Anno’s Mysterious Multiplying Jar, by Masaichiro and Mitsumasa Anno

Anno’s Mysterious Multiplying Jar is a math storybook for all ages
Anno’s Mysterious Multiplying Jar, by Masaichiro and Mitsumasa Anno, is an engaging story about counting and so much more. It starts with the idea that there is a jar that contains one island, which has two countries, each of which has three mountains. This idea continues up to ten. Each page has only a little text with many pictures to illustrate the concepts. For example, on the page describing the three mountains, there are three mountains inside separate borders to help illustrate the concept.

As for math, Anno’s Mysterious Multiplying Jar is full of concepts, both for younger and older children. For the younger kids, the story works as a counting book from one to ten. The bordered illustrations help with counting on each page. For second and third grade students, the book works as an introduction to multiplication where you can start with the smaller numbers and work up to the more difficult problems, such as eight times nine. For older children, the story introduces the idea of factorials. Students must already know multiplication in order to understand factorials, but this story does a great job of slowly introducing the pattern and building up to a full explanation at the end. As you can see, this is a great story to read with the whole family, because kids at different grade levels will relate to some part of the concepts discussed. It can also become a classic as a child grows up; you can return to it every couple of years and your child will discover something new each time!

What you can do to reinforce the ideas in Anno’s Mysterious Multiplying Jar
There are a number of activities that will enhance the math introduced in this story, depending on the age of your child. For  younger children who are practicing counting, have them see how many houses are in your neighborhood, how many rooms are in your house, or how many jars or cans of catfood you have in a cupboard. Then compare those numbers to the numbers in the book. Is it reasonable to have six houses in a village, or should there be more?

For older children, activities should involve slightly harder math in order to keep them interested and learning. You could do a similar type of activity, though. Maybe see how many rooms there are in each village by doing six times seven. Then see how many rooms there are in your neighborhood or on your street by assuming that each house has the same number of rooms as yours. This will involve a journey outside to count houses, and then the multiplication to see how many rooms there are.

If your child is at the point of understanding factorials, the activities can start before you even finish reading the book. You can stop reading at the question, “How many jars were in the boxes all together?” See what your child thinks, and then re-read the story taking notes in order to figure out the answer together (it should be 3,628,800 or 10!). Compare your estimate to the answer, then finish reading the book. There is also a desk-arranging problem at the end of the book that your child can solve using the idea of factorials. If you are feeling creative, you can write and illustrate your own example of a factorial following the style of the book.

Whatever activity you choose to do, make sure you keep it fun. With summer winding down, your child is going to want to make the most of it!

Architecture

Tour a landmark building that has a great view of your city, like the Empire State Building or the Space Needle. Take a good look around at other major buildings,  landmarks, and geographical features  in the area. Bring math into the experience by discussing how to estimate the height of a building, when it was built, and how many people it took to build it.

When you get back:
Compare the building you visited to Taipei 101, the tallest building in the world. You can even research some of the challenges of designing tall buildings.

Sports

One, two, three, go! Whether it’s baseball, football, ski races or bowling, sports and games offer wonderful math learning opportunities. Even if you don’t live in a major league city,  minor league or local high school and college games offer fun, accessible choices. Your kids can record scores, calculate batting averages or free throw percentages, or compare win/loss records.

When you get back:
Organize your data in an easily readable way, like a graph or a chart, and discuss what the data means. Or you can compare a player or a team’s performance in this game to their average scores in all games. Considering baseball is a game of averages, what can you derive from the day’s performance?

Museum

Of course museums are rich with learning activities. But you don’t have to live near the Goudreau Museum of Mathematics and Science in New York to get math out of your trip! The key to a successful museum field trip is in finding an exhibit that sparks your children’s interests. It’s great if the exhibit is math oriented, such as optical illusions or the drawings of M.C. Escher, but there are many ways to integrate math learning with other topics. Consider having each person in the family or group rank certain pieces or exhibits you see, then find the average rating of the group.

When you get back:
Start your own collection of small objects at home that your child can sort and arrange in different ways. Your child can even put on his own exhibit, making sure that everything in it is related to a common idea.

