There are surveys that say that while homeschoolers test above the national average on SATS scores as a whole, that as a whole, homeschoolers’ average math scores are below that of the national average…which may be due to either the laxity or to inadequacy or math-phobia of homeschooling moms.
The following are math resources used by members of our e-community:
RightStart Math is an optional supplemental programs from Moving Beyond the Page is a comprehensive curriculum for gifted and creative homeschoolers
We use the flashcards on www.aaamath.com, which has been a life saver for cementing math facts.– Dana
For improving math calculations (accuracy and speed) try a workbook called Hyaku Masu Keisan (百ます計算）by a man called Hideo Kageyama （陰山英男）。 It has a section on each operation. For example, in the addition section there are two sets per page. Each day one is supposed to do one in the am and one in the pm. Each page has EXACTLY the same two sets. I believe there are two weeks worth per operation. It is precisely because one does the same exact sets for several days in a row that one improves in accuracy and speed. It is also supposed to be very helpful in keeping older brains “smart”. My son did them a few years ago. Right now we are doing them as a family. Three of us are doing it more for maintenance so our speed doesn’t change that much. But my daughter’s speed (she is doing it for the first time) is rapidly improving along with her accuracy. We all find it fun and enjoyable so it is easy to stick with it.—B.I.
Here is a free website that has math practice (and kanji) I use it if we need a bit more drill.
http://www.geocities.jp/mutasanjp/tsukaikata/index.html#meaning
We just found a math book in the bookstore I wish we had had all along. It has really helped him understand Japanese math. Their textbooks don’t seem to explain it much. The book is called Kore de dake sansu.
I find Singapore Math to be a good supplement, but the numbers of the texts don’t seem to up that well. I actually have jumped around with my son so that he gets the same topic explained two different ways. My dd is just starting second grade and working her way through SM 1B. The tens and ones topic is a review but, clock and multiplication are new. The timing will be off, but she seems to pick things up easily so I am looking at is as a review from school or an intro before the school gets to it. I shipped the books from Singaporemath.com to my mother and she put them in a priority mailer and it cost $9 from the states. Rainbow Resource seems to have expensive rates. I have also order SM from Sonlight, but don’t remember their shipping rates. It is just a nice break from a Japanese drill book. – Juli
2nd review: Both my boys started Singapore with the Earlybird program. It is colorful, visual and fun. It seemed easy for my kids when I started them in it at age 5, but they enjoyed doing it. Both boys started with EB 1B (1A is very simple.) My first son finished 1B-2B in one year and my second son finished in about 4 months. I think my first son is the better math student but he is just an expert dawdler! Earlybird 2B does contain more writing than my kids were ready for at that age in the “days of the week section” but I just skipped over a lot of that and did it orally.
The Homeschoolers teacher’s manual doesn’t start until 2A. They have a TM for regular school teachers for 1A/1B but I didn’t find it helpful because most of the activities were group activities that were impossible to do at home (e.g. have 5 kids stand up holding number cards from 1-5.) I really like the TM for 2A, especially the game suggestions and lesson plans. We haven’t used the textbooks much (which start at 1A.) My kids are pretty decent at math so I don’t know if the textbooks would be valuable with other kids.
Review 2: We use Singapore Math (Primary Math Series). The PM series is very visual (good for visual learners) and moves fairly quickly. The grade level compares to the US math grade levels until about the end of level 1B when it starts to pull away. By the time they are in 2B they are about the equivalent of the first 1/3 of 3rd grade in that they are working on multiplication which is generally covered in a 3rd grade classroom after a few months into the school year. This series doesn’t provide manipulatives or things like that but you can easily do that yourself.
