advertisement
advertisement
You have tried every math program on the planet and your child is still not getting it. Okay, maybe not every program, but it sure feels like it. What can you do to help your child learn everything he needs to know about math?
You can start at the Typical Course Of Study put out by World Book and see what your child should know (or needs to learn). Then you can set out to find an alternative way for your child to learn those things. You can use any or all of the following resources to help your child to meet these math goals.
1) File Folder Games
There are some good examples of math file folder games over at File Folder Fun. Pretty much anything can be made into a file folder game.
2) Learning Centers and Tubs
Learning Centers are not just for classrooms, you can easily adapt them to work in a homeschool setting too. The math tubs over at Hubbard’s Cupboard are my favorite example, but please remember that even older kids will love these types of activities if you tailor them to their skill level.
4) Homemade Learning Games
The best kind of games are ones you make with your child specifically for them. Have a look at the amazing Games For Learning site by the Game Lady.
5) Music
There are many different CD’s available to help your child learn their math facts. When I did a quick search on Amazon, there were at least 7 different ones available for Multiplication alone.
6) Store Bought Games
Many a memory can be made and skills can be learned too by playing these games as opposed to fighting about why you each despise math so much.
- Yahtzee
- Monopoly
- Rummy and RummiKube
- Canasta
- Sequence
- Phase 10
- Skip Bo
- Head Full of Numbers Math
- You can find more ideas on how to adapt other games you may have in you house to incorporate math.
7) iPad apps
There are numerous different ways that you can use your iPad to make math more interesting. There are apps for just about everything.
- calculators
- calendars
- flashcards
- games
- white board to work out problems
- books about math
- and much more
8) Homemade Manipulatives
Just about anything can be re-purposed and used as a math manipulative.
- buttons
- teddy bears
- counters
- bingo chips
- cars
- animals
- bread tags
- bottle caps
- and whatever else you and your kids can think of
9) Math Manipulatives Online
If you don’t have time to make manipulatives or you lack the space to store them, then the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives maybe just what you need.
10) Living Math Books
If you want to make math come alive, then I suggest you check out this Squidoo about Living Math and of course the Living Math site.
11) Online Games
Here are just a few of the websites available online where your kids can play games to learn their math skills.
I hope that I have helped you in your quest to seek out math alternatives for your child or children that could benefit from a different approach.
What are your favorite math resources?
When Honey is not searching out math materials for her five children, she can be found blogging over at Sunflower Schoolhouse.
This post contains affiliate links. The post is also linked to Works for Me Wednesday.
Join 40,000+ Other Awesome People
Subscribe to the Real Life at Home weekly newsletter to get our latest content, exclusive free printables, learning activities, and ideas for celebrating with your kids all year
You only listed ten items. You skipped the number 3. Was this a test?
That was an oversight on my part, but we can call it a test. Guess what? You passed.
I am sorry about the mistake. Thank you for pointing it out.
Blessings
Honey
So timely! I just posted about teaching math yesterday. Great suggestions.
Pamela
http://www.RedWhiteandGrew.com
@redwhiteandgrew
I visited your blog. You have some great ideas in your post too. I really like the approach that you are taking to math.
Blessings
Honey
Thanks for the visit… and the note!
Great ideas! I wanted to add a couple. My kids have really struggled with math facts. Especially multiplication. We use a deck of cards (remove face cards) to play games like war. We also use the cards to make up problems for addition and subtraction. Another great tool is multisided dice. You can buy 10, 12, 20 etc sided dice at a game store. We use them to play lots of games and practice basic facts. Another great tool when we were working on borrowing and carrying was a dart board. We would throw darts and add (or subtract) to get to 100. I am a fan of anything but worksheets for extra practice.
Hi Marcy,
Thank you for sharing your ideas. We also use dice to play games. Darts and cards are great ideas.
I am also a fan of using anything but worksheets to practice math.
Blessings
Honey
Thanks for sharing all these resources! They’ll come in very handy. 🙂 I’m a big fan of Timez Attack, myself. 🙂
You are very welcome. Thank you for visiting.
Our kids absolutely LOVE the math bingo game for our iPad. It has 3 levels of play, and they can do addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division! Definitely worth purchasing.
Hi Faith,
Can you share the name/link for the math bingo game for the iPad? I would be interested in getting that for my kids. We are always looking for more ways to work on math.
Blessings
Honey
I am always looking for more help with this subject. Thank you.
Hi Julie,
I am happy to help. I hope you find some things that you can use.
Blessings
Honey