Friday Funny--Pumpkin Pie and Pie Pumpkin

First on a serious note, how do you prepare a pie pumpkin? 
We purchased one and now need to figure out what to do with it. Please put all your pie pumpkin advice as a comment!

Now, on to pumpkin pie...

Money Math Review Games

We have been teaching a lot of cool classes in our co-op which I've been meaning to share but haven't.

But today, I am listing all the things I am using for my money math class as I plan it! 

In the elementary group, we've been running a little over a dozen kids who are Kindergarten through third grade. A wide range to cover, but I try to use things that would be appropriate for different abilities and arrange for the older ones (and parents) to assist the youngers when needed.

The first activity I'll do is skip counting 1s, 5s, 10s, and 25s which of course are the amounts for our coins. I'm going to make it fun by having us do tiny steps for 1s all the way to leaps for 25s. It will get squirms out, give practice counting coins, and provide some cloaked multiplication review, too. 

I'm then going to have the group divided into three to five smaller groups depending on how many are there. I think a group of 3-4 kiddos with an adult would make a perfect size for the money games I'm planning. I will rotate groups to the different games.

Take a look at my selections:

One is going to be Money Kaboom. You select sticks with different coin amounts. If you count correctly, you keep the stick. If you grab a Kaboom stick, you have to put all your sticks back. 

The second game is Money Dice. You roll large dice with various coin amounts on each side. There is a variety ways to play the actual game. I think we are going to play it to see which person in the group can total up the amount first. Here's the pin for it.

Now I am going to be honest. I am not going to get wooden blocks and paint them. I am just going to make a cube using a printable cube cutout on cardstock. I'm going to use coin clip art for the money.
A third game I am going to use is Coin Grab Graph. I really like that it includes graphing skills. 



The last game I am bringing is a free, printable one from Teachers Pay Teachers. I am printing the cards up on cardstock. It is the "I Have Who Has" Money Game.




Do you have any money games you can share?

Friday Funny--Chemistry

This meme is so timely. We've been studying chemistry, talking about a chemical formula and the difference between something squared and cubed!

Times Tales Review

I was stuck with a fourth grader who did not know her upper multiplication facts. I do not know exactly how it happened. She could skip count to her heart’s delight, but could not remember the facts by rote. I asked for some advice. Someone recommended Times Tales and at this point I was willing to try anything.

I am glad I did.

What is Times Tales?

Times Tales is mnemonic-based DVD that uses short stories to learn the upper multiplication facts. (Click to tweet.) At first, the thought of not learning the facts through understanding multiplication was heresy! However, I had already explained multiplication, and it was just the facts she needed help with. I realized how well she learns things within a narrative context like we do with history.

With Times Tales, first you learn simple stories. In fact, the program encourages you not to think of the multiplication facts but instead to just focus on learning the stories. Through additional sections on the DVD, it reviews the stories and slowly transposes the stories into the actual facts. The facts are no longer abstract but have a story basis!

Times Tales is:

- Read the rest of my review at: http://hedua.com/reviews/times-tales/#sthash.eyBurhNz.dpuf

If you'd like to try out Times Tales for yourself, just click here!

In the spirit of full disclosure, this post has an affiliate link, which means I may get a commission if you purchase from Amazon. I only recommend things that I love, so I know you'll be in good hands.

March Holiday Ideas on Pinterest

If you've been around my blog, you know that I like to think every day's a holiday.

Here are links to my Pinterest boards to help you with some of the holidays this month.

March 14--Pi Day
Follow Betsy Price {Mrs. Price is Right about Homeschooling}'s board Holiday--Pi Day on Pinterest.




March 16-17--Purim
Follow Betsy Price {Mrs. Price is Right about Homeschooling}'s board Holiday--Purim on Pinterest.




March 17--St. Patrick's Day
Follow Betsy Price {Mrs. Price is Right about Homeschooling}'s board Holiday--St. Patrick Day on Pinterest.




March 20--First Day of Spring
Follow Betsy Price {Mrs. Price is Right about Homeschooling}'s board Holiday--Spring on Pinterest.

The Math of Manners

My latest piece over at Home Educating Family.

Dating sites use all kinds of math equations and algorithms for matches. Did you know that there is a math equation which leads to manners? A friend explained it to me a few years ago.

