[slavonic abacus]

We have several math manipulatives, some of them are especially helpful to explain the same concept differently, so I make sure my son has fully understood it. Others are have been rarely used, I will only mention our own "must-haves" at the age of 2.

1- IMHO the single MOST important manipulative is a slavonic abacus. We have been using it every day for more than 2 years now (DS is 2y 10m). The slavonic abacus is available on Amazon or from RightStart Math (if you're planning to use their curriculum, which is excellent). Here are 2 examples to give you an idea if you aren't already familiar with:

http://www.amazon.com/Slavonic-Educational-Abacus-Pacchi-Soroba/dp/B00ALHKIWM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1375305676&sr=8-2&keywords=slavonic+abacus

http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-LER4335-Desktop-Abacus/dp/B001V9ACMK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375305676&sr=8-1&keywords=slavonic+abacus

You can start by showing quantities from 1 to 5, then 6 to 10, then just the 10s, etc. That will help your LO learn subitizing (visit ALabacus.com for more info). You can then count by 1s, 2s, 5s and 10s forwards and backwards. If these facts are mastered very well, you can start teaching addition and subtraction which will be a breeze.

Other manipulatives that we used frequently when DS was 2 are:

2- Homemade 100 chart: I attached a copy here: http://forum.brillkids.com/teaching-your-child-math/what-are-you-doing-with-your-2-year-olds-for-math/msg86256/#msg86256

3- A number line: simply printed and laminated

4- A magnetic number set: http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Magnetic-Wooden-Numbers/dp/B000IBRD74/ref=sr_1_sc_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1375306389&sr=8-3-spell&keywords=melissa+magnetic+numbe

5- RightStart math cards from 1-10 with abacus beads, fingers, tally sticks, and double dots (you can make your own or purchase them here: http://store.rightstartmath.com/rightstartand153mathematicslevelsaandbappendices.aspx ). We also used these cards from Winnipeg School District that have ten frame and domino dots on them: http://www.edplus.canterbury.ac.nz/literacy_numeracy/maths/numdocuments/dot_card_and_ten_frame_package2005.pdf You can flash them to your LO in the beginning, then he/she can make "trains" by arranging the cards in a certain order. He/she can also match the cards (for example, ten frame with fingers, etc.). You can also guide him/ her to play memory or any other game you come up with.

These are the most important manipulatives that worked for us. We added many other afterwards like cuisenaire rods, base 10, measuring sets, scale, money set, etc. Just make sure there is no choking hazard for your LO.

Also, you may use the printables from this website: http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mepres/primary/default.htm#reception
It's a free yet solid math curriculum. Many parents on this forum are using it, you can search for older threads about it. Also, there are 3 very helpful threads about toddler math with many suggestions for manipulatives:

- What are you doing with your 2 year olds for math - http://forum.brillkids.com/teaching-your-child-math/what-are-you-doing-with-your-2-year-olds-for-math/msg86987/?topicseen

- Math curriculum for toddlers  -  http://forum.brillkids.com/teaching-your-child-math/math-curriculum-for-toddlers/msg86268/?topicseen

- Pick just one program to teach toddler math - http://forum.brillkids.com/teaching-your-child-math/pick-just-1-program-to-teach-toddler-math/msg86460/?topicseen

Usborne books are maybe what you're looking for. They have well written/ illustrated picture books. For non-fiction, you may try Gallimard Jeunesse publishing. For very simple books, T'choupi and Petit Ours Brun may be good options.

You're welcome! Those books are very very helpful and of a high quality . I did tons of research before choosing them including reading pedagogic reports from different French schools discussing and comparing over 20 other programs! We're not using their handwriting though. I am teaching my son with HWT and I think it's good enough for him for the moment. But he can fluently read the French cursive (thank you LR! BTW, you can download nice French fonts here:
http://www.pepins-et-citrons.fr/police-cursive-a2708801
Our favorites are "crayon" and "cursif"
 

Mom2bee,

Yes, they have all what homeschoolers need and it can be very expensive (taking from experience    ) If you are a non native speaker, I would highly recommend the ICO Islamic curriculum. It is very comprehensive. There are other Arabic curricula with CDs, that can help a lot as well.

