January 1, 2009 - Living Math is not Quick or Neat
I’ve been investigating living math for quite some time now. And I’ve slowly started introducing some elements into our homeschool – a weekly game or puzzle instead of using the Singapore Math textbook and workbook. I’ve even gone so far as to purchase some lessons from Julie at LivingMath.net. (I’m still waiting for the holidays to be good and over to actually receive it, though.) I’m committed to changing the way we learn math.
So far most of our activities have come from the Family Math book (pictured at left). They are quite fun and really help to improve Sprite’s motivation to do math as they hone mathematical reasoning skills. That’s all good and well. But the textbook and workbook are really a lot easier.
I know why people don’t do this living math thing. It’s not quick. First I’ve got to plan something to do. Using Singapore math is pretty mindless as far as planning goes. But with living math, I can’t just turn to the next lesson and do the accompanying workbook activity. Instead I’ve got to look through the Family Math book, choose something, and then prepare the materials needed.
And living math is not so neat. One project – a very meaningful project, mind you – involved a super long strip of fax paper and gazillions of tiny squares glued on to a number line.
Update -- new camera! Here's a picture:
The idea was to demonstrate with squares all the possible multiplication problems that could result in that number. As an example, for 12 we had 1 long line of 12 squares, a rectangle made of 2 rows of 6 squares, and another rectangle of three rows of four squares.
It’s a great project, a concrete model of multiplication factors! But add two curious cats into the mix and you’ve got a mess. Fax paper in twisted swirls, little colored squares scattered everywhere, globs of glue wiped on pants legs. After locking up the cats we did manage to complete the project.
In staging these photos, the cats came out again to play! At least everything is glued down at this point.
It was not quick. No “do exercise 13 and tell me when you’re done.” This took a LONG time. Granted, we’ve used the chart several times as a reference for doing other activities. It’s worthwhile, and it’s living. But it’s not quick, and it’s not neat.
Another example is a fun puzzle from Family Math in which you have to arrange a stack of cards numbered 1-10 so that as you turn them over you get that sequence of 1-10. Sounds easy but as you turn over cards, every other card is put back on the bottom of the deck. I thought that this puzzle was doable by Sprite, and making ten numbered cards sounded awfully easy after all those tiny squares and a maze of fax paper. I assumed she’d get so far and want some help. Then I’d give her some clues, and she’d solve it. Done. Over. Moving on to history.
But it wasn’t like that. This puzzle really and truly captivated Sprite. She got so far, as I’d expected, but adamantly did not want any help. No clues. No diagrams. Absolutely wanted to solve it on her own. I was so proud of her persistence. Proud for the first forty minutes. Then I was feeling irritated. “Just give up!” I thought, “Let me tell you how to solve it!” But she remained firm. Because she was seeing slow steps of progress, she was motivated to keep going. She could get the cards to turn over in order from 1-7. It was those last three digits that she couldn’t solve.
Totally impatient, I insisted that she move on to history. Putting away her cards, I started reading about the Cherokee Indians. I looked over at Sprite, defeat all over her face. She was not mad that she couldn’t solve the math puzzle but mad that I wouldn’t let her keep trying. Realization hit me. Forget history. This is ridiculous. I want her to love learning, and I’m being a slave to my schedule for the day instead of allowing her to go off on this tangent. (A tangent I gave her!)
I gave her back the cards and told her to keep working until she solved it. If it took all day, I would accept that. Wrestling with this problem until it was solved was more important at that moment than the Trail of Tears. In less than six minutes, she had totally solved it! Her feeling of accomplishment was obvious as she danced around shouting, “I did it! I did it!”
Lesson learned --not only is living math slow and messy, it’s also amazingly rewarding!
Comments
January 2, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I used Family Math when I went through teacher education... loved it! I'll have to dig up my copy and see what I can apply now.
:)
Makita
4twinklingstars.blogspot.com
January 2, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by LaPaz (theresa)
You are absolutely right. And that same concept can be applied not only to math, but to all subject areas.Breaking free from the textbook treadmill isn't easy, but it is so rewarding.