An Equation for Manners

I was in amazement that people commented on my daughter’s manners. We had been to a craft fair, and numerous people had complimented me on how she routinely said please and thank you without the usual parental prompt. It is kind of a sad commentary on things that good manners are noticed and not assumed, but I digress!

A few days later, I commented to my then four-year-old daughter that she has nice manners. I asked her if her momma had taught her manners in homeschool. She replied, “No.”

- See more at: http://hedua.com/blog/the-math-of-manners/#sthash.VkLAFOOF.dpuf

From Classical to Eclectic Classical--What we are doing this school year

 When started our home education journey, we were classical all the way. We had planned what curriculum and resources we were going to use. 

Woody Allen got one thing right when he said, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans."

After dealing with my husband's two years of unemployment and our continued financial challenges, we still see classical as our philosophy, but have learned to use whatever God provides to accomplish it.

Hence, we have become "eclectic classical".

Here is what we are using this year to accomplish this.


Math: Because of my blog, I was able to get a free year of this math program to review. Here's the link to the review. 

Language, Literature & Spelling: We are going to be using K12 curriculum we received for free. You can't beat free and on the whole I like what I see. Language will continue with grammar and writing book reports. Spelling breaks the lists up into those words which follow a spelling rule, words from a base word, and words with a specific prefix or suffix. Literature will be covering introducing classics like Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver's Travels. All it all, the basics I want covered will be covered, and I can still adjust as I deem necessary. 

History: The Story of the World: Volume 4 will be our 
world history. I had purchased the whole kit and caboodle of the four volumes and activity books, so we will finish using them. We have so enjoyed how history has been shown as an ongoing story through the series. I'll be looking for a more specific Christian worldview in the next history we use.

Science, Art, Music: I found a great free curriculum which I was going to use for almost everything but now only these subjects (and probably Bible). Easy Peasy---All in one Homeschool is just that. It's easy. It covers everything (although a little weak in spelling). It's online and IT'S TOTALLY FREE. There is even a Facebook support group. We are going to be following Year 4. 

Told you. We're eclectic! What are you going to be using this year?

 

A+ Interactive Math gets an A

This year our curriculum choices are very eclectic because God's been providing things here and there. Who am I to argue with God that what He provides isn't what I had planned. 

One of those unplanned blessings is A+ Interactive Math.

A+ is a full curriculum that can be used online, downloaded to print up, or purchased as a CD. 

We have the fourth grade curriculum. Each lesson is not too long, offers interactive Q&As, and a work sheet. You can do them online or access the same lesson and worksheets to print up. 

The program even keeps track of performance and grades. If you do the worksheets and exams online, it is recorded automatically. You enter the results if you do if offline. 

You can find a demo of the program HERE. They even offer free math placement tests.

I  like the size of the lessons. I really like that we can make the program and use it however we like. For instance, we have found we like to do the online lessons and Q&As, but do the printed worksheets. A few times we've switched it up and I've read the lesson from the textbook and then used the online worksheet. There is also a lesson plan which tells you what to cover each week. I like that because it allows me to plan our week instead of the curriculum.

A couple of minor things I wish they would tweak is that the progress for online and manual lessons would all be recorded together instead of separately. Another thing I wish would be that the lessons and worksheets would have the same numbering. For instance, lesson 2-1 has worksheet number 8. I just think it would be easier (especially for the student) to match the lesson and the worksheet.

Considering I only have two minor tweaks out of the whole program should show I think this is quality.

There are big things going on at A+. They are upgrading their website and having a big Facebook party.

You can even try the program out for FREE for 30 days by going HERE.
They are even going to offering a way of using the program a month at a time or pay quarterly. You can find out more it at the Facebook party.

Thankfully through this review, I received my daughter's math curriculum for this school year!


I received the A+ Interactive Math for free in exchange for my honest opinion through the Gabby Moms program.

Math Trick for Leap Year

Credit: About.com

I've been dealing with insomnia the past few days. It leaves me a lot of time to think. Not about anything important mind you, just a menagerie of miscellaneous minutia I know.

One is how to know if any year was or will be a Leap Year.

I picked this up somewhere along my teaching career!

If the last two digits of the year are 00 or end in a number that is evenly divisible by 4, that year is a leap year. 

