Finding a Better Way
We started homeschool kindergarten in 2011 using the typical math education methods such as textbooks, workbooks, and flash cards. By halfway through 1st grade, my daughter was dreading math. How could my only-6-year-old daughter be starting to hate math?This led me to an epiphany about the fact that my schooling methods were detrimental to teaching my daughter to love learning.
It was time to overhaul what we were doing and find a better way. After trying many approaches, I finally found the Thomas Jefferson Education method and it completely transformed our homeschool. Over the next couple years, my daughter was able to re-write her story for math. Instead of dreading and hating math, it became a topic that my daughter found fun and interesting. And that paved the way for her to be successful now that she's in high school.
Teaching Math Without a Formal Curriculum
The math method that worked well for us focuses on three specific approaches: games, read-alouds, and everyday math. These three approaches, combined with creating an environment that promoted a love of learning, became the basis for successful elementary math studies with both my daughter and her little brother.
I didn't push my children to engage in any of these resources. Instead, they were free to decide whether or not they wanted to participate. But the thing is, our math work became so fun and un-pressured that my kids often chose to participate.
One important key: Beyond the everyday math, I didn't offer to do math read-alouds and games with my children every day. That would have taken some of the fun and excitement out of it. Instead, I aimed for about 3 times a week. This overall method worked well for my children to explore math rather than getting bogged down in repetitive drills.
Math Read-Alouds
Math read-alouds provide a great opportunity to introduce new mathematical concepts to children. Often I read these books alongside a lap-size dry erase board where I could illustrate things further, or where we could write our answers to questions posed in the books. Instead of forcing my children to answer the questions in the books, I gave them the opportunity to do-so; if they didn't feel like it, then I kept it lighthearted and worked through the problems myself. We read math read-alouds usually once or twice a week.
Bedtime Math - Each page includes some engaging facts and then three math problems (ranging from easy to difficult) that give children a chance to put math concepts into practice. My children absolutely LOVED the first volume of Bedtime Math. The subsequent volumes were not as popular for us.
Life of Fred - Life of Fred is a series of books that tells the story of Fred Gauss, a 5-year-old math genius who teaches at a university. Life of Fred books range from elementary math all the way up through Calculus. Besides mathematical concepts, Life of Fred books also weave other topics into the story such as constellations, carnivores, and languages. At the end of every chapter, there are a few math problems to answer, but they are much more interesting than the problems in most math books. Fred and his doll Kingie are an unlikely duo that my children love. I wrote a post on how to use Life of Fred with kids of multiple ages here.
Sir Cumference books - These are engaging picture books that cleverly wind mathematical concepts into the stories. For instance, in Sir Cumference and the First Round Table, my children learned about diameter, radius, and circumference in a fun, easy-to-remember way. Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens introduced place value in a way that my daughter, especially, loved.
Anno's math books - Anno's books are beautifully illustrated and they show math concepts such as multiplication very clearly. My children especially loved Anno's Magic Seeds, and Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar.
Math and Magic in Wonderland - This delightful book tells the story of two sisters and their magical adventures with math. I love that the language in this book is beautiful, that the storyline is interesting, and that the math problems are designed to elicit curiosity instead of boredom. The math problems in Math and Magic in Wonderland were too advanced for my 6-year-old son when we started reading this, but by age 7&1/2 he was ready to participate more. My daughter was 9-years-old when we started this book, and she enjoyed the math problems right away.
More Math Picture Books - I have a list of 25 top math picture books here: https://www.nourishedandnurturedlife.com/post/top-25-math-picture-books
Everyday Math
For Everyday Math, look for opportunities to teach math in the context of real life. This allowed my children to see that math is relevant to their lives. I avoided being preachy about math in our everyday lives; rather, I just used math in meaningful ways as I go about my days, and I encourage my children to do the same.
Here are some examples of how Everyday Math has been used to teach math.
We have a thermometer outside our kitchen window that allows us to see what the temperature is outside. We use this daily to see if it is more appropriate to wear long-sleeves versus short-sleeves, sandals versus close-toed shoes, etc. Using our thermometer can also be tied into Nature Study since the children can observe that there is frost on the ground when the temperature is below freezing, that the humidity increases before it rains, etc.
We baked or cooked together. I allowed the kids to measure out ingredients using measuring cups and spoons, which taught fractions as well as awareness of what different amounts look like.
When we read about something that mentions a size (such as the length of a snake or a distance that has been traveled), I took the time to put the measurement into context by comparing it to some known amount. The tiles in our house are 1-foot-across, so they can easily be used to see how long specific measurements are (and my daughter especially loved walking the tiles to see how large different creatures are). We related distances to places we regularly visit [such as from the front of our property to the back, or to Grandma's house in Albuquerque (220 miles away), or to El Paso (40 miles away)].