Factory Tour

Tour an interesting factory, whether it is Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream in Vermont or Basic Brown Bear in California. Enjoy seeing how small pieces of raw materials come together into a great final product. You can even explore math concepts by discussing the steps needed to make the product using ordinal numbers.

When you get back:
Make your own ice cream or teddy bear. And don’t forget to have your child measure the ingredients or materials that you use!

Agriculture

Get outside and pick your own fruit! You’ll have some fresh produce to bring back with you, and you’ll learn a little about where your food comes from. The kids will love the treat, and you can even make the experience into a math game. For younger children, have them pick ten, counting correctly, before they can eat one. Older children can estimate how much their fruit will weigh at the end.

When you get back:
Bake a yummy dish or dessert using your fresh produce, with your children helping to measure ingredients as you bake. For a long term project, buy some seeds to grow at home. Children can research facts such as average yield and growing time. At the end, see whether it was a good investment. Consider how much fruit you grew, how much it would have cost from the store, and how expensive the seeds were.

Local places to check for more ideas

• public libraries
• local historical society
• parks and recreation department

Share your favorite homeschooling math field trip lessons with others

What field trips have worked for you? Lessons? Share your experiences by adding your comments. Want to write an entire post about a recent field trip? Send us a comment and we’ll contact you. We’d love to feature a few math-related homeschooling field trips from our readers’ perspectives.

Math Curse, by Jon Scieszka

Read Math Curse for memorable puzzles
Math Curse by Jon Scieszka is a quirky book that keeps you on your toes. From disorienting drawings to crazy questions, this story bounces all over the place and never gets boring. The thread that ties it all together is the story of a boy caught in a math curse, where he sees math problems in everything he does during the day.

Math Curse is a great story for getting your child thinking instead of memorizing or doing rote practice. The problems in the book emphasize using math in everyday situations. The questions may seem wacky at the beginning, but that keeps children interested and makes the math more memorable. The questions also illustrate many different math concepts, such as the Fibonacci series, in a way your child will understand. The math may be a bit advanced for younger children, but is appropriate for first or second graders. And don’t worry if you start getting stumped on some of the oddest questions; there are answers at the back of the book!

Activities to try after reading Math Curse
Kids can pretend they are also under the math curse. Have them write down some of the math problems they encounter during the day. Then they can can trade problems, help each other solve them, and compare their days! If they want to get creative, they can create their own books filled with the story of their day, complete with illustrations. Don’t forget to set aside your children’s books – they will be entertaining to come back to in later years to show your kids what they made and how much they’ve learned!

A Very Improbable Story, by Edward Einhorn

Read A Very Improbable Story and gain a head start in math
A Very Improbable Story by Edward Einhorn is about Ethan, a boy trying to get to his big soccer match. The only problem is that he has a cat named Odds refusing to get off his head until he can win a game of probability! The amusing storyline and beautiful oil painting illustrations will definitely keep children engaged. Be mindful, though – the content is a bit complicated, and it would be better for kids to be in first grade before they read this book.

This story not only reinforces math concepts, it introduces new ideas with its focus on probability. Going through games choosing socks, sorting marbles, and arranging cereal shows kids how math is applicable to everything they do. And Einhorn included a terminology section at the end that can help your kids learn even more.

Use A Very Improbable Story as a starting point for probability games
Don’t worry, there’s no need to visit the nearest casino. You can create your own probability games right in your own home. Of course, decorating, bringing out the poker chips, and inviting a bunch of kids over to play make the games more exciting!

If your children are old enough, you can try playing any of the classic card games. Some of my favorites are Blackjack and Steal the Old Man’s Bundle. Emphasize probability as you play. For Blackjack, discuss the composition of the deck and how there are more tens than lower numbers because of all the face cards. Have them think about what that means in terms of when they should take another card and when they should stay with what they have. For Steal the Old Man’s Bundle, you could talk about the chances of someone having the same number as the card on top of your pile. You can also modify the game slightly – instead of just matching to the cards on the table, you can collect them if they add up to the number on the card in your hand.