1700=leap year because the last two digits are 00.
2016=leap year because 16 is evenly divisible by 4.
1965=not a leap year because 65 is not evenly divisible by 4.

Yup, this is what I did the other night while I was not sleeping. 

Then I got on to the year 2525 which lead me to begin thinking about...

See, you really do want me to sleep! ;-)

Wednesday Websites: Math, Music, Media, and More

I am way behind on Wednesday Websites, so I'm just sharing several different ones today.

Math Interactives--Puzzles, Games, and more--basic math facts to algebra, geometry, functions, etc.

Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra--by Carnegie Hall, learn about the different instruments in the orchestra

Jumpstart--offers worksheets on a variety of subjects and some online games.

Open Culture--free media on the web. Movies, courses, textbooks, apps, and more.

Wednesday Website---Delightful Long Division in Math

After an awesome day with long division, I decided to share some division helps and websites.

First, we used the phrase "Does McDonald's serve burgers?" as a reminder about the steps of long division. 

• Does--Divide
• McDonald's--Multiply
• Serve--Subtract
• Burgers--Bring Down

Second, we used graph paper to keep the problem neat and organized. You can print some up HERE. We used the two lines per inch selection.

Here's a video to watch:

And here are some websites:

The Number Monster for Long Division

NumberNut: Division Quizzes

EduPlace: Divide by two-digit divisor

Dad's Worksheets--Spaceship Math Division

Math Game--Multiplying by 10, 100, and 1000

I came up with a math game to help learn and practice multiplying by 10, 100, and 1000. They are some of the easiest numbers to multiply by but can get a bit confusing with all those zeros!

Mija actually had the chance to practice three skills during the game:

• addition facts
• multiplying by 10, 100, and 1000
• adding larger numbers

You need two dice, paper for each to keep their score, and "cards" with 10, 100, and 1000 on them. I just cut up some paper. Nothing special. I think I had about 12, but you can have more or less. No biggie. 

First, you can either set an a specific amount to be the winner or see who has the most after a certain amount of time. As you can see from the picture, I set a goal of 100,000. That amount is totally doable especially if you have plenty of 1000 cards.

Then you get to practice the three different math skills.

• Simple Math Facts--Roll the dice. Add the amount.
• Multiply by 10, 100, 1000--Draw a card. Multiply the sum of the dice by the number on the card.
• Add the total on your score sheet. We gave each person their own score sheet which allowed everyone to practice.

Mija LOVED the game and easily mastered the concept. 

Wednesday Websites--Math Word Problems

Math word problems are the nemesis of many astudent including mija. We've been working on them exclusively for the last two weeks. One thing I've noticed is that if she does them online, she's not so intimidated by them.

Here's two sites we've been using:

Math Playground--Mija has really enjoyed "Word Problems with Katie."

Syvum has Kid's Math Word Problems 1 and Kid's Math Word Problems 2.

Friday Funny--Winter and Math

This week we had a spring snow storm AND we've been learning about angles, so I thought this cartoon was very appropriate!

Wednesday Websites--World Math Day and more math

 Today is World Math Day. Actually, it started yesterday since today started yesterday in the eastern hemisphere.

Anyway...

I've posted before about how we enjoy the day and website. Join mija today as she compete against kids all over the world and against herself. 
Once you sign up, you'll be notified ahead of time next year and given about a month worth of practice time beforehand. We like having all that extra, fun math practice, as well. 

Visual Fractions has been a handy site as mija has been working on common denominators and equivalent fractions.

And don't forget that next week is Pi Day. Visit my post from last year for links and ideas!

Continuing Education for Mom

I taught in the classroom for several years before coming to motherhood and home education. There was one thing I learned in the classroom; a good teacher never stops learning.

When I was teaching in the classroom, I finally figured out the difference between a direct object and an indirect object.

I learned how to cast out nines to check math problems.

I learned I could make all the craft projects in the world and just send them home. I didn't have to figure out where to store or keep them!

Yes, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon has moved with us twice!

Now that I home educate, I have continued my education.

I've learned that there is a caterpillar that lives for 14 years!

I learned that what I've been calling a turkey's wattle is actually it's snood! I'm so embarrassed when I think of all the students who learned this incorrectly because of me.



You would think I would know my shapes by now, but today I continued to learn.

I knew a rhombus...

and I knew diamonds...

