Come Discuss Living Math

[tigerlily]

Someone referred me to Living Math as a way to make mathematics living books friendly.

http://www.livingmath.net/LessonPlans/LessonPlanInformation/tabid/1002/language/en-US/Default.aspx

I've been poking around the website, but I'm curious to hear if any others have used it and how you've implemented it.

I'm also wondering if you've bought the lesson plans, how you felt they were structured -- were they easy to implement, did it take a lot of effort -- or was the effort worth it.

[Bonnie]

:popcorn

[tigerlily]

gentle :bump

[tigerlily]

Bueller.:shifty

[Bonnie]

:glasses

[Codi]

Id be VERY interested in more info. :cup

---------- Post added at 06:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:25 PM ----------

Maybe you're the first GCM to discover this and NO ONE has an opinion on it. :giggle

Is that even possible?

[Bonnie]

I haven't had a chance to follow the link yet, but I'm intrigued.

[tigerlily]

Well, I'm pretty sure the GCM who linked to it may know something about it. I'll go poke her.

Guess what? I found $$ in my Paypal account! I might be ordering it for kicks and giggles.

[tempus vernum]

I LOVE the living math -- I have used the reader suggestions, the game ideas and several of the learning ideas.

We have really enjoyed them :grin but we do not use the lesson plans. I didn't know they came up with them and may look into that :think I have been using that site for . . . about 6 years. I started when my dd1 was in kindergarten and wanted to do "math" (in quotes because we are delight driven). The articles are FABULOUS as well and so encouraging plus they offer great info about how to keep math practical and use literature to reinforce concepts. Our library has a TON of these books and we also have asked librarians to keep an eye out for more concept books. We have a good relationship with our 2 libraries that we go to ;)

This is a great place to start on the site.
http://www.livingmath.net/Articles/StartingOut/StartingOutSuggestions/tabid/406/language/en-US/Default.aspx

I did print the sample lesson plans for primary and see what I think. A part of me thinks that it's not necessary. The reader lists and game lists as well as using "games for math" by Peggy Katz is what we have done. IN fact, having said that, I need to pull out games for Math. Our dd1 has been begging for math ;)

We start teaching textbooks at grade 4 and don't do anything but fun "living math" up until then :mrgreen I usually add in some fun math read alouds but haven't done that in awhile :doh

One of the reasons I suggested this is because it's a SUPER easy and super fun way for kids to do math and to also realize how important it is :heart

[tigerlily]

Thanks!

Part of me deeply fears that I won't do it "right" or that I'll miss something awesome if I don't follow a prepared lesson plan -- peace of mind, ya know?

Especially since it's such a foreign concept to me.

Plus $20 isn't that much if I hate it.:shrug3

[tempus vernum]

Thanks!

Part of me deeply fears that I won't do it "right" or that I'll miss something awesome if I don't follow a prepared lesson plan -- peace of mind, ya know?

Especially since it's such a foreign concept to me.

Plus $20 isn't that much if I hate it.:shrug3
The only thing I don't like much is the history/math combo :think I am pondering it more but I like making math ALIVE not something from the past and I think my kids would have been bored like that. I printed the sample to look more closely but that's my first impression of it.

[tigerlily]

So did you just pick and choose from the suggested reading or did you just use more of the game books and things. Did you not read any of the historical figure books?

Also curious what level of TT you jumped into at 4th grade.

[tempus vernum]

So did you just pick and choose from the suggested reading or did you just use more of the game books and things. Did you not read any of the historical figure books?

Also curious what level of TT you jumped into at 4th grade.

We read some of the historical figure books :yes but I didn't want them to see math as something historical. Not sure if I am communicating this correctly. :think I like them knowing how things developed but not to emphasize the history. Unless they are history buffs. My kids are not history buffs - although they really enjoy our current curriculum.

I used Peggy Katz' games for math and we did numerous readers and some of the games ideas. Honestly, I chose first by subject and second by what my library had available. I wasn't super picky as long as I was introducing subjects.

We used beans and grains to group/sort and I made easy games for them to play and flashcards. I also used some montessori things.

I also used Ruth Beechik's 3R' (http://cathyduffyreviews.com/parent-helps/three-rs.htm)s as a guide to what to introduce when for K to 3rd. We also have board games to reinforce concepts learned from books or homemade games.

We start on Teaching Textbook 4. My dd1 started it halfway through 4th grade - we tried Math U See and it wasn't working for her. DS (who has learning issues) started 4th grade at the end of 3rd grade. He was ready - it's actually the only thing he's "on grade" for and I find that ironic as we are SO relaxed ;) That said, he has significant working memory issues which means he's allowed to use manipulatives to "figure out". He is VERY kinesthetic so the games/books/activities were RIGHT up his alley.

From what I've read MOST kids are VERY kinesthetic IRT math until they are in 4th grade when logic begins to develop!

As you can see, we use a tremendously eclectic approach - living math is just one thing that we "inserted" into our life :).

Just to add - to me living math is more of a lifestyle that picking up their curriculum. . . . not sure if I am explaining that correctly but it is an approach so I was startled to see lesson plans this a.m. when you pointed it out :giggle Their website has been integral in helping us having a learning rich environment IRT math. . .

