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Preschooler Math Program


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My Preschooler will be starting Kindergarten this year and we just started the All About Reading yesterday and I don't know what program i should use to help with math.  She loves to do Math and count, etc.  I didn't know if the Preschool math at home if anyone has used it yet or not?  They were talking about using the ten frame, but just using the 5 frame at first and then moving one.  any sugguestions would be great on where I should start?  My husband started with my daughter with singapore but she started when she was in 2nd grade i believe.  I am looking for something to help my preschooler/Kindergartener with a Math program that would include a workbook and a teachers guide, because I have no CLUE on how to teach!!  Thank you so much.

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My Preschooler will be starting Kindergarten this year and we just started the All About Reading yesterday and I don't know what program i should use to help with math.  She loves to do Math and count, etc.  I didn't know if the Preschool math at home if anyone has used it yet or not?  They were talking about using the ten frame, but just using the 5 frame at first and then moving one.  any sugguestions would be great on where I should start?  My husband started with my daughter with singapore but she started when she was in 2nd grade i believe.  I am looking for something to help my preschooler/Kindergartener with a Math program that would include a workbook and a teachers guide, because I have no CLUE on how to teach!!  Thank you so much.

We engage our PreK son mathematically by counting, counting, counting and counting. We count forwards and backwards, we count objects, we name numbers by powers of ten, (2-ten 3 instead of twenty-three). We use base-10 rods with him and we count those too. We count and count and count. We talk about zero. We talk about bigger and less than and we have number lines at his eye-level. We don't use a program (yet) and are probably going to introduce Miquon at some point, but for now, we are really just counting and counting and counting.

 

For anyone who feels that they have no idea how to teach: I think that the more important thing is to take the time to learn about teaching in general and specifically teaching math. Most people teach algorithms because they don't understand what the algorithms mean or how they work or why they are used. The PreK years are the best years for the parent to reflect upon those things and figure out what exactly that they are trying to do.

 

I strongly suggest that you get a "teaching math" book and a math students book around the 3rd-5th grade level. It can be any math book. Read through the concept in the "teaching math" book, then work problems from the basic math book and try to see what is happening. Play with base-10 blocks and practice + - * and / using the base 10 blocks. Watch explanations on basic math on YouTube or around the internet where teachers are communicating what is happening in a way that you can see WHY.

 

There are many books out there on how to teach math. I have never seen Preschool Math at Home, but I think you're talking about The Well Trained Mind Press book so I am going to encourage you to read and re-read that book. Read the introduction or preface or whatever part of the book that the author uses to talk about the purpose/nature of the program a lot. Then read the book from beginning to end, then read the sections of the book on an "as-needed" basis. If your library has any other books on teaching math, then read from those too. Or order some off the internet. Take the time now to learn how to teach arithmetic.

 

In the mean time, just continue to do counting and basic math games with your little one. When she needs/wants to write on something then you can just print attractive math worksheets for her in the interim. Or get something flexible and non committal like a Kumon numbers work book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I too am assuming you mean the Preschool Math book by Kate that the WTM Press has published.  I like the book for my 3 yo.  When my 5 1/2 yo was 3 ish I used the education unboxed videos.  http://www.educationunboxed.com/ (free) I then started my 5 1/2 yo with rightstart math. 

 

I think every kid is different and will want different methods of learning.  For example, starting with horizons and singapore math with my oldest was just fine.  I had no idea what I was doing with him, but not a good fit for my first dd. 

 

I'm not quite sure where your child is at mathematically.  If you want hand holding, I think rightstart math would be a good choice.  It has a teacher's manual and a workbook.  It tells you what to say.  (Yeah!)  :)  You could always do rightstart A and then transition to Singapore math.  That's what I'm hoping will happen.  Or if Beast Academy level 2 is out, transition to that one. 

 

Good luck and play lots of math games!  :) 

 

 

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Saxon Math K is very hands on and gentle. It has a teacher guide word for word. There is no workbook, but there are a lot of manipulatives. We've also enjoyed Singapore's Essentials series. It is workbook based and has teaching instructions at the bottom of each page.

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Do you know what curriculum they are using at the school she will attend? I think from there you have a few choices. E.g., our local schools use Envision but in light of what I had heard about it not having enough drill, I tried to be as opposite-as-possible and chose Saxon for the mind-numbing drill (my daughter needs it). But, I know of other local places that use Math in Focus which I would consider stronger on its own than Envision -- and people supplementing there sometimes just stay with the singapore-theme and do challenging word problems. 

 

My daughter also liked Life of Fred -- it can double as reading and math a bit, so if time is at a premium it's an option... first as a read-aloud, later read on their own. Some of the terminology is not in line with what she learns in school (e.g., Fred says "borrowing" instead of "regrouping") but she actually finds it funny -- like "borrowing" and "carrying" are swear words... she says them in this tiny whisper.

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You might consider the Mathematical Reasoning books from Critical Thinking Co. We used the first level (Age 3) with out daughter last year and are now on Level B (Age 4) -- they go up through the elementary grades. Each book is bright and "tidy" (the pages are not overly busy) and covers everything a child should know at each grade level. I haven't actually used the K book, but I've been very happy with the first two -- works great for after-schooling. 

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