CAT scores

Well a few weeks ago I gave my kids a CAT test. I mainly gave them this test because my husband requested it. I used Seton Testing Services so each test cost $25 and I was able to administer the test myself.  Seton Testing Services sent me the booklets, detail instructions, and scanable answer sheet for the kids to fill out. I had to send all the materials back to them. They scored the test and sent me the results.

In the mail today I received the results. Superstar scored average on everything but math. For math he scored above average.Web-Princess scores were average except on those areas that required reading.  Those areas she scored below average. I totally expected this from her because of her struggles in reading over the years. We have seen improvement, but I know that improvement is still below 'grade' level.

As their teacher I already had an idea of where they would fall, I didn't need these test to tell me that. I gave the kids the test because my husband wanted them done. He wanted something to show where the kids are with their schooling.

I know that many within the homeschool community don't care for standardize testing, because they can at time don't show a child's true measure of knowledge. This is especially true if the child does not test well. Some people know matter how bright they are never do well on test.

Thankfully I live in state that does NOT require me to use standardize testing. This was done purely for our own knowledge.

2011-2012 School Year: What to use?

I still have several months before I'll wrap up our current school year. I had plan to go all the way to the end of July. We are going to give our hand at all year schooling. However, spring is clearly in the air, because homeschool social sites, such as The Homeschool Lounge, are buzzing with discussions about what to use for next year for science, history, language arts, etc.

Even though I have several more months left I to have been looking at what to use for next year. I have my math and history covered. I have some of my language arts covered like: grammar, spelling and literature.

I HAVE to figure out what I want to use for science. I also need to do something about my children's handwriting and I need to do something to encourage writing.  The grammar workbooks are great for the basics of grammar, but I need to do something that will get them to write paragraphs, reports, or something along those lines.

Fine Arts are a requirement in my state and I think I have that covered okay. Although I think we are at the point were we would like our kids to learn and instrument, but I'm not sure what instrument to encourage or that will even be in our budget. If you have any suggestions that will be great!

Online Townhall meeting w/Al Gore and Mythbusters

On November 17 at 11 am CT, join host former Vice President Al Gore, inventor Dean Kamen, astronaut Sally Ride, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage of Discovery Channel's "MythBusters" and young people from around the world for an interactive discussion exploring youth attitudes on math and science, and what these subjects mean for future success. This online townhall meeting would be for those middle school age students, about 11-14 year old, that have an interest in math, science and the future of our nation.

Math, Science, and the future of our Nation
Date: Wednesday, Nov 17, 2010
Time: 11 am Central

For more information please see Connect A Million Minds

T/H: I-HOPE: Illinois Homeschoolers for Open Peaceful Education

STEMfest 2010 - Saturday October 23, 2010

Are you in driving distance to NIU? If so then you may enjoy going to STEMfest 2010 on Saturday, October 23, 2010!

STEMfest seeks to increase public awareness of STEM initiatives, activities, careers, and education for people around northern Illinois. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. This a FREE whole family event! There will be 100s of hand on activities in an carnival like atmosphere.

Even though the event is FREE there is $5 parking fee! Please see STEMfest 2010 Site for more details.

It truly looks like it's going to be fun for the whole family!

The Problem with Word Problems

I already shared recently what we use for curriculum. I like what we are using for math. It's simple but yet effective. At times there are what even I consider to be "too many" problems. However, I think it's better to have to many then not enough. It's easier to say will skip some of these then to find or come up with more problems.

Today's math activity required Superstar, 9, to look at a chart and to answer simple questions about this chart. This chart had 3 columns to it. The first for the countries name, the second for the population, and the  3rd for the year the data was collected. It's worth noting that each countries population number was collected in a different year.

His question: List the countries in order starting with the country that has the least population and ending with the country that has the greatest population.  Looking at this question Superstar announces that he can not do the work.

I ask him why, what's the issue. He reads the question to me, I point to the chart at the top of the page and tell him. It wants you to use this chart to solve the problem. "I know that Mom, but I'm telling you I can't do it".  Puzzled and confused, because I KNOW he can list numbers from the smallest to the greatest with great ease, ask "Why not?"

