Beth in SW WA
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Posts posted by Beth in SW WA
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Beth, thanks for sharing. I do intend to re-read later when I'm ready to filter out his condescension but at first glance I'm a bit disgusted.
Yes, he is quite opinionated. His FB posts are very entertaining. :)
Not sure how one could be disgusted though.
What is disgusting about teaching students with autism the math skills needed to pass the Compass test? He posts videos of Sarah often. Very inspiring story.
ETA: He just created a
playlist... -
Ladies and gentlemen, the Larry Sanger of elementary math: Crewton Ramone.
Not a good week for us hidebound WTM'ers.
:confused:
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This family's story puts our own concerns in a different light. :lol:
Then again' date=' it's not a hardship for them to pay for this.
:)
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Beth, is there some organization to the videos on the website somewhere? An ordered list of skills so we can figure out which video to watch?
I posted his answer to this question here.
Beth, I love looking at pictures of your girls.Is it possible to use Steve's videos with base-10 blocks and Cuisinaire rods, rather than buying MUS blocks? Isn't it about $100 for the complete set? What we have seems similar, and that's what we used with Beast in the multiplication section. Tell me what I'm not seeing here, cuz I'm always willing to spend if it's for math. :tongue_smilie:
Try and use what you have. A cheap set of alg tiles from Amazon is about $3 but I'm not sure what you get. I have 2 kiddos using the blocks so it was worth it to splurge.
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Part 2
The ability to count to nine, form a rectangle and tell whether something is same or different is all that is requited to get started. With those skills you can get started anywhere in basic ops, or fractions or percentages or fractions or algebra or trig. If you don't have those skills there is a counting page that can help you help them acquire it.What do you want to do today( when it comes to math)? Do that.
You put them in a situation where they can not fail and where they will learn math concepts by playing around with problems and using the blocks to help solve the problems and you progress with layer after layer of deeper understanding. People naturally want a curriculum that is the SAME for everybody. That is the one size fits all way of thinking and it should be pretty obvious by now it doesn't work. Even in English which we have become fairly proficient at teaching there are many ways to teach people to read and some styles work better for some than for others. English is a messed up language with more exceptions than rules yet we all speak it and can spell and use grammar to varying degrees. Math is the opposite all rules, very few exceptions and those don't come until you get very, very far down the road.
Because of this people try and make an uniform method where all students learn the same way at the same time...which is evidenced in the question, "is there some organization?"...ie, what do I do first and then what do I do and then what...? This is natural so there is a sample lessons page. There will be a getting started page too one day since there seems to be some demand (of which this little diatribe will one day be part). Meantime just get started. I am in year 3 of a 10 year plan. For now the big picture will have to wait, the little picture is what do I do NOW with my kid or student. What you do now is get started. Wherever you want.
Like a library, you go in and find what interests you. It does have some precise organization but the prerequisite is simply that you be able to read and nobody tells what to read or in what order. My website has a navigation bar on the left that is roughly in the traditional order in which mathematics is presented. You certainly don't have to go in order from top to bottom though. Same with the books from Mortensen Math there are five strands. Where do you start? Where ever you like. Arithmetic, Measurement, Problem Solving, Algeba, Calculus...do a few books in each...DO NOT do all the Algebra Books, THEN all the Measurement Books, THEN all the calc books etc...do a few in each in any order you like (I'm referring tot he strands you start at book 1). Some people find this disconcerting. Probably because that have been damaged but their local public learning indoctrination institution. Most children find the freedom liberating and FUN. If you have four kids each will learn differently. The method accommodates this, indeed it facilitates this. They go at their own pace and travel down the topics that interest them most. They do have to cover all of it but how they cover it and what order they cover it in is left up to you and them.
The same applies to my vids and pages. Some will require that you have watched or understand more complex concepts as we go along but for the most part you can get started anywhere and if you do run across some that are "advanced" then it should be easy to find the vids or pages that make it so you can understand and use the vid or page...and it is still good to watch the vid anyway, that way you know where you are going so to speak when you go back. What we have here is a uniform methodology for the visualization of mathematics. But not a uniform methodology for the order of presenting it. That part is up to the individual...or the individual teacher or parents.