January 2, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I admire you for hanging with it! Doesn't exactly follow the short lesson model! :) But, she will most assuredly remember every bit of it the rest of her life!!
Blessings,
Melissa
http://livinglifebetweenthetrees.blogspot.com
January 2, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I love the Family Math book! I used it quite a bit when I was teaching in the classroom, and I dug it out of the garage a while back, but it has been sitting here since then. Thanks for the inspiration!
Jen in OK
January 2, 2009 - Family Math Rules!
Posted by Della
You're so right. And good perspective. I am incredibly impatient when it comes to school some days. If Lillie shows an interest, sometimes, I can get so restrained in a schedule that I quench her desire for the moment. I forget that one of the reasons I chose to homeschool was so we could embrace learning and love learning and be flexible. I guess coming from a public school mentatlity to a more leisure method of homeschooling is hard for me. Textbooks can have their place as well and you're right. Doing school the way we do isn't easy, but it's worth it.
January 2, 2009 - Living Math
Posted by Deanna M
Thanks so much for the reminder about 'our schedules'. I too can get impatient and want to just move through the material because of course we don't want to 'get behind'. If we are able to really listen our childrencan be the best teachers for themselves and us!
January 3, 2009 - Post this one on a carnival!
Posted by Christinethecurious
Jimmie,
The living math part especially is great! And the honest example of backing up graciously to follow the child's appropriate timing.
The link letters getting bigger when you click on them is cool too.
Thanks for your inspiring blog, and happy Western New Year
Christine
January 5, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by westward
This is a perfect post for the carnival! And you're absolutely right, living math often takes a little longer, but it's entirely worth the reward.
I'm finding the same is true of our nature studies and artist studies. I could get through a reading and worksheet about nature, for instance, in a few short minutes. Nature study often takes a lot longer. But, oh, the time spent is so much richer and more meaningful!
January 7, 2009 - Excellent Post
Posted by Anonymous
Thank you for including this in the Carnival. It is so easy for us to slip into 'fast and neat' homeschooling because it feels efficient. It is good for us to be reminded that 'slow and messy' is often how life works and we're often better for it. And, as odd as it sounds, we also need the reminder to let kids do their own work.
Sandy
http://sandy-fallinglikerain.blogspot.com
January 9, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Keri
My library has it...
I think I'll give it another try!
Thanks!
January 11, 2009 - Schedule slave
Posted by MusingMom
Hi, my name is Kris, and I am a schedule slave, LOL!
I was a schedule slave to the point where I felt I was not cut out to homeschool my kids on a weekly basis! Prayer to the Holy Spirit and meditation on the Divine Mercy (image of Jesus with the words "I trust in you" below it) led me away from trying to finish so much in a set amount of time, to working on this book, project, unit until it is done, however long that may be.
That has made our whole world a much happier one--one that is much easier to incorporate living math and everything else. Rabbit trails welcome!
January 22, 2009 - Family Math
Posted by Creativemommy
We have started using this too and so far the kids have thoroughly enjoyed it.
I do Ray's Arithmetic on Mondays and Wednesdays but then Family Math on Tuesdays and Thursday.
You're absolutely right that it takes longer, lol. We can get Ray's done in 10-15 minutes bu will spend 30 minutes to an hour on Family Math.
But hey, it's fun and I'm doing it with them and they are learning without really knowing it.
Great post, I hope it encourages more moms to try it out.
January 22, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Hello, new reader here!
I am currently a teacher, but I am looking into homeschooling my daughter. As I was reading this all I could think of was that this is how it *should* be done. I believe my daughter has learned more about math from the activities we have done together (using the shopping items / tax to support multiplication facts, measuring to figure out cups/pints/quarts, etc) than by things out of the textbook.
Kudos to you!
Catherine
February 1, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Dana @ School For Us
What a wonderful reminder of one of the things we are trying to develop most - a LOVE for learning! And, that was a painful reminder of the times I've stepped in and said "it's time to move on to something else." **sigh*** I can only hope to improve as I become more away! Thanks for this message!
Dana