For that age I would suggest you not worry too much about using a text except as a guide. Math can easily be taught in real life situations,i.e. produce section of the grocery store, paying at the heckout, having them choose which item is the least expensive, setting the table, having the write their phone number, stuff like that. Preschool and kindergarten level is mostly recognizing numbers, what
they mean, how much it really is, etc. — Joan
Math: I supplement with Singapore Math and fact practice. This is what we do:
1. Each kid has a “math lab” night alone with me (that’s 3 kids) for about 20 minutes. I do the next SM lesson with them…..if it’s easy we keep going to just get as far as possible. I even let them do it orally with me writing the answers for them…THIS IS HUGE!! It suddenly becomes palatable to do this (of course, some problems can’t be done orally). My goal each year is to get through one SM book (2a for example) during the school year, and then do the “B” book in the summer at a faster pace. For fact practice, we practice about 3 mornings each week (5 min. max) with “math windows” (I have 6 of these) attached to clipboards. This is done after breakfast and they each get a special piece of candy to either stick in their lunchsack or backpack to have at some point during their school day. They get the treat regardless of their “time” (I do time them). I also have flashmaster and I occasionally use this, but for some reason just find it easier to use the math windows. I’ll have to check out math fact cafe.
Also, I made little individual booklets for them (the 1st and 2nd grader)
and made the cover in their favorite. color. My dd is working on multiplication
facts and I also included a non-filled in multi. chart at the back of her
booklet and so she can easily see that once she gets the 0’s, 1′, 2′, 3’s,
5’s, and 10’s down, there is really not much left to go! She was
intimidated by multiplication facts and that *really* helped her. I made
lots of Singapore math helps in a powerpoint file. You could use it all the
way from EarlyBird to 3A. If anyone is interested, I can email the file to
you. The little booklets I made are on that file, too. – from an afterschool message board
For math, I hate to admit it, but after trying all the “fun” programs, we
use Saxon Math with great results. A supply of these in the “bookstore” would be
beneficial. – Powell family
“Indian multiplication method” in action. Here it is in action! Very cool!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvpLN5KJg0c
We used Math-U-See when we brought our 4th grade son home from Japanese
school. He knew his facts, but didn’t understand why and was quickly
getting very far behind. We Alpha through Gamma in one year. Alpha and
Beta were mostly review, but watching the DVD really helped him. He had
a lot of “Ah-ha” moments. This year he decided he wanted to use
Singapore because he wanted a variety of topics in one book. MUS really
helped him understand math and how numbers work. My other two
kids “get” math and really don’t like MUS because it goes to slow…of
course, they like the blocks. – Juli
Cuisinaire rods are VERY GOOD for teaching nearly all areas of math, so that will last many years. We have two sets and use them a lot. Do you need a suggestion for where to buy them? They’re heavy, so postage may cost from the States. There are many online used homeschooling book companies, and the best is Randi’s Reruns. – Cheryl
Miquon Math Program is very manipulative oriented(uses Cuisennaire rods, pictures, and numberlines). (My son likes this program too) Intuitive approach to math that focuses more on presenting problems that are related so that kids can see the pattern. It allows kids to discover the math principles by just working with them. Miquon moves fast (and therefore lacks practice/review).
Inexpensive. By the time program is completed, the child would be at 6th grade level, and ready to move onto Saxon 6/5. Shortcomings: Somewhat jumbled approach – can be difficult for teachers to manouevre with Lab Sheets Annotations and worksheets. Lacking in review and needs to be
supplemented with word problems or Calculadders or other drill. Sold at a discount at Rainbow Resource. For more info on product go to the Miquon website Keypress.com Miquon worksheets are very simple, no color. I don’t think you even need the whole set of Lab Annotations and everything, just the worksheets.
If you want to pick up some math tricks try Speed Mathematics by Bill Handley, Bill Handley says it isn’t in the least necessary to develop speed in mechanical automaticity in operations, that knowing how to count up to 10 was sufficient to launch into his trick methods of Speed Math (which involves more formula patterns).
