Every year, we try to somehow involve our kids in back-to-school shopping. When Maddy, Owen, and Cora were emerging readers, I created easy-to-read lists that we’d take on our shopping trips. The lists combined words and pictures so that they could more easily find what they needed. As the kids got older, we worked together to find the best places to shop, using the coupons and sales circulars to figure out the best deals. This year, we tried something new. I knew … [Read more...]
how to play bunco with FAMILIES
On an off for years now, we've played Bunco with our family. At family gatherings, after the little ones had gone to bed, the adults rocked out a little Bunco fun. Complete with crazy prizes a la our fun Bingo bonanza, the adults laughed and rolled dice and played Bunco late into the night. Now that Maddy, Owen, and Cora are older, though, we've introduced them to the fun of Bunco. Bunco is a simple dice-rolling game that leaves little to skill and all to chance. It's fun--and easy enough … [Read more...]
how to play bunco: super fun gno (girls’ night out)
This month has been dedicated to spending time with friends--cultivating old friendships, spending time with current friends, and appreciating all the great people in my life. Spending more time with my spouse and more meaningful, quality time with my kids. One of the things that I did this month with friends was to re-start a Bunco group for my girlfriends. Bunco is the ultimate girls' night out activity because it's easy, it's quick, and it's … [Read more...]
ipad toy for early math skills: tiggly counts
iPad toy? Right. When I heard about it, I thought the same exact thing. We're inundated with toys, and my kids are lucky to even have an iPad. Why do we need anything else? And how on earth could there be a toy for the iPad? I'm honestly in awe. This iPad toy is actually so cool. And the way it incorporates hands-on learning with digital learning blew my mind. Tiggly Counts. It's an award-winning blend of physical play and digital play. You want … [Read more...]
26 triangles: tricky, fun math game
We're winding down summer over here, but not before my kids finish up their math and reading assignments from school. Yes, we just started them this week. But whatever. We're getting there and doing what we can. One of the activities I thought was particularly cool was one of the days in Owen's math calendar. Simple. Challenging. Tricky and fun. It was a 26 triangle math puzzle, and it had us stumped for a long, long time. Here's the skinny. . . 26 Triangles--Tricky, Fun Math … [Read more...]
fun, kid-friendly learning at baseball games
Originally published June 6, 2011 but republished today because, well, it's worth it. This past week, we experienced something totally new and exciting--a rite of passage of sorts. We walked into a new chapter in our lives, and I can hardly believe it: we watched six innings of a baseball game. Live and in person. On a Friday night. With two of our kids. And it was really, really fun. We've tried it before--all three kids on a sunny summer afternoon, in the sweltering … [Read more...]
fractions with FOOD: hands-on math
This post about fun with food and fractions is written by Jen of Beyond Traditional Math. Hopefully after reading it, you'll never look at food quite the same! Thank you, Jen, for your time, effort, and expertise! ____________________ Fractions with Our Favorite Thing…Food! by Jen Before you first meet me, I should tell you that I am certifiably nuts about being anti-worksheets right now, so I am going to try to dial it back a bit to write this post. This past school year, … [Read more...]
money poems, money songs: fun ways to teach kids about money
originally published on 5.14.10 Maddy's been learning about money in school. Pennies, nickels, dimes--and she's been talking 1's, 5's, and 10's like nobody's business. Add her big half-dollars from her Pap and the ever-busy Tooth Fairy, and Maddy's money jars are growing along her knowledge of coins and money. So today, while she was home from school with a pinkish eye (which didn't even turn out to be pink eye--woo-hoo!), we poemed it up a bit. And sang a … [Read more...]
quick and easy addition game: finding addends
Cora has really been into playing math games lately. That's right. Math games. I love it. Like while Maddy and Owen are doing their homework, all my littlest one wants to do is math. So I'm doing what I can to run with it. She came home with a Finding Addends game a few weeks back, so lately, that's been in our rotation. Finding Addends is a quick and easy addition game that gets kids thinking, practicing their facts, and flexing their mental calculators. Though it looks like … [Read more...]
k-cup advent calendar: make it a thoughtful, thankful holiday
We're longtime fans of the advent calendar and and longtime fans of coffee. When we stepped up our game last year and sprung for a Keurig, every day became a little more awesome, starting our day with a rockin' cuppa java. But those discarded k-cups? As a longtime lover of recyclables, my guilt at adding to our world's landfills started to grow exponentially with each tossed k-cup. So for the past few months, I've been racking my brain for ways to use our … [Read more...]
paper plate puzzles: fun number learning for kids
The following guest post is written by mom of five, Annette of Tips From a Typical Mom. Annette covers everything under the sun on her blog, and it's all done well. Check it out. —————————— Hi Everyone! I'm so excited to be doing a guest post for Teach Mama. I am a preschool teacher, and one of the hardest things for me to find are manipulatives that have to do with learning numbers. So I decided I'd make my own. Paper Plate Puzzles--Fun Number Learning for Kids: These cute … [Read more...]
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