mathmarm Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 We use Deines cubes (base-10) blocks and counters rather successfully here, but I'm wondering if I should also get a box of C-rods at some point. I'm particularly interested in seeing how useful they are for fractions... How long did it take you, the parent, to learn to use the c-rods for basic math? How long before you could fluently use c-rods for arithmetic of fractions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaLisa Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 I used C-rods for teaching fractions with the book Everything's Coming Up Fractions. It's a *great* resource and I've used it with 6 kids so far (pretty independently) when they were in 4th grade. It makes a great summer academic activity if you keep up with a bit of morning school. My first set of Cuisenaire rods came with a pile of cards to explain how to use them, games to play, etc. I got far with those and used the rods fairly intuitively. A few years ago, I discovered Education Unboxed here on the boards (but, of course) and the videos were huge in helping me implement them in our math. Sometimes, I'd sit my children up with a video and have them *play* or work alongside. Other times, I watched ahead and then taught the game or skill to my kids. Highly recommended. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourisenough Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 (edited) I used C-rods for teaching fractions with the book Everything's Coming Up Fractions. It's a *great* resource and I've used it with 6 kids so far (pretty independently) when they were in 4th grade. It makes a great summer academic activity if you keep up with a bit of morning school. My first set of Cuisenaire rods came with a pile of cards to explain how to use them, games to play, etc. I got far with those and used the rods fairly intuitively. A few years ago, I discovered Education Unboxed here on the boards (but, of course) and the videos were huge in helping me implement them in our math. Sometimes, I'd sit my children up with a video and have them *play* or work alongside. Other times, I watched ahead and then taught the game or skill to my kids. Highly recommended. I **LOVE** Education Unboxed and Everything's Coming Up Fractions. We must be c-rod soul sisters! That reminds me: I need to track down another copy of Everything's... for my last DD. I let DD11 write in in when we used it last time (not sure what I was thinking). Off to hit the used book sites... Edited to add: Sorry, got distracted and never answered OP's question. Using Education Unboxed, it was very easy to learn to use C-rods. Really just watching a few videos and then playing around with the rods was enough to get a good handle on how to present them to my girls. Edited February 14, 2016 by fourisenough 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 I've had difficulty implementing them. I get why they're awesome, we just use a manipulative heavy curriculum that works well for us and haven't had much need for another model (RightStart). I want to love C-rods but they're hard for me to use even with video help :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHASRADA Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 It really wasn't that hard to get the hang of them. Videos from Education Unboxed and Ronit Bird really helped. That said, my dd (4 at the time) caught on even faster, lol. If I couldn't remember the value of a certain colored rod, I'd just ask her. Sometimes kids just need us to give them a little push, then get out of the way :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 We use Deines cubes (base-10) blocks and counters rather successfully here, but I'm wondering if I should also get a box of C-rods at some point. I'm particularly interested in seeing how useful they are for fractions... How long did it take you, the parent, to learn to use the c-rods for basic math? How long before you could fluently use c-rods for arithmetic of fractions? I bought "Mathematics Made Meaningful," and started with the first task card, which is to dump all the rods on the table and sort them into piles by color, mess them up, and sort them again by size--hey! Same piles! After a few task cards I finally got it, and now I love those rods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathmarm Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 Just by looking at the c-rods I can see the application to integer arithmetic--counting, comparing, ordering, addition, subtraction, (basic) multiplication and division, properties of whole numbers, number bonds and such... I dont see place value at all. I dont see arithmetic with rational numbers, I just don't see it. I think that I'd need to get a set of rods and a book to help me learn to play with them or something. So far we are doing pretty good with base-10 and counters. I want to like and use "fun" programs that will engage and interest small kids, but RS just seems so overwhelming with all of the stuff. I was hoping that c-rods would be a nice medium level core for a program instead but they also seem too much on the surface. Maybe I am just too set in my ways? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtomom Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 I do like c-rods and found learning to use them easy. I used education unboxed and Everything's Coming Up Fractions (love that book) as others have mentioned on this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mama25angels Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Honestly, I still struggle with the rods but my Ds does not. When I need a rod for something I have him get it for me and he does a fabulous job with them, lol. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excelsior! Academy Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 I've had difficulty implementing them. I get why they're awesome, we just use a manipulative heavy curriculum that works well for us and haven't had much need for another model (RightStart). I want to love C-rods but they're hard for me to use even with video help :) This! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 I used C-rods for teaching fractions with the book Everything's Coming Up Fractions. It's a *great* resource and I've used it with 6 kids so far (pretty independently) when they were in 4th grade. It makes a great summer academic activity if you keep up with a bit of morning school. My first set of Cuisenaire rods came with a pile of cards to explain how to use them, games to play, etc. I got far with those and used the rods fairly intuitively. A few years ago, I discovered Education Unboxed here on the boards (but, of course) and the videos were huge in helping me implement them in our math. Sometimes, I'd sit my children up with a video and have them *play* or work alongside. Other times, I watched ahead and then taught the game or skill to my kids. Highly recommended. Where do you get 'everything's coming up fractions?' I have the area, perimeter and volume book from the same series but have never been able to get any of the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 (edited) In answer to the original question of "how hard was it for YOU to learn to use C-rods" -- for me personally, not at all; seemed pretty intuitive. But, I'm very much a visual and hands-on learner, so I think C-rods "speak" my native language. ;) Where do you get 'everything's coming up fractions?' I have the area, perimeter and volume book from the same series but have never been able to get any of the others. Exodus Books = $13 + shipping Hand 2 Mind = $16 + shipping Rainbow Resource = $17.75 + shipping older edition, used, Amazon = $20 and up + shipping Edited February 14, 2016 by Lori D. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 I was introduced to C-rods as a student, and I'd already learned my math facts. It was very hard for me to not want to know what number each represented! I was not an intuitive math learner, so they didn't work at all for me. I'm not sure, but my guess is that my elementary years were at a time when new math stuff was coming out. I was subjected to several "philosophies" and practices that actually delayed my math education instead of assisting it. (For example, in 6th grade, as a top student, I was allowed to "teach myself" math from a book--just allowed to be in the library with 5 other students and given an assignment sheet. We talked the whole time. After a few months, we were pulled back into a classroom, but still allowed to just work alone. It was the stupidest thing EVER.) I don't see Cuisinaire Rods in this way at all, but I just didn't have enough instruction to understand it (I wasn't introduced in 6th grade, just saying a better instructor would have probably made a huge difference). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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