Selasa, 27 November 2007

A tutoring option

I have recently partnered with TutorAndMentor.com to offer an affordable online math tutoring solution for those you might need it.

HomeSchoolMath.net (and blog) visitors will get a 10% discount from their regular rates!

The regular rates are:

Duration Total Savings
1 Month Unlimited $150
3 Months Unlimited $350 $100
6 Months Unlimited $600 $300


... but you get 10% off of those by following the link below, and mentioning "HSM" in the Topic when you schedule your first class.

=> TutorAndMentor.com

* Schedule as many sessions as you want
* Work with us on your weak areas or let us design a personalized curriculum
* Regular progress updates to parents

Quoting Shelly from TutorAndMentor.com:

...from homeschooling perspective, students/parents can either study with us on a per need basis or if they choose then we can follow the curriculum of their choice, teach them regularly, and basically back up their parents either taking care of the entire math curriculum for the whole year or any specific math topic.

We actively engage with parents, seeking their feedback and providing them updates, progress reports from our end.

How online tutoring works?


  • We use ‘Whiteboard’ & ‘VoIP’ technologies of the internet to provide fully-interactive sessions with audio, drawing and typing.

  • No special hardware or software is required by the student.

  • We use ‘global delivery model’ to connect students to tutors across the globe.

  • Our tutors have at least a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in math or engineering and experience of working with children.

  • Students schedule sessions online.

  • Tutor and student login at the scheduled time and start the session.

  • Tutors provide progress reports and feedback to parents.

=> TutorAndMentor.com

Remember to mention "HSM" in the Topic when you schedule your first class to get the discount.

Minggu, 18 November 2007

Pan balance problems to teach algebraic reasoning

Today I have a "goodie" for you all: a free download of some pan balance (or scales) problems where children solve for the unknown:

Just right click on the link and "save" it to your own computer: Balance Problems (a PDF). This lesson is also included in my book Math Mammoth Multiplication 2 and in Math Mammoth Grade 4 Complete Worktext (A part).

The problems look kind of like this:

These can help children avoid the common misconception that equality or the equal sign "=' is an an operation. It is not; it is a relationship.

You see: many students view "=" as "find the answer operator", so that "3 + 4 = ?" means "Find what 3 + 4 is," and "3 + 4 = 7" means that when you add 3 and 4, you get 7. To students with this operator-view of equality, a sentence like "11 = 4 + 7" or "9 + 5 = 2 × 7;" makes no sense.

You might also find these resources useful:

Balance word problems from Math Kangaroo

Algebraic Reasoning Game - a weighing scales game that practices algebraic reasoning

Interactive Pan Balance with Shapes

Balance Beam Activity
A virtual balance that provides balance puzzles where student is to find the weights of various figures, practicing algebraic thinking. Includes three levels.

A Balanced Equation Model from Absorb Mathematics
An interactive animation illustrating solving the equation 4x + 6 = x - 3. Drag the green handles to balance each side. Click the arrow button to reset the animation. On the right side, you'll see links to similar animations of equation solving using a balance.

Selasa, 13 November 2007

From the blogosphere

Just some interesting posts from other blogs:

How to read a fraction from Let's Play math. Denise explains how a fraction is not two numbers, a fraction's "first name" and "family name", the line in it meaning division, and more.

Good Math, Bad Math gives an example of the latter: How the lottery company's game "Cool Cash" had to be canceled in Britain. I had hard time believing this one as well!

And some solid tips of How to get past “stupid” Math mistakes from Wild About Math!

Selasa, 06 November 2007

Carnival of Homeschooling, 97th edition


This week, at Principled Discovery, we are attending classes at Homeschool U, our own virtual university for homeschooling families. Each class is worth three course credits.

Go check it out! Lots to read there!

Minggu, 04 November 2007

Subtraction question

(from a site visitor)
I have a 3rd grader who is struggling with the concept of subtraction. He has tried number lines which he hates to use, says it makes him feel like a baby and also we have tried the concept of "counting up", but he claims he get confused because it is "take away" not adding. What can I do to help him with this concept? He has an easier time with 8 − 2 but when it is 14 − 3 we run into difficulty. I have even resolved to letting him use the calculator. Any suggestions?


I think he needs to understand the concept of subtraction better, first of all.

My book Subtraction 1 deals with the subtraction concept itself and the three ways it is used:

- take away
- difference
- whole/part

He needs to understand those three ways it is needed. It's not "just" for take-away situations.

Secondly, he needs to realize that addition and subtraction are opposite operations, and THAT IS WHY we use addition facts when doing subtraction problems.

After that link is CEMENTED, he will then learn his addition facts such as 5 + 6 = 11 and 7 + 8 = 15 and then learn to use those with subtraction.

My book Add & Subtract 2-A deals with that part.

That's not all there is to it, of course. With a problem such as 14 − 3, we realize first that it won't "change the ten", then we can use our knowledge of 4 − 3 = 1 to solve tat 14 − 3 = 11. So understanding this depends also of his understanding of place value (tens and ones).

Hope that helps.

Jumat, 02 November 2007

Rank #1 in Google search meme

I heard about this from Let's Play Math, and thought it sounded a little fun. It didn't take me too long to find out I come up #1 in Google for these phrases:

singapore's bar diagrams 1.17 M
multiplying in parts 1.8 M
number rainbows 1.7 M
homeschool math blog 1.15M
living loving math 1.5 M

The numbers indicate how many results Google showed (in millions).

The rules are below. If you like the idea, consider yourself tagged!

1. Search for your blog on Google. Try to find 5 different phrases that produce your blog as the #1 hit.

2. You may enclose the search phrase in quotes if necessary, but a search without quotes is preferred.

3. Score your search phrases based on the total number of hits.
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