My kids love STEAM projects and they love holidays. And I think their love of both is for similar reasons. Both STEAM and Holidays take us away from the norm and provide a fun escape. So activities that combine STEAM and holidays? That’s bound to be a success. Activities that combine cookies and math? Even…
I don’t remember learning arrays as a kid. It’s one of those concepts that someone had to explain to me before I could teach it myself. I love arrays! First, what a great visual representation of multiplication. And it’s so orderly. Second, arrays make an excellent bridge between multiplication and area! And I think anything…
When your kids are having trouble with their multiplication facts it can be frustrating for you both. And when they don’t like practicing their facts, it’s even harder! No more! This no prep thanksgiving multiplication pack will provide entertainment and fact practice at the same time! Plus it’s no prep so just print and go!…
Do you remember taking geography classes as a kid? What do you remember from those classes? The population of Russia? Who fought on which side on what war? Which country technically holds claim to Santa’s workshop? (I’ve been told it’s Canada…for now) I remember approximately none of it. What I do remember is the names…
I have on clear memory of learning math as a child. And it was when I had failed my first math test. It wasn’t actually even a test, it was an assessment to get into the gifted program that I was already in. But we had to retest every six weeks. I hadn’t just failed…
We threw out our first pumpkin today. Arizona weather is not kind to any living thing, including pumpkins. I was so excited for the holiday season that I bought a pumpkin the second I saw them out. And as a result, we’ve already had to throw out our first pumpkin. It reminded me of how…
Years and years ago, Baloo asked me to make addition with candy corn so I did, and he loved it. Its one of those things that we pull out every single year and enjoy. Royal and Logi-Bear love it now too, but Baloo is well beyond that. But he still loves Candy Corn (he’s crazy, although I…
Multiplication is the first big fish in the math pond, or that’s how my kids see it at least. When learning concepts like addition and subtraction, they kind of don’t even know that’s what they’re learning. It’s presented from preschool age and then suddenly we tell them “Oh by the way, that’s called addition”. But…
I have the harder time finding fun work for my older kids (especially Baloo, at 10). Sometimes he just wants something fun like his brothers! But if I make something just for him, I have two younger kids begging to join in. So when I can put something together that they can all use, it’s…
When kids are little they work on sorting all the time but it’s one of those subjects that just gets left behind. However, sorting can become so very complex. Venn diagrams are great for people who learn visually. Venn diagrams themselves are not that complex but it helps to introduce them using familiar ideas. Being…
Grammar is a really dry subject and I’m going to go ahead and admit that I don’t think I ever actually listened to my teachers when they talked about grammar. For the most part, I could write how I talk and get away with it (I do the same thing now too). Honestly, I didn’t…
We are going to end up carving 6 pumpkins this year, I just know it. I got all excited when I saw pumpkins in the store last week and we bought some. Halloween is a month away still! There is simply no way these will last that long. The holidays have already got me thinking…