But I never realized that diamonds are actually rhombi! That change in orientation was enough to make me think it was two different shapes. 

So, what have you been learning at home lately?
  

Books, Crafts and more for our Winter study--Snowflakes

One of our local library systems often offer classes for homeschoolers. The bad thing is the branch which is closer to us doesn't participate.  The good thing is the one we used to attend is extending to to be a weekly with a monthly theme.

This month is a surprising topic...winter. The topics will be snowflakes, penguins, and polar bears. The forth week will be about colonial indentured servants because they are having a special guest speaker. 

I'm going to use the theme for home study and activity as well. 

Here are some of the books I'm reserving at the library for the first week.

And some crafts and more I found on Pinterest

Source: busybeekidscrafts.com via Betsy Price on Pinterest

Source: earlylearning.momtrusted.com via Betsy Price on Pinterest

Source: sc.jeffco.k12.co.us via Betsy Price on Pinterest

Source: teacherspayteachers.com via Betsy Price on Pinterest

Do you have any resources or activities to recommend? Please share!

White Christmas Crunch Squares---YUMMY!!

I made these last year, and while they were still yummy, I didn't do the best job on them.

This year, however, I learned from my mistakes and viola! we have yummy treats to share.

This recipe is not original to me. I got it from Kraft Recipes.

Set the oven to 350 degrees and put foil on your 15x10x1 baking sheet. My sheets were a little bigger, so I just had some empty space around the edges. No biggy. 

First, you need to cracked up 1/4 cup candy canes. You could also make it without the candy canes if you wish. The candy canes just make it a little more festive.

Coarsely chop 1 package of Baker's white chocolate. I made sure to show you the box. Do NOT use just white baking chips or almond bark. That was one of my mistakes last year.

Oh, yes. That is actually two boxes worth of the white chocolate because we were making a double batch although the amounts I'm giving you is for a single batch. It's great math practice to double or triple recipes!
You put 32 crackers on the foiled pan. Again, great math practice realizing that would be 8 rows of 4 crackers.

Now, the "Mommy-has-to-do-this" part.
Cook 1/2 cup butter (1 stick) and 3/4 cup brown sugar on the stove for about 3-4 minutes. Stir occasionally while you melt and mix everything well. Then let it boil for 3 minutes. No more. No less. (That's another place where we went wrong last year.)
Pour it over the crackers and spread it around. Yes, make sure to cover all the crackers or you'll have dry spots. Be careful! Hot sugar burns big time. And you've just put boiling sugar over the crackers, so the pan will actually be warm/hot when you go to put the pans in the oven.

Bake for about 5 min until golden brown. Take out of the oven and spread the white chocolate all over the crackers. Then put back in for about 1-2 minutes until the chocolate is melted. Don't expect the chocolate to be melted all over the place. The chocolate will be melted, but you will have to spread it around with a spatula or spoon.

After spreading the chocolate, sprinkle the crushed candy cane over the top. Then you cool completely. We actually put ours in the fridge to help the process along.
Then you break them up. Ideally, you break them into the little square cracker shapes. Sometimes it cracks otherwise. I'm okay with that. Not everyone wants a big old square of candy. Especially considering how sweet these things are! 
Here's a plate of the finished product.

Well worth the sugar coma!

Another MIja Math Video....converting measurements

We're on a video role.
Remembering whether to multiply or divide to convert a measurement can be a challenge unless you remember the "hand jive."  

So it's little to big divide. Big to little multiply.

Take changing inches to feet. You're going for little to big, so you'll divide.

If you are going from kilometers to meters, you'll multiply.

It was really cute seeing my students in class doing the hand jive while taking a test!

Measurement story & pictures---makes it soooo easy

Even when I taught in 5th and 6th grade in the classroom, helping students remember gallons, quarts, pints, and cups was always a pain. I must admit that I would remember long enough for classroom use, but then I would forget it when it came to my kitchen.

Then I found THIS WONDERFUL IDEA on Pinterest.  Here's how we put it into action at our house.

Not as pretty as on Pinterest, but just as practical. Here is mija explaining it.

In case you didn't make it out. Inside the Gallon castle lived four queens (quarts). Each queen had a prince and princess (pints) and each of them had two cats (cups). 

This has made these measurements so easy for mija to work with! Hope it helps you, too!