Teaching addition to 5 year olds and below

It was a sleepy start today. Callista was just way too sleepy to start school. We started by 930am and happily finished by exactly 12:30pm. For days like these, I know manipulatives will be the best way to liven up this day.

I started with Bible, my 4th grader joined in when we discussed Abraham and Lot story using Legos.

After that, I read a short story from Lion Storyteller book (about 3 pages). Then, we played a bean toss game. Where I got an old sock, filled it with beans and tied it with a string. I was thinking of sewing it but, I didn't have the time so I just tied it really tightly with a string. The twins loved the game where they would shoot the bean sock into the hamper basket for several times.

We had a short break, did our calendar review, a few pages of Handwriting Without Tears and some cut/pasting of LA activity sheet from our K Readers Schedule.

Now, here's my main topic about our math practice today. I was surprised that one of my little 5 year old daughter who used to dislike math (because, her concept of math is just counting by rote and nothing more when she was in school) now understands the concept of addition.

Today, I prepared a worksheet for them for  Math, but I don't think they will want to do too much worksheets for the day. So, I made them do this acitivity.

Addition Plates Game

Concept introduced: To understand Number Bonds. Ex. 5+5 is the same as 6+4 and 7+3. Here are our materials:

Small whiteboard

Whiteboard pens/eraser

3 or 4 cups/play doh lids

Beans/blocks/buttons etc

Directions:

Place 3 cups/lids on top of the whiteboard. Write square for the addends and sum on the the whiteboard.

Now, add some beans on the 1st cup/lid then add some on the 2nd lid (introduce zeroes first, then move on to 1-5 or how much a child can understand the concept. 

Ask them to count the beans on the 1st and 2nd cup/lid and write that nunber on the box with a marker. Then combine the beans from the 1st and 2nd cup/lid to the 3rd lid and count.

Then, write the actual number of the sum on the line.

You can use a "counting plate" so it will be easier for them to count the pieces.

Do this exercise for 5+5, 6+4, 2+8, 0+10, 1+9 and so on, so they will grasp the concept. For younger tots, you can just make use of the cups/lids without asking them to write (or you can print numbers on a board and let them put the numbers on the boxes).

For more advance learners, you can do higher numbers.

This activity is a good fine motor activity and math/logic. Just make sure you remind them the steps one by one.

1) "Can you Count the beans on the 1st lid?"

2) "Write/choose the number on the box"

3) "Now, Count the beans on the 2nd lid"

4) "write/choose the number on the box"

5) "Pour the beans from the 1st lid/lid color to the 3rd lid then the 2nd lid/lid color to the 3rd lid/color and count them"

6) Ask "Now, how many beans make up ___+___?"

7)"Now, what is the sum? How many beans are there? Can you write it on the line?"

I hope this activity would help your child understand basic addition as it did mine. You can use jelly beans or M&Ms so they can eat them as a reward. :)

Our 1st Grade Curriculum

I will be listing my chosen curriculum for my 1st graders:

36-week curriculum Charlotte Mason - thru Ambleside Online
Audio literature books thru Lit2Go
Supplementing with the following:

• Reading Lessons
• Some chosen books from our Sonlight's P 4/5 

Handwriting - Handwriting without Tears - 1st Grade Book

Math - Singapore Math  1A and 1B

• Supplementing with Kumon books

Science - Sonlight Science P4/5

Art - Meet the Masters

Click here for my bookmarks bar on Charlotte Mason Links from Ambleside Online's Curriculum Guide

Teaching Adjectives!

A simple and fun activity from a book we follow that even 10 year old can join in.

"The Doctor's Cat"

My kids had a lot of fun thinking of some creative adjectives about the Doctor's Cat!  I gently introduced Nouns and Adjectives to my 5 year old and I am quite sure that my 10 year old will never forget that Adjectives describe a Noun.

How do you start?

Materials:

• Whiteboard and Markers (A notebook and a pen is okay) - to list the adjectives the kids could think of.
  
  For creatively sketching the Doctor's Cat:
• Drawing paper
• Coloring tools (crayons, colored pens, etc)

Directions:

1. Just do the sample activity from the book, Language and Thinking for Young Children - The Doctor's Cat.  Or, you can try out a sample of the activity on the photo above.
2. Start listing the adjectives on the board (for my 10 year old, I asked a more challenging task for him by memorizing all the adjectives that we have listed, or just let them read each list as written).  You can begin with some funny words, my kids laughed at "cranky, silly, chubby, fatty, banana-eating" (my 5 year old invented that word).  Just keep the ball rolling and guide them by asking your reluctant child what she thinks of the hair, color of the fur, etc.  Encourage creative thinking and be silly as well.
3. After coming up with a list, dictate it to them and ask them to imagine what this cat looks like.  Then, give them some paper and color to draw the cat.
4. Share your drawings to each other and let them explain their drawing.
5. Laugh to your hear't content.

