Hello all or one I don't officially home school but I am trying to get a bit more structured in order to prepare My DS is 3 ( almost 4) and I have just started working on number recognition with him. Does anyone have any tips on a good fun way to do this? ( I do have flash cards w/ & w/o pictures as well as a book. ) Also, my niece is 2 (3 next March). I am working on colors and shapes with her. But she has a problem diffrentiating shapes from colors. Ex: If I ask her what shape something is she'll say, "Red." So, I would like a way to get her to comprehend the difference of what a shape is vs. a color. Any help will be greatly appreciated. TIA
You can use sidewalk chalk, paint, dirt, make cookie numbers, and counting songs to help your son. Make it fun because he will desire to do more if it appeals to him. You can go out and collect leaves and then work on the number he has or the number of small leaves or large leaves or even by the number of different colors. Your niece is still young so her confussing colors and shapes is normal. She will catch on eventually. The same rule applies. It should be fun and not even considered schooling at their age. Patty
Back off with your neice. Do you have her full-time or babysit her or what? If you really want to work with her, you need to work with ONE concept at a time. Make sure your colored pieces are ALL the SAME shape. Or make sure your shapes are all the same color. Other than that, I would point out colors in every day life. "Oh, what a pretty blue dress you have! Can you find me a blue ribbon to match your dress?" "Let's play with the green ball. Can you find it for me?" Very informal, part of your everyday conversation with her. As far as your son, is he willing to work for you? Some boys are at that age, some are not. If he's not willing, then I'd wait a bit. It may be that he's not ready yet. If he IS willing, you've got to keep it FUN. Make some tag-board garages with numbers on them. Then get out his Matchbox cars. Tell him which garage each car belongs in, and let him "V-V-V-ROOOM!!!!" them into the correct garage. Again, try pointing out numbers in his everyday environment. I am one who has very strong feelings against academics for preschoolers, unless they are child-initiated. One of my prejudices, I'm afraid, lol!
You can also get those maganet that go on the icebox that have numbers on them they worked for my dd's Leaving collecting is fun and counting as you pick them up. But, I am with Jackie why rush them they both are so young let them be kids, if they want to learn the main thing is make it FUN!
Sigh..... Where was it I was reading something and it mentioned TAGBOARD? YEP! They talked about copying something onto TAGBOARD. TAGBOARD wasn't called CARDSTOCK until peole started stamping everything and making their own cards. I assume Ellie is an INTELLIGENT woman who doesn't need someone to interpret ENGLISH to her like some OTHERS I could mention! LOL!
OK, I am going to quote myself here. In the beginning of my post I said, "I don't officially home school but I am trying to get a bit more structured in order to prepare". I don't know if it was my use of the word "structure" or what but it seems to me that some of you got the wrong impression. Maybe I should have used the word cosistent :roll: I dunno. Anyway, I am going to keep in mind that I don't know you all or your personalities and that we are onlline so it is quite possible that while it seems like you all (or some) came off a bit strong and judgemental against me it could just be the difference in reading your words instead of hearing them. BUT............... All I was or am trying to do if figure out the best way to work with them on the things I mentioned. I tried to make my original post short b/c I wanted to get to the point of what we are working on so that's why I didn't give a whole history. I welcome opinions, because otherwise I wouldn't post, but I do not appreciate being told to "back off" and to not "rush" them. Also, I don't know what this whole thing about "academics for preschoolers" is about What I do know is that I am the one here with these kids and I know what their personalities, interest and levels of intelligence are. It seems like I should have been asked more questions first and accused of rushing etc., later. This was my first time posting in the Homeschooling forum and it has left me with a bad taste in my mouth. :|
Ellie, we are sorry! We didn't mean that at all. At least, I didn't, and I know the other ladies well enough to know that they didn't either. We have had everything from people who actually expect kids to sit down with pencil and paper on a regular basis at age two, to those who are SO laid back that unschoolers look at them and groan! I don't think we were judgemental, and apologize for comming across that way. Please take the time to get to know us and not get upset when no offense was meant! After re-reading, I can see how my first sentence could come off a lot stronger than was intended. Believe me, my choice of words "back off" wasn't meant as strongly as it came across. Again, I apologize. You're absolutely right that you're around them and know their personalities, etc.
When teaching shapes, at first make sure all items are the same color. When teaching colors, make all items the same shape.
For numbers...counting cards or counting cups (# written on them and place something of that value inside the cup or on the card), use a calendar every day and review the day and count to that day while pointing to the number, cut out numbers from TAGBOARD or contruction paper and make a "feely" number (glue on different textures and talk about how my number___feels), match the number with the corresponding number of dots (for example: put for dots on a felt pumpkin and put the numeral 4 on a felt stem and match it), use number stencils, numbers stamping, making or stamping sets of something (make numerals on paper and have the child stamp that many on the paper), use counting chips to count, M&M counting, Cheerio counting, make a large numeral on the paper and have the child see how many stickers it takes to fill that number That is what I can come up with off the top of my head. Give me time and I can think of more.
Oh for the counting cards...use stickers. For example, on the #4 card places 4 stickers and write the number 4 at the top. When the child is placing items on the card have the child place them on the stickers then that makes them self correcting and they know what number it is when they are done. Here is a picture of one of our counting cards. The cups work the same way, but without the stickers. I suppose to can stick stickers on the outside if you'd like though and then have them have to match the number of the item inside of the cup with the number of stickers on the outside.
Jen, I made that same thing with those stickers! Here is the sesamestreet website for letters, numbers shapes and so on:http://www.sesameworkshop.org/sesamestreet/coloringpages/
Those stickers are also wonder for patterning. You can do it on a calander. Start the month by putting a sticker on every day until the child can recognize the pattern and predict the next sitcker. You can make them simple or complicated, depending on the kid.
I used Professor B's AMthmatics VOlume 1 is a book for the teacher/parent to read.. It has games that teach math and the first two chapeters were so much fun with Sami at 3 and 4 years old. It really helped her understand quanity and you only needed to know the game and use your hands for it so we could easily just do it anytime or anywhere. In fact, we had to sit in a waiting room awhile today and we played it for awhile...
This is a most intelligent, and most often overlooked statement! It is so true for everything you may be teaching. When I was a kid, I remember not "Getting it" (Whatever the lesson of the day was). Then one day, I suddenly realized that if the teacher would have simply used a similar base (Or common denominator) between problems, I would have more easily recognized the new technique, operation or theory that I was being taught. (Regardless of subject) Thank you for pointing this out, because it is very common for us (As teachers) to accidentally overlook the obvious, when trying to show someone a new (To them) concept. I even have to be reminded. And once I apply it, it is amazing how quickly a kid "gets it". Ok, just wanted to give you props for a very good peice of advice. Have a good one! jen
