New Homeschool Articles & Resources
 Making Sense of Math with Fred
If making sense of math is important to you and your children, you'll want to explore the Life of Fred math series. Learn more from the author himself in this Eclectic Homeschool Online interview with Stanley Schmidt, Ph.D., author of the Life of Fred math series. |
Focus: Making Sense of Math
Unraveling Word Problems Containing Variables
One of the best tools for helping our children apply math principles is solving word problems. Word problems demand that children make decisions about equations to determine a quantitative answer. Often, the equation will contain at least one variable. Sometimes, students don't see the value of understanding variables until they attempt to solve a real-life problem. The first such problems we pose are often spoken aloud rather than written.
Algebra, Not Necessarily a Nightmare
If the thought of teaching algebra and higher math to your kids is causing you anxiety, you'll want to read Kate O'Mara's tale of how, even when her fears became reality and things went horribly wrong, there was still a way through the morass.
Fear of Fractions
When you understand math, it can be hard to grasp just where someone struggling with a particular concept is having a problem. I once was asked for help with fractions from a homeschool mom who was desperately looking for something to help her daughter that she herself was able to understand. She wasn't getting fractions, so she couldn't help her daughter who also wasn't getting fractions.
Picture Books for Math
Good books are an excellent way to open mathematical discussions with children. There are quite a number of good picture books that correlate with mathematical topics.
Discovering Fractions
When working with fractions, children at several levels of mathematical understanding can learn at once. Manipulatives are as close as the kitchen. Every child understands the beginning concepts of sharing a pizza or splitting a piece of cake. They may have figured out that in a family of 5 dividing a 10-piece pizza, each person will eat two slices. They may not realize it, but they already have the ideas necessary to beginning work with fractions.
Educational Weblinks
General Math
Reviews
Math Recreations
Math Manipulatives & tools
Eclectic Homeschool Resource Center
Math Games
Math Picture Books
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 A Year in Homeschool Crafts
Crafts for January
Birdseed Biscuits
To encourage birds to visit your yard, try hanging a homemade birdseed biscuit. You might want to keep an eye out for feathered friends on Valentine's Day; the 2010 Great Backyard Bird Count is February 12-15, when people across the country spend 15 minutes or more taking stock of the birds in their towns. For tips, tally sheets, and a list of events, go to birdsource.org/gbbc.
Frost Paint
Frost Paint! Give winter pictures a frosty, icy effect!
Cute Walnut Mice
These little mice tucked cozily into little walnut beds are absolutely adorable. Require simple stitching and glue gun skills to complete.
MORE:
Make Your Own Snow Globes,
Origami Christmas Ornaments,
3D Paper Ball Ornaments ,
Ribbon Tree ,
Dryer Sheet Angels,
Away in a Manger HomeMade Creche
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 Science Spot
Wasps airlift annoying ants
In a scrap over food, being big and able to fly is an advantage. |
 Having a Baby in the Middle of the School Year
One of the hardest things to overcome in a school year is having a baby, but there are ways you can prepare for that precious little bundle. |
 Jumping on the E-reader/Tablet Bandwagon
As the happy owner of both a Kindle 2 and a Motorola Xoom Tablet, let me share why I have both and the way each functions, so you can make a decision about which will work best for you. The latest Kindles come in a variety of configurations all the way from bare bones and very affordable to the Kindle Fire, which is more of a tablet and most expensive. The Xoom is just one of a number of tablets now available based on the Android platform. |
 The Nook, from Barnes and Noble
The Nook -- a would-be convenience that soon became an essential in this homeschool. |
What is a Living Book?
You've heard the term "living book." What does it mean, and how can you test a book to see if it fits the definition? |
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