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-   -   Come Discuss Living Math (http://www.gentlechristianmothers.com/community/showthread.php?t=424572)

tigerlily 09-24-2011 01:51 PM

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

http://www.livingmath.net/LessonPlan...S/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 09-24-2011 02:37 PM

Re: Come Discuss Living Math
 
:popcorn

tigerlily 09-25-2011 07:37 AM

Re: Come Discuss Living Math
 
gentle :bump

tigerlily 09-25-2011 03:59 PM

Re: Come Discuss Living Math
 
Bueller.:shifty

Bonnie 09-25-2011 05:11 PM

Re: Come Discuss Living Math
 
:glasses

Codi 09-25-2011 06:26 PM

Re: Come Discuss Living Math
 
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 09-25-2011 07:39 PM

Re: Come Discuss Living Math
 
I haven't had a chance to follow the link yet, but I'm intrigued.

tigerlily 09-26-2011 06:11 AM

Re: Come Discuss Living Math
 
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 09-26-2011 06:53 AM

Re: Come Discuss Living Math
 
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/S...S/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 09-26-2011 07:03 AM

Re: Come Discuss Living Math
 
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 09-26-2011 07:05 AM

Re: Come Discuss Living Math
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerlily (Post 4182933)
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 09-26-2011 07:34 AM

Re: Come Discuss Living Math
 
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 09-26-2011 08:15 AM

Re: Come Discuss Living Math
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerlily (Post 4182977)
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'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/...S/Default.aspx

tigerlily 09-26-2011 12:27 PM

Re: Come Discuss Living Math
 
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 09-26-2011 12:39 PM

Re: Come Discuss Living Math
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerlily (Post 4183555)
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


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