading a bit more about it.  So, below are three resources that you can use, as well, when your kids get stuck on Reciprocals.  Last year, we used FLVS for Math, and it was awful.  Because, I believe that you should not move on to the next lesson when you do not understand the one you are on, which is what FLVS required, it just did not work for us.  This way he can go over it and over it until he gets it.  He almost got it all the way today.  We will see how it goes tomorrow.

http://www.icoachmath.com/math_dictionary/reciprocal.html
http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/58334.html
http://www.mathnstuff.com/math/spoken/here/1words/r/r13.htm

Curclick Live Summer Classes

I love Currclick, I have used them several times. A lot of their items are ebooks, but they do offer other products as well. One of the things I did not realize they have, but am very excited about is live classes, taught by either a teacher, or homeschooling parent. Their prices are very reasonable, in my opinion. I am very happy because the public schools have done away with summer school, and I have a friend that can not afford a tutor for her son to take summer Algebra. Currclick is offering the live class for 9.99 for 50 classes. I will be very happy to refer my friend to this. Some of the other classes they are offering, live, are music appreciation, science camp, basic spanish, American girl book club, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There are a total of 37 classes being offered. To check them out you can click the big Currclick banner above, which will take you directly to their site. I hope everyone can find something they like.

Tomorrow is test day, so lesson plans to post. A quick note about Idol last night, I was crying when Allison left. I hope she find success in whatever she does. It was really touching that she was crying while she sang Cry Baby, very fitting.

OMG I Have Forgotten Algebra, and I Am Freezing

As you can see from my picture I am freezing, again. We had almost a whole month of 80 degrees. Shorts, tees, open window, and now brr back to the big freeze. It is 48 degrees right now, here in N Florida at Noon time. Ugh it is awful. I knew I should have kept my snowsuit from when I lived up North. Unfortunately it is going to be this way all week, and I might be a popsicle by then.

It seems I have forgotten how to do Algebra lol. Math was one of my best subjects in school, and now poof I seem to have erased my brain. To my credit it has been over 20 yrs since I used the majority of it. Obviously not all of it is gone, but the harder stuff has magically disappeared. Good thing my son, is not yet learning this, it gives me time to re-teach myself. Grr it is so embarrassing.

Lesson Plans for 1/15/09:

Reading: Chapter 5 Dolphins at Daybreak
Language Arts: adjective and adverbs, punctuation
Math: Multiplication, division, count by 100's, 10's and 1's
Writing: Imagine you are a dolphin, write about your day
Fire Drill Week: Discuss fire hazards and prevention
Health: Parts of the body
Spelling: Put your spelling words in alphabetical order
Vocabulary: Lesson 15- write each vocab word, and the definition 2x each
PE- 30 minutes