Bridge Math The Problem: In public and private schools, students take math courses on one track and science courses on another. They will not be asked to use their math to solve science problems until they reach high school chemistry. Then, SURPRISE! Suddenly there is a heavy burden of problems placed on them at the moment they are grasping to understand an abstract subject. Half of the students will be lost from the sciences while the other half will struggle to remain. Few will excel. The Solution: a 7-week short course designed to teach students the applications of math that they have neither learned nor practiced. After Bridge Math they will excel in high school science, because they will be properly prepared for it. In this course, students will learn when and why different math tools will be used. While the course discusses the topics of geometry, trigonometry and calculus, the only prerequisite for Bridge Math is Algebra I. Most of the math problems encountered by scientists every day can be solved using the techniques taught in this course along with arithmetic and basic algebra. “Why take Bridge Math?” Students educated under the traditional system are poorly prepared for the type of problem solving that will be required of them in high school science courses. High school graduates who have avoided upper level sciences will be poorly versed in the type of problem solving that is so useful in everyday life. These skills can make all the difference in a graduate’s professional advancement and decision-making abilities. Bridge Math provides the missing content. “Who will benefit from Bridge Math. Bridge Math is for any student who wishes to learn to solve practical problems using the math tools and skills acquired since grade school. It is strongly recommended for anyone who will take a high school course in chemistry or physics or any course in The Spectrum high school science series by http://www.beginningspublishing.com/bridgemathdes.htm
Before you choose any math program, you could play games, do brainteasers
and puzzles, use manipulatives, and read books about math. Your son will
get the idea that math is something fun that he is actually good at.
As always, Ann Zeise has a wonderful collection of links with ideas for
every kind of learner. http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/directory/Math.htm
Multiplication links; Skillwise: Times Tables Website: http://www.homefires.com/click?ykfcvej9jc2x
The BBC offers this website that provides interactive lessons, games, and quizzes, along with free printable factsheets and worksheets for learning “times tables,” a foundation for building multiplication skills. When you get to the site you will see 4 menu items:
1. Factsheets – There are 11 printable factsheets here that include times table;
grids, a multiplication glossary, various multiplication methods, and all kinds of tips and tricks for learning the times tables for numbers 1-9.
2. Games – Two interactive games with sound (turn on your speakers) provide practice in learning the times tables for numbers 1-10. You can turn the “timed test” feature on or off, depending your preference. 3. Quiz – Choose from 3 different quiz levels (unsure to confident) to test your knowledge of the times tables. 4. Worksheets – Print out free worksheets that provide practice in filling in multiplication grids, match multiplication problems with the correct answers, answer word problems, and complete multiplication sequences.
There is also a section for “Tutors” that explains how to use the materials as a starting point for learning times tables and to reinforce number patterns while practicing times tables. Want to learn more about teaching mathematics? Check out this very helpful article written especially for homeschool parents by Linda C. Burks, Ed. D. also known as “Math Mom.” http://www.homefires.com/articles/begin_teaching_math.asp
Here are a few books to look out for:
Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat and others by Theoni Pappas
Anno’s Math Games series and others by Mitsumasa Anno
Comic Strip Math
G is for Googol
The Grapes of Math: Mind-Stretching Math Riddles
How Much is a Million?
Math Curse
Math for Smarty Pants and others by Marilyn Burns
The Number Devil
Sideways Arithmetic from Wayside School
Sir Cumference series
If he likes software, try the Zoombinis series – math without numbers! – Linda
Try also the following math-related literature:
Calculus for Cats, by Kenn Amdahl and Jim Loats who also cowrote Algebra Unplugged These two guys have such a knack for explaining complex mathematical concepts simply and succinctly.
Wittgenstein’s Poker: The Story of a Ten-Minute Argument Between Two Great
Philosophers. The book takes one small incident and uses it as a jumping off
point to discuss 20th Century philosophy and philosophers.
Other good philosophy overview books, are Sophie’s World and Looking at
Philosophy: the Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy Made Lighter.
Math lesson plans used with children’s literature (sorted by grade or subject) to launch kids into mathematical investigations: http://www.k-state.edu/smartbooks/index.html
Games, multimedia and software math games and such:
For Math software, try the Zoombinis series – math without numbers! There’s also Math Blaster, Quartermile.
