Anonymous
Post 10/26/2023 22:35     Subject: Math enrichment for K?

Anonymous wrote:Really useful thread. Any suggestions for math enrichment during pregnancy? I think I have a truly gifted and talented baby on the way, I want to give every opportunity to get ahead of their peers.

Thanks in advance!


It’s never too early to start supplementing at home. I suggest you stick with a curriculum instead of disjoint games. I started with Eureka Math when my son learned to count and I could move about two years in math per calendar year. He took Algebra in 4th.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2023 20:01     Subject: Math enrichment for K?

All for encouraging kids and their interests. I had a mathy kid as well that also enjoyed learning.

"Getting ahead" is definitely not the right way to frame this and that's why you got the negative comments.

At that age my son enjoyed mazes, flash cards, legos and games.

Anonymous
Post 10/26/2023 19:33     Subject: Math enrichment for K?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have recommendations for trying to work ahead in math? My daughter just started kindergarten this year, and the Eureka workbook she received seems pretty basic. I totally get that they are teaching to get kids up to a minimum standard, but given that my daughter can handle it, I’m interested in going ahead. I’d like to do so intelligently if possible.

Thanks!

My goodness! Please tell me this is a troll post.


Probably not. The intelligent thing to do is let her be a kid. She’s in kindergarten for god’s sake. She has plenty of time to get ahead.


I’ve gotten enough comments like this that I’ll respond, although I’m sure I shouldn’t.

Of course we let her be a kid. My daughter loves doing academic stuff for fun. My son doesn’t, and I don’t encourage him to. I don’t think my daughter is unusual or exceptional at all. She has almost finished the Eureka book without any nudging from me (just help reading it). I’m not a math-science person myself but I thought encouraging them to pursue different things that they enjoy was normal.

All that said, I appreciate the comments that working “ahead” may not be the right framing.


I’m the PP who wrote the long list. I think it’s good to encourage kids in their interests, but when they have academic interests that can lead to a lot of criticism. More than once I was accused of being pushy, when despite my attempts to do other things, they were pulling forward, dragging me behind them. Just keep exposing them to new things, support them when they get interested in something (creative, athletic, social, etc. - even academic), and ignore the naysayers.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2023 18:38     Subject: Re:Math enrichment for K?

Go, Mom! Right on track for Algebra in 5th grade in WPES!
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2023 17:47     Subject: Math enrichment for K?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have recommendations for trying to work ahead in math? My daughter just started kindergarten this year, and the Eureka workbook she received seems pretty basic. I totally get that they are teaching to get kids up to a minimum standard, but given that my daughter can handle it, I’m interested in going ahead. I’d like to do so intelligently if possible.

Thanks!

My goodness! Please tell me this is a troll post.


Probably not. The intelligent thing to do is let her be a kid. She’s in kindergarten for god’s sake. She has plenty of time to get ahead.


I’ve gotten enough comments like this that I’ll respond, although I’m sure I shouldn’t.

Of course we let her be a kid. My daughter loves doing academic stuff for fun. My son doesn’t, and I don’t encourage him to. I don’t think my daughter is unusual or exceptional at all. She has almost finished the Eureka book without any nudging from me (just help reading it). I’m not a math-science person myself but I thought encouraging them to pursue different things that they enjoy was normal.

All that said, I appreciate the comments that working “ahead” may not be the right framing.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2023 17:27     Subject: Math enrichment for K?

Anonymous wrote:Really useful thread. Any suggestions for math enrichment during pregnancy? I think I have a truly gifted and talented baby on the way, I want to give every opportunity to get ahead of their peers.

Thanks in advance!


Have the baby listen to classical music by putting a speaker close to your belly, it helps developing analytical skills.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2023 17:21     Subject: Math enrichment for K?

Really useful thread. Any suggestions for math enrichment during pregnancy? I think I have a truly gifted and talented baby on the way, I want to give every opportunity to get ahead of their peers.

Thanks in advance!
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2023 10:26     Subject: Math enrichment for K?

Anonymous wrote:Beast Academy either online or the workbooks. Depending on her reading level she can do it all independently. It’s working ahead but in a different way (puzzle based, etc) so she won’t get even more bored with Eureka.

FYI we came to MCPS from a local private and Eureka is a year ahead of the math curriculum we came from (Bridges).[/quote]

This is actually the problem. Folks want the curriculum sped up not realizing that it is already accelerated and that not all kids pick up everything as quickly. Nor understanding that the repetition is meant to build math foundation and numerical concept understanding that is critical for upper level math. Ask the HS teachers what they see when students get to Alg 2 and Honors Pre-Cal.

What’s needed is more in class/in school application of math with science/engineering classes and concepts and then depth added via word problems/project activities in upper grades.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2023 10:09     Subject: Math enrichment for K?