EDITED TO ADD: Anno's books (Mutsumasa ANno) are SO SO fun. At our house they are fun for all ages :mrgreen http://livingmath.net/LearningIdeas/JustReadIt/AnnosMagicSeeds/tabid/408/language/en-US/Default.aspx

[tigerlily]

I don't know if you looked at the lesson plans or not -- I think the idea is to give you an idea where to go and what books can tie together. Do you feel the website does that well enough on it's own? I get a little overwhelmed by the website.

Thanks for the reminder about Ruth Beechick -- I need to read that section again.

I want to make more of our subjects less "schooly" than they are feeling currently -- otherwise, why am I doing this homeschool thing, right?

But for me math and science are the hardest areas to do that.

[tempus vernum]

I don't know if you looked at the lesson plans or not -- I think the idea is to give you an idea where to go and what books can tie together. Do you feel the website does that well enough on it's own? I get a little overwhelmed by the website.

Thanks for the reminder about Ruth Beechick -- I need to read that section again.

I want to make more of our subjects less "schooly" than they are feeling currently -- otherwise, why am I doing this homeschool thing, right?

But for me math and science are the hardest areas to do that.
I did look at the lesson plans and I wasn't impressed honestly :blush

I think if you choose a topic from the drop down menu (addition/subtraction, memorizing facts, etc), you can find great info and go from there. I think making a list of what you want to cover and using the books as a springboard should be enough - but I do understand the desire to use a lesson plan and if you liked them, I say go for it :yes

I made a scope and sequence using beechiks info and then used this site and games for math to make a "plan". We followed it pretty loosely and talked a TON. We did math in the car a lot (road games).

Science is easiest for me - we just go to museums, zoos, watch documentaries and animal shows, and pursue our interests from there. This year we are nature journaing with an actual plan ;)

Math is a bit more challenging and why I used this site :) But it will work/look different for all families so I encourage you to do what you feel is best :heart

[tigerlily]

Okay followers -- if you're still reading this, what should I try?

Should I go with SonshineMama's suggestion and wing it.:nails

Or bite the bullet and try the lessons plans.

If I wing it, does anyone have a suggestion what book I should invest my $20 in for our home library?

[tempus vernum]

Me again, no advice :shifty because I think you should pray about it BUT if you wing it, I would buy both Ruth Beechik's 3 R's $9.60 and Games for Math $11.40 (AMAZON PRICES ;) ). .

[Serendipity]

Not read the entire read but I'm really digging the early reader book list, thanks for the post.

[tigerlily]

I've already got the 3Rs and I'm reserving the other one at the library...along with about 10 other books I thought I might cut the girls' teeth on. :shifty

[Codi]

Jodi, awesome info. :rockon Your posts made me really want to dig deeper into that site and use it. :rockon We are doing more delight driven, random math stuff right now with ds. (kindy age)

Robin, are you looking for something for all of your kids, or just the 6 year old? I may not be personally comfortable winging it with a 10 year old, but definitely for my 6 year old. :yes I guess it depends on where they are at in math though. :)

---------- Post added at 09:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:11 PM ----------

Oh and another math game/book suggestion is Family Math. :) I just got that from a friend and plan on doing lots of that stuff with ds this year too.

[tigerlily]

Codi -- my oldest is 6 -- 1st grade, so no big worries yet.

And I have Family Math, but have barely cracked it open.:O I'll get to that sooner, now.

[Codi]

:doh I saw the 10 years in your sig above the 6yo and thought at was another dc. I see it correctly now. :giggle

[JJsMom]

Thank you do much for this thread. It really has me rethinking my approach to math. I talked to my dh about it tonight and I really want to make some changes. Thank you!

[tigerlily]

So, I already am finding myself just pointing out more things that naturally have to do with math after reading, reading, reading at that website.

I also went crazy with my (now free) library reserve and got a bunch of books.

Today we sat on the couch with a book "The Penny Pot" and a whiteboard and marker. I wanted to make sure Lucy knew how to do tally marks, so as people put their extra pennies in the penny pot, she wrote down in tally marks how many they put in. Turns out she's seen it before and she did great at it!

There are several activities in the book for further math learning -- we'll probably try more of those, too.

Yesterday, I was able to practice estimation w/ her after reading a story about buns in her easy reader -- I asked her to guess how many buns would fill up a basket nearby. We subtracted how much gas had gone down from the day before in the car. I know there were a few other things I managed to sneak in, too.

So far I love this! We'll see how it keeps up.

[tempus vernum]

SOmetimes a break from what you are currently doing is all it takes to rejuvenate your HS :heart

Glad it's going well :tu

[Love_Is_Patient]

I'll probably have to buy any living math readers I use--if you had to recommend 4-5 of the best ones you've used for early elementary (1st-3rd grade), which would you pick?

[HomeWithMyBabies]

:popcorn

[tempus vernum]

I'll probably have to buy any living math readers I use--if you had to recommend 4-5 of the best ones you've used for early elementary (1st-3rd grade), which would you pick?

Mutsumaso ANna has been our hands down favorite.

We have a great library system and I have 2 librarians that make recommendations for us -- 2 different locations. One might call us library addicts :shifty. They often call them "concept" books and they let us know when new ones are available :rockon