We're currently working on expanding our line of math materials, starting with a new book about Multiplication and Division. I wanted to share the introduction to the book with you as it tells both about this upcoming product as well as the rationale behind all the materials we make. So here it is!
ABOUT THIS BOOK
The purpose for writing this book is to appeal to children who are strongly visual, who need hooks for remembering math facts, and who need to understand the process behind each math problem they solve. Child1st teaching and learning resources all follow the pattern of conveying learning pieces using a variety of right-brain-friendly elements. We take learning tidbits that utilize symbols and abstractions, which are left brained, and embed them in right brained elements that beautifully integrate the left and right hemispheres in the brain.
Right brained elements:
1- We embed symbols in VISUALS so that the child can take a quick look and absorb the learning piece which will be stored as a visual to be retrieved intact later.
2- We use PERSONIFICATION which is a powerful element in teaching and learning. The use of personification makes for rapid learning because the very look and personality of the character conveys the substance of the learning. For example, Mr. Zero with his circular body, bouffant hair style, his leer, and his magic wand will be an unforgettable visual reminder that when a child multiplies or divides by Zero, the magic wand will slash the air and the number will be transformed into a zero. POOSH! Instant learning!
3- We rely on PATTERN DISCOVERY as a way of making numbers come alive and as a means of conveying the amazing relationships between numbers. What results is number sense. I was rendered nearly comatose when I was a child and had to “do arithmetic.” Math was dryer than sawdust to me. It was not until I was preparing for teaching math in the classroom (ME? Teach math? You are joking, right?) that I began to play with arrays of numbers and became fascinated by them - because the brain is a pattern seeking organ. It is my desire that through this teaching resource, many children who are overwhelmed or daunted by math might come to truly be fascinated by it instead.
4- We use STORY to contain the meaning of what we are teaching in math. Stories, like visuals, make learning unforgettable. They explain the “why” behind math concepts, and tie everything together making a vehicle for meaning and for recall.
5- We use BODY MOTION - both gesture and whole body movement. Some of the movement includes clapping and chanting, some is acting out the story of the individual table. Again, body movement is a powerful agent for learning and remembering. For many people, body motion makes recall effortless if the learning piece is directly tied to a unique motion.
Read more about the philosophy behind Child1st materials.
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