Superstar's answer: "They all have different years! So I really don't know which country has the least and which has the most."

I shared this tidbit with some of my local homeschooling friends. I had one that backed Superstar up and said well technically he's correct. If you are going to compare data such as population sizes then you should be using data that was collected in the same year.

In regards to my son's reaction to his math book problem my mom made a statement "Thank God you homeschool! And we wounder what is wrong with the public school system!" Of course my mom was being a little sarcastic when she made those remarks. LOL

I don't think math problems like those are the issue, but perhaps lack of free thinking and questioning why something is done like this; or how, what should have been, a simple math problem could not have been done because the facts given were not "accurate".  hmm....I don't think accurate is the right word there.... It's late and I can't think; so I'll just use accurate for now.

I told Superstar to just answer the question anyway with the data he had. I basically had to tell him to ignore the years the data was collected. He did do it, but the whole time made it known how it really wasn't an accurate answer and the problem truly could not be solved!

Is it time for a Math Makeover?

From time to time I enjoy watching TED videos. The last TED video I shared on Catholic Christian Homeschooling was Ken Robinson's talk on education and creativity. Today's TED video comes from Math Teacher Dan Meyer.

Mr. Meyer believes that the way that math is taught in the USA is equivalent to the TV show 3 and Half Men. In short it's NOT good! The way we teach math needs a serious makeover! To understand where Mr. Meyer is coming from watch the following 12 minute TED video:


In the video Mr. Meyer mentions that the way he views math and expresses it on his blog landed him a spot on Good Morning America. According to his blog he also has most recently been on CNN. However I was unable to find a clip any where.

Mulitpling by 5s

I work with the kids. I give them math problems, I go over the short explanation on how to do it (if needed), and send them on their way. If they NEED help I will help them. However for the most part I leave them to do it on their own, especially Superstar!

Superstar has been working on multiplication this is the typical course work for "3rd graders". We have just finished his multiplication chapters and the next chapters covers things like Geometry (solid and plane figures, triangles, lines, rays, angles, and congruent figures) and Graphing (making and using bar and line graphs).  Once the the Geometry and Graphing Chapters are done we will start working with Division, followed by Fractions and Decimals.

Seeing we are taking a break from the multiplication and it's going to be awhile before we start the dividing I thought I would take advantage of this time and help Superstar memorize his multiplication facts. We will do the book work followed by going over the multiplication flash cards.

We used the flash cards yesterday and he actually knows them pretty well. Some of them he takes longer then I would like to see, but I know with practice he'll know them better and will not need so much time to come to the answer.

We discuss which ones he knows really well and which one he still struggles on. He then shared with me that 5s are easy because of "his method". I asked him to explain his method.

Well it's simple if the number is even you just 1/2 it and times it by 10

• 16 x 5 = 8 x 10
• 24 x 5 = 12 x 10
• 112 x 5 = 56 x 10
• 6 x 5 = 3 x 10

If the number is odd then you take away 1, 1/2 the rest, times it by 10, then add 5 for the one you took away

• 17 x 5 = (8 x 10) +5
• 25 x 5 = (12 x 10) +5
• 221 x 5 = (110 x 10) +5
• 3 x 5 = (2 x 10) +5

This method works for ANY (whole) number times 5. We tried it on several numbers. I gave him all kinds of numbers odd and even and asked him to use his method to test it. He was able to give me the answer to any number multiplied by 5 using this method.

I was simply FLOORED that he came up with this on HIS OWN!!! I did NOT teach him this and it is NOT in his book. I didn't know what to think, other then he must just have the brain for math and no wonder it comes easy to him and I don't have to explain much to him. Web-princess on the other hand is a different story. Most of the time I just give Superstar his book and he goes to town. I often do not need to instruct him on what to do.

That's one reason I'm happy I'm homeschooling him because I know he doesn't have to sit through long boring instructions on how to do math problems. He can just get to work on them without me holding him back with long boring instructions. If he doesn't know something or gets stuck I'm here and I DO help him. However if he can look at the book and know what to do then that's fine with me. (Besides it allows me to sit with Web-princess more, without feeling guilty, because she need more help.)

