Hi! I'm Jackie. I just posted a short intro in the welcome section, but I'll give a little background info on my 2.5 year old who I suspect to be gifted. He is obsessed with books and reads most of the day. We started him early on AAR Level 1 when he started sounding out small words and continually asking for help with larger words. He's almost finished with Level 1 now, and he excitedly asks to do a lesson at least once a day. He is learning so well and reading his lessons fluently. I wanted to illustrate how he is so you might realize I am not trying to push him - this is honestly just his idea of fun! We hadn't done anything with math since his passions lie with reading, but he's recently rekindled his love of counting everything in sight. He's counting well past 100 and learned skip counting by 10s, 5s, and 2s over just a couple of days. He has a blast with it. I am currently debating between Right Start and MUS later on (unless I find something I like better), but I am looking for something more fun and playful for right now since he's so young. He loves workbooks (pulling out Brain Quest is like pulling out candy). I think the idea behind Funtastic Frogs sounds right up his alley, but I can't find any medium or small frogs to purchase anywhere. Anyone selling any or have a different resource he might enjoy? Thanks so much!
(Mom of two gifted boys here... started homeschooling when oldest was 3 ... official diagnoses when he was 6... see my signature below) I understand exactly what you're talking about, and just so you know, this forum is the only place I've been able to call "home" over the past few years, because people are downright nasty on the internet when you sincerely ask for advice or experiences with dealing with a child who is gifted and/or accelerated. The folks here are very friendly! Anyway, I'll suggest Miquon as something fun to start thinking about (uses cuisenaire rods). I was going back and forth wondering about MUS or RS, but both were expensive and I wasn't sure either would work. I stumbled onto Miquon, and loved it! I also love the Life of Fred elementary series, but you should wait one (or two?) more year before using that one. For now, let play and/or worksheets be the primary focus. Fred is really fun, but no matter how smart a child is, a 2.5 year old hasn't had enough life experiences yet to understand the Fred story. You'd spend more time on vocabulary, history, science, and unwritten social codes than you would on math. Fred is wonderful for kids who really "get" math, and get it quickly, so it would be fine to wait even 3-4 years, zoom through the elementary series in a year, and then start the middle series. It really is THAT fun. As I said, I have two gifted boys. One learns by having a very rigid schedule, a list of tasks, worksheets, textbooks, etc. He's always been that way, which is why people assumed I was pushing him by purchasing workbook after workbook. He plowed right through them on his own, even at 3. The other son is as free-spirited as they come, and seems to soak up information from everywhere. He reads like crazy, but he's also creative and engineer-like. He rarely touches a textbook (and even more rarely touches a workbook). My point is that you'll find yourself jumping from one curriculum to the next over the next several years, because children like this soak up material very quickly, even though you haven't had time to figure out their learning style(s) yet. It's a fun ride, but a hectic one. Another freebie tip for you - all kids, gifted or not, learn in spurts just like they grow in spurts. Even gifted kids hit a wall sometimes. When that happens, take a break for 2-3 months, and then revisit whatever it was that caused the plateau.
I'm Jackie, too! There's an awesome book out there called Hands-On Math for the Very Young. It's a manipulative math book, and everything in it you can easily do with around-the-house items. And the activities are ones that you can do for a half-hour or five minutes, depending on the interest of the kid. http://www.amazon.com/dp/1596471182...e=asn&creative=395109&creativeASIN=1596471182 I will admit that my kids are older (19, 17, and 14), so it's been a while since I've used it.
2littleboys - Thank you for the advice! Good to know there's good support here. I've heard crickets asking questions elsewhere. My intention is not to brag, but to seek advice. Some parents don't see it that way. It's tough to know how to teach an advanced kid without worrying about either holding them back or giving them too much! I've read about Life of Fred. It's definitely on my list of resources to check out later on! I looked at Miquon, but I'm a little confused by what and how it teaches. The samples were not very clear to me. Jackie - thanks for that book recommendation! It looks so fun! It looks like it would be mostly review for him, but I know he'd have a lot of fun with it whether or not it teaches him a new concept. Plus, my younger son could use it later, too! =]
If you go to this thread http://www.homeschoolspot.com/showthread.php?t=20389&highlight="counting+board" and scroll down, I describe a way to count that teaches place value. I wouldn't necessarily do it with a kid as young as yours, but he might be ready for it. That's one of those things only a mom would know! And no, we don't think you're bragging. Some kids move along quicker than others. I'm not for pushing a kid, but I'm also not for holding him back when he's ready and wanting! The secret, especially with toddlers and preschoolers, is to let them set the pace!
You're welcome! My girls love watching the videos on there . And just so you know, the ideas and ways the lady is teaching are from Miquon, I believe. So if you like the videos, you will probably like Miquon as well.
Something else I've done on other forums is to talk about my kids by grade level rather than by age. It's no one's business how old they are, anyway. Just say, "what would you recommend for a ___ grader who is good with math?" Also, don't worry about writing. Motor skills and academics aren't linked. I've done the writing for my son(s), and I've modified or removed the writing altogether for certain assignments. As for Miquon, it teaches by exploration. Children have to figure out what to do, quite a bit on their own. There are 6 workbooks, which are roughly made one per semester for grades 1st-3rd, but it's also mastery approach rather than spiral. It spends a lot of time focusing on one skill and then builds on it rather than jumping around and having several types of math on one page. You'll need the workbooks and the "Lab Sheet Annotations" (which is the teacher book). The other stuff (1st grade journal, etc.) are optional, and mostly meant for classroom teachers rather than one-on-one teachers.
Sounds like a fun way to teach, Jackie! Especially if food is involved. ;] Thanks! I will keep it in mind for when we get to place value.
Nice to know! I am waiting to get a chance to watch them. Most of my computer time is when I have a sleeping baby on me! ;]
Actually, you start doing your counting that way every day, BEFORE he gets to place value, and he'll pick up the place value while learning to count.
Thanks! I've been trying to research it more. I'm getting a better idea, but I feel like it's probably something you have to try to really get it! Good thing it's cheap. I've read that it is good for gifted kids. I'm glad I have plenty of time to think about it. I'm sure it isn't "fun" enough to start yet.
