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. 

Math U See and Core Algebra 1 Online

Some of you may have remembered that I bought Algebra 1 Math U See, with instructional video, even before we started Summer Vacation.  We watched parts of the video over the Summer.  While DJ is doing OK, he is still frustrated and not where he wants to be with Math.  The workbook is difficult.    It only has 15-20 questions per lesson, and they are long and hard.  There is not enough room to work out each problem, and not enough problems.  These are DJ's observations.  I believe I can print off more worksheets for each lesson, on their website.  But, for the price I paid for the books I don't think I should have to use my own ink to do that.  He also has not bonded with the instructor on the dvd.  I know that sounds stupid, but he does not care for the way he teaches, especially since he uses a lot of manipulatives, which is just confusing.  So, we are not giving up on Math U See.  I like it a lot.  I like the instructor, minus the manipulatives, and find the teacher textbook very helpful.  But, I myself have been using Core Algebra 1 to teach myself, and relearn topics I forgot.  Two days ago, I let DJ try it.  He does like this very much.  He likes the instructor, who is quite a bit younger than the Math U See gentleman.  He likes the online tests.  They get progressively harder, but he watches the video each time.  So after five tests he has watched the video 5 times.  So, he will do the Core Algebra 1, online lessons, then do the Math U See harder lesson after he has hopefully mastered it.

Caitlin is progressing nicely with her Saxon 54.  The only concern I have is that she needs to do more multiplication, and has not started division concepts yet.  I think I will be looking for something to supplement those for her. 

9th Grade Science and Math Books Purchased

We went ahead and bought some of DJ's books for 9th grade, next year. We knew we wanted these sets, so these ones are taken care of. American History will probably be online, and I found where he can learn Japanese, and the Ocarina online as well. Those are both his choices, not mine, lol. I just need to figure out for Language Arts, and what books I want him to read. He already read a bunch of 9th grade literature this year, for 8th grade, so I am probably going to give him 9th grade credits this year for Language Arts. He read The Outsiders, A Separate Peace, and is currently reading Romeo and Juliet, and I think I will have him read To Kill A Mockingbird for his last book. We will watch Romeo and Juliet first and discuss it in great length. He also does book reviews for each book, on his own blog. So, he can do 10th grade Language Arts next year, and I would really like it to focus on writing and research. So, that is what I will be looking for. Over the Summer we will be doing some Math, Geography and he wants to do a video game making class.Oh and the dissection kit shown is not the one I bought.  I can not find the link to the one I bought, but I assume any would be OK.

I am still undecided for Caitlin.