Want to be more creative? Have your child invent his own game that involves probability. It can use marbles, cards, dice, or anything else he can think of. Be sure to have him explain the connection his game has to probability before you start playing!

Free eBook

We are very  excited to present “Helping Children Be Successful in Math.  A Homeschool Math Learning Guide.“  This free eBook offers tips on how to help your child develop a positive attitude towards math,  goals from the National Mathematics Advisory Panel, and homeschool math learning activities. It’s a must-read before you start this year’s math curriculum.

Get our free homeschool math eBook!

We realize that homeschooling is a huge financial undertaking. That’s why we made this eBook completely free and no registration required! We are also working to create more homeschool resources to make DreamBox Learning your number one destination for homeschool math support.

What is a homeschool co-op?

A homeschool co-op is a group of homeschooling families that gather together to enrich their children’s education. But every group is different with huge range of activities offered, member requirements, and levels of commitment.

Issues to consider

Most co-ops offer some combination of classes, clubs, field trips, potlucks, and parent discussions. Co-ops range widely in the types of resources that are shared or activities that are offered. Many co-ops offer advice and forums on their websites for everyone, not just members. Some co-ops exist just to use group purchase power to obtain lower prices on curricula.

There is also a lot of variety in membership requirements. Some co-ops follow certain religious affiliations or homeschool philosophies. Other groups have restrictions about age ranges or locations for their members. While many co-ops are free, some have fees to join.

Co-ops also vary in the levels of commitment required. Almost all co-ops require parents to stay on-site while their children are taking classes or attending events, so do not expect to just drop your child off and leave! Larger co-ops tend to have members sign up for the activities that they are interested in, while smaller groups might expect members to attend every event. Also look at the expectations for parents – how often should you be organizing an event, or could you work on a newsletter instead?

Pros and cons of joining a homeschool co-op

Co-ops can be a great experience for both students and parents. Children interact with and learn from a group of their peers. They are exposed to new ideas and different viewpoints. Parents share talents, each leading activities or classes in their area of expertise. Parents also gain a supportive community, and some offer opportunities to take a break with events such as Mom’s Night Out.

However, there is also a flip side to homeschool co-ops. When you join, you are making a commitment that will take time and energy, and you have to be sure that the co-op you join is worth it. You may feel that some co-op activities have little educational value, some field trips may go awry, and some classes might even remind you of why you decided to homeschool in the first place. You are dependent on others following through on their commitments to attend and share in the work of creating classes or events.

Therefore, a lot depends on the co-op you choose to join. Each one has a different focus, values, and group dynamic. You might attend several events before making a commitment to join, especially if there is a fee for joining.

Finding a co-op near you

First, consider what you want out of the co-op experience. Are you looking to share teaching responsibilities,  or are you more interested in socialization opportunities for your students, field trips, or a chess club? How much time do you want to be committing to the co-op? Make a list of your top priorities to help you in your search.

Here are several online databases and resources to help you identify homeschool co-ops and groups in your area:

• Homeschool World (http://www.home-school.com/groups/NY.html), the website for Practical Homeschooling Magazine, which  lists co-ops from around the nation organized by region and state with a little information about each one.
• A to Z Home’s Cool (http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/regional/Region.htm) lists homeschool organizations and co-ops by region.
• Check out Homeschooler Buyers Co-op http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/, which claims to be the world’s largest purchasing cooperative for homeschoolers.
• Finally, talk to other homeschoolers in your area about groups they might have some experience with organizations that you might consider joining

Starting one yourself

Can’t find a homeschool co-op in your area that fits your needs? You might consider launching your own. Talk with other homeschool families you know to see if you can all agree on your shared goals. Be aware, though, that you have to make sure everyone is on the same page about the needs and the level of commitment for the group. This will be a lot more work than just joining an already existing co-op, but it can also be the best way to find exactly what you need, and it can be very enriching for your whole family.

How Big is a Foot? by Rolf Myller

Summer is full of wonderful outdoors activities to take advantage of the beautiful weather. But what about those rainy days when the children are full of energy and have nowhere to go? Sounds like a great day to sit down with a fun book and start a somewhat more controlled activity, maybe even one that involves math.

