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Math – Cuisinaire Rods / Coloured Rods
- This topic has 5 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 6 months ago by
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Just thought I’d start this as a seperate thread from some of the discussion on the Choosing Math thread.
Jo said:
Also check out the FAQ about colored rods http://www.alabacus.com/pageView.cfm?pageID=319…this applies to the early basics plus the way place value is handled. I really like the way place value is handled with right start. That said, many people have used those rods with success. I am not bashing MUS. But these are the reasons that I have personally steered clear.
So we are using MEP, and have been using Cuisinaire Rods with it. (MEP has paper number strips that are the same thing… so we are using rods.)
I read the FAQ on Rightstart with their concerns with them…
My kids (so far – I have a toddler and baby that obviously aren’t there yet) seem to understand the concept that the rods are different numbers because we built the numbers with the 1 cubes…. And they don’t seem to have any colour perception problems.
Are there other reasons you wouldn’t recommend them?
Suzukimom – as you know I have the same age kids as you. My two oldest are doing MUS and are like yours when it comes to the blocks – they get that the blocks represent different numbers and are clearly able to distinguish between the colors. I’m finding MUS is working great for us, so I’m not going to switch at this point because of a potential problem that’s not a problem for us – I WILL keep it in mind for the younger two though, it’s helpful information to have at hand in case there is a problem, I can now quickly identify it and address it if I need to. But to switch to a new program especially if you’re already comfortable (and OWN) the one you have, I think would be… putting the cart before the horse. (This is not meant to DISCOURAGE the previous poster – please, please, continue to post this information as, like I said, it’s helpful to know what to watch out for! And for someone who is already aware that their child is not able to distinguish colors – this post could save them a great deal of time, money and frustration!)
Rebekah
thank you Rebekahy…yikes I didn’t know how to respond to suzukimom–you encouraged me. thanks.
I am NOT saying stop what you are doing. If what you are doing is working–mastery is being accomplished…go go and go! Who cares if I don’t like the rods? But if you are having difficulties…not just with colors, but with visualizing the numbers, with place value, with the ability to quickly see in your mind for instance that 8 is 5 and 3 or that 27 is 2 tens, 1 five, and 2…etc.–then maybe you’ve found a limitation of the rods and can remedy the situation.
I’m going to try to post about some sources to address problem areas, fractions, scheduling RS, and maybe about that abacus. If I can.
I don’t even remember the details of the issues I had with the rods and place value…I just remember having the issue…and I know for a fact that many of people have used those successfully. Please do not let me deter you.
I wouldn’t want to be a stumbling block. I was trying to encourage not discourage!!
Please forgive anything that didn’t accomplish that goal.
Joanna
Joanna, I love what you bring to the discussion, and I am very encouraged by everything you’ve posted so far!
I was playing around with our Melissa & Doug abacus for a few minutes with my 2yo, and I could see a little better how it works when I was actually moving it around myself. I can also see how 5 & 5 of different colors helps rather than 10 of all the same color. Hmmmm…. I may introduce it to my kidlets to see how quickly they pick up on it. If it seems to help, I will seriously consider getting the AL Abacus at the very least. I hesitate to start my 4yo (who will be starting K in the fall) on this abacus, however. If I were going to go that route, I’d want to get the AL abacus right from the beginning for her.
I can actually see how having several different manipulatives would be valuable in teaching the same concepts over and over. MUS style rods, plus mine (just the regular single cubes, 10s rods, hundreds squares, and a thousand cube), plus an AL Abacus, with a healthy mix of games, plenty of real-life word problems, and some worksheet-type work to really solidify it. I actually don’t like how most programs (at least that I’ve encountered) have you do the worksheet abstract stuff before the word problems. I didn’t understand word problems until I started teaching my own children math a couple years ago!!!
Maybe I should use a spine and do everything else myself? LOL Ha, that’s asking a lot of myself…. Hey Jo,
I wasn’t planning to switch the math course or change what we were doing – I was just wondering if you had other concerns not listed in the FAQ.
MEP has been working well for us, but recently my son hasn’t been enjoynig it very much… He went from it being the first thing he wanted to do, to him complaining when I said it was math time…. this seemed to happen as we started addition and subtraction of a 2 digit number with a 1 digit number… and more so as it is starting to cross 10’s…. Right now we are on a 3 week break (“dad” is on vacation)…. and I thought I’d let him do some Khan Academy math during “summer”…. So I’m trying to work out if it is the way that MEP is approaching this, or what.
I love MEP, and it is free…. but just working out what I should do with my son since he seems to be struggling a bit with it now.
Maybe I should use a spine and do everything else myself? LOL Ha, that’s asking a lot of myself…. 
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