I appreciate all the suggestions, thank you! Lots of helpful stuff in here -- particularly the reminder to engage her actively in math concepts in daily life.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2023 10:09     Subject: Math enrichment for K?

I used both Singapore Math and BA. I find BA more advanced for reading comprehension which DS couldn’t focus on math concepts because the language barrier. Singapore at lower grade has more visual examples for math concepts. I would recommend just do the Singapore math all the way to 4,5th grade until she understands arithmetic of fraction, percentage etc. depending on her reading level, she can also choose to do BA or Singapore Math intensive practice starting 1st or 2nd grade. the latter one has more word problems.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2023 10:05     Subject: Re:Math enrichment for K?

Anonymous wrote:I had a mathy kid. I think you should encourage a child’s interests, but keep in mind that the more a child is accelerated, the more problems you’ll have later with the disparity between your child’s level and what the school teaches. It’s better, when possible, to try to focus on enrichment rather than acceleration. Also, by state law, kids have to take math every year they attend school, regardless of their achievement level. Your daughter can’t complete the math requirement early to create room in her schedule.

Here are some ideas for math things she might enjoy:

Hoagies is a great resource that has links to enrichment for all ages and subjects.
https://www.hoagiesgifted.org/links.htm

Play games. They almost always have a math component (keeping score, making moves, etc.) and encourage logical thinking. Some, like Sleeping Queens and Monopoly, incorporate math more directly.

Teach her about money and consider giving an allowance. I think learning about money is one of the best things to teach kids about math. It teaches addition, subtraction, place value, regrouping, and introduces multiplication. (I used a 10x10 grid to help teach money, let me know if you’d like more details.)

Teach her how to tell time on an analog watch (they make some designed for learning).
https://www.amazon.com/kids-teaching-watch/s?k=kids+teaching+watch

Cooking is excellent for fractions. For added challenge, you could have her double or halve recipes. It can also be a great way to introduce other subjects too. Here’s an amazing post I read once on DCUM about how a parent uses cooking as an enrichment experience as her kids grow. I wish I’d read it when my kids were younger, but it’s a great illustration of how there are learning opportunities everywhere. (08/04/2020 11:44)
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/901600.page

Crafts can be great for math.

Give her a tape measure and/or a timer. You can introduce her to the Guiness Book of World Records and then challenge her to set her own, personal records (how far can she jump, how fast can she run across the yard, etc.)

Logic puzzles are great. She might enjoy Sudoku or Magic Squares. Here is a book introducing Magic Squares, you may be able to get it through your library.
https://www.amazon.com/Franklin-Magic-Squares-Step...nto-Reading-Step/dp/0375806210

The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives lets kids play with and explore math concepts online.
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html

Cyberchase is a PBS show that is great about introducing kids to math concepts. While their focus has changed, you can find the earlier math seasons here:
https://pbskids.org/cyberchase/videos/?selectedID=...5c-0ec9-4490-9f88-7890cfb1689a

The Sir Cumference books by Cindy Neuschwander are great for introducing geometry concepts. You may be able to get them through your public library.
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Cindy-Neuschwander/author/B00699FJ34?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

A verbal game called buzz is great for practicing most math concepts. You pick a pattern and then start counting, substituting the word buzz for words that fit the pattern. To make it more interesting you can combine rules.

Ex. Numbers with 2s:
1, buzz, 3, 4, . . . , 11, buzz, 13, . . . , 19, buzz, buzz, buzz, . . . , 30, 31, buzz, 33, etc.

You can combine rules. Ex. Odd numbers and numbers with 2s:
Buzz, buzz, buzz, 4, . . . , 10, buzz, buzz, buzz, 14, . . . , 18, buzz, buzz, buzz, . . . , 30, buzz, buzz, buzz, 34, buzz, 36, etc.

As your child gets older you can use other patterns for buzz: multiples, perfect squares, primes, Fibonacci numbers, etc.


Thank you, this is really helpful. I appreciate your point about enrichment rather than acceleration and I think you are right. My kid loves blowing through "homework", but I don't think she's a math prodigy or anything. These are all really great suggestions.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2023 09:52     Subject: Math enrichment for K?

Anonymous wrote:Maybe RSM has a toddler class.


They actually do have a PK class.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2023 09:50     Subject: Math enrichment for K?

Anonymous wrote:My child started getting "enriched" math in 1st grade. It's was really just a few worksheets and a selected group would occasionally meet with the teacher to review some advanced concepts.


Now math enrichment just means kids are assigned the later problems in the Eureka problem set. Not meaningful at all.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2023 09:32     Subject: Math enrichment for K?

Maybe RSM has a toddler class.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2023 09:10     Subject: Math enrichment for K?

Keep it simple. Adding and subtracting up to twenty and hundred if she is advanced. Also, number sense - how far are single digits from double digits for example.
9 and 10 are next to one another but 9 and 99 are quite far apart.