Well, it's been a busier-than-expected week for us, but we've managed to get a little math in.  The other day, our son pulled out his bucket of empty water bottles that he likes to hit with a plastic bat.  As he and I would set them up, I would count each bottle, (yes, completely elementary compared to what some of you are doing, but it's a start!).  We did this a few times, and he didn't seem at all interested in my counting, so I stopped and just set the bottles up.  Then he started going through the motions of counting them!  (He doesn't say the numbers yet.)  I was so excited!

Until I have some more time to research RightStart a little more (and some of the other programs), I've printed off several pages of the MEP Math since it's free and immediately accessible.  So far, there has been great interest.  Today I am hoping to do lesson two of Marshmallow Math, (if I can pry myself away from this forum so I can read it before my son wakes up!).

Kerileanne99 --  thank you for the idea of incorporating a little of the whole book (Marsh Math) throughout the day.  As I have more time to read it, that sounds good.  Also, you mentioned that the book is a good precursor to RightStart, does that mean that I shouldn't even worry about an actually curriculum until we've finished going through Marshmallow Math?

Oh, and we received MathStart's Just Enough Carrots in the mail -- another big hit.  I ordered another book in the series too, which should arrive next week. 

As someone else mentioned (sorry can't remember who), we've done a little of this as well: http://www.ixl.com/math/pre-k.

Additionally, while reading a book about numbers this morning, I held up 1 finger, 2 fingers, etc and my son copied me!  So exciting!  I guess my own lack of interest in math has been holding him back all this time!

I have read and re-read this thread and the other one about math for two year olds and am quickly becoming excited about teaching math.

seastar – excellent -- I'm going to try that at dinner!  We're a little sluggish during the weekend, so though I fully plan to "get mathy" today, it hasn't happened yet.  Although, after lunch, my son brought a basket full of decorator fruit to the table and started emptying it methodically.  I quickly started counting each piece with great enthusiasm.  And then again as he filled it and emptied it again.  He seemed to love it, though, in part I'm pretty sure it was because he knew he was prolonging having to take a nap!  He got a good 10 extra minutes out of me.

Kerileanne99 – I aspire to do 1/8th of what you do!  I would also like to take you up on your offer from a similar thread to suggest which route(s) I might take with my two year old, considering you have so much experience with many different curricula.  I just don’t have the natural proclivity to come up with off-the-cuff math ideas throughout the day.  I definitely need some kind of structure.  Preferable structure that isn’t too expensive!  RightStart?  MEP? MathTacular? TouchMath? Miquon Math?  Others?  The number of choices is just a little bit overwhelming as someone else noted.  Perhaps try MEP first because it's free? 

mybabyian – I just fired up the laminator to make a cylinder – great idea!

seastar -- glad (and oddly encouraging) to know that we are kindred spirits in the math department!  Our library has one of the MathStart books so borrow it and see if my son likes it before purchasing.  Please let me know if you come up with any brilliant ideas, and I will as well, (though I'm sure that is less likely on my part. )

Mandabplus3 -- I will indeed begin incorporating Marshmallow Math into our daily routine, beginning tomorrow.  Thanks for the ideas!  Because my son loves to read books with me, (a large part of our day), I can become easily discouraged when he doesn't seem interested in something, but I will push forth and demonstrate the lessons as you suggest, holding onto the hope (and being reminded) that even though he may not be completely enthralled, he is still learning.  And frankly, if I am able to implement what you recommend, I think he actually will show great interest.

Korrale4kq  -- great videos, thank you so much for posting!  It helps enormously to actually watch a lesson in action.  I plan to replicate your ideas with my son.

[Does anyone have any math curriculum suggestions to help a mathematically-lazy parent such as myself?]

The parents on this thread continue to amaze (and overwhelm) me! 

Neither my husband nor myself are very mathematically-inclined, and therefore, our little two year old is very far behind some of your little ones... 

Awhile back, due to glowing reports, I ordered Marshmallow Math.  So far, we haven't gone much past chapter one because our son doesn't talk much, in order to respond to questions outlined in the chapters.  We're also currently doing LM, (with mixed interest). 

I really feel that I need to step up our math time A LOT, but upon reading some of your excellent math curriculum suggestions, I feel that they are very accelerated compared to where we are, considering that math has never held much interest for me, so I really haven't pushed it much.

Does anyone have any math curriculum suggestions to help a mathematically-lazy parent such as myself?

My son has watched counting videos such as Shawn the Train, but I'm really looking for something a little more involved, yet not TOO complicated due to my own apprehension.  I know my description sounds very odd and limiting, but did I mention that I'm not wild about math??

