One of the things I love about homeschooling is the ability to tailor my teaching methods with each child. Even though Sophie is only 4 she still craves knowledge and wants to do things like her big brother. But … there is no way that I can work with her like I can with Parker. She does not like to be quizzed too much, she likes to take her time and be very active in the process! We were both getting frustrated when I was trying to work with her like I do with Parker. After getting really frustrated with her one day this past fall. We took a long break from school work. And know what I noticed? The things that she didn’t seem to be picking up on while we were actively ‘schooling’ just seemed to click with her. Now I’ve learned to teach her a topic or two and then give her time to mull it over. She has come a long way since I’ve started doing this with her. I am so proud of her! Some of her favorite things to do in her down time is drawing and coloring, cutting, spinning around, pretending to be a cat, and building. She loves legos, blocks, tinker toys, k’nex, and magnetix. A new thing that she really likes are geoboards.

Geoboards are little boards with pegs where you make a design with rubber bands. Take a look at some of her handiwork.

Tags: geoboards, learning style

Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve posted!  It’s the first time I’ve sat down to download pictures since my hardrive bit the dust.  Don’t worry – I didn’t lose anything!

So, we use the math curriculum Right Start Math.  It’s fun for me and the kids.  I wish I had such fun school work when I was young!  Normally the lessons are short and sweet and integrate a lot of manipulatives.  However, we read about one project that promised to be a little tedious, but looked really cool.  That was the Cotter Tens fractal.

Here is an excerpt from our math manual that describes the Cotter Tens fractal:

Fractals are a new branch of mathematics only a few decades old.  There are two types of fractals, regular and random.  Scientists use random fractals for computer modeling in order to study some of nature’s irregular patterns and structures.  Regular fractals, also called geometric fractals, consist of larger structures that are identical to the smaller structure.

The Tens Fractal, a regular Fractal starts with ten small equilateral triangles, arranged in the pattern of a larger equilateral triangle, the ten triangle.  Ten of these triangles arranged in the same pattern forms the hundred triangle.  And ten of the hundred triangles in the same pattern forms the thousand triangle, the Cotter Tens Fractal.

One purpose of the building this fractal is to help the children visualize and experience the repeating tens structure of our number system.  Another purpose is integrating mathematics and art.

Here are Parker and Sophie getting started:

And after many days, here is the finished product:

And Sarah made one too!

Lots of learning went on during this project. Sarah practiced cutting and gluing skills and learned about triangles. Sophie learned about place value, how triangles have 3 sides and 3 angles, what equilateral triangles are, and patterns. Parker also learned about patterns and geometric designs and reinforced some of his multiplication facts. And me? I learned that young children can’t cut 1,000 triangles without having a lot of backups!

Tags: Art, fractal, math, Right Start

My kids love to color – I personally don’t like the quality of most coloring books, but came across this wonderful site chocked full of coloring pages.  There are even famous art works made into coloring pages!  Sophie is having a field day with the horse coloring pages and Sarah likes the farm animal coloring pages.  Go check it out: Funny Coloring

Tags: coloring