Homeschool Math Newsletter, Vol. 15
January 2008
Hello again! I am Maria Miller and welcome you to the new year 2008!
This month's newsletter first has some news concerning my Math Mammoth books, and then concentrates on one BIG topic: that of word problems and teaching problem solving. I feel this topic is very important no matter what grade level you are teaching.
In this month's newsletter:
1. Math Mammoth news: LightBlue series available as downloads plus new books.
2. Reviews and testimonials of Math Mammoth books
3. The do's and don'ts of teaching problem solving
4. Tidbits
1. LightBlue series as a download, plus new books
Great news!
The LightBlue Series books are now available as downloads. These are designed to be a complete curriculum for a given grade. They follow the lesson format of my Blue Series books: explanations, then problems (worktext). In fact, the two series do share a lot of material.
The LightBlue is for you if you need a math curriculum for a given grade that covers all the topics needed. These are practically no-prep for the teacher, and in fact, kids can probably teach themselves the majority of the time (assuming they can read).
Please read more by following these links:
Math Mammoth Grade 1 Complete Worktext
Math Mammoth Grade 2 Complete Worktext
Math Mammoth Grade 3 Complete Worktext
I will have grade 4 ready sometime this spring, February or March I think.
New Math Mammoth books
In December, I published the following new additions to the Math Mammoth family:
Green series Fractions Worksheet Collection
Green series Numbers & Operations Worksheet Collection
Green series Ratio, Proportion & Percent Worksheet Collection
Blue Series: Canadian Money
Coming up SOON are several new books for the Blue Series; namely Place Value 4, Multiplication 2, and Division 2. The last two will replace the current Multiplication Division 2 book.
2. Reviews of Math Mammoth books
Sol Lederman from Wild About Math blog has posted a review of my Math Mammoth Geometry 1 book.
Also, Amy Beth has reviewed my books at her My Smoky Mtn. Homeschool blog.
I appreciate the reviews very much!
I also want to include here one nice testimonial I got from a customer:
We have enjoyed the Place Value, Addition and Subtraction immensely! Your lessons are really well laid out and have just enough explanation before launching into practice. It's so cool that she [my daughter] can learn the concepts really well without me having to sit with her and explain every step after the way-too-long "concept" lesson. We tried Miquon (I didn't get it) and Math-U-See (too long a lesson before working on the skills... and my twin toddlers aren't really conducive to video/manipulative use) before finding your stuff and I really think yours is the best fit for us, particularly with the ability to create additional worksheets when we may need a bit more practice.
Thanks for not only the links, but a fabulous resource!
Angela Bourassa
I have gathered many more testimonials here, if you're interested.
3. Word problems in math: the do's and don'ts of teaching problem solving
I feel this is a very important topic to understand. Word problems seem to trip up our kids right and left. People consider them difficult - both students AND teachers!
I strongly encourage you to read my article. It talks about how:
− one-step word problems prevail in the end of lessons practicing a specific operation;
− how many school books don't have enough GOOD word problems
− the problem solving "plans" and strategies
− Student's Misguide to Problem Solving (a joke)
− and a bunch of resources for finding good word problems.
Click here: Math word problems − the do's and dont's of teaching problem solving in math
4. Tidbits
Till next time,
Maria Miller
|