This little guy was designed for me by my father. He came about when I was a little girl, terrible at math. He is with me now as a TYC logo, to remind me that with love, patience and fun, anything can be learned.

Understanding Quantity part I: conceptually

To help a child increase their understanding for quantity of a number we must break this understanding down into two parts:
1. conceptual understanding
2. representational understanding

Think about an arbitrary #.
What is its purpose?
*to describe a certain quantity

6 = . . . . . . (we will use dots to represent the quantity whilst you are teaching this I would not just use dots but anything you have a large quantity of : rice, pennies, buttons, beans, candy, rocks, etc)

In order for your child to learn they need the tools to show a concept and to represent their understanding.

First, what are conceptual tools regarding quantity?
* using objects that can be grouped into groups or multiple sets but rearrangement of groups or # of objects with in a group doesn't alter the total # of objects.

OK now she's lost me ; )

Example: (from before with the # of 6 in dots) (b/c of formatting I can't seem to but highly recommend circling the groups as a whole and the sets within each group)

. . . . . .

. . .
. . .

. .
. .
. .

The # of dots in total never change. It is always 6. However, the set within a group have been rearranged.

Did you find your way yet?

Have your kiddo aware of 3 things when looking at groups.

1. When are things the same?
*(each group has 6 dots)

2. When are things not the same?
*(if total # in each group is not the same)

3. When are things the same but not?
*(when quantity is the same but not the # in each set)

Now work with several #'s this way in the set of #'s 1 - 10. later on move up 10 - 30. After working with different numbers your child will have a conceptual understanding of arbitrary numbers and the quantity they represent.

How to Tap into a Child's Learning potential

(again with the cure all? - uhm, no, not exactly)

I come across parents (almost always non-homeschooling) almost weekly who use these phrases in some fashion or another:
1. "I do not really know enough to teach my child"
2. "I have not enough patience to teach my child"
3. "they are constantly questioning me and I just do not have all the answers"

Surprise!
None of us do.

At one time or another we have all been left feeling frustrated, impatient, or stupid with our kids (or dare I say, our friends kids!).

WARNING: This next statement may just end up being a cure all.

The importance of not knowing everything is how your child will crave learning. When they can "teach you".

Lets say for example that your child asks you more than you know on a particular subject. Turn it around and make it a lesson,

"...you know sweetie, I am not really sure, but lets find out together..."

or for you less than interested, um I mean, creative problem solvers, use this one:

"...you know I really do not know, why don't you find out and tell me..."

I must stress the need of following through here, especially if you are inclined to use the latter of the two suggestions.

This should seem a little too easy. It certainly reads that way. However, the more I observe, the more I see how difficult this is to implement. People seem to have a basic need to show, 'hey, I know the answer.' Visions of the child in the back row practically jumping out of their seat with their hand raised waving desperately around in an attempt to get the teachers attention,come to mind. This may seem crazy but if this is how you feel or at one time felt, count on the fact that is how your child feels as well. It is a good thing, desire.

This type of teaching (yes, I know, 'this is a type of teaching? Not know the answer?!') is what is called constructivist teaching. Bare with me here, when a parent moves from dispensing all the information (know and giving the answers) to facilitators of learning (showing children where to get the information, i.e. library, Internet) is a constructivist form of teaching. It is invaluable to taping into your child's desire to learn.

When this method is implemented, the child takes on an active role in acquiring knowledge and thus takes more ownership of it.

The "Uber Learner"

We all have different styles of learning and as such we all have different styles of teaching.

I believe that learners should not become to centered on any one method but to become versed in all methods... an "Uber Learner". In this we create the most successful learner who can in any situation be successful.

We must carry this philosophy into our teaching. All arguments of method must be thrown into the pot:

phonics vs. whole language
deductive vs. inductive
guide vs. sage
Socratic vs. diagnostic
rote memorization vs. authentic experiences

MIX IT STIR IT SHAKE IT ABOVE ALL... USE IT!

I am sure by this point in your career of teaching your children you have come to an understanding of the one constant... every year, every child, every lesson... is different.

That being said why wouldn't your methods.
Be open to new - - learn all the different methods, so that when the time comes, as the situation and the child demand you will have the schema to draw from.

It's the same message we are delivering to our children when we teach them.
It is our message to ourselves.

These differences in learning should be welcomed and respected. As the saying goes, "There is more than one way to skin a cat."

Wholeistic learning

What is wholeistic learning? That is to say that when we teach our children we focus on the whole person not just a specific lesson subject.

Imagine a pyramid. The graduated layers of a pyramid in the form of words would look like this from bottom to top.

1. food
2. love
3. physical exercise
4. mental exercise
5. learning styles

Everything in learning is based on these elements. Missing one and no one is going to learn to the best of their ability.

FOOD

I am sure we have all experienced that once our children walk into the classroom threshold, whether it be the kitchen table or an actual room, their belly rumbles and soon we hear, "I'm hungry." or "I'm thirsty." If your little one is focused on thirst or hunger, guess what they are not focused on. Keeping water at the table will decrease the # of interruptions. A couple of snack times throughout the day keeps the belly monster at bay.

LOVE

Philippians 4:13 "...and the greatest of these is love."

An environment created for a learner to feel safe in making mistakes is probably the # 1 thing anyone should remember.

Edison learned 10,000 ways a light bulb did not work. Where would we be without that flick of a switch ( or in our house, push of a button)?

Some get it fast, others don't. This does not equate your child's intelligence capabilities just the time you need to spend developing them.

PHYSICAL & then MENTAL EXERCISE

Physical exercise has been shown to increase the transfers of neurons that cause brain activity... simply put, if we move, we learn better. Our brain is alert by navigating in an environment. Movement in learning creates the perfect environment for those with higher energy levels. Allowing this desire to be fulfilled will decrease in distractions and create a higher mastery in a subject with aides to memory retention. As such, within our lessons we need to allow (2 - 3 minutes) in the beginning of vigorous movement, and incorporate moderate movement throughout the lesson as the age and need of the child demand.

Mental exercise is what it sounds like... exercising your brain. When we challenge ourselves and our children to do something outside curriculum and outside of the things we normally deal with on a day to day basis, prepares the brain for thought. It loves to be challenged, it awakens from a sedentary position and the synapses begin to fire. If you don't then learning does decrease. In fact studies are now beginning to show that those who do not continue to daily challenge themselves have brains that begin to resemble Danny Devito...or was it that senility sets in quicker?

How to accomplish mental exercise?

Mental games are great way of achieving this. Brainquest is a fantastic quick test of knowledge in broad subject matters. perplexors offers great puzzles in deductive reasoning. look for things on lateral thinking. puzzles, mental math challenges. Try anything that you don't know, something you have to spend a little time figuring out. Soon you and your kiddos will be known as the Schwarzenegger of intellects.

LEARNING STYLES

Learning methods are essential in being successful. When a learner understands how they learn best, they become more confident in their ability.

Do not just stop there; understanding how you learn is just the beginning. Life and its encounters are unpredictable.

We need to understand all the pathways to learning. In doing so, we wake the sleeping senses allowing for a more complete mastery of material. This awakening is giving the skills needed to be successful for any situation in life or a new teacher hands us.

look at your child, discover their most natural way of learning, then teach to that whilst bringing out in your lessons ways to encourage and strengthen other learning styles.