The children helped in grocery shopping by price-checking different items, counting and weighing produce, comparing prices, etc. I also sent them on errands to get items from our grocery list. They thoroughly enjoyed grocery shopping because they had real, meaningful work and purpose while we were at the store. (AND, this early grocery shopping involvement paved the way so that my high schooler kids now actually go grocery shopping for our family on their own!)
Each winter, we participated in Project Feeder Watch, where we observed the species and numbers of birds in our backyard about once or twice a month. Feeder Watch was a great way to integrate math and science into our lives. In addition to reporting the number of birds we see, we also reported the weather conditions (low/high temperatures, precipitation, etc). Both kids loved participating in this program.
We regularly referenced a calendar to see what the date is, or when specific dates were coming up. Birthdays and holidays were referenced often on the calendar, and the kids liked to count down the days until they arrived.
My children can earn money any time by pulling weeds. I generally pay 1-cent per weed. Sometimes, when the weeds are getting especially out-of-control, I will run a special where I pay double or even triple for certain weeds. The children are required to count up their weeds so I know how much to pay them. For instance, one random week my daughter pulled 342 weeds (!) and my son pulled 26 weeds. (I didn't even know they were doing it until they were ready to be paid.) My husband also pays the children for killing flies or ants in the house.
We had a number line up to over 400 that wrapped around the living room. The kids liked to use this to practice counting (on their own initiative) or they used it to say where something is ("over by 320"). Children who visited our house also loved this visual way of seeing how large numbers are.
Each child had their own wallet as well as an envelope for long-term savings and one for charity. They were required to put at least 10% of their earnings into their long-term savings (otherwise known as the "car-fund" or the "horse-fund"). My kids also had cash money from their chicken business to manage (with increasing complexity as they got older). This allowed them to become proficient at making change and using coins.
My children saved for and bought items from the store. Earning, saving, and spending real money was invaluable in teaching math concepts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and money management.
These are just some examples! The overall concept is to look for ways that you can demonstrate and use math in your everyday lives.
Math Games
Math games provided a fun way for my children to practice their math facts without even knowing it. I did not tell my children, "let's play a game so you can practice your math." Instead, I just let them choose a game to play and the math happened during the game without anyone making a big deal about it.
If a child got stuck on the math, then I would help them instead of making them try to figure it out until they were frustrated. I tried to give them the freedom to guess and make mistakes, while keeping it light-hearted and fun, instead of making the kids feel like they were "wrong" or putting them on the spot.
With all of these games, I often made special rules or modifications (described below) so that both children could play and enjoy the game, regardless of their age difference. In some games, it worked best for my youngest child to be on my "team" when the rules or math-involved were too complicated for his current understanding. We usually played math games once or twice a week.
Cribbage is a card-and-board game where the players try to be the first to score 121 through making card combinations such as cards that add to 15, 31, etc.
Teaches addition, multiplication, and knowledge of numbers up to 121.
Modifications for younger players: a number line is helpful for players who can't easily add to 31 in their head; my young son would play on my team by helping to look for card combinations and moving our counter around the board.
Yahtzee is a dice-rolling game where the players see who can achieve the highest score as they fill in the scores for various dice combinations (such as 3-of-a-kind and Full House).
Teaches addition and eventually multiplication, strategy through determining the best ways to use the high rolls versus the low rolls, and writing.
Modifications for younger players: my son would play on my team by rolling the dice, helping me decide which dice option we are aiming for on the scorecard, and helping me add up the dice.
Mille Bornes is a card game where the players are in a car race; the first to reach 1,000 miles wins.
Teaches addition, knowledge of numbers up to 1,000, and knowledge of which numbers are greater.
We used lap-size dry-erase boards during this game to keep track of how far our cars traveled.
Modifications for younger players: I would keep track of my son's score for him.
Although this game has cards that can be used to sabotage other players (such as giving them a flat tire or Stop sign), we typically played this as a "sweet" game, where we didn't sabotage each other. I didn't force the kids to play it this way, but I did demonstrate non-aggressive playing through my own behavior, and my children decided to follow suit. This makes the game a chance practice choosing kindness, as well.
Uno is a card game where players try to match colors or numbers to be the first to use up all of their cards.
Teaches numbers and colors. Can also teach addition and subtraction using the variant described below.
