thejohnstonshouse wrote:I am hoping someone might be willing to share some ideas with me. I have 4 children (9, 7, 5, and 4). This is our 3rd year with MFW and we love it. Our biggest challenge these days is math. I am using Singapore with the three oldest (3B, 2B, and Kindergarten mathematics for my 1st grader). They can do the work, but I am tired of fighting a math war everyday and am hoping for some ideas to keep the challenging nature of Singapore going, but introduce a little more fun into their "math life". I am starting K with my 4 year old next month so I will be teaching three MFW years (K, 1st, and RTR) and I would like to make the day flow along more happily so that I can keep up with all their lessons. I need something they will enjoy and look forward to in order to break up the usual textbook/workbook days of Singapore. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Jennifer
I have some ideas. Look forward to others. May God give you the wisdom to apply the answers that fit for your family and the grace to ignore the ones that don't. Everyone has a wide variety of opinions. No one is trying to offend anyone.
I'd say set aside Singapore for at least a week and just do the fun math games in the MFW 1st grade book for all of the kids. I got the impression that you already have 1st grade manual. another source of games: Do you allow your children to play online games? My kids enjoy the games on PBS Kids website called Cyber Chase. Preview for suitability in your family. We all have different opinions on those things. We enjoy the games and the show where the kids have to solve stuff using math and it's fun for us.
Instead of doing both "fun extras" and "workbook" on the same day, it's ok to have a break and let their minds absorb the lessons. I guess that I don't agree that you have to "keep the challenging nature of Singapore going" during this time of adding fun. I would break from the Singapore for a week or two and just do fun. Then slowly add the Singapore back into their math day.
At their ages, their brains just might need a break from the pace of Singapore. I know when I take my exercise classes, there are times I have to slow down the pace in class. I am still challenged and I don't lose any skills the next week if I go at "low impact". It lets me catch my breath and finish. So, that's where I'm coming from.
I think given their ages -- slow down and -- just have fun and have a break from Singapore for one or two weeks. They aren't going to lose skills and they just might need a week to catch their breath so it isn't hated. all kids in all math programs get to that point -- so... a vacation from structured books can be helpful.
and, if you want to challenge them in math --- may I suggest something like doing a Math A Thon so that they have a really good purpose to doing Math for a week or so? Sometimes we add challenge academically, sometimes we go at a slower pace and add in the challenge of raising money to help others.
St. Jude Hospital operates the mathathon dot org site
My girls took a week off and did the math a thon instead of Singapore and Saxon workbooks.
It was nice break for them and we raised a few hundred dollars to help St. Jude and our local homeschool co-op raised over $3000.
So, maybe that could be a fun challenge without the strong academic pace of Singapore with young children. Challenge them to use their current math skills in a way as community service to help others. And if you do math a thon, please please please --- choose a level that is not too hard. The idea is to finish -- not to advanced skills. I'm just saying what the sponsors say on that. I agree. No need to make them in 5th grade questions on math a thon if they are in book 3 in Singapore. Let your kids enjoy it.
just an idea. that's all. might not be the right fit for your children, but that's what I do with my kids and maybe something in there applies to you. maybe it doesn't.
-crystal