BJU Press Blog

Justin

Kindergarten Math Hands-On Activity (Printable)

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In my last post—One Thing Your Kids Need to Know to Excel at Math—I talked about how important it is for kids to master the concept of base ten at an early age (typically in kindergarten). Now it’s time to take those ideas and use them to break down numbers into groups of ones and tens to be ready for problem solving.

Let’s take apart the number 13.  Thirteen contains one group of ten and three ones. It can be helpful for kids to visualize this and manipulate the different groups of objects with their hands to gain real understanding.

To make this easier, I’d like to share a tool from our Math K5 curriculum called a ten frame, which is just a simple way to explore a not-so-simple concept. You can use items you have around the house as counters to fill the boxes in the frame. Pennies, dry beans, and cereal (yummy!) work well for this. Counters are grouped into tens and ones to visualize two-digit numbers.

Download your printable ten frame here.

Activity

Start with two ten frames. (Download yours here.) Fill one ten frame with counters. Have your children begin counting starting with 10. Have them circle the filled ten frame with a finger as they say “10” out loud. As they say each additional number (11, 12, 13), have them place one counter in a section on the second ten frame.

Finish with questions like these:

  • How many more than 10 is the number 13?
  • How many more counters do we need to make 14?
  • How many groups of 10 do you have?
  • How many ones?

You can repeat this activity with several ten frames to make even larger numbers.

I hope you find this activity helpful. It and many others are included in our Math K5 Teacher’s Edition.

 

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.

Take a look at page 81 of BJU Press Math K5 Worktext.

The worktext asks the child to circle the group of ten that is visually separate from the remaining items. It then asks the child to write the numeral below. The image groupings above correlate with the tens and ones columns below.

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. Need some ideas? The BJU Press Math K5 Teacher’s Edition is packed full of teaching advice and strategies.

Learn more about BJU Press Math K5

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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Why Distance Learning Is Perfect for Learning Spanish

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When I was in school, my experience in my foreign-language class was not so great. I didn’t feel like my teacher knew the language well or how to teach it. Even though she did her best, I discovered when I got to college that I was behind the other students in my class. I didn’t enjoy the subject and was frustrated because I had a lot of catching up to do. I want a better foreign-language experience for my kids, and I’m sure you do too. Our Distance Learning courses for Spanish can make that happen.

Spanish Is Important

The United States now has more Spanish speakers than any other nation except Mexico, and the number of Spanish speakers is expected to increase dramatically in the near future. Getting a foundation in Spanish at a young age has never been more important. Learning Spanish can open the door to a new world of employment and ministry opportunities. Consider other benefits of studying a foreign language.

Spanish Can Be Scary

I won’t beat around the bush. Teaching Spanish can be hard, especially if you (like most parents) aren’t fluent in the language. And knowing the right way to say things can be difficult even if you are. This could be one of those times when it’s best to delegate the teaching of a particular subject to an expert. And who has more expertise than a native Spanish speaker who also has a strong teaching background?

Meet Mrs. Kuhlewind

Let me introduce our newest Spanish teacher, Mrs. Aida  Kuhlewind. Originally from Venezuela, where her parents are missionaries, she is a fluent speaker of Spanish and has first-hand experience with Hispanic culture. She’s also an accomplished Christian teacher. Señora Kuhlewind teaches our new Spanish 2 Distance Learning course. When we asked her about the course, she couldn’t stop talking about her goal of getting kids to love using Spanish so much that they want to use it outside of their academic course.

Inviting Mrs. Kuhlewind into your home means your kids will learn not just the language, but also about Spanish-speaking countries, their culture, and history. It’s like taking a field trip right in your living room. Your kids will love the lessons, and you’ll be confident they’ll be ready for advanced Spanish.

Ready to get started? Check out Spanish 1 with Señor Cancino.

Interested in Spanish 2? Check out the video below to see Mrs. Kuhlewind in action.