BJU Press Blog

Justin

One Thing Your Kids Need to Know to Excel at Math

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In this age of chip-card transactions and smartphone “tap and pay,” I don’t usually have a reason to carry much cash. When I do need some extra cash, I go to the ATM at my local bank. I usually have a specific item that I need cash for, so I know exactly how much I need down to the dollar. But the ATM lets me withdraw only in multiples of ten. It’s one of life’s minor frustrations.

Have you ever wondered why so many things are broken down by tens? Why is the number ten so important to our society? No one’s sure, but some historians theorize that it’s because humans have ten fingers.

Regardless of why, our number system based on ten is one of the most pervasive aspects of human society. Nearly all countries and cultures use the base-ten number system for everyday uses. As adults we take understanding it for granted, but base ten can be a difficult concept for kids to pick up, and learning it early is critical for math success.

What is base ten?

Base ten is the number system that we use every day that uses columns to show place value. When a number is written out, each digit is assigned a column to show its value. We can see from the graphic below, the value of the 5 is ten times greater than the 3, while the 6 is one-tenth its value. This pattern continues as you move left or right.

Why is base ten important?

Getting a firm grasp on base ten is key to understanding math. Once your child understands how base ten works, many new doors will be opened.

If children lack a good understanding of the base-ten number system, they’ll have a hard time counting or visualizing quantities. They may only be able to count by ones, instead of by tens or hundreds. Learning more advanced math concepts such as long division becomes nearly impossible.

If a child doesn’t understand that the 5 in 58 actually represents 50, then lots of calculation problems can begin to show up as you move into more complex concepts, leading to a lot of frustration for both parent and child.

How and when should I teach my kids base ten?

It’s important to start early. BJU Press Math introduces this concept in K5 and reinforces it throughout the early grades.

The key to mastering base ten is visualization. Separating groups of ten from groups of ones visually early on helps develop understanding. This can be accomplished using hands-on manipulatives such as Unifix cubes or pennies.

The important thing in teaching this concept is to stick with it. Don’t get frustrated if things don’t click at first.  Keep trying a variety of visualizations and hands-on manipulatives until you find something that your child relates to.

Learn more about BJU Press Math.

Things kids can learn at home but can’t learn in a classroom

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I wasn’t homeschooled, but a lot of the most valuable skills and ideas that I use as an adult are things I learned outside the classroom. Sharing as much time as possible with wise family members made me who I am. I’m grateful for the time they spent with me. I plan to homeschool my son, and one of the reasons is that I believe homeschooling will make it easier for me to pass on to him the lessons I learned from my family.

My father owned his own business. During the summers, he would take me on his rounds as often as possible. The benefit was immeasurable. I saw how to work with people, how to build relationships, and how to effectively organize time. We would often shop for business supplies, and he always let me help him find the best prices. I was learning life skills that most of my peers didn’t learn until much later.

Now I understand that not everyone has the kind of flexibility or resources that my dad did, but the point is that including your children in the day-to-day activities of adult life has huge benefits. Many of today’s young adults who did not have as much interaction with “adult tasks” have no idea how to do basic things such as balancing a household budget, cooking a meal, repairing a toilet, or adding wiper fluid.

I also remember my mother patiently letting me measure out each ingredient in measuring cups when I would help her cook. Today my wife is glad that I can give her a break every once in a while and prepare a halfway decent meal, or team up with her in the kitchen for more elaborate creations. Here’s a blog post about one way to get your kids involved in the kitchen.

You have valuable skills to share with your children, and homeschooling makes that easier since they’re with you throughout the day. Maybe it’s running your errands with you, working on that household project, or shopping for car insurance. Let them look over your shoulder and help when they can. Maybe you can even tie the activity to what they’re learning. Kids should be kids, but I think it’s important not to shelter them from the responsibilities they will face in life. They’ll thank you later.

Share the valuable lessons that you learned from being at home with your parents in the comments below!

6 Books for Curious Preschoolers

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Since we have a little one on the way, I decided to get a head start and shop for some books that my son and I can read together over the next few years. I found some great options for curious toddlers and preschoolers. I like these books because they cover everyday things that children interact with and love to learn about. They’re simple—the kind of book you can go back to over and over again and never get bored.