The Ancient Mystery of Tangrams
MATHTOONS “GEOMETRY AT THE “MATH-SEUM” This poster is a learning tool that takes a look at the geometry some artists use. TEACHER’s GUIDE WITH GAMES This classroom guide contains a series of fun games for 3rd-5th graders and helps bring out their deductive reasoning and problem-solving skills. MATHTOONS – WANTED: GEOMETRIC SHAPES This poster is a learning tool that reinforces the “Geometry” that surrounds you! from the BIC Teacher website
For older kids, Knowledge Adventure puts out CD-roms called Math for the Real World and Grammar for the Real World for ages 10 and up.
Moneyopolis offers financial education for middle-school kids.
“Moneyopolis is a challenging math game, which requires you to
demonstrate your math skills in the context of some real life money
matters.” Created by the national accounting firm Ernst & Young,
Moneyopolis is based on their five-step financial process: assessment,
goal setting, strategy setting, implementation, and review/adjust. You
begin the game as a new resident of Moneyopolis, with $600 to your
name. Your goal is to tour all seven centers, save at least $1,000 and
earn three Community Service Medallions.
Free Math Games, we have been playing this this afternoon…its easy
enough to work through the web site on limited Japanese…click here
Vroot and Vroom; and Rainbow Rock. Singapore math.com have won some very prestigious awards in NY.
MECS Montessori math’s mecssoftware.com
StudyWorks! Middle School Deluxe Math” PC Magazine gave it a ***** rating; the description sounds quite good; and the software seems reasonable enough: $29.99. at Study works online.com)
Mission T.H.I.N.K’ problem-solving software
Multiplication videos: Review: I own a set of Doraemon addition/subtraction videos which my sons both loved, but was not pleased at the way that “Doraemon” constantly ridicules “Nobita”, not only for failures, but for being pleased with himself for small successes…
Math websites:
Study Works Studyworksonline.com
Review: Their programs work like this: When you start the program, two windows open. One is like a web page, and it contains links to menus and submenus to all the lessons. The other is like a scratch pad or “word processor” for math.
The lesson window lets you do the lessons in any order. Each lesson includes explanations, examples, and lots of practice, and you can check your work right away; you can also change the practice problems inside the lesson window to create new, but related problems for yourself, and you can check those answers right away as well.
The second window is really handy. You can use it to take text notes, or perform mathematical calculations; unlike a regular word processor, you can do all kinds of equations right there in the window. You can also open up different kinds of windows according to your preference. For example, you can choose whether you want real numbers to appear as fractions or as decimals. You can easily manipulate such items as matrices and graphs. And you can use it as an equation editor if your word processor doesn’t have one, because you can cut and paste equations from StudyWorks into other documents. The idea’s hard to describe unless you have the window right in front of you, but it’s really useful to have when you are doing equations that are too complex to do in one go on a calculator, or when a spreadsheet isn’t right either.
We use it primarily as a reference. It’s designed to replace a traditional textbook, however, and I think someone who wanted to could do it that way. The MathSoft people who make StudyWorks have an excellent web site, and it’s a good place to go for further math questions (I think you just have to click home from the site I mentioned above to find search). In addition, another site for help with math questions is the Math Forum — Angela
‘Homeschool Math Website at Homeschoolmath.net Find games, worksheet generators, resource links, teaching tips, lesson plans, and more. The curriculum corner has articles on
choosing and evaluating math curriculum, a scope-and-sequence chart, and curriculum reviews
(add yours). You can sign up for the free newsletter and read archived back issues.
Free math worksheets Mathsworksheets
Math learning as its theme in this issue of the Freedom-in-education newsletter:
http://www.freedom-in-education.co.uk/newsletter/jan.htm
or for a pdf version:
http://www.freedom-in-education.co.uk/newsletter/jan.pdf There’s an article, some dos and don’ts when learning math with your children, and a link to an introduction that Gareth is writing to Euclid’s geometry, which sounds a bit daunting, but is actually very interesting!