I'm sure that Superstar really didn't come up with this method for the first time, I'm sure there are math wizards out there that know what this method is called.

I'm just amazed that my 8 year old discovered it on his own, without it being taught by me or the book. It's interesting to see how his brain is processing math.

Should students be allowed to use calculators?

I was reading the most recent newsletter from currclick I thought it was interesting that out of the other over 500 families pulled there was a pretty much even split over the use of calculators.

In my own house we haven't use calculators to much but on occasion it's called for, just mainly because I want to introduce them to calculators and some of the functions available. What's your stance on calculators? Yay or Nay

But Mom It Fits? Measuring Objects

So we have this "cube" (see picture to the left). I will admit that some may think the kids are a little old for this cube, but for the last several years it has served as a stepping stool to get up on our yard trampoline.

Well the kiddos just realized this morning that they don't need to cube anymore to get up on the trampoline. They now can climb up without the aid of the cube. Something they are proud of....

In the course of play they came in and asked for the measuring tape. I asked if they meant this measuring tape and they said yes. So I gave it to them with clear instructions on not to break the tape or leave it outside. That when they were done they were to return it to me. (Something they did very well I might add)

So what does this cube have to do with the measuring tape? Well, besides measuring themselves, sticks, and other objects. (cool to see them use math). They decided to measure the width of the cube and the width of the door way. I might add I had nothing to do with these endovers. I just was really letting them do whatever they want outside while I get some housework done, then we'll do some school work.

Anyway, they measured the width of the door and found that it was 31.5 inches. They then went and measured with width of the cube and found it was 26 inches.  They then approached me with their sceme:

Web-Princess: Mom the door is 31.5 inches and the cube is 26 inches. Can we wash the cube outside and after we clean it can we bring it inside?
ME: No
Superstar: Mom we measured it! It will fit through the door.
ME: No, it's an outside toy so it's going to stay outside
Web-Princess: But mom!!! It fits through the door? Why would it fit through the door if it was an outside toy?
ME: It doesn't matter if it fits. It's an outside toy so it's staying outside.
Web-Princess: BUT MOM!!! It fits! Why would it fit through the door if it was an outside toy?
Superstar: It fits because it has to fit through the doors at the store. You have to be able to take it out of the store don't you?
Web-Princess: OH!!! Mom, why can't we bring it in?
ME: Because it's an outside toy and its staying outside. Ball fit through the door all the time, but we don't play with them inside.
Web-Princess: (sigh) Okay (sigh). Bro, lets go back outside

After that the kids went back to playing.....

Word Problems for 3rd Grade Math

Our first week of our new year is going well. The kiddos are enjoying the work and we are getting through it at a pretty good rate. Of course the first weeks back are in some ways review so it's pretty quick.

DS, math problems confused me today and I'm not sure how to find the answer, other then making a calendar (and that's what we did). I took the easy way out today. Now mind you it's the 3rd day of 3rd grade so I'm really not sure what they expected him to do.

I'll give you the word problem here: (We are using MCP: Mathematics Level C)

In the United States, Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November. What are the earliest and the latest dates on which this holiday can fall?

The following word problem for the day had to do with Canada's Thanksgiving:

In Canada, Thanksgiving Day is the second Monday in October. What are the earliest and latest dates on which this holiday can fall?

There was a total of 10 word problems today and these, listed above, were the last two of the day. He was able to use the steps for the other 8 problems today easily. These last ones confused him, and me, so I told him just to draw out a calendar and do it that way. I'm sure there is a way to do it mathematically, but I was lost on how to do it on a 3rd grade level.

The steps they expect the kids to do are

SEE: What do you need to find?
PLAN: What you need to do?
DO: Follow the plan?
CHECK: Does your answer make sense?

I don't have teacher manual for the book, but for the most part I don't need it! It's just these word problems above really stumped me today! So how would a 3rd grader solve these problems without making a calendar?

Moving Big Rocks! The Secret of Stonehenge

This video is a MUST see! Especially for any little engineers that you may have in your home!

