Living Math versus Curriculum

In a conversation with Gina at her blog, she was curious about how one applies this 'living math' to our math learning at home, and she also comments about some math early readers being twaddle.

First I'd like to take the opportunity to share with you what Julie, the founder of Livingmath.net and the Livingmath forum, shared with us there. Years ago Julie thought of the words living math, and registered the name, and now some claim that it is a concept. I know that living math evokes in us an idea, but Julie coined the term, and registered it, so if/when we use it, we should credit her and direct our attention to her Livingmath site, as well as her livingmath  forum.

The Kingdoms, Mathemagic, and Hellen Keller

At school when I taught first grade, we teachers used to spend a week 'teaching' about the five senses, another week devoted to the three kingdoms, making children write sentences and glue pictures that represented either group of senses or that were part of the three kingdoms. And we still complained that many did not 'get it'.

No wonder they could not get that small morsel in that bed of chaff. Those busy work days and insipid activities are now part of the past!

Reading Updates

This is what I'm about in terms of readings of lately,

* Spanish Bible: Reina-Valera: I'm almost finished with a one whole reading, but I don't mind the fact that I have slowed down. This year my goal is to keep reading it with DeHoff's help, and we three are totally immersed in our Voss The Child's Story Bible which, in my opinion, is perfect for adolescents and even grown ups when you are teaching. No twaddle, and it contains verses sometimes word for word. It simply articulates the story a tidy bit, enough to get continuity and a frame of reference. First we read the verses of the Bible suggested in our curriculum at church, which is a simple yet useful booklet. The suggested verses are few but carefully picked to give you a good schema of the story or account. We use our KJ, or NKJ. I could get into details of why I use those versions but I won't now. If you are curious, ask me. All translations are not equal, and though I have other translations and I sometimes read from them, the KJ and NKJ and in Spanish the Reina Valera 1960 are our first choice.

* Used an Rare: my friend Heather recommended me this book, and it's such a lovely read. A couple's quest into the used books stores, and their drivings and findings of classic books and nice and rare editions of those titles and most specially, of the memories they collected together over the years.

* The Founders' Key: passionately and cleverly written book by Larry P. Arnn, the president of the Hillsdale College, that is also offering a free course on the Constitution.

* School Education, Volume 3 of Charlotte Mason Series: by myself and understanding it after years of reading her on and off, and much about what others have written about her, I'm enjoying her style and timeless wisdom.

Paddle to the Sea

This week, as we were reading chapter 19 of Paddle to the Sea , I thought about making a silhouette of a canoe and a second one for Paddle in a piece of cardboard from those writing pads we have, and the girls loved making their Paddles while they listened to the story.

After Blue Heart wanted to do a Santa, and Little Bean, her little sister joined, and they both made a Santa with his sleight and toy sack.

A week after this, they worked on backgrounds for Paddle to be able to navigate. This was after reading chapter 20, when he is found by a girl on a motorboat. We heard about Lake Huron being frozen, and about canoes made of birch trees. Our last Parables from Nature reading had a birch tree and other kinds, and our story of Snow White and Rose Read told us about the gnomes staying underground in the winter when it was frozen, and coming back to the woods in the spring.

 I made an incision with a cutter for Paddle to be able to move through the waters.

At home, it's a fact that the girls listen best if their hands are busy. These days I'm sure I wait for them at the table with such a simple thing as this, they truly appreciate it.

A Gentle Companion

She is so young, so beautiful, and so wise. Those were a friend's words describing Nancy. I could add many more nice words to talk to you about this dear friend, Nancy Kelly, and to describe all she means to me.