SUNFLOWER STUDY SUPPORT is a free website that has both kanji and math practice. Click on this for drill
Cool Math For Kids website
Cram Web offers lots of math games and quizzes at their website
Multiplication at multiplication.com
Living Math is a website that has a lot on non-program math at the livingmath.netl
Math Cats at mathcats.com
AAA Math website
Math is power website Check out this site for arcade games,
family games and such
A PLUS MATH website
From Learner.org website on
using math in daily life.
Teach R Kids website
You can get math simulations from www.free.ed.gov
MIT website Download its many college-level math courses here
If you like to do brain teasers and puzzles, use manipulatives, and read books about math. Ann Zeise’s Homeschooling website has a wonderful collection of links with ideas for every kind of learner.
MathCounts, a math problem solving and competition club for junior high students that turned her into a math lover. To find out more about MathCounts go to Mathcounts
Math Drill website
Great Math Worksheets website
Figure this website It is funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education and contains math challenges for families.
Try out this Living Math website too!
Discovery.com’s math web-page offers problem solving math.
Math games and activities and ideas at the Family Education site.
Links to a bundle of math articles to be found here.
THIS & THAT ABOUT TEACHING MATH
For teaching math to preschoolers:
Abecedarian Academy has skills lists including for arithmetic for preschoolers
How to introduce concepts of addition and subtraction in a fun way.
Those lifestyle habits are very mathematical! Teaching 1 to 1 correspondence (one sock for each foot, etc.) and later x-to-1 correspondence (two senbei and a mikan for each person, etc.) gives a
rock-solid sense of number that makes the four arithmetical functions easy to master, and there are all those opportunities for sorting and classifying (if you run out, I can send you a pile of laundry to sort any day of the week…). Enthusiasts say that just counting everything
works well, but I found that rather killed conversation.
Pat Kenschaft’s “Math Power” has good, simple ideas for pre-schoolers. There’s a Table of Contents for the book at: this page
As far as equipment goes, I still use a simple bead frame to help with 3-place subtraction etc. We have one with 9 beads, which forces the child to go to the next place in order to express ten of something. As toddlers, the boys played with large beads threaded onto eastic, with a loop on one end, and one of those big, decorative buttons on the other end. I made several sets each of different numbers of beads, so that they could either link together several groups of the same number, or “add” different numbers. They made ’em large and small, and wore them as bracelets, belts, etc., they used them to record points in game or as “prizes”, hid them as “treasure”, and quickly learned which were worth “more”. They make good toys for plane trips too.
Because I don’t “really” home-school, it took me a while to find out how different each kid’s approach to learning can be. Kid #1 seriously proposed to his grade 2 class that the way to solve a 2-place addition problem was to look at it and the answer will pop into your head (works for him…). Kid #2 makes up a song about the strategy he’s using and sings it to himself as he solves each problem.
An Easy Start In Arithmetic, Ruth Beechick In her book Beechick says there are three modes in which children think about math: manipulative, mental and abstract. These modes also correspond to the developmental stages of a child. First, young children learn through the manipulative stage. They need to touch, feel and move. When you, as an adult, see the problem 2+3=5, you think in the abstract mode. You understand the concept of two and three. You do not have to see and touch two blocks and three blocks. You don’t even have to picture two blocks and three blocks in your head. Preschoolers cannot do this; they are in the manipulative stage. Later, during elementary school, they develop the ability to do math in the mental mode. They can picture the number and the
addition process, but they are still not able to understand the abstract concept of a number. This ability to understand the abstract concepts of math develops around age twelve.
It’s best for a homeschooling parent to keep these developmental stages in mind while teaching math. During the early years, math concepts need to be taught with things that the child can touch, feel and manipulate. This need usually corresponds nicely with the real life of the child. Children need a lot of
real-world, concrete experiences before they can internalize the meaning of numbers, arithmetic operations, geometric shapes, proportion and all the other terms, ideas, processes and relationships that are a part of mathematics.