WOW!!! I think that this must be the secrets to Stonehenge. If not it's awfully close!

It's Math Again!

This has been a sore spot for me when it comes to homeschooling and my DD. This moves with the tides and it's frustrating for her and for me. I can't ignore the subject, nor do I feel that I'm helping her any. Sure it would be nice to get the high end fancy math programs, but we can't afford it, and at the same time Math has been taught with the simple stuff for ages. So I know even though we are struggling with this I can reach her.

Today we met a whole new level of frustration with my DD shouting at me, in a very tearful, sad, angry, at the top of her lungs type voice. "You don't know what I know or don't know! You say you know, but you really don't know. You are just pretending to know what I know, because you just want to say that you know". Those words cut through me like a knife. I know she knows this stuff, but then I began to wonder, Do I really know?? Or is my DD right, I'm I just "saying" that I know.

Wow! I walked into this thinking I can help my children, I had dreams of them soaring high above their peers, but now I'm starting to wonder....my eyes are heavy with tears, the sadness is overwhelming. The weight I feel is pressing down on me....I don't want to do my children a disservice, I don't want them to "fail".

All is not lost, I did find a FREE online placement test for math, it's printing now, I'm going to get to the bottom of this and if needed I'm just going to start over at the beginning!!!

Math!

Sometimes I wonder why I "have" to do this subject with my DD. Math and her are at times like water and oil (like today), but at other times it seems as if they were made for each other.

If anything I would say that this has been my "struggle" this year regarding the schooling. Besides at time my own lack of motivation. (but that's something I can deal with because it's me.) My daughter's mood swings regarding math is enough to send me over the moon at times. I just don't get it.

What troubles me more is the last 2 days she has done great with her math. She's gotten the work done within 20 minutes or even less. Today however was a different story it took her 3 hours to get it done. Sure if it was something "new" I would understand, but today's work was just more of the same. It was the same work she's been doing the last 2 days, the same days that she whipped it out in 20 minutes or less, but today 3 hours. What gives???

Not only did it take her 3 hours, but for every problem she was crying and whining that she does NOT know how to do it!! If she was complaining that it was more of the same work then I could understand that perhaps she is burned out from doing it, but to whine and say I don't know how to do it??? I know she knows how she did it for the last 2 days and she's done great with it, but today??? UGH!!!

It fusterating and I almost dread telling her it's math time because I don't know how she'll react to it. I don't know if she'll have a good attiude towards it or if she'll start whinning. I just can't win or loose with it!!! It's really starting to get old!!

MATH!!! We are driving each other crazy

Well our day started good and for DS it went went really well! He stayed focus and moved right along at a pace that I've never seen out of him before. It was great!! Quick, Easy, and knowledgeable....he's done and has been done for a while now!!!

DD was doing good until it came time for her "independent" work: Spelling, Math, and Reading. Spelling she put up a front, but I worked through it and it got done.

Math is even a stronger front and we still have 1/2 of it to do!!! I hate this with her. She can do the work, I know she can, but she just wont do it.....It's just frustrating beyond believe. I can't sit next to her while she does each and every problem. Don't get me wrong I will help her; I want to help her, but I also want her to do the work on her own. I want to be able to put a load of laundry in, wash some dishes, sweep the floor etc while she's working and if she needs my help with a problem then fine I'll stop what I'm doing and help.

I just don't want to sit next to her the whole time and watch her do the work and then have her ask me if her answer is correct before she writes the answer. UGH!!!

Is it really that hard to ask a 6 (almost 7 year old) to do some math work on her own!!! I guess what upsets me the most is I know if she was still in PS (public school) is that the teacher would not sit with her for each and every problem, so why does she expect me to sit with her for every problem??? UGH!!!

One more time: UGH!!!!

And to top it of she still has reading to do and here it is after 1 pm and I'm thinking about how dinner needs to be made the house needs to be clean and now I'm not sure if it's going to get done....I may be up late again tonight, not because I can't sleep but because I feel like I need to get ORDER into my home!!!!

Why??? Why??? Does it have to be like this!!!!! Help Me!!