monkeymama07 Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 again... I have a 4 year old and am looking for him to start a beginner math program he can count to 100 knows his shapes understands things like longer/shorter and more/less What program would you use? I was planning on rightstart but then hesitated and am not sure :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 I did, and would again, use Right Start. It's probably the most fun math program I've run across, and since kids don't need to be writing much at that age anyway, it was perfect. If I couldn't do RS or I had a kid who loved worksheets, I'd go with MEP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Five More Minutes Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I haven't tried RightStart, but have heard great things about it. I went with Miquon and Singapore Essentials with my 4 yo and have been delighted with them both. I did try Saxon K as well, and I'd say it would be too repetitive for a 4 yo with the skills you're describing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByGrace3 Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I have been researching ad nauseum math programs for ds, I think I have narrowed it down to Right Start or Miquon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 First, I would only do a math program with a 4yo if the child was asking for it. I have a 3.5yo that can do all that stuff, but there is no way I am trying to do a formal curriculum with him. I am doing CSMP with my older. It has a lot of great activities for little ones in the K level. And it is free! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
She Reads a Lot Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 We love RightStart Math! I can't speak to starting it with a four year old, but we started RS B when my son was in 1st grade, and we both love it! Writing is tough for him and he's a wiggly willie, so RightStart is perfect: very few worksheets and loads of hands-on stuff to manipulate. Also, the games make sure he learns his math facts without having to sit and drill/memorize--not big on his list of fun activities. He's too busy trying to beat me to notice that he's learning his adding-to-10 facts or how to read a clock. So that's my rah-rah for RightStart. It's fun and he is definitely retaining what he has learned--even retained it over the summer when we hardly did math at all. Best of luck! christina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAS in LA Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 We love Miquon, but I'd think twice before starting it with a 4yo. Lots of play time with Cuisenaire rods, yes, but the bookwork would quickly go over most 4yo's heads, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 First, I would only do a math program with a 4yo if the child was asking for it. I have a 3.5yo that can do all that stuff, but there is no way I am trying to do a formal curriculum with him. :iagree: If he's clambering to do math, sure, go ahead. If he doesn't care, just wait a while. Teaching 4 year olds is a bit like herding cats sometimes. :tongue_smilie: He won't stop figuring out math if you're not using a curriculum. ;) Playing with C-rods is awesome for 4 year olds. I haven't used the actual Miquon books (I have them, but haven't figured them out). Just let him play with the rods and build stuff with them. You'd be surprised at how well they pick up on the whole/parts stuff. My 4 year old (about to turn 5) does Singapore Essential Math K, and we use the C-rods with it. I've been happy with the program. While book A seemed easy, I was surprised to see that there was more than one possible answer even with the easy stuff. :) My 4 year old sometimes picked what seemed to be odd things, then he'd explain his answer (as the book encourages you to have them do), and sure enough, he had a valid answer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay3fer Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 For a 4yo, I'd get Cuisenaire Rods and the Idea Book. Work through it, whatever my kid was interested in, OR just let him play with rods on or off a tray with a 1cm grid. More about the grid tray here. I would wait to start Miquon, but you could have the orange and red books around just in case your child wants something to write in. You don't mention how his handwriting is, but that's sometimes an obstacle to kids who KNOW math but can't legibly write down what they know yet. That's why rods are ideal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondeviolin Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I agree with the C Rods. If he's ready, then yes, Miquon would be great. But just rod play can be ideal as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I am doing right start with my 4 year old, she loves it. So far, it is just like a structured playtime. The thing I like about right start A is that there is not much writing. We have yet to come across any writing at all. We only do it when she asks to do school. The more we do, the more often she asks to do school. As long as you keep it light, and put it away if it ever becomes anything other than fun, (which has yet to happen here) you should be good to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeymama07 Posted October 18, 2011 Author Share Posted October 18, 2011 my sons writing is next to nonexistent he will TRY and write his name but he is just not ready to write yet and I dont push it just lots of prehand writing going on here with thought of adding HWOT in 6 months to a year depending... If I get a math program and he isnt ready well just shelve it and use the manipulatives until he is ready ..... but maybe just some choice manipulatives is the way to go for this year ? What type of things should we be talking about when we use them? up until now we have been counting and grouping things(beads, beans, crayons, whatever we have) but I feel like we know these things but dont know what is next? like do I teach him addition next he knows if we take two piles and put them together you count them again to get a new total but he doesnt know that 2+2=4 ya know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
