By: Sarah Jones

Math is one of the most important subjects to teach your kids. A strong math foundation will carry them through a wide assortment of courses and life tasks but, unfortunately, it is one of the most difficult subjects to teach children. Many find it boring and mundane, and struggle with concepts and ideas.

My own kids really had a hard time focusing on their math lessons in the beginning. They would beg and plead with me to take a break, and it really concerned me. So, I took it upon myself to investigate what makes math fun for kids, and why my own attitude had a profound effect on how they saw mathematics.

Mathematics certainly doesn't have to be boring to kids! In fact, there are a wide assortment of educational math toys that not only make learning easier, but a whole lot of fun. When shopping for toys and activities, think about things in terms of visual and moving elements. Gears, sorting items, play money and other tools make math real to many children.

Role playing is another easy way to introduce math to young students. A "pretend" shopping trip will not only entertain your kids, but teach them how to make change. Try giving your children a budget and letting them loose in a dollar store, and don't forget to factor in taxes! One of the most satisfying activities for my own kids was a simple trip to the grocery store. I shopped with list in hand, while they had a pad and paper to tally up the shopping total. The child that got the total correct won a piece of candy or other goody at the end of the trip.

The trick to making math fun is to go with what your child is already interested in. If your child loves dinosaurs or soccer, try to find ways to introduce math concepts associated with that topic. Maybe they can calculate scoring averages for their favorite teams, or figure out how many pounds of food a T-Rex would eat over the course of a week. The possibilities are endless!

Lastly, learn to love math yourself. If you hate balancing your checkbook, your kids will pick up on it and learn to hate math as well. So the next time you grunt and groan about tallying up the bill at a restaurant, put on a smile and try to have fun with it.

Author Resource:-> Sarah Jones loves teaching. When she isn't homeschooling her own children, she is busy sharing her love of education with others.

Find a wide assortment of Lesson Plans, crafts for kids, and homeschooling tips at her site, KnowMore.com.

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DiamondVVV1 from MyBootsnMe.com has chosen this blog for "The Thinking Blogger Award".




I am very honored to have recieved this as I am fairly new to blogging and wanted to share what we have been doing with our homeschooling journey. It feels great to know that someone enjoys what I have written.


The Thinking Blogger Award was started by Ilker Yodas at The Thinking Blog, and since it started it has been given to a number of wonderful bloggers. If you get a chance, be sure and go visit MyBootsnMe.com who recieved The Thinking Blogger Award from Shebert at Ghosts in the Machine.

And now to pass it on to 5 blogs that make me think:

1. Life Turned Upside Down - What happens when you take a city girl and move her to the sticks

2. Build Tomorrow Another Day Of Life - How to survive Family, and come back from the brink

3. Fearless Dreams - Personal Development, Self-improvement, Imagination.

4. I will change your life . com - A blog about changing your life for the better.

5. Tom LeDree . Com The Inspiration Blog - The Inspiration and Creativity Blog

The blogs I have chosen are under no obligation to accept the award, link back to me, or even carry on the meme.

(*Should the bloggers choose to participate, please make sure to pass the rules on to the next Thinking Blogs you tag.)

The participation rules are simple:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.

2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.

3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote

(here is an alternative silver version if gold doesn't fit your blog).

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I just donated to Stephen Pierce’s Feed One Million Children charity drive by downloading a free report.

Now it’s your turn. Visit:
http://www.foragreatercause.org

You have a limited time right now to download a FREEcopy of Stephen Pierce's "Power of the Third Influence" report along with 3 incredible "Momentum Mix" audios.

This free power pack is a must have and will makeyour Memorial Day weekend...the most memorable ever.

Also, when you claim these free downloads, he will donate a plate of food on your behalf to Feed The Children.

Check out why he's giving you this free and get it before the offer expires.

http://www.foragreatercause.org/

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On Memorial Day, we honor the brave men and women who have fought for our country over the years. Kids like it because it is a holiday from school, but we can educate them about its importance in a fun way.



If there is a military memorial within easy driving distance, consider visiting so you children can learn about those who fought for their country. Local memorial walls list names of local veterans of the past and present, and you could point out any relatives whose names are listed. Take some paper and crayons along, place the paper over the name, and rub the crayon across for an image of any notable names.