This has always been the stumbling block, teachers want a uniform curriculum laid out nicely for them and Jerry Mortensen never really made one and neither have I. The folks over at Math U See have but in so doing they neutered the power of the method by waiting far to long to teach and introduce algebra concepts and they basically blended the current method of step by step segmented instruction and partially showed how to present some concepts using manipulatives. A step in the right direction but still several steps short. I am not putting them down by any means, if you knew the whole story there, you'd be amazed that their company even exists and it is testament to the fact that there is a great need for advancements in mathematics education.
We must deconstruct the mathematics through play and reconstruct it thoughtfully through play and directed discovery. This works universally. I have proven this countless times over the years with every kind of student imaginable form the most gifted to the most challenged. The moment you try and get everybody to play the same...you aren't playing anymore. Now I will agree that Crewton Ramone's House of Math is very much akin to The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler but it's getting better. And a password will go a long way to clearing this up because the password protected pages are more organized (I said "more" I didn't say completely organized) and the more money I make doing this the more time I can spend doing it. But even then one person will get a password and then 20 people will have access. (I have stat counters and I can do a little math you know.) I find those self same people will ***** about it not being more organized and that it needs more of this or that...or that I should spend more time answering their inane and banal questions for free when everybody has a search engine.
I also have zero patience for the many doubting Thomases who ask questions about whether this really works or if you need to use manipulatives really or if the young students actually really understand what they are doing and other such questions from well educated math teachers who are complete failures at teaching mathematics (look around the nation and yet they still fail somehow to perceive this) which causes the urge to well up in me to want to ***** slap their dumb educated asses right through my computer but this is not currently possible or socially exceptable so I will respectfully demur the invitation to partake in these civilized educational forums. I am in the process of grooming a more couth and politically correct representative to do it for me but this too will take time. I have heard decent things about The Well-Trained Mind so perhaps this does not apply to this particular group...other home school groups have proved infuriating just to read, however.
I haven't even gotten around to changing the password which works nicely for those that just spend 5 bucks...but I'm just about to do it. Most people can't believe how much they get for 5 bucks. There would be even more if more people got passwords. A select few understand this simple feat of logic which just reflects the fact that I have a hell of a lot more work to do. Most people are innumerate and their logic and reasoning are fatally flawed so it's not really their fault.
I am in stage one of a seven stage plan...I may complete stage one in my lifetime but it's not looking very likely. If you are curious stage one involves getting the majority math literate the same way most Americans can read.
PS I am going to make a blog post out of this. It will have links and maybe a pic or two to dress it up...
PPS thanks for the mention on your blog.
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Beth, is there some organization to the videos on the website somewhere? An ordered list of skills so we can figure out which video to watch?
He emailed me his response to this question. ETA: He posted his response on his website here.
My girls and I love his videos of his tutor sessions with his kids & other students online and locally on Maui.
.. I don't benefit in any way by promoting him. This is his blog: Crewton Ramone's Blog Of Math. Crewton Ramone's House Of Math has more info, background and links to his lessons. I paid $5 for access to all the videos. They are fabulous. Very socratic and entertaining.Hope this helps someone who is curious about CR. Here is a blog post of my girls doing CR-inspired math.
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Part 1 of CR's response
With a password they get links to more organized pages and on my website; if you go to the addition page, the vids are about addition...and there are links to more pages although by no means is it up to date and complete so you might search Crewton Ramone Addition, or Crewton Ramone Addends...and start watching the vids that interest you or your kids. Eventually, it will be worth the password just for the organization but that day is not today.
People want more structure. There isn't structure on purpose. Like the books, the idea is to take/make concurrent lessons...you do it all at once the same way you learn language. You don't spend a year on verbs and then another on nouns...by the same token fractions can be used to teach addition and multiplication, algebra can be used to teach fractions or any math (it is after all generic math), or you could just fool around with addends by themselves or then teach multiplication using addends and if you are doing addends you should see sum subtraction...get it sum? (I crack myself up.) If you are doing multiplication you should see some division and square roots too.
