Archive for January, 2007

Math News

written by
ethan
at January 31, 2007

I recently found this article in the Seattle Times.

The article highlights the new “Curriculum Focal Points” introduced in 2006 by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). This article points out the change in direction by saying, “The council’s advice is striking because in 1989 it touched off the so-called math wars by promoting open-ended problem-solving over drilling. Back then, it recommended that students as young as those in kindergarten use calculators in class.”

The new “Curriculum Focal Points” focus on mastering basic math skills. Here is what the article had to say:

“According to their report, ‘Curriculum Focal Points,’ which is subtitled ‘A Quest for Coherence,’ students, by second grade, should ‘develop quick recall of basic addition facts and related subtraction facts.’ By fourth grade, the report says, students should be fluent with ‘multiplication and division facts’ and should start working with decimals and fractions. By fifth grade, they should know the ’standard algorithm’ for division — in other words, long division — and should start adding and subtracting decimals and fractions. By sixth grade, students should be moving on to multiplication and division of fractions and decimals. By seventh and eighth grades, they should use algebra to solve linear equations.”

To read the full article click here.

I found the article fascinating because the “new” focal points were the same ones that my math teacher focused on when I learned math. In 1989 when the so-called “fuzzy math” was introduced I was being taught at home using Math-U-See which I didn’t find “fuzzy” at all :-) Let’s take a look at Math-U-See’s “focal points.”

Alpha & Beta - Addition & Subtraction

Gamma & Delta - Multiplication & Division

Epsilon & Zeta - Fractions, Decimals & Percents

Pre-Algebra & Algebra - Solving for the unknown etc.

To see the full curriculum sequence click here.
I just found the correlation to be interesting. Math-U-See’s method for teaching math for over 15 years is what the NCTM is just now reccommending.

What do you think?

in News Bits. 6 Comments

Matschstick Adventures

written by
ethan
at January 23, 2007

I recently ran across the Matcshistick Adventures blog. It is the blog of a homeschooling mom with three boys.  It’s a fun blog with lots of pictures and fun stories.  One that I found interesting was a place values game she made. Not only does it teach place value but she modified it to go along with the Math-U-See decimal street.

Click here to take a look.

While browsing their adventures I also found this funny song, “The 14 days of homeschooling” sung to the tune of the 12 days of Christmas.

If you or someone you know uses Math-U-See and blogs leave a comment and let me know!

in User Highlights. 2 Comments

Math-U-See Rep Convention

written by
ethan
at January 19, 2007

Every year or so, all the regional representatives gather for a rep convention. This year we met in Melbourne Florida and those of us from the cooler regions enjoyed a break from the chilly air.

We discussed better ways to meet our customers (i.e. members of the Math-U-See family) needs, took care of a little business, swapped ideas and had fun.

Math-U-See Reps

Here we are, families and all

Leave a comment if you recognize anyone.

in Math-U-See rep highlights. 1 Comment

Block Basketball

written by
ethan
at January 8, 2007

Here is a picture that was sent in of a basketball court made from blocks.

I think the “units” house is playing the “tens” house in the decimal street playoffs. Just a hunch but I think the “tens” will win, they have a slight height advantage :-)

Thanks Jamie for sending in this picture. If you want to send in a picture of your block creation shoot an email to ethan@mathusee.com

in Block Art and Reader Contributions. 0 Comments

Where in the world is Math-U-See?

written by
ethan
at January 5, 2007

If you are reading this blog then you are aware of the Math-U-See program. But what you may not have known is that there are several other editions of Math-U-See. Math-U-See is used primarily by homeschoolers, and as home education grows in other countries Math-U-See endeavors to meet their needs also. The countries that have their own editions of Math-U-See’s curriculum are…

Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and The United Kingdom.

The Student Textbooks and Teacher Manuals have been edited to reflect the appropriate money and measurement (metric or imperial) for each country. Word problems have also been improved to make them more applicable and relevant. For example nobody in Australia really cares about American football they are more interested in Rugby or Aussie Rules Football :-)

I have traveled with my dad to all of these locations and it’s fun to see peoples responses and the similarities between homeschoolers around the world. Here are a few pics…

It’s fun having a famous dad, people ask him to sign their math books :-)

Speaking to a homeschool group in South Africa

It’s wasn’t all math though most of his talks were on building stronger families.

Those are our international editions and if you are from one of those countries and using Math-U-See leave a comment.

in MUS in the World. 4 Comments

Happy New Year!

written by
ethan
at January 1, 2007

It’s that time of year again, and by “that time of year” I mean the time when everyone puts ‘06 instead of ‘07 when writing dates! :-) I was just getting used to writing 2006 now I have to learn 2007, thankfully I know a GREAT math program that can help :-)

Maybe I should build it, write it, then say it…

2007 Blocks Math-U-See

Have a wonderful 2007

in Misc. 2 Comments