Modern math theory for little kids
December 9, 2022 5:30 AM Subscribe
My kid is 6 and really enjoys math. Her teachers have already given her a solid understanding of basic multiplication, division and algebra. But we haven't done much at home, and I'm wondering how to support her interest. I'd like to educate myself a bit first. Could you recommend things I can read/watch to better understand doing math with kids? My own skills are solid (technical career) but I don't know much about teaching!
It's easy to see that the modern math teaching she's getting is much better than when I was little. What's the current thinking about how people learn math? Happy to read academic stuff or watch videos of great teachers. I'd like to focus mostly on exploring math with little kids - say under 10. I'd be excited to read/watch stuff about doing math theory (or even philosophy) with them too. All recommendations appreciated!
It's easy to see that the modern math teaching she's getting is much better than when I was little. What's the current thinking about how people learn math? Happy to read academic stuff or watch videos of great teachers. I'd like to focus mostly on exploring math with little kids - say under 10. I'd be excited to read/watch stuff about doing math theory (or even philosophy) with them too. All recommendations appreciated!
Best answer: There's a trend in math instruction right now called Cognitively Guided Instruction, which I am a fan of. This is what's behind all of the people screaming about why kids don't just add and subtract like we learned in the olden days. The books I linked are for teachers, but they are easy to understand and provide a solid conceptual framework as adults to what this is all about. These books radically changed the way I think about math instruction in the K-6 years. Some folks don't like it because it doesn't always provided the quickest way to the correct answer, but what it does do is develop understanding of mathematics and how values are joined and separated and builds flexibility and problem solving in kids. One of the things I love about it is that it explains the different stages of developing mathematical understanding in the way that little brains work. This might even be the math she is learning in school already.
posted by archimago at 6:43 AM on December 9, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by archimago at 6:43 AM on December 9, 2022 [4 favorites]
I recommend you get basically anything by Mitsumasa Anno! I had at least Counting Games and Magical Multiplying Jar but there are a bunch. Math was always fun in my house, and books like this were a big part of it - there are children's books that introduce you to animals, plants, the solar system, etc. and these are very much in the same vein. Much less a curriculum of topics, much more a gentle exploration of neat things about the world with a tricky wolf and some friends. If I recall there are guides for the grownup at the end that discuss both the underlying concepts and activities to do with a kid.
posted by itsatextfile at 6:44 AM on December 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by itsatextfile at 6:44 AM on December 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
Oh, one more - The Adventures of Penrose and sequels. This may possibly be too complex at the moment, but that's okay! One of the fun things is coming back to a book like this over time and seeing what sparks interest.
You asked about learning theory; my background is in general cognitive development rather than education but there's a strong consensus that children learn by playing and exploring. Rather than aiming for 100% right answers or your child definitely "getting" a particular concept, aim for a fun space to play. We don't expect children to "learn" tigers in one shot, but it sure is fun to learn about tigers. You can think about fractals or whatever in the same way.
Her school curriculum will ensure coverage of the basics (that is, at some point multiplication or trigonometry will be on the menu and you'll have a textbook or something on hand), but meanwhile, have fun!
posted by itsatextfile at 6:58 AM on December 9, 2022 [5 favorites]
You asked about learning theory; my background is in general cognitive development rather than education but there's a strong consensus that children learn by playing and exploring. Rather than aiming for 100% right answers or your child definitely "getting" a particular concept, aim for a fun space to play. We don't expect children to "learn" tigers in one shot, but it sure is fun to learn about tigers. You can think about fractals or whatever in the same way.
Her school curriculum will ensure coverage of the basics (that is, at some point multiplication or trigonometry will be on the menu and you'll have a textbook or something on hand), but meanwhile, have fun!
posted by itsatextfile at 6:58 AM on December 9, 2022 [5 favorites]
The Number Devil is a great book for introducing advanced math ideas to young minds.
It's also a fun & educational read for adults :)
posted by jpeacock at 7:09 AM on December 9, 2022 [6 favorites]
It's also a fun & educational read for adults :)
posted by jpeacock at 7:09 AM on December 9, 2022 [6 favorites]
(The Number Devil)2, although five years old might be a little young.
