Math for K kid who afterschools?

[yellowbee]

My kindergartner just finished up the first grade book of mathematical reasoning. I was wondering what to do next. He goes to public school and so we after school. I would like to find a second grade book to work through (he is well ahead of that but trying to make sure we cover and practice everything). I am very open to finding something besides the Critical Thinking Company's math book if there is something that is still fun (he loves these books) and cheaper. :)

 

He gets pulled out daily for thirty minutes at school to work on math at a higher level, but he is insistent that he wants to keep learning more at home as it is fun here (he can multiply and divide in his head, and is anxiously awaiting for those to show up on paper he says). He loves math, but I would like something that is still simple (we just do a few pages a day and I usually cut him off) and doesn't take a ton of time on my end as we have other things we like to do and lots of other kids in the house. :)

 

Any ideas?

[snazzy]

We do Singapore math at home. It isn't "cute" so if he likes that he may not prefer Sing math.

 

I just get the workbooks (not the rest of the kit) so it isn't particularly expensive.

 

If he is already quite good at addition then I'd start him at 2A and skip 1a & 1b. You get to multiplication at the end of 2 (I think). I wouldn't want to leave addition and subtraction though before I was completely confident he can carry, borrow (including across zeros - which gives some kids some problems). 2 reviews all of that. You can accelerate through the book by just doing the reviews and seeing where he struggles. If he misses questions then you go back and pull out some of those pages. If he doesn't miss any then you just skip that section and move ahead.

[2smartones]

You might want to try something like Primary Grade Challenge Math.

[Crimson Wife]

You might want to try something like Primary Grade Challenge Math.

 

:iagree::iagree::iagree:

 

If the child is going to be continuing on with PS math, I would look for supplemental materials that are different enough from the standard topics covered so that he doesn't get too bored with the math he does in school. Things like the Zaccaro books, Critical Thinking's Math Analogies and Balance Benders, Prufrock Press' Enrichment Units in Math, and so on.

[yellowbee]

Thanks for the suggestions! I am off to look those things up. :)

[Spetzi]

I agree that Zaccaro's books are great! I also recommend Theoni Pappas' books and Life of Fred.

 

Here is an overwhelming list of living math books.:D

 

http://www.livingmath.net/ReadersbyConcept/tabid/268/Default.aspx

 

Have fun!

[EinsteinBlueprint]

DO NOT hold your son back.

 

They are capable of amazing things, mathematically speaking, at this age. And math is really the foundation for all sorts of higher level thinking/skills.

 

I would suggest using Khan Academy (the *PRACTICE*) math.

 

Khan has gotten a lot better recently. My son stays on it, willingly, for hours.

 

Best,

Dan

[Crimson Wife]

DO NOT hold your son back.

 

:iagree: with this general principle, but if a bright child is going to be required to continue receiving grade level instruction in a traditional school, I would *STRONGLY* encourage you to go "sideways" in math at home rather than ahead to minimize boredom with the standard curriculum. The kid is likely going to be bored with the slow pace and lack of challenge even if he/she hasn't already seen it at home, but it would be even more tedious if the child has gone ahead rather than "sideways" at home.

[serendipitous journey]

If the books suggested above don't suit (Button, who is an unusual fellow, didn't cotton to them) try MEP, doing pretty much only the problems on the student worksheets (MEP has lesson plans for the teacher that are designed to take about 45 min/day; also sheets for the student that have graphics for about 5 of the lesson problems; and copy masters with larger version of most graphics. I like to print out copy-master versions for Button, since they are much bigger and easier for him to write on).

 

But if Primary Challenge Math &c. go over well, I would use those resources!

 

also: check out livingmath.net. The living-books approach has been a valuable enrichment 'round here.

[yellowbee]

Thanks everyone for the insight! I did go ahead and order the challenge math book and it came yesterday. DS was super excited to see it. We sat down and just started with the first chapter...what number comes next. I read him the question and he wrote what information he wanted on a dry erase board. He was sooo excited and worked up through halfway through Level 3 before I called it quits to make dinner. This morning he woke up excited and begged for another question from "the fun math book" so I gave him one more from that same chapter in Level 3. It took him a good ten minutes but he stuck with it and was so excited to have figured it out before it was time for school. And he then raced off to school in excitement (lately he has not wanted to go but we are hoping that changes and now he is getting pulled out in two 45 minute sessions each day to work on reading and math more at his level...so keeping our fingers crossed it helps with his excitement to go).

 

So my question now is how do you use the book so it makes the most sense? Do I just pick a chapter and work through a few questions and then move on to another? And then rotate back through at a higher level later on? Or do I do like I did yesterday and let him just keep going on the same topic until the questions become really challenging?

[abbeyej]

He's probably not completely ready yet, but when he is, I'd get him the Beast Academy math books. Very *different* than what he'll cover in standard texts, but mathematically very deep. Lots of fun, but also really challenging.

 

He might also have fun with the Life of Fred books. The elementary ones (starting with Apples and Butterflies) may seem "easy" mathematically to you, but they introduce all sorts of unusual, complex concepts along the way (while you read an absurd story about a 5yo math professor!)... Again, really different than the standard textbooks and workbooks he'll encounter at school.