Mortensen math?

[Amalie]

Hi Sonya
I thought the same that since they already know their numbers, it is just another step to link with the concrete. Here is the jpeg. I start with the 3 point lesson (keeping it short) and then I lay out a few of these. Sometimes they would pick them up and place the actual blocks on top of the image. Also, after building for eg. the 5 addends, I would show them an equation on a card and ask them to point to the matching one he has just built. They are learning the teens and tens and we do these with cards as well. I am happy to send the ppt file or jpegs if you can advice on the best way to do this. Also, Skype details? - how do we exchange these?

[Amalie]

Here is a link to the video showing how he made the 4x4 'blanket'. He looked pleased with it afterwards. The other twin went on to make a 5x5 blanket (not shown). 5 is his favourite number after James the train.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqalrUkwTzA&list=UUW2GZlI64ukTXn1zChHoSmA

[PokerDad]

how do you get the digital images? That could come in handy

[sonya_post]

We are waiting for Andrea to get her blocks. Then we will do one mass sharing by PM on this forum. It is better for me if we do it all at once. And it will also depend on who wants to join us.

I like those cards and placing the blocks over the top is great. I watched the video. That is wonderful. What a great way to keep the interest and keep playing. That is what I was after. My kids are older so we are working in the Mortensen tray building addends. But as a change of pace I like this a lot. Basically you are playing "What's Under the Cup?" with your tunnels. There are a lot of parents on here who do not know how to do this with really little ones. Mine are older right now. The more video you can post in here with your great ideas, the more helpful it will be. 

[sonya_post]

Pokerdad,

This is for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWamkS0OfwM

[baby Anda]

I would also like to join the Skype but I am also waiting for my friend from US to bring my blocks. I haven't done any activity also with my DD related to Mortensen. Is it possible to join the Skype eventhough I have nothing to share yet?

[andreasro]

Welcome!

Yes, you can join us Because the idea is to learn from each other, right? And I also need a couple of weeks to get my blocks We start the Skype meetings only after that 

Have a wonderful day!

Andrea

[RiamP]

Hi, I would love to join Skype as well. I am waiting on my blocks as well but am loving this thread and posts. Need to revitalize my sons math

[andreasro]

Welcome RiamP 
I think we, the parents, are going to have at least as much fun as the kids    learning math.

[srg]

very interesting thread. just got introduced to Mortensen math and cr.  Is it suitable for older kids?

[sonya_post]

I am not sure how old you mean when you say older, but I know CR uses it with high schoolers and college age kids. So I think you are probably good to go.   

[sonya_post]

I know Andrea's blocks re on their way to Romania. She should have them by the end of next week. If you want to send me a PM if you want to join a skype math group that would be great! It would be helpful to know where you live, when you are available, how many kids and their ages. That way I can kind of see if we need more than one group and the best time. On there please share with me your skype credentials.  Unless someone has used google +. I know google plus we can have 10 people in one chat. I am not sure about skype. If anyone has opinions on this please let me know. I don't. I am pretty technologically illiterate.   

Update for us:  Our weekly routine consists of making walls and pyramids for various addends. We do like to push cars through the walls and knock them down; we are building squares and square roots (for memorizing the squared numbers for 1-25); attempting to build rectangles out of prime numbers (right now we are just collecting a list of numbers that can't be made into a rectangle or square (in preparation for memorizing the prime numbers up to 1000),  We do multiplication and skip counting, and basic algebra and some subtraction. The kids can all subtract numbers through 20 so I am just getting them used to seeing that subtracting and negative numbers are related. -7 +9 is the same as 9-7. 

[FLKL]

I was wondering how you guys were planning on doing that. I've seen people have three people on skype at once but I've never done that.

We haven't been playing with our blocks much. I haven't been feeling well.  Hopefully I'll be feeling better soon so we can get back to it. My 2 year old isn't really into the blocks so maybe after seeing other kids playing with them she will too. My 4 year old has all the combinations to make a 10 memorized. He even knows subtraction which I didn't think he knew. I'm very impressed with the blocks but I have to admit it's a lot of work for the parents. Homeschooling in general is a lot of work for parents so I guess there is no easy way.  There is just so much for the parent to learn.

[sonya_post]

FLKL,

Raising kids is a lot of work! Since I run a small daycare in my home and we do EL with all the kids, my time is very precious. I think that is true for all parents. I am getting better at cutting things out and saying no. You have to pick what is important.  So, what is most important to you and your family? I haven't introduced the periodic table. It isn't important to me. I would rather take that time and take my kids for a walk and collect leaves or pick wildflowers, press them and place them in their nature journals. Or maybe I don't have time, because it is really important that we have home cooked meals together.  And we have a garden which takes a ton of time and it is something I don't want to give up. You have to choose.

As far as the blocks taking time. All math programs take time unless you want to use a DVD or computer program. And you can, but at this age it is still going to be labor intensive for the parents. My kids don't get very much screen time at all, less than an hour a day and on many days none. If things are really crazy or the kids are sick we do movies. But if you just leave the blocks out to let your kids play and then make observations while they are playing, your kids will learn a lot. And maybe even more than if you were hovering over them telling them stuff. While you are doing laundry tell your son to make a problem for "what's under the cup?" and you will answer it when you are done folding. He will get to where he wants to make it hard for you and he will be doing the math to get the answer. Have him make a math town and just leave him to it and go do something else.

I have used skype with two people not with more than that. And I know some people prefer google plus. I am not experienced in this. So we will see. Someone will come forward or not and I will have to learn. LOL. But people do it everyday, so it can't be that hard.

[FLKL]

Oh I didn't mean I don't have time for it. I meant it takes a lot of energy I don't have right now.    
I'm feeling better and we've been doing more but I feel behind on everything. I'm letting the kids lead on what they feel like learning right now and we're doing what we can. They both love to cook and explore outdoors but since I haven't been feeling well my four year old has been really into building things and learning about animals and asking good questions like "Why do my hands and feet get pruney in the bath tub?"... The two year old loves tracing on her magnetabs and puzzles.

I might get the blocks out today for the kids to play with even though they haven't asked for them... And I'll get back to watching the videos... Has anyone tried the teacher's handbook from Geoff White?

Sonya, how much do you charge them to do EL with their kids? Is it extra from what you would charge just to watch them? Did you have to be certified to do that? I've thought about doing that but I don't like babysitting other peoples kids. I'd be afraid thinking "what if they take a nap and never wake up?"... I've heard lots of horror stories so I'm probably exaggerating.

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