The whole freaking problem with the modern ineffectual way of teaching math is that it is segmented to the point that students don't see the natural relationships between things like the inverse functions of multiplication (or even addition and subtraction) because they spend a year multiplying and then a year dividing and hating it and then have to be taught these are inverse functions. Let your students discover these things while you direct them. For many parents they will be learning and discovering right along with them because your math experience is also shall we say, "challenged." Play with your kids and learn together: I can't imagine a more beautiful parenting or learning experience than learning together. Go down a path and see where it goes. It doesn't have to be the same for everyone. I would say start algebra right away but from there the paths should diverge and merge in an almost endless combination of lessons the sum of which ends up being "the mathematics."
I don't care if you have a degree in mathematics...if you start playing with the manipulatives and watching videos you will begin to actually understand the math you were taught and be able to impart this knowledge on your students. I have had several parents with degrees in math or engineering sit in and be amazed that in 5 minutes I can cover 4 or 5 concepts and they can see how they all go together for the first time. And they "get it." People tell me I am a gifted teacher. I disagree: I just have good tools and try to show people how to use them. If they will spend a little time they will learn...sometimes they have to un-learn first. I implore them, once they start making discoveries NOT to take those discoveries away from their students: give them the same ah-ha moments you have. The natural instinct is to tell them whatever it is you just discovered instead of letting them discover it on their own. Then they can get the same ah-ha experience you had. It's fun. It can be addicting.
This requires only one skill: patience. Something I am short one most of the time. Set up a situation where they will discover the rules for themselves. Let them make up their own rules and see if they work. Sometimes they don't but many times they do...and you don't all have to be doing the same thing at the same time in the same order. This is not to say that things couldn't be better organized at the House of Math...because they could; however, they don't need to be at the moment.
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Thanks for stopping by...:auto:
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Beth, is there some organization to the videos on the website somewhere? An ordered list of skills so we can figure out which video to watch?
I paid the $5 (and will join the website yearly) for the first month because I wanted CR's advanced alg videos. I learned a ton. He is a certified Mortenson math instructor (as is Steve Demme) and teaches online and on Maui for local students. His real name is hidden on his website. I'll let you find it. :)
Our fam is going to Maui in June for an anniversary vacation and my girls will be meeting him in person for a couple sessions. (So excited!) :)
As to the website, I asked him to join this forum so he can answer questions personally. I have watched nearly all of them. Dds have watched many. They love him.
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Today he watched lesson 23 and did the worksheets using the blocks. It's kind of funny, because at some point he had decided that he didn't want to use manipulatives. He said they took too much time, but he has been enjoying the MUS blocks with Steve Demme.
I don't know about the era, but I know I appreciate the things you share and your enthusiasm. It oozes through the screen. :D
Mandy
For years I overlooked Steve Demme. It wasn't until I youtubed his alg demo that I took notice. Such a hoot. What student wouldn't love him? Very endearing.
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Nicely done!
:iagree::iagree: Great job, Mom!
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Is anyone registering for this class? I'm considering this for dd7. I'm also looking at Mythology on Wed mornings for dd9.
:bigear:
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I would not use either.
MUS Epsilon is great at gently and concretely introducing the concepts involved in working with fractions. You would lose the introductory element if you used either Key to Fractions or Fred beforehand.
That said, Key to Fractions would be a great follow up *next* summer if she still needs practice with the procedures and Fred would be fine as a fun supplement *after* she has the concepts down.
:iagree::iagree::iagree:
KTF would not be a good choice for teaching -- but for practice later.
I use MM blue Fractions 1 to teach fractions with my RS Fractions chart. Dd7 spent an hour today & yesterday working with those resources together.
HTH!!
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and i wonder if others could share with me any changes you have implemented in your homeschool that brought about more peace and joy.
Thank you.
Great question, Halcyon.
We have rain and dark days here for months and months so it is imperative my dds go outside when it is dry and/or sunny. :)
We are doing half-days now. Lots of reading and playing in the backyard. I just snapped this pic of dd9 outside reading Holes in her happy place. Summer twaddle? Oh, yes. :)
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DD the Elder started Brainology this week. As I'd said in the other thread, perfectionist behaviors/issues I thought we left behind have returned with the onset of puberty. I warned her that the program was a bit corny at the start, and she managed to get through Level 1 without too many gripes. :tongue_smilie: Now into the meat of it, she seems to be taking it seriously, with a minimum of eye rolling. She wrote a essay on the workings of the brain, far more detailed than that in the unit. But overall, her entries in the journal are detailed and thoughtful, and she asked to do extra today. I'll update when she has finished.