Military cemeteries also provide a wealth of information about veterans of the past. The more elaborate tombstones and monuments are a sight to behold, so don’t forget the camera. Bring flowers along and place them on the graves of veterans in the family, or on tombs of unknown soldiers.



If you can’t make a trip for Memorial Day, there are often television specials dedicated to veterans. Check your local listings for programs that are educational yet appeal to children. Watch it with the kids, and answer any questions they may have.



There is also plenty of information online pertaining to veterans. Do a search for Memorial Day activities, and you will find many worthwhile things for children to do. You can find addresses of troops currently serving in the military and write them letters, news about current missions, educational worksheets, and much more.



Care packages for troops are a popular Memorial Day activity, and teach children about helping those who are risking their lives for the country they live in. Information about where to send them is easily obtainable online, and you can also find lists of items needed. Care packages do not have to be expensive. You can send sample-sized personal care items, snacks, tissues, and other small things that make a big difference.



Many towns have Memorial Day parades or festivals. These are fun and educational. Check your local paper or community calendar to find out when and where they will be held. Then take the kids, and be sure to point out any special exhibits.



If you know any veterans personally, you could arrange for your children to meet them. There is no better way to learn about veterans than from a veteran himself. Have the kids write down any questions they have ahead of time, and perhaps arrange a dinner.



Teaching kids the importance of Memorial Day is good for them, and is a good way to honor those who serve and have served in the military. If you make learning about it fun and interesting, the children will remember the sacrifices that soldiers have made for the rest of their lives.



Cut the stress and increase the fun for your next holiday celebration.

Sign up for your free holiday tips just for moms and their families.

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It is good to see children's involvement with environment-friendly activities.

One such nature-loving activity that children

could easily get their hands on is gardening.

Why should you consider gardening for your children?

Here are the benefits that gardening could easily provide the children with:

1. Science

In planting, children are indirectly taught the wonders of science like the plant's

life cycle and how human's intervention can break or make the environment.

They can have a first hand experience on the miracle of life through a seed.

This would definitely be a new and enjoyable experience for the kids.

2. Life

Watching a seed grow into a tree is just as wondrous as the conception to birth and growth of a child. In time, kids will learn to love their plants and appreciate the life in them. Gardening could actually help simulate how life should be treated -- it should be with care. The necessities to live will be emphasized to kids with the help of gardening - water, sunlight, air, soil. Those necessities could easily be corresponded to human necessities, i.e., water, shelter, air, food.

3. Relaxation

Studies show that gardening can reduce stress because of its calming effect.

This is applicable to any age group.

More so, it stimulates all the five senses.

It helps build one's self-esteem.

4. Quality Time with the Family

You can forget about your stressful work life for a while be soothed by the lovely ambience in the garden. You can play and spend quality time with your children. You can talk while watering the plants or you can work quietly beside each other. The bottom line is, always do what you have to do, together with your kids. You might discover a lot of new things about your child while mingling with them in your garden.

Let kids become aware of their environment's needs. And one way to jumpstart that environmental education may be through gardening. It's hitting two birds with one stone -- teach them to respect life while you bond with them.

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This policy is valid from 04 May 2007

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact ejcooksey@ejcooksey.com.

This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.

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The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

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Thursday was cookie baking day!

Shellbug decided we needed to make some cookies for daddy's lunch
box...they of course had to taste test them afterwards to make sure they turned out good....

Shellbug is playing library and we all had to fill out cards so she could
check books out to us.

Friday we went to the lake and spent about 3 hours there.

The kids loved it, we went for a long walk, played on the toys, and did some
fishing. It was a beautiful day...

Saturday we went to the Zoo...we got to see the new baby elephant
"Nisha"...visited the petting zoo...plus rode the train around the
lake. Spent about 2 hours walking around...we were so tired later!

Sunday was garden day...

we weeded, took picture and Shellbug updated her charts on how
fast the seeds were growing...picture 1 is lettuce...picture 2 is
radishes...picture 3 is carrots....picture 4 is one of the tomatoes plants.

Shellbug and I spending some "girl time" together Sunday....

Weekends sure do go by fast...

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