One variation is Add and Subtract Uno, where we can combine two cards through addition or subtraction to match a number being shown. For instance, if there is a 4 showing, we could use a 5 and 1 (to make 5-1 = 4). When we played this way, little brother still played the usual way and is dealt a few less cards to make it fair.
Once my kids were older, we added the allowance to Multiply and Divide, alongside the Add and Subtract variant.
Monopoly is the classic game of buying and selling property.
Teaches addition, subtraction, how to make change, knowledge of large numbers, and concepts such as mortgage, bankruptcy, etc.
We usually limited the length of this game to 1.5-hours, and we started the game with 3 properties per player (chosen randomly from the deck and paid for from our individual banks).
Modifications for younger players: my son often played on my team by rolling the dice, moving our player around the board, managing our small bills ($1's, $5's, and $10's) and helping me decide whether or not to buy/sell properties.
There is more info on how to use Monopoly to teach math and finances here: https://www.nourishedandnurturedlife.com/post/monopoly-to-teach-math-finances-character
Poker is a classic card game where players compete to see who has the best 5-card hand.
Teaches strategy, analytical thinking, money management (if played with poker chips), and weighing of risk versus reward.
Modifications for younger players: my son often played on my daughter's team. They loved being in on the secret of what cards she held, and giggled delightedly when she had any "wild" cards.
Sum Swamp is an Addition and Subtraction board game using multiple dice which are combined to make math problems (such as 1 + 3 or 5 - 1).
Teaches addition, subtraction, understanding of math problems and symbols, odd and even.
Modifications for younger players: when my son was younger, he played Sum Swamp with just one die instead of using all of the dice to make math problems.
Pretend Store is a game where my children set up stores, usually with stuffed animals being the shopkeepers. Then we went "shopping" at the Pretend Stores.
My children would create price tags and signs for their stores.
We shopped at the stores using paper play money, or using real coins.
Sorry is a card-and-board game where players race to be the first to get all of their pieces to "Home".
Teaches numbers, memory for special rules, and sportsmanship.
Modifications for younger players: when my son was not yet reading proficiently, his sister and I would help him read the cards when necessary.
Carcassone is a tile-laying game where players create settlements, farms, abbeys, and roads.
Teaches addition, skip-counting, puzzle skills, and strategy.
Modifications for younger players: my daughter and I helped my son in adding up his points for completed settlements, roads, etc.
Cuisenaire Rod Games are played with math manipulatives.
Teaches addition and awareness of what numbers actually mean through hands-on math experience.
There is a free printable Cuisenaire Rod game book here. My kids especially loved playing Snakey Rods and Chutes and Ladders using the Cuisenaire Rods.
Settlers of Catan is a "strategy game where players collect resources and use them to build roads, settlements and cities on their way to victory".
Teaches addition, strategy, and risk management.
Modifications for younger players: my son would play on my team, rolling the dice, managing our resource cards, and helping me decide what to build next.
Settlers of Catan Dice Game is like a cross between Yahtzee and Settlers of Catan. Players roll the dice as they try to build roads, cities, and settlements for points.
Teaches addition and strategy.
Modifications for younger players: my son would play on my team, rolling the dice for me and helping me decide what to build/buy next.
Sleeping Queens is a card game wherein players aim to get the most queens and points.
Teaches addition and subtraction. Can also teach multiplication and division.
We added a couple house rules: players can use any combination of their cards to create a math equation, thereby allowing them to play more cards at once. For instance, they could play 2, 3, 6, and 7 by saying 7+2-3=6. Players earn an extra queen if they can make a math equation that uses all 5 of their cards.
Modifications for younger players: younger players can play the game without trying to create math equations.
Qwixx is a dice game in which players aim to earn the most points as race to cross off different colors and numbers.
Teaches addition and strategy.
Modifications for younger players: younger players can help by rolling the dice, helping decide which numbers to cross off on the scorecard, and helping to add up the totals at the end of the game.
Farkle is a dice game in which players roll dice to get specific combinations for points; the first to reach 10,000 points wins.
Teaches addition, strategy, and wise risk-taking.
Modifications for younger players: they can play on your team by rolling the dice and helping me decide which dice option to aim for on the scorecard.
Love of Math
This math curriculum, based around games, everyday math, and read-alouds, worked well to foster a positive relationship with math for my kids. It took me awhile to get used to the idea of teaching math without worksheets and repetitive drills, but these methods were much more effective. Instead of math being something my children had to suffer through, they were eager to use these methods. Because these methods emphasize hands-on math, they helped my children understand math concepts much better than they would if they had only been working math problems on paper.
Want to read more? Check out my post about Why I Don't Try to Meet Math Grade Standards.
What are your favorite math games and math read-alouds?
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