Thank you Skylark!

I am planning to upload all the files once I add the sound. I hope other BK learners will like them!

@ Ayesha Nicole, here is a website for verb conjugation, you may directly copy/paste from to LR files: qutrub.arabeyes.org/‎

ASA Ayesha Nicole,

If you are trying to translate the first trimester lessons. Don't worry: it's done  . I haven't added the sound to all the presentations yet but I will isA. Unfortunately, my son is not interested anymore by those and enjoys my handwritten index cards much more. He is learning from them much faster as well. That's why I haven't finished translating everything. I am planning to do it for the next baby isA as I am now expecting 

I usually type the Arabic text in another software with tashkeel, then I copy/ paste to LR.  There is always a problem with two words slides as for some reason they appear in the wrong order even when I check the right to left box. So I have to type them accordingly or add more space between the words. It's just weird 

For the phonics files , where I color coded the tashkeel (a sort of homemade Q'aida Noorania customed to read general books), I prepare PPT slides, then save them as pictures and add them to LR using the "picture only" mode. It takes a long time... but I like them (unlike my son    )

I think we'd better exchange the files, that will save precious time

Have a blessed Ramadan

Salam Mom2bee,

I am joining the conversation a bit late, but here is our experience so far:

We are raising our multilingual son using the same languages you are planning to teach.

As you are planning ahead, I am suggesting homeschooling resources that you may use with a 2y+ toddler:

For Arabic, if you/ your husband are fluent speakers, I recommend http://www.noorart.net/idevaff/idevaffiliate.php?id=173, (it's an affiliate link ). It is full of wonderful resources. We are currently using these collections/ curricula:

-Scholastic Arabic Collection: I was crazy enough to buy this: http://www.noorart.com/Scholastic-My-Arabic-Library-Stories-Set-of-208-Books (when it was on sale last December). It covers all the readers, picture books, non-fiction and chapter books for K-6. I LOVE it!

- El Amal Series for the Islamic education: http://www.noorart.com/Al-Amal-Series-Islamic-Education-Set I am planning to introduce this series later on ISA: http://www.noorart.com/school_section/Islamic-Knowledge-Series-

- For the Arabic Language, I think this series is unbeatable:  http://www.noorart.com/school_section/ico_learn_arabic_arabic_curriculum

I have been trying to translate the LR files to Arabic, but found that my son just prefers handwritten index card. We can flash them, play with them a la Montessori, etc.

We also use these flashcards cards recommended by Ayesha Nicole: http://www.learningroots.com/new/index.php/shop/quran-learning?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=42&category_id=15

as well as other products from: http://www.learningroots.com/new/


For Spanish, we used YBCR Spanish with a great success last year and since then, we've been just reading books and watching Speekee, Whistlefritz, Little Pim... There is board book collection recommended by aangeles you may find here: http://www.memima.com/ It covers the basic vocabulary and my son enjoys it a lot. He doesn't speak Spanish fluently  though, as we don't practice it enough, but I think he is reading at a 1st grade level. I've never taught him Spanish phonics explicitly, but they are so easy to figure out!

Concerning LR, my son likes to watch the French and the Chinese lessons. I would love to get him the Spanish curricula hoping he would like it too. I am a LR fan, I it is the ONLY reading program I used during my baby's first year and that's how he learned to read. I would suggest you give a try with your baby, just in case you change your mind

We are using the following collections:

- "Léo et Léa", a phonics based program: http://www.amazon.fr/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?__mk_fr_FR=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=leo+et+lea

- "Chut... je Lis", a literature based program: http://www.amazon.fr/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_8?__mk_fr_FR=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=chut+je+lis&sprefix=chut+je+%2Caps%2C318&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Achut+je+lis

They are quite different from Kumon but I highly recommend them (especially Léo et Léa if you have to choose only ONE program to teach reading). You may try T'choupi workbooks if you are looking for sth similar to Kumon, but they are of inferior quality. You may also try iPad/ iPhone apps like Petite Section (Nathan) with Moyenne Section & Grande section. They teach basic handwriting. Just bare in mind that the French handwriting is very different from what's used elsewhere. I personally think it is very beautiful (that's how I learned to write, with a fountain pen on Seyes paper using workbooks similar to these: http://www.amazon.fr/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?__mk_fr_FR=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=boscher&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aboscher).

