Sep. 2, 2008 - Organizing our Unschooling Math
How to Handle Math?
Today I let the kids just go and do what they wanted. Turns out they did a lot! One of the things they decided to stick with was math. We were playing Monopoly and we had to figure out percentages of their total money and so we went through a lesson online about percents. Well, my oldest looked at me and asked if this was going to be covered in their regular math lessons (Teaching Textbooks Pre-Algebra). I said yes and they unanimously decided they would prefer to watch the lectures and do the practice problems in order instead of skipping around and only learning about the things they need at the moment. They reasoned it was just plain easier that way. So, I guess, math will stay more "schooly", although we all decided that they need not do all the practice problems unless they feel they need it.
I am happy with this as most of the Pre-Algebra course is the common, daily used, sort of math. Frankly, I have been shocked at how they diligently use and learn math when they need to...i.e. "you can have the shoes but you have to figure out what the 30% off equals and add on the 8.5% tax"... All of a sudden math becomes the sole focus of their otherwise sporatic attention. Hmm.