Freight Train by Crews

Less is more. Modern illustrations and minimal text leave the door wide open for mom or dad to inject their own “choo choo” effects as the train barrels down the tracks toward its destination.

Amazing Airplanes by Mitton and Parker

Planning a trip? This fun book about airports and airliners will make your preschooler an expert before check-in. I would have loved this as a curious kid who was fascinated with the baggage-claim carousel.

City Signs by Milich

The title says it all. This book is nothing but phtographs of signs, signs, and more signs. Ever wonder how some kids figure out what they all mean before they can read?

Hands: Growing Up to Be an Artist by Ehlert

This very creative book focused on making things by hand has photographs that show raw materials, tools, and finished products of various crafts. It explains (in simple terms) how the object was made. A great learning tool!

Meet the Orchestra by Hayes

If you’re like a lot of parents, you probably play some classical music for your kids. This book identifies a wide range of musical instruments and the sounds they make. It’s perfect for reading while listening to your favorite compositions.

If Everybody Did by Stover

This one is a favorite among parents around our office. It answers that age-old question, “What would happen if everyone did that?” Silly illustrations teach valuable life lessons. A must-read for every child.

I’m looking forward to reading these books with my child to capture the many benefits of reading together. I hope my sharing them will help your family find many hours of enjoyable reading time.

Have book recommendations? I’d love to hear them! Drop them in the comments below.

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Tour These Homeschool Spaces

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Tour These Homeschool Spaces

Whether your kids work at the kitchen table or in a dedicated homeschool space, you’re probably always looking for creative ways to stay organized. Here are some of our favorite homeschool room designs, ideas, and hacks from Christian homeschool mom bloggers.

Mandy, who wrote for the blog Biblical Homemaking, takes organization and design to a new level with her creative homeschool room. Her blog no longer exists, but you can see how her homeschool room accommodates four kids working at the same time in the picture below!

Biblical Homemaking homeschool room

Erica from Confessions of a Homeschooler enjoys the “school at home” style for her boy and girls. A dedicated homeschool space in her basement is as well equipped as any modern classroom. Check out the tour!

Confessions of a Homeschooler homeschool room

Lara from Everyday Graces takes a warm and cozy approach to her homeschool room. (We love the reading nook!) Check out her comfortable and welcoming room for her boys here!

Everyday Graces homeschool room

I hope you enjoyed these ideas. Share your homeschool space ideas in the comments below!

Image Source: camera; wood

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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“The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” You might recognize this text from Isaiah 40:5. Some might also recognize it from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech, which he delivered more than fifty years ago.

Dr. King quoted God’s Word as he sought unity among the races. He reminded the people of his day that they all had a single unifying bond that connected them regardless of race, culture, and wealth—the idea that “all men are created equal”—which is fundamentally a biblical concept. La Shawn Barber, a columnist at World magazine, has said, “As the church grapples with racial issues today, King’s life may serve as an example of someone who challenged the church to live up to biblical ideals and invoked Christ in the name of racial justice. . . . He infused the civil rights movement with Christian principles.”

Today race relations in our nation have improved and basic civil rights are extended to all Americans. And Martin Luther King Jr.’s words are now most commonly seen in history books—except Isaiah 40:5.

Like the rest of the Bible, this piece of God’s Word is timeless. It’s just as relevant today as it was in 1963 and in Old Testament times. “Black only” drinking fountains or “white only” lunch counters are artifacts of the past, but our nation remains divided. Today there are more lines: black, white, brown, tan, red, and blue. Even Bible-believing Christians are divided and often distracted from what really matters.

While it is true that Dr. King was a man with flaws, we find in his speech an acknowledgement that God’s Word speaks to mankind’s problem of division. He also had the courage to say it in front of the world. Today, few public figures or leaders would make such a bold statement. Few would risk the backlash from the media in a culture that is becoming increasingly hostile to the Truth. It’s critical that we train the next generation of leaders to understand and correctly apply the truths of the Bible. God’s Word transcends all debate and must be the foundation on which Christians base our relationships with one another (Philippians 2:1–4).

Image Source: The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.