Your favourite kindergarten (?) math supplies

[2sunshines]

I'm looking for some good recommendations on teaching math to my ds. He's 4 and already enjoys math. He can count to 100+, can add small numbers in his head, larger numbers with counters, can subtract one digit numbers, and we have recently started multiplication and division (of course very subtely such as dividing 10 objects into groups of 2, etc.). So I'm looking for a book, method, or curriculum, but in addition I'm not sure what level he would be at. I don't want to get something that teaches him what he already knows, kwim?

So any advice on what you've used and what you love?

[joandsarah77]

What about some fun things like they have at http://www.kaplanco.com/index.asp things for measuring length and weight. Or how about some toy money and playing shops.

There are lots of things online. http://techschool.acs.ac/Standards/math/K_Math.html is a useful sight.

I know some curriculums like Singapore have Kindergarden maths, maybe someones who's used one of those could help.

[The Tickle Momster]

You might look at Saxon math. I have heard lots of good things about it & am exploring it myself. If you go to their website they have a placement inventory you can use to determine what level you would need. Very easy to do. Sorry I don't have their website. I keep googling it. :P

[allisonintx]

Sorting bears

and

1's, 10's 100's and 1000's cubes (montessori material)

These are my favorites because they are sooo versitile and applicable in many ways. We're still using the cubes with the 10yo for decimal place value....it was a good $10 to spend.

[RealLifeMama]

I would def get some Cuisenare rods (http://www.etacuisenaire.com/cuisenairerods/cuisenaire_rods.jsp)
I don't if they are the same things that Alison is talking about but the cuisenaires are great for anyone to have around.
You never outgrow them, really.
They are good for early learning but as a high school teacher, I still used them also with my students.

[threecubs]

I would def get some Cuisenare rods (http://www.etacuisenaire.com/cuisenairerods/cuisenaire_rods.jsp)
I don't if they are the same things that Alison is talking about but the cuisenaires are great for anyone to have around.
You never outgrow them, really.
They are good for early learning but as a high school teacher, I still used them also with my students.


I agree. To go along with the Cuisenaire Rods, a good curriculum is Miquon Math. My daughter started later, but she has really blossomed with this program. The good thing is, it's very inexpensive, and you can make each lesson more in depth if you want to. Here's a good little article about it: http://www.keypress.com/catalog/products/supplementals/Prod_Miquon.html

[Roma]

one of my favorites is called shake those beans

you get some beans and pain one side red

then you have a graph type paper with addition phrases at the bottom
0+4 1+3 2+2 3+1 4+0, they roll the beans and if they get 3 reds and 1 white they color in 3+1 and keep doing it for a while. i always preceeded this with an introduction to all the ways we can get four. we called 0+4 and 4+0 partners etc..... and 2+2 was called the double and they'd draw a bubble around it "bubble the double" :giggle when evern they'd roll 2+2 i'd always here "bubble the double"

then we'd move on to 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

it is really easy to make yourself

[Roses]

We have Math U See & we love it! Ds just turned 6, but I think if we'd had it when he was 4 we would've enjoyed it then too. We're still in the Primer level.

[Cindy]

Saxon and other traditional math programs are very slow and repetitive. If your ds has a aptitude for math he will be bored quickly. We really like the Miquon books which use Cuisenaire Rods. It is a non-traditional discovery-based program that develops problem solving skills instead of just drilling kids with facts. The lessons are set up so the child will figure out the rules for himself. The cuisenaire rods provide a concrete way to demonstrate difficult math concepts to a young child. The first book covers all 4 math operations and introduces fractions. I started with Sarah when she was 4. The program was a challenge for her at this age, but we worked slowly at her pace. She is really taking off with it now at 6.5. She is halfway through book 3 and adding/subtracting 2 and 3 digit numbers in her head.

Here is a link to the books:
http://www.keypress.com/catalog/products/supplementals/Prod_Miquon.html

[Cindy]

Oops - just noticed Toni already posted about Miquon :O
I guess that will teach me to read all the posts before responding :shifty