About Unschooling Approaches:
“Learning All the Time“ by John Holt covers Arithmetic/Math, as ell as Reading and Writing, Science, Music, and tells what parents can do to unschool their children.
RISUPIA MATH MUSEUM Visit this cool math museum in Japan – RiSu Pia that seeks to encourage math! Details below.
RiSuPia 2-5-18 Ariake, Koto ward, Tokyo
Phone: 03-359… (10:00-18:00hrs) Closed on Mondays, year end and
beginning of the year.
RisuPia website (in Japanese) http://risupia.panasonic.co.jp/recommend/
RiSuPia is a state-of-the art (or should it be state-of-the-tech?) digital
museum (run by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.) designed to spurr
interest in science and mathematics. It features 24 games and displays and
hands out hand-held PDA (personal digital assistants) to children at the
museum entrance. When your kid holds a PDA over a blue light infront of a
display information on the display is shown on the PDA screen. What’s really
cool at the museum is the Prime Number Hockey. Players compete against one
another by selecting prime numbers (integers that are not divisible by other
integers except 1 and the integers themselves on their side of the oard).
Various integers projected on the hockey board, slide around like discs on
an ice hockey rink and when a kid touches a number that isn’t a prime
number, the number splits and divides itself up. By the time the game is
over, even young kids would have learnt the smaller prime numbers by heart.
It grants free admission to children of middle school age and younger.
EPGY MATH PROGRAM
Review: The EPGY program was OK but I thought not really worth the money, at
least below High School age. DS did two years of math in 6 months
and had trouble communicating with the tutor via e-mail and
whiteboard. It wasn’t until we called him that DS and he connected
and the tutor was actually used. The tutor made himself available
but DS just wasn’t used to corresponding like that.
Your child does have to do some qualifying to be accepted for an
EPGY program with certain test scores, etc. The initials stand for
Excellerated Program for Gifted Youth. It is designed for kids
considered gifted by that school’s standards. Both Stanford and
Johns Hopkins offer it.
Making Math Meaningful
Ruth Beechick’s 3-R’s is a packet of three little booklets one of which is
titled “An Easy Start in Arithmetic.” These 3 little booklets (plus wall chart)
are sold as a packager. Dr. Beechick shares simple, practical, non-stressful
ways to introduce reading, writing and arithmetic to preschool through 3rd
graders. Special Price: $8.95
Family Math: Review — I recently found a great book called Family Math: The Middle School Years that gives activities to develop algebraic reasoning. What I found most important about this book was the discussion on what type of math courses to take in middle/high school for various college majors, and the need to research colleges in advance for their entrance requirements. The following is an excerpt from a review in the Scientific American Magazine. Family Math is what it claims, a guide for parents and children to work together, not on passive tasks of rote learning but in active game play, solving problems, experimenting and even discovering. The tools are many but familiar: cups and playing cards and beans, paper and pencil and scissors, for some a watch with a second hand, and a $5 calculator. What to do is neatly shown in the 100 or more math activities that are laid out in this cheerfully illustrated, informal book, High aims include the growth of confidence no less than skill and a glimpse at how careers open in this world with math. This is a curriculum for
informal math education, so badly needed. Special Price: $17.95
Mathematical Reasoning: Mathematical Reasoning, Book 1 (grades 1-3) and Book 2 (grade 4-8). I’ve never met a child who did not thoroughly enjoy these highly visual books. These are about the only “workbook” math programs that are truly FUN as they present just enough of each of the different math concepts to teach a child without burning him out. Unless you are a very busy Mom, we don’t think the Teacher’s Manual is necessary for Book 1, but do recommend it for Book
2. At the end of Book 1, some multiplication is introduced; so, if your child has not yet learned his tables, set the book aside until he does. Each book contains age-appropriate sections covering Number & Numeration, Geometry, Operations, Measurement, Relations, and Tables & Graphs.