I guess what I need is something like Teaching Math to Toddlers in a Fun Way for Parents who are Math-illiterate and Very Visual.  Any ideas?

Thank you so much for any responses. 

seastar,

Thank you so much for your comments!

Yes, disillusionment... perfect word. 

Well, I've implemented cheering like a lunatic, which seems to have helped.  One of these days, I'll try downloading personalized information as well, which I would imagine would take LR to a new level.  Have never done it, so we'll see how it goes.  Will also read the threads you mentioned that offer additional advice.

Thanks again.

... and it's like pulling teeth to get my 24 month old to watch it.  After using the trial version, I purchased LR instead of YBCR because he really seemed to enjoy LR.  Now that we have it, he is more likely to protest watching it, than not.  If I'm lucky, he'll watch it once a day (instead of twice).  Sometimes we'll go 2-3 days without interest.  Ditto with LM.

He has watched a the YBCR and YCCR trials a few times with great interest, frequently requesting to watch it again. 

Is there anything I can do to increase his interest in LR, or should I just go ahead and buy YBCR and use LR as a supplement on the days that he's open to it?

Please, I would love to hear your ideas/opinions!

Thank you.

linzy -- that's so interesting, because I'm the exact opposite.  While having a very poor auditory memory, (unless I use a lot of repetition), I have always had a pretty good visual memory.  Unlike you, I took very detailed notes and would take a mental picture of them.  And, if I had the kind of class that included multiple choice questions on exams, I would simply visually memorize what I was studying and would ace tests that way.  Granted, I was so busy visually memorizing, that I usually didn't take the time to understand the content, which really defeated the whole purpose of school.      And it certainly wasn't a fool proof method, leading me to have many grade fluctuations.

If I see a visual presentation of something I need to learn, I can usually understand it instantly and remember it for a very long time.  However, it could take me forever to grasp and memorize the very same information if I am only able to hear it.  I have to "squint" really hard with my ears, which is exhausting. 

Actually, now that I think about it, since having a baby, I really don't have any kind of memory left!

I started signing with my son when he was about 8 months old without being very consistent.  There was no indication that he was learning anything after a reasonable amount of time, so at 12 months, we started him on Baby Signing Time videos, and he took off!

Wonderful!  Thank you for your replies...

Hello.

I started my son on Doman dot flash cards when he was less than one year old, then switched to ppt because he wouldn't look at the cards.  We got as far as addition and subtraction.  I wasn't confident at all that he was even really looking at the computer screen, so I lost my motivation to continue.

Within the last couple of weeks, I used the LM trial software with my son and it seemed to hold his attention, but I'm wondering if he might be too old to actually learn from it.  Should I be using something else at his age?

Anyone have any input?

Thank you!!

This is a fascinating topic.

Prior to being a stay-at-home-mom, I worked in an area where I needed to be able to understand and recall vast amounts of very dry information.  It was extremely difficult for me because I have auditory processing disorder, which means, as the name implies, it can be next to impossible to process information that I hear.  And if I can't process it and understand it, I certainly cannot remember it because I never had it to remember.

In an effort to overcome this extremely irritating impediment, with microphone and recording software in hand, I started recording everything I had to learn and would listen to it in the car during my lengthy commute.  I became absolutely amazed that via repetition, I was suddenly not only able to understand, but also remember vast amounts of information in great detail.  Constantly recording new information was certainly very time-consuming, but it changed my productivity immensely, thus improving my quality of life, as well.  Not to mention, I'm sure it helped keep me gainfully employed! 

Yes thank you.  I did receive a reply but then had an additional question and have been antsy to move forward since I haven't heard back yet.

Hello.  I would like to purchase LR and LM as soon as possible, but I have a question that I haven't been able to find the answer for.

Does anyone know if I were to purchase the LR Basic and LM Basic Bundle for one semester only, what the cost would be to upgrade both for the second semester, if I decided to?  Would the price still be bundled, and if so, what would the cost be; or would they each be $80 for a total of $160?

Thank you!

Thank you both for your input!

My son has a pretty big library of books and we have many ppt presentations, plus Montessori nomenclature cards, so we'll probably go with Basic LR.  Though if I wasn't planning on purchasing a math and music program as well, we would probably splurge for the Deluxe.

Thanks again!

Okay, I'm convinced I need to purchase LR, but would love your input to help me decide which one.

I'm currently doing ppt presentations, Reading Bear, Starfall, and flashcards with my 22 month old.  Having said that, would Basic LR be fairly sufficient?  (If you've read any of my other posts, please forgive my redundancy.)  The cost is certainly more appealing.    

Additionally, if I purchase one semester, is it possible to later purchase the second one?  Do most people purchase both semesters?

Any other factors that swayed you one way or the other?

Thank you!