Reading How Big is a Foot? for math beyond the regular curriculum
How Big is a Foot? by Rolf Myller is one of the cutest books I have seen. With simple illustrations and large, easy-to-read text, this is the story of the attempt to build a bed for the Queen’s birthday. But how can you build a bed when no one knows how big to make it? This is a great short story for kindergartners, although older children may find it too simple.

Mathematically, this story explores new ideas that your child may not have had much exposure to yet. Instead of focusing on counting, this book focuses on measurements. Through the problems caused by non-standard measurement, the story explains the need for standard measurements that everyone understands.

Learning activities to explore after reading How Big is a Foot?
While reading the book is a great start, children often learn better when they have a hands-on activity. In this case, activities that reinforce the concepts in the book require almost no preparation and are lots of fun. You can act out the book by having your child measure his own bed with his feet. How does that compare with your feet or a measurement taken with a ruler? Can you find a way of estimating the standard measurement of an object based on a measurement using your child’s feet? Go try it out with more objects!

If your children are full of energy, you could even arrange a scavenger hunt that takes them all around the house. Give them a list of things to find based on how long they are, but don’t use standard measurements. Use unusual objects to measure with instead, like finding something that is three marshmallows long. And of course your children will love eating their measuring tool afterwards.

So if the children are at loose ends with all their energy, steer them towards this story and these activities to get some learning in while having some summer fun.

Even if your kids won’t be headed off on the big yellow bus, you can still join in on the back-to-school fun. DreamBox Learning presents 10 tips for homeschool beginners.

10 tips for beginning homeschoolers

1. Write out your reasons for homeschooling. To homeschool or not to homeschool? It’s a daunting decision. Write out your reasons for homeschooling and goals for your children.  Ask yourself : What are the schools like where you live? What do you want your children to accomplish through their education? Why do you want to homeschool? How long will you homeschool? Homeschooling is more than a full-time job and when the schooling gets tough, a written list of reasons will help you recall why you took on the challenge.  A homeschooling mission statement will help you stay focused the ultimate goals for your children.

2. Set measurable educational goals.Whether you’re teaching literature, math or art, keep specific educational goals in mind. What do you want your child to learn and how will you track their progress? Divide the list into short-term and long-term goals. Short term: “I want Susie to be able to add double digits.” Long term: “I want Susie to have a basic understanding of American History.”

3. Make it fun. Homeschooling is never what you pictured.  It’s not always fun and there will be many times when you wondered why you thought you could be both their teacher and parent. But homeschooling can also be a lot of fun.  Teach a French lesson and then make crepes as a family. After a unit on the Civil War, watch a reenactment. If you’ve always wanted to learn guitar or speak a foreign language, now is the time to learn.  Homeschooling will stimulate your  curiosity and you’ll learn new things while teaching your kids.

4. Reach out. You might be the only one on the block who doesn’t walk their child to the bus stop each  morning. But you can still be a part of the homeschooling community! Try and find a good homeschooling co-op in your area. If you can’t find one, start your own. Attend homeschool conferences.  Check out this Unschooling on a Cruise Ship conference if you want to combine your conference with a vacation.

5. Learn about teaching. It’s not enough to be a math whiz or geography guru. You have to know how to apply your knowledge in a way that the child will understand.  Read books on teaching and take teaching courses.   Swap resources with your homeschooling co-op.  If your specialty is in English and you struggle with math, teach the English course and have another homeschooler teach the math.

6. Prepare financially. With the rising cost of a private education, you might feel like you’re making the “cheaper choice.” But homeschooling is expensive. Consider the cost of keeping one parent home as the primary educator.  Consider the curricula, the supplies, the expense of transforming your home office into a classroom.  Budget for everything right down to the #2 pencils.  Have a financial plan in place and give yourself a cushion for unforeseen expenses.

7. Set aside a time and place for academic work. Don’t try and turn your T.V. room (plush couches and all) into a classroom — cartoons and serious learning don’t mix.  Before you begin homeschooling, set up a classroom with chairs, books, desks, and all.  Get into a routine. That is, school begins at 8:00 a.m. and at that time, they must be dressed (teeth brushed, hair combed) and ready to take on the day.