There are two ways to use these books: 1) to simply present the pages to the student to be worked (used by many parents as a math program); or, 2) use the Teacher’s Manual along with the Student Text to go beyond simply solving math problems to developing the “reasoning” behind the solutions. Special Price: $18.95
Mathematical Reasoning Teacher’s Manual Book 1 & 2: These texts go beyond just giving the answers to the problems in the student texts. The TM’s take the child deeper into the “thinking skills” stage of math problem solving. If you do not have time to work with your child, you will probably not need the TM for Book 1, but you’ll need it for Book 2. Special Price: $10.95
Math-It!: This is the Davis’ favorite math drill facts program and is especially valuable for the child who is a kinesthetic learner or who likes math tricks (figure the square root of 5625 in your head in the next 15 seconds!). There are four levels of “play”: Add-It (additions facts), Double-It (doubling
facts), Half-It (halfing facts necessary to multiply large numbers by 5), and Times-It (multiplication facts). Each level comes with its own 8×10 cardstock answer board and a set of 1-1/2″ x 1-1/2″ problem cards. Each problem card has a corresponding answer block on the answer board; and, when all the problem cards are placed on the answer board, the board is full. When the answer board can be filled within 60 seconds, the child is considered to have “mastery” of that level. We recommend using Math-It! for any age child to make sure the child has total mastery of all his drill facts. Included with Math-It! are an instructional tape, an illustrated instructional book (which takes math facts way beyond the times-tables and introduces lots of “math tricks”), and an 81 page comprehensive Guide to Learning Math Concepts for children through age 14. This is truly an
amazing and wonderful program! Special Price: $44.00
Math Olympiad Contest Problems for Elementary & Middle Schools: This is truly a book to teach thinking skills. For example: Problem One asks, “If today is Friday, what day will it be 100 days from now?” What makes this book unique is its layout: Section One teaches the process of problem solving. Section Two covers the problems themselves. Section Three has the answers. If the child really doesn’t know what to do with one of the problems, Section Four offers simple hints to the student. Section Five is a step-by-step Solution Manual for the student who is completely stuck. This is followed by several Appendixes dealing with everything from Basic Concepts for Young Mathletes to Working With Exponents. Not just fun, but useful. Special Price: $21.00
Math Word Problems Levels A, B, or C and Math Word Problems Set of Three:
A, B, and C. We are enthusiastic promoters of some of the Critical Thinking titles (they publish Mathematical Reasoning, described above). These word problem books are the original expensive one-volume text divided into more useable books for specific grades. The publisher recommends the following order: Level A (whole numbers & fractions) is for grades 4-6; Level B (decimals &
percents) is for grades 5-8; and Level C (whole numbers & percents) is for grades 5-10. Choose the title that best fits your child’s needs or purchase all three at a savings. Math Word Problems Levels A, B, or C Special Price: $11.00 each. Math Word Problems Set of Three: A, B, and C Special Price: $23.95
Jacob’s Elementary Algebra Kit and Jacob’s Geometry Kit: Most students have testified that when compared to Saxon Math, Jacob’s Math is far easier to understand and is much more interesting since it contains problems that are more “real.” The “Kits” include student book, parent’s/teacher’s manual, and test booklet (tests for each chapter, mid-term and final exam). The Teacher’s manual is written to be used in a classroom with overheads which (overheads) are not
available; and are even (in our opinion) unnecessary, due to the self-explanatory nature of the student text. The main value of the TM is that it contains answers to some of the problem sets. Jacob’s Elementary Algebra contains most of what is contained in Saxon Algebra I and Saxon Algebra II.
