Kitchen Table Math

[desertflower]

Is kitchen table math like Games for math by Peggy? People on this forum have said good things about it so I'm thinking about buying it.

 

I was wondering if there's a lot of prep work? It may be a stupid question, but thought I'd ask anyhow. Is the prep work like Games for Math book?

 

I'm looking for something for my 4 year old. I don't think she's into workbooks and I don't want a lot of prep work. She already recognizes her numbers at least to 20 and can add single digits. I don't necessarily want to continue with a math program, but I do want to expand her horizon. If that makes any sense. For example, at this point in time, I'm not going to teach her how to add double digits, but would like to teach her......I don't know...maybe to think outside the box? Or that learning math can be fun. She doesn't like baking or mixing.

 

We'll probably watch education unboxed videos as well.

 

Can someone describe how the book is laid out please?

 

Thanks. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[Snow]

I have books 1 and 2 and haven't used them much.

 

Here's the "our approach" at the beginning of the book:

"The purpose of this book is to provide parents with a series of clear, easy to do steps and activities that will illustrate the methods of basic mathematics" .....

 

This book provides mental models and techniques that can be used to emphasize learning math structures and relationships over simple tedious memorization."

 

 

Here's a slightly paraphrased/ partial excerpt from the chapter on adding and subtracting:

 

" Lesson: using compensation to simplify addition

 

Practice: compensation says if you are adding two numbers, you can subtract from one number the same thing you add to the other

 

For example 4 + 6 is the same as (4 + 1) + (6 - 1). Compensation says that if we take away 1 from the 6 and add it to the 4, we will not change the total."

 

 

And that's it. There is a chapter at the back of games.

 

I don't have Games for Math but I have Games for Reading and my guess is that those two are similar. That said, I think Kitchen table math is more instructional rather than a list of playful ideas for activities (like Peggy Kaye). So I suppose it depends on you - what you need as the parent to teach the concepts. Do you need a full instructional manual like SM? Kitchen table math is like you teach the concepts without any curric. Some people are great without curric; for others it's a scary thought, even if they don't totally use what they have.

 

For me, I need a bit more structure and more ideas to make things come to life instead of just explanations.

[nature girl]

I don't have experience with Kitchen Table Math, but we really like Family Math, use it to get a break from formal lessons. It has a lot of fun, unique ideas, and stimulates a mathematical way of thinking:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Family-Math-Equals-Jean-Stenmark/dp/0912511060/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=1-1&keywords=family+math

[MeaganS]

I use Kitchen Table Math more as a reference than anything.  It breaks down all the math skills that a child needs to understand as well as ideas to teach said concept, so I periodically go to it and check that we haven't missed any steps.  I wouldn't say it was a curriculum so much as a check-list with definitions/explanations and help on how to teach them.  It could definitely be used for the purpose you are talking about and I've done something similar for periods of time while we took a break from normal math.  Education Unboxed would work well for what you are thinking too.

 

The only other thing I can think of that might be fun for you is Arithmetic Village which is a set of storybooks that can be used to teach arithmetic concepts in a unique way.

 

As for prep-work, KTM doesn't really require much.  It is honestly what you put into it.  I would think if you had access to some basic manipulatives and number cards, it would take almost no prep-work for most things.  A lot of it could be done informally, even.  It really just depends on how comfortable you are with math.  I consider myself fairly comfortable with math and didn't find KTM to be difficult to implement at all, although like I said, I never used it as a primary source.

[desertflower]

Thank you natural kate, Anna's mom and MeaganS. I appreciate the explanation of the book. It was what I was afraid of. I'm so glad I asked and didn't just buy it.

 

I'm looking forward to reading about family math and arithmetic village.

 

I knew I could count on you ladies!

[Pegs]

(exceprt of whole post above)

 

I don't have Games for Math but I have Games for Reading and my guess is that those two are similar. That said, I think Kitchen table math is more instructional rather than a list of playful ideas for activities (like Peggy Kaye). So I suppose it depends on you - what you need as the parent to teach the concepts. Do you need a full instructional manual like SM? Kitchen table math is like you teach the concepts without any curric. Some people are great without curric; for others it's a scary thought, even if they don't totally use what they have.

 

For me, I need a bit more structure and more ideas to make things come to life instead of just explanations.

 

This is exactly what I have been looking for! Thanks for the info, and to the OP for asking. :)