One of the best things you can do to create numeracy is to just talk about numbers a lot with your kiddo. "You have five blocks? How many would you have if you had twice as many?" Just weave it into your conversations, "I'm buying this book for $9.95. How much change will I get?" There are endless possibilities for talking about math with kids, and a lot of benefits from doing so. Numbers are part of our world, they are part of the fabric of everyday life. It's not like "life is here, and math is there". You can help your kids see that numbers are natural and everywhere and woven into all the other things that are going on around them. That will help them think numerically, and help them be comfortable with all sorts of math in the future.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 8:32 AM on December 9, 2022 [4 favorites]
One of the best things you can do to create numeracy is to just talk about numbers a lot with your kiddo. "You have five blocks? How many would you have if you had twice as many?" Just weave it into your conversations, "I'm buying this book for $9.95. How much change will I get?" There are endless possibilities for talking about math with kids, and a lot of benefits from doing so. Numbers are part of our world, they are part of the fabric of everyday life. It's not like "life is here, and math is there". You can help your kids see that numbers are natural and everywhere and woven into all the other things that are going on around them. That will help them think numerically, and help them be comfortable with all sorts of math in the future.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 8:32 AM on December 9, 2022 [4 favorites]
Mine enjoyed a cartoon called Peg+Cat to explore math concepts in real-world (albeit silly) scenarios. and Team Umizoomi for numeracy practice.
posted by nkknkk at 8:36 AM on December 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by nkknkk at 8:36 AM on December 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
Number Blocks is surprising fantastic, and has good theory behind it. My son will often watch it on repeat. Catchy songs and math theory is a great combination.
posted by GnomePrime at 9:57 AM on December 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by GnomePrime at 9:57 AM on December 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
We asked my first-grader's teacher about how to support her math learning, and her advice was to play card games and board games with her. She said it helps a ton with counting and numeracy and conceptualizing numbers, even if you're not playing a math game specifically. Since I had just started teaching my kid backgammon, and we play cards together all the time, this was very reassuring to hear.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 10:28 AM on December 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Lawn Beaver at 10:28 AM on December 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
Not new, but you might find the works of Maria Montessori interesting. More recently there's Jo Boaler and Marilyn Burns.
The Hungarian approach has been thought to create good mathematicians. MEP Math is influenced by the Hungarian approach.
There is also Singapore Math and Russian Math.
The Art of Problem Solving has created Beast Academy for kids ages 6-13.
Once you find a curriculum/ pedagogy of interest you can use google scholar and ERIC Clearinghouse. e.g.
posted by oceano at 10:54 AM on December 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
The Hungarian approach has been thought to create good mathematicians. MEP Math is influenced by the Hungarian approach.
There is also Singapore Math and Russian Math.
The Art of Problem Solving has created Beast Academy for kids ages 6-13.
Once you find a curriculum/ pedagogy of interest you can use google scholar and ERIC Clearinghouse. e.g.
posted by oceano at 10:54 AM on December 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
Correction: the second link associated with the Hungarian approach can be found here.
posted by oceano at 11:00 AM on December 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by oceano at 11:00 AM on December 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
Math Games with Bad Drawings: 75 1/4 Simple, Challenging, Go-Anywhere Games―And Why They Matter by Ben Orlin might be a lot of fun!
posted by spamandkimchi at 12:27 PM on December 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by spamandkimchi at 12:27 PM on December 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
Seconding Jo Boaler's YouCubed project and Mindset Mathematics books.
posted by ContinuousWave at 4:48 PM on December 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by ContinuousWave at 4:48 PM on December 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
Dragon Box is a nice mobile app that tricks you into learning basic algebra.
I'd also suggest maybe getting a cheap abacus and finding videos on how to use them.
Adjacently, maybe getting into chess? Or programming? The Crash Course Computer Science series on YouTube is nice.
posted by AlSweigart at 10:24 PM on December 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
I'd also suggest maybe getting a cheap abacus and finding videos on how to use them.
Adjacently, maybe getting into chess? Or programming? The Crash Course Computer Science series on YouTube is nice.
posted by AlSweigart at 10:24 PM on December 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Many thanks - these are all great recommendations! Archimago's suggestion hit the nail on the head - Heinemann books are what she's using at school and their online teaching resources look great. And besides educating me about math education, you've all made this year's Christmas presents dramatically better :)
posted by jebs at 2:07 AM on December 12, 2022
posted by jebs at 2:07 AM on December 12, 2022
« Older Kindle Won't Store My Collections--Help! | Looking for software to organize research for... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
You can teach young kids compass and straight edge constructions (eg making a perfect hexagon), so have a nice set of those available.
I'm also a fan of soma cubes
For philosophy, see if you can get them to define two. Not two apples or two oranges, but two. Eventually they may come around to "it's one more than one", and the you can teach them the construction of natural numbers out of the empty set and set inclusion, a la Peano.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:43 AM on December 9, 2022 [3 favorites]