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.

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.

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!