(Saxon does not have an independent Geometry text, but includes a small amount of Geometry in its level II text). Jacob’s Geometry is a complete geometry text. This is important because the College Entrance Exams often contain more geometry than they do algebra. Jacob’s Elementary Algebra Kit Special Price: $79.95 Jacob’s Geometry Kit: Special Price: $84.95
Algebra and Trigonometry: Functions and Applications Kit by Paul Foerster: Harold Jacob did not write an advanced algebra/trig text; but, when asked which one he would recommend, he said this text by Foerster is the closest to what he would have written. We sell the Student Text and Solution Manual together. A teacher’s manual exists, but it is nothing more than the Student Text with the
material from the Solution Manual in the margins of each page. We consider this distracting to the student and, therefore, do not offer it. Foerster presents his problems is such a way that students learn that there is more than one way to solve most problems. Sections include Functions &
Relations; Linear Functions; Systems of Linear Equations & Inequalities; Quadratic Functions & Complex Numbers; Exponential & Logarithmic Functions; Rational Algebraic Functions; Irrational Algebraic Functions; Quadratic Relations & Systems; Higher-Degree Functions & Complex Numbers; Sequences & Series; Probability, Data Analysis, and Functions of a Random Variable; Trigonometric & Circular Functions; Properties of Trigonometric & Circular Functions; and Triangle Problems. There are also several appendixes and a Glossary.Special Price: $125.00
Kumon & Gomi-Taro wall charts. Toys-R-Us sells two nice Japanese wall charts for multiplication: Both were laminated and rather attractive, and they both had the “ku-ku” in hiragana written along with the numbers. – Dave
Kumon math workbooks available at any bookstore in Japan are vouched for by most parents as supplementary texts.
An interesting bilingual math activity book, Grade 4 level, from Heath Mathematics
Connections. It technically goes along with their 4th grade math curriculum, but this book has an English AND Spanish page for every activity.
Tarquin math resources are very interesting Portugal: Editora Replicacao, LDA, Avenida Infante Santo 343, r/c Esq. A Portuguese catalog for Tarquin’s math resources is available at the contacts above 1350-177 Lisbon email: replic@mail.telepac.pt. Phone: (351)21-397-7058
Math books by Lakeshore Learning
Conceptual Math Media
Developmental Mathematics (by L. George Saad, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Long Island University) 1993 Level 1 (diagnostic test included) Ones – Concepts and Symbols has a lot of big pictures for counting; great visuals! Spaces for drawing in pictures (i.e. – 2 things). Teaches the beginning stages of addition Reviewed by Cheryl
For ADD kids Right Brained Children in a Left Brained World: Unlocking the Potential of Your ADD Child by Jeffrey Freed 1998 offers specific techniques for teaching visual spatial learners reading, writing, spelling and mathematics
NHK “Mathematica” magazine (which accompanies TV broadcasts for 1st and 2nd graders but would also suit 4-5 year olds in many cases) offers a pool of interesting approaches to arithmetic (including occasional multiplication tables). There are some tasks to be done, but not an arduous amount.
Traditional US Math texts:
“Arithmetic We Need” by Brownell (with Guy T. Buswell and Irene Sauble) from the mid-50’s in a series
“Making Sure of Arithmetic” (Grade 6):”Each new process is explained in the
simplest terms, utilizing every graphic aid possible.From the beginning, meaning
and relationship are emphasized.As a result the pupil gains not only skill but
skill with understanding.” (Morton, et. al., 1946)
From “The New Curriculum Arithmetics” (Grade 7) “A program of mixed and
cumulative practice exercises insures mastery and retention of the processes and
topics studied.” (Brueckner, et al, 1941)
From “Growth in Arithmetic” (Grade 3):A comparison chart in the teacher’s
edition showing the difference between the older (Thorndike-derived) textbooks
and this one: “Older: Taught as facts, skills, and habits of procedure; Newer:
Taught to emphasize meanings, principles, and relationships. Facts and skills
developed after understanding.” (Clark, et al, 1952)
From “Teaching Arithmetic We Need” (Grade 5) “Each book in this series is built
upon a conception of arithmetic that involves two aims, the social aim and the
mathematical aim.Adherence to the latter aim requires that children see sense in
what they learn.”(Brownell, et. al.) Reviewed here
EDUCATION IN JAPAN COMMUNITY Blog 
The Rightstart series. I love that curriculum! — T.
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