letsplaymath Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I would use Moebius Noodles: http://moebiusnoodles.posterous.com/#!/ It's not a curriculum, but a series of guided activities to explore math concepts. They are developing a book, forum, and resource gallery, but I haven't heard what the address will be. For now the discussion board linked above is the best place I know to find ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 At 4, I don't use a formal curriculum but do lots of "hand-on" activities. Family Math for Young Children is a good resource for these. So is Math Play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristenR Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I started my dd on Miquon at 4 and she did wonderfully with it. I can't speak highly enough about it. I blogged about some of the amazing results we have had together. You can see pictures of Miquon in use. Really though- I can't speak highly enough about it. HIGHLY recommend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 What type of things should we be talking about when we use them? up until now we have been counting and grouping things(beads, beans, crayons, whatever we have) but I feel like we know these things but dont know what is next? like do I teach him addition next he knows if we take two piles and put them together you count them again to get a new total but he doesnt know that 2+2=4 ya know? I like Games for Math by Peggy Kaye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junepep Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 (edited) MEP Reception (it's free, aimed at british 4yos) - http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mepres/primary/default.htm Cuisenaire Activity and Exploration Book for pre-Miquon Kids by Miranda Hughes (also free) - http://nurturedbylove.blogspot.com/2008/12/cuisenaire-discovery-book.html And maybe just stand-alone freestanding stuff (most of which would be good for years) Keva Planks Cuisinaire Rods (tubfull) Montessori Beads (1k) Small Colored Shape Blocks Large Tan Shape Blocks Cardboard Blocks (giant) Lacing Beads Plastic Straws and connectors Royal Rescue Game Tangram set and patterns Pattern Blocks Duplos / Mega Blocks / Legos Volumetric Geometric Solids CM/G & IN Colored Blocks Balance & weights / small objects Abacus (Melissa and Doug type) Montessori Pink & Brown Towers Kitchen Measuring Implements and tubs of water/sand Edited October 18, 2011 by junepep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walking-Iris Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I have a "mathy" 4 year old. I do a lot of hands on things with him. Pattern blocks, attribute blocks, homemade Montessori materials, (number rods and spindle counting sticks), lots of math type games (dominoes are a hit), we play with poker chips in endless ways, we use those little colored bear family pieces. he has a few Kumon books --My Book of Numbers and My Book of Number Games. We do Family Math games. He practices forming the numbers (and letters) with various tools---wipe off markers, crayons, pencils, in playdoh, etc. At 4 and even 5, I personally keep kids doing a lot of hands on stuff. If your kid is saying "2 things and 2 things make 4 things"---then he is adding kwim? I personally don't believe that there needs to be a rush to bring in the abstract numerals or symbols at that age. Especially not until a child can write them with ease. My 4 year old can do multiplication. He'll count like this "2 and 4 and 6 and 8" but I'm not going to have him learn his multiplication facts because of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellesmere Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 my sons writing is next to nonexistent he will TRY and write his name but he is just not ready to write yet and I dont push it just lots of prehand writing going on here with thought of adding HWOT in 6 months to a year depending... If I get a math program and he isnt ready well just shelve it and use the manipulatives until he is ready ..... but maybe just some choice manipulatives is the way to go for this year ? What type of things should we be talking about when we use them? up until now we have been counting and grouping things(beads, beans, crayons, whatever we have) but I feel like we know these things but dont know what is next? like do I teach him addition next he knows if we take two piles and put them together you count them again to get a new total but he doesnt know that 2+2=4 ya know? We started with RightStart A with a 4 y.o. who was not writing much. We also really love our set of 155 Cuisenaire rods. I have the Miquon books (First Grade Diary and Lab Sheet Annotations, plus two of the Lab sheet books) and we use those, although not as much. We chose RightStart for now because I felt I needed the teacher support ... I don't make myself a slave to the script necessarily. But I do like the help. But if that is too intense right now, a set of rods and the Activity book linked earlier is nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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