Encourage them to draw the Cat based on the list of adjectives

Let them share their work!

There are so many ideas here and it is by itself a complete curriculum for pre-schoolers and you can even tailor fit it to older kids which I just did so on this activity.

Some of our school room rules: Clean as you go.

Always make a rule on your school room - Clean as you go.  Teach your child to clean up their own tables, by themselves.  For my kids, I assign one child to be a checker of the week/month  That child is responsible to check that all items are on the proper places, chairs neatly in place,  all trash in the trash bin, lights and fans are off.

A new name to our adventures!

My blog started when I was pregnant with my twins. All I wanted was to make a journal of my twin pregnancy.

But, the Lord inspired me to share his blessings to me by sharing stories of my life from a once full time working mom to a now, homeschooling and work at home mom.

My kids are now 10 and an incoming 4th grader and my twins girls are now 5.5.  I have been home educating my kids when my twins were born. We started with Tot School and now they are going to 1st grade.

I changed my blog's name to Learn In Grace because it has always been my prayer and every parent's prayer for their children, whether they are homeschooled or not, is that they will forever learn in Grace.

Allow me to share my heart (and occasionally some downloadable freebies)!

Our Homeschool Room

I have started Tot School when my twins were 10 months old. Our unstructured school were mostly a mix of literature-based (chosen books from Sonlight and Before Five in A Row) and Montessori-based teaching.

All 3 of my kids love school. School for them is as exciting as going to the beach. My 5 year old begged to do her Math worksheets on a Sunday!  I am very pleased with their love in learning and I would do everything to instill that. 

I am quite sure, that, aside from the daily read alouds, an interest-based learning, and a good curriculum, the way their playroom and learning centers were organized played a big factor for their love of learning.  

Our homeschool room used to be in our living room.  Our coffee table was just the perfect size for 2-year old kids.

Tot school + Preschooler combined.

I remembered our 1st box day, 5 years ago.  My son eagerly waited as the Fedex van dropped off his box of school items from Sonlight.

The learning center is setup in such a way where they can easily get any book, scissors, own sticky tapes, glue, paper, coloring materials, even punchers or stamps and stickers all they want!

They have a separate play area where I would occasionally add toys based on their age level.

This was our Tot School Shelf when my twins were a year old.  All the materials were readily available for them.  Sharp items are kept above.  They are just free to grab and get items from this shelf.  They also know how to put them back after.

When they were 2.5, we moved to a new house where we had a family hall on the 2nd floor .  There, we moved our school area and we found it to be more conducive for learning. This is a picture of my twins, lining up sticks on the floor.

My 3 year old Callista fell in love with art and painting.  She knows where all the materials are kept, she gets her brushes and paint, and cleans up after she's done with them.  I need not tell them to clean up, as they all know that it is our rule to clean up after school.

These is the setup of our Nursery-Pre K level.  Age appropriate materials are readily available for my preschoolers.  Even my then, 1st grader loved this place.

When my twins turned 4 and they are now in Pre-K, we focused on reading areas.  It is good to move into a room that is far from the dining area or kitchen as it keeps the kids from being distracted from the noise in the kitchen when my helper is preparing for our lunch.

Now, my twins are getting into K and 1st grade.  My son gearing up for 4th grade.  We have outgrown this place and moving onto a new school room.

Now, we are onto the bigger and brighter space!

My 4th grader's own office.  My twins' learning center still on the center.

This used to be my twins' playroom which we converted to their school room.  They didn't mind much about this, they said that they love that they can do many things in their room than just toys.  *We just moved their playroom in a separate area of the house.

I do not want to box them here inside. I am sure, when school starts, we would be all over the house reading our read alouds, or seeing my 5 year old twins tumbling on the sofa in the living room during our discussions.

We started in a living room area of the house and just saved off, collected educational items and repainted some shelves and even upcycling chairs.  A schoolroom doesn't need to be too elaborate, whatever works for you is good - whether it is the dining table or a small table on a side of a room!

It is indeed a pleasure to see your child learn. That look in their eyes when they learn something from you is priceless - and this is what is most important.

Words such as "Mommy! I can read now!" Or when your 2-year old begs for a book for you to read to her is precious. Those moments are days you will forever keep in your heart.

Prayers and blessings to each families, homeschoolers or not.  As long as your love for your child is felt and you give them the best you could for their education - then, you are doing your best for them best and soon, you will reap the benefits when they are grown. ☺️