I am finishing the DVDs and am a little panicked, but little happy. We have not started schooling yet and have time, but I am trying to get a handle on math. I love the ideas in the dvd, but am nervous about actually implementing it. Part of it comes from when in disc two you mentioned learning to skip count back in year one, wait! When did you mention that. I need to go back through the book too, but this is a little nerve wracking without a curriculum to follow. I found Ray’s for the oral part and I get following the child, but… Ok I am just being nervous as I am not sure I put a single question forward.
Just a note to let you know I’ve seen your post. I’m currently in a cabin with no wifi so hope to reply when I return to civilization. Everything will be okay, truly. Am I understanding correctly that you