Starfall is an excellent suggestion!

You can check if the Preschool Prep DVDs are available at your local library, the iPad/ iPhone apps are excellent to teach colors, numbers, shapes, letters, sight words and phonics. Getting just the apps would be much cheaper than the DVDs and even more efficient IMHO, as they are interactive games and not just videos.

Signing Time & Baby Signing Time are also widely available in libraries.

KidsTV123 Channel on YouTube is full of educational and toddler friendly videos.

Last but not least, try readingbear.org once your toddler masters the letters sounds (using the free Starfall). It's a free website with a very high quality content and efficient teaching methods especially for sounding out words.
You may also use it with your baby if you just select the flashcards mode. What's more, it was created by a BK member, DadDude! So it definitely falls within the EL standards.

We used all of the above in addition to LR and reading books. It worked so well for us and I didn't need much of homemade material. So that saved me time as well.

Thanks Keri for sharing this review on the forum and for recommending it to us when I was looking for a program encouraging fast math facts recall. I'd like to share our very short experience which was really rewarding. We've been using GM for a week. My son asks for it everyday because he knows it's fun all the way. He gets tickled for each correct answer, otherwise, a second chance to get tickled. It's all giggles!

However, the material looks pretty homemade. There are simple laminated letter size pages with spiral-bound guide and workbook, but the content is solid. I especially love the ideas of implementing strategies that build up with the different levels.

At this stage, we're still using the AL Abacus along with GM. For example, it helps a lot in adding doubles especially if entered on two different wires, but I can see that DS is starting to memorize few operations as he gives the correct answer before entering the quantities on the abacus. I also ask him to visualize the beads and it works very well!

Overall, I am satisfied with the program. It is a good supplement to our math curricula. Highly recommended!

Thanks again Keri for sharing this little gem with us!

[now is home-schooled with]

On Akiane's website with the picture of the brachiation ladder ( http://www.akiane.com/life ), I noticed an interesting sentence:
" now is home-schooled with her four brothers, Delfini 18, Jean Lu 16, Ilia 8, and Aurelius 2 years old." 
Early learning?

Isn't something similar to Jones Geniuses?

Only in an EL home... when a 2-year-old toddler has a tantrum because he wants to do more Rightstart math instead of having dinner. Yes, a true tantrum including throwing himself on the floor screaming: IIIII WAAAAANT TO DO MOOOOOOORE EQUATIOOOOOOONS!

Only in an EL home... when he asks for more books before bedtime although he'd already spent about 50 minutes reading tons of other books. He will be a bit disappointed when Mom says "no". After some "boo-hoo-ing" and good night kisses, he will try to put himself to sleep talking about amphibians he read about in his favorite E-N-C-Y-C-L-O-P-E-D-I-A 

For all those who are using the Eurotalk math 3-5 app, the 4-6 has just been released! https://itunes.apple.com/app/math-age-4-6/id509457434?utm_source=MailingList&utm_medium=email&utm_content=archichiraz%40yahoo.com&utm_campaign=Maths%2C+age+4-6


Here is its description:

The second app in our math series for children. It is in three parts, graded in difficulty – and each is a separate purchase. Part 1 is now available. Try the first topic for free!

Part 1 (●)
1 Shape and position (yours for free)
2 Counting to 20
3 Sharing
4 More counting
5 Tell the time
6 Add and subtract

Part 2 (●●)
1 2- and 3-D shapes
2 Count in tens and fives
3 Fractions
4 Count to 100
5 Using number lines
6 How tall? How long?

Part 3 (●●●)
1 Tens and units
2 More about time
3 More + and –
4 Go shopping!
5 Display the data
6 More measuring

For us it is so exciting! Especially that my son completed the 3-5 app and keeps playing it again and again! It has been his favorite for more than 7 months now! I can't wait to try the new one 

Thanks TMT for the insight! I am seriously considering math genie as I liked the videos on their website.