8. Get  organized. (The dog ate my …worksheet) Organize your materials, time, and tasks so you don’t waste precious minutes looking for worksheets or scrambling to find that storybook.  Set up a filing system for all your different subjects and organize your library and homeschooling records.  Consider keeping a daily journal and homeschool work portfolio.

9. Don’t forget socialization and life skills. If you decide to homeschool, be prepared for the inevitable question, “What about socialization?”  Involve your kids in their community.  Sign them up for sports, scouts, and home-school groups.  Take field trips with other children and make sure to include activities where your child has to work in a group.  Be very certain your child’s social needs are being met and that they will have a peer group.

10. Review local regulations. Check your local regulations if you’re thinking about homeschooling.  Most states are subject to home-based instruction regulations.  For instance, in Washington you must have earned 45 quarter units of college-level credits, attend a Parent Qualifying Course, meet with a certified teacher once a week, and receive approval from the local superintendent of public schools.

Bonus tip:  Read about how DreamBox Learning’s online math curriculum is  ideal for homeschooling families here!

Quack and Count, by Keith Baker

Kids have an insatiable interest in story books and they love hearing the same stories again and again. Are you getting tired of some of the classics and looking for new additions to your child’s book list? We’re doing our summer math storybook series to suggest some books that are not only great reads but also illustrate some of the math concepts that are important for your early learners! We picked Quack and Count as the second book in our series of seven.

Read Quack and Count for fun filled math learning

Quack and Count by Keith Baker is the story of a group of seven ducks and their adventures. Full of detailed illustrations and narrated with clever rhymes, this story will keep your child’s attention. Even counting the ducks can be trickier than you expect as the ducks play hide and seek! But Baker’s book is not just about fun and games.

A great story for kindergartners and first graders, Quack and Count emphasizes certain basic mathematical principles. Baker moves the seven ducks into different groupings over each two-page spread. This use of addends emphasizes the concept that each number is more than just an amount; it is also made up of other numbers. This is a great introduction to the concepts that underlie addition.

After reading Quack and Count, try these fun math activities

Are you reading to a group? Try having the kids move around a little to keep their attention. Teach them the song Five Little Ducks Went Out to Play. Then choose six children to act out the song as the rest of the group sings the song. Another interactive activity that you can use with a group or an individual is to act the story out with little rubber ducks as you read it.

Want something more math oriented for slightly older children? Have them write out the math sentences being illustrated on each page of the book (such as 7 = 6 + 1). At the end, have the children write down their own number sentence that equals seven, possibly even using three addends. Then they can illustrate their equation with drawing of ducks or any other object that they want to use.

Have fun reading (and rereading) – you may have just found a new favorite book!

So it seemed only fitting that we dedicate our latest top blog round-up to these largely unsung heroes. This blog is dedicated to homeschoolers who do the hard work of teaching day in and day out, because they believe that education and home must mix. Without further ado, let’s see who made the list!

