How to challenge my son in math without getting too far ahead

Go at HIS pace!  That’s the beauty of homeschooling.

As for curriculum, I’ll wait for others to chime in.

Hi Becca,

Oh, that is so great to hear how your son has made these discoveries and has a somewhat innate understanding.  As Monica said, we go at the child’s pace in mathematics.  Just as you would slow down for some you will definitely be speeding up for others.  The lessons should be lively, not too simple and challenge his thinking a bit while not so far beyond they create frustration or panic.  I’ll try to get back on later to give you some exact page numbers of volumes for that if you like to have it from the source.

A suggestion might be to jump into the First or even Second Book of Strayer-Upton for a large bank of problems.  The reprints have 3-4th grade in the red book and 5th-6th in the beige book.  Wentworth-Smith books are another option and are free online.  Neither texts are taken “as is” but both are easily adaptable to Mason’s methods.

An example of this from Strayer-Upton:

If you are teaching the reduction of improper fractions the stale way, you would go to your textbook and read “To reduce an improper fraction to a whole number or to a mixed number, divide its numerator by its denominator.” (p. 68 S/U Book 2)  Have your child memorize the rule and do the problems.

Now, on to a more life-giving method which comes from using a problem on the next page:

If you have 3 quarters in one pocket and 2 quarters in another, how much money have you in all?  Your child may be able to tell you this easily without even having money out but, if not, get some quarters out.  Orally, this would be 3 quarters + 2 quarters = 5 quarters or 1 dollar and 1 quarter.

Show your child how it is written “3/4 + 2/4 = 5/4” .  From previous math lessons and/or life your child knows a)  that there are 4 quarters in 1 dollar and b) that line between the numerator and denominator is another way to express division (if not, you may work with exchanging quarters to dollars and back again first).  Now, your child may work a few more problems orally and, if he is able, have him write down one after having solved it.  At this point he may be able to tell you himself that he is dividing the numerator by its denominator and you have led him into the delectable land as he has discovered the rule for himself.

There is a private facebook group called “Charlotte Mason Math Together” of educators that uses her methods and whose children are at all different levels in math if you are interested.

I’d prefer always to discuss Mason’s living teaching of math and not get into Gattegno and cuisenaire rods since those do not line up with her methods. This article on everyday objects might help begin in that understanding.

Warmly,

Richele

Becca, you said:

I definitely need a guide, as I am NOT quite as mathematically inclined as my son, but I do want to do it the Mason way.

 

Just keep in your mind that it’s okay if you need to bring in anything which works for you to teach as his mom (who’s not a trained mathematician), which challenges him, and keeps him loving to learn which may require you to veer away from CM methods, if not philosophy.

Don’t feel guilty if you need to do that; being a purist doesn’t work for everyone. Be encouraged that it’s okay to be eclectic. Different methods/philosophies work for different people, and at different times of their lives; for both teacher and student.