100's Grid
Math Grid
I first came across the concept of a math grid posted at home, from John Holt's 'Learning All the Time'. This is my go-to homeschooling book; margin notes scribbled in pencil and asterisks increasing in size as the book progresses!
If anyone is in doubt of the value of homeschooling, this is the book to read.
If family and friends are wary of your 'weird' ways, hand this book over.
A grid is not a new math concept, but the way Holt uses it, is a new approach.
It encompasses his belief that we all learn without a lot of guidance.
His original grid is actually a multiplication table, left with several blanks and meant to be hung in a high traffic area in home/school. The intent is not to introduce the grid to your child, but to observe as your child shows interest in the blank spaces, fills them in and returns later to self-correct.
O is at the stage of learning which number comes after nineteen, twenty nine and so on.
We have no agenda or deadlines for her to learn concepts. Just by observing and listening to her, this is where she is currently at and where she shows interest.
We have no agenda or deadlines for her to learn concepts. Just by observing and listening to her, this is where she is currently at and where she shows interest.
Over the past week, she has been counting in the car, but struggles with 'eleventy' the number she believes follows nineteen. The 100's grid is a great way to show how numbers work in a progressive order, as you can see the patterns in the columns.
Children show interest in adults work
She saddled up, drawing free-hand lines and then noticed I was entering numbers in the spaces.
She asked if I would write the numbers on her grid in light pencil, so she could trace over them.
She also shows immense interest in writing; numbers, letters and words.
We often find her copying sentences out of books into her notebook, as well as writing names of appliances from around the house! Her notebooks is filled with words like "Frigidaire" and "100% Juice" and fragments of sentences from the middle of books.
The grid I created is now laminated and hung, so washable markers can handle heavy use!
EXPAND ON LEARNING ALL THE TIME
John Holt's "Learning All The Time". This book is essentially divided into chapters that represent subjects, generally taught in school. John has worked with schoolchildren, but later in his career, realized the value of the teacher stepping back and the student being in charge of learning (child-led learning).
He offers a variety of examples from years of working with children, how they have taught themselves all subjects with the support of attentive adults.
John ended up in strong support of homeschooling and similar 'alternative' education choices. You can find his free archives of his publications 'Growing Without Schooling' in the 'Love Play Learn' column at the right, or here! http://www.johnholtgws.com/gws-issue-archive/
If you could only buy one book about homeschooling, this would be my recommendation.
Not only is it a thoughtfully written informative resource centered on preserving children's abilities to learn, it is a concise easy read, for busy parents.