1. Mental Multivitamin. What’s neat about this blog is that it celebrates not only homeschooling but the joy of learning in general. The author, who refers to herself as M-MV, is a voracious intellectual who is brilliant at finding great stimulus for the mind and using it in her blog posts. In fact, her cultural insights are so savvy and piercing, you will almost certainly pick up a great tip for a new intellectual venue by spending a little time with Mental Multivatamin. From teaching Shakespeare to homeschooled kids to the truth about math in public schools, enjoy the sharp insights of Mental Multivitamin.
2. Throwing Marshmallows. With a name like that, you know you are in for an interesting read. Throwing Marshmallows does not disappoint in its enjoyable accounts of the homeschooled adventures of two energetic boys. For example, if your knowledge of children’s magazines extends to Highlights and umm….Highlights, you will certainly enjoy this post on great kids’ magazines ( you might just find some great niece and nephew gift ideas too). For something a little more serious, check out this thought-provoking post on how homeschooling affects the rights of children. From light subjects like online comics, to deeper topics like ADHD, blogger Stephanie proves herself to be a studious and passionate writer who’s blog can be enjoyed by homeschoolers and non-homeschoolers alike.
3. Fiddledeedee. Surely the most mischievous homeschooling blog on the list, Fiddledeedee has a sense of humor more infectious than the common cold in winter time. When applied to the unheralded topic of homeschooling, you get a blog that’s eye-opening and entertaining. To get just a taste of the gleeful life of Fiddledee and her homeschooled brood, check out her classic 100 Things. Other gems include, “Will this involve sweating?” a look on the process of exercising with kids, or a hilarious (because it’s so relatable) adventure using a GPS for the first time. Fiddledeedee also features recipes, reviews, and giveaways, so check it out! Warning: this blog may cause you to LOL!
4. Handmade Homeschool. This clever and unique blog is written from the perspective of “PrairiePoppins,” a mother living with her family in the Canadian Prairie. She is a homeschooling mother of two, as well as an artisan, a crafter, and a fervent advocate of original thinking. Her inspiring blog is full of homeschooling highlights, wise quotes, and cool handmade challenges. Like the best homeschooling blogs we found, what sets this writing apart is the delight in everyday things that most of us are so busy we miss. We dare you to read her “Mindful Homeschooling” philosophy and not be disarmed.
5. Here in the Bonny Glen. This upbeat blog is by a homeschooling mother of five, going on six children. If that isn’t brave enough in itself, author Melissa Wiley is also the mind behind a very cool series of books about the grandmother and great-grandmother of Little House on the Prairie author Laura Ingalls Wilder. Her blog contains plenty of homeschooling pearls of wisdom (check out Wiley’s eloquent explanation of “tidal learners” versus “Fiddler Crab Homechoolers”). Her posts are interspersed with book reviews, recipes, and insightful observations into everyday life. Particularly, Wiley’s gifted range as a writer can be witnessed in posts like the cackling “Who’s On Surp?” and the mellower “The Quiet Joy.” For a dose of nostalgia, check out this fun post on “Favorite Fictional Families” here.
6. By Sun and Candlelight. This pretty blog provides a cheery photo collage of homeschooling life. From the joy of board games to the fine art of breeding butterflies, By Sun and Candlelight is a sweet look inside the life of this homeschooling mother of five. Honestly, who wouldn’t love learning in a classroom that looks like this? Message to By Sun and Candlight: your schoolhouse rocks. Step inside the family chrysalis that is By Sun and Candlelight, and learn how to make your own Gratitude Tree.
7. PhatMommy. So modern it hurts, this sassy blogger distinguishes herself with a strong voice and specialized perspective. Case in point: “P.H.A.T” stands for “parenting, homeschooling, and technology.” Basically, brave blogger Shannon went out and did something most of us only dream of: leaving a lucrative job to start her own business.  The blog is made even mor interesting by Shannon’s area of passion. One thing we learned throughout this blog round-up is exactly how web-savvy many homeschooling mothers are, and in that respect, Shannon is queen. From web designing, coding, and social media, Shannon is a student of all things technological, and that really gives a fresh flavor to her blog. Moreover, Phatmommy chronicles the joy and challenge of being a momaprenuer, and how the balancing act between home and work plays out daily. Nowhere is this challenge more eloquently articulated than in her post Confliction. Best line “I don’t want to get a job. I want to create a project.” Profound? We’d sure say so!
8. Relaxed Homeskool. True to its name, this blog is relaxed in the sense that it’s full of gentle humor, laidback storytelling, and cute family photos. But don’t let the name fool you. After finding out that this so-called “relaxed” blogger Kim has her own radio show, her own podcast, and blogs best during insomniatime, we thought “Wow! What a renaissance woman!” It was at that exact moment that we stumbled on the post about Kim’s first experience at a Rennaissance Fair. True story, and a truly priceless post! The moral? Though the blog contains lighthearted topic like Christmas lights and National Handwriting Day , we figured out that Relaxed Homeskool is written by one of those elusive women who do it all and make it look easy! For a little dose of inspiration, check out Relaxed Homeschool!