:bigear:
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Did any of your kids go through this, is it a phase?
Yes. Dd9 is currently obsessed with her past. Unfortunately we know nothing. :tongue_smilie:
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I don't post very often any more as I'm pretty much done with homeschooling, but here I am with my 2nd post on the accelerated learner board today.
:001_smile:
We miss your posts!!
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My girls are obsessed with Stack The States on our iPad.
We have huge maps in every room of our house. Seriously. We have globes everywhere. And atlases for all ages.
They have a huge USA map next to their bed. We keep a map under the glass of our kitchen table.
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Dd9 is on lesson 20 of MUS alg 1 and is loving the blocks. She doesn't 'need' them but they sure are handy! I attached a pic from yesterday's lesson on multiplying polys.
I can't get enough Crewton Ramone videos. I feel like a broken record. This guy is AWESOME! Between Steve Demme and Crewton Ramone, we are are having a blast with alg concepts. Even dd7 gets this.
Seriously. Pay the $5 for a password to his website for cool stuff. An abundance of amazing math videos for youngers using manipulatives for quadratics.
Note: I don't get anything for promoting this guy and his methodology.
Could we live in a better era to homeschool math? If I can do this, anyone can who is willing to learn new skills at age 42. :tongue_smilie:
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I'm about to start using TT pre-algebra with DS7 as something for him to do independently once in a while. I agree that TT is great for a supplement to lower-level but more in-depth math. I said I was sticking to Singapore, and for the most part, I am ... but I succumbed to the Beast Academy peer pressure, and then stumbled across a TT sample lesson ... I think DS will love it.
Kirsten, How is it going with your ds7? You could use Beast, SM and TT. I just added MUS alg to dd's routine. Lots of great options. :)
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:lol:
:iagree::lol:
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I wouldn't combine MUS Algebra with TT Algebra personally.
I am using TT Alg 1 2.0 and MUS Alg 1 currently w/ my alg student. It works.
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Thanks for sharing, Nan. Wise advice indeed. I am :bigear: re cc topics these days.
Ds is not doing the cc route to shorten his university experience. We don't care if his senior year cc courses transfer to uni. He wants to build his transcript and show he can handle college material so he can have a better chance at admission to one of his dream schools. He will probably start over and do the calc sequence and sciences at uni.
The freshman year math-science death-march may be slightly less brutal by taking tough cc courses as a senior.
(Yes, I know some here claim that cc courses aren't as good as uni. For what we need, it will be sufficient.)
:bigear:
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Great info. I had no idea about which Chinese curriculum to use. Do I want the set called "My First Chinese Words Set (36 Books + Audio CD)?"
This may help:
Dear Beth,
Thank you for your interest in Better Chinese. From looking at your children’s age, the best series to start with will be “My First Chinese Readers”. I have opened an online trial account for you to view the first volume of this series. Below is you login information. You can login through our website http://www.betterchinese.com:'>http://www.betterchinese.com:
In this trial account, you will be able to see the animated version of the lesson stories. It also include other activities such as exercise, other stories, voice recording and many more. For this series, it also have textbooks, workbooks, and many more support materials.
Please let me know if you have any other questions. You can purchase all the materials on our website http://www.betterchinese.com. Have a nice day!
Best Regards,
-Denise Chen
BETTER CHINESE TEAM
640 Waverley St.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
T. +1-650-384-0902
F. +1-702-442-7968
http://www.betterchinese.com
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Star Walk
A Message From Crewton Ramone....
in Accelerated Learner Board
Posted
I would have purchased his set but I already bought the MUS set. His set comes with access to all his password-protected videos.
Yes, it is his business. He needs to make money just like any other parent who supports a family. He spends a lot of time on the videos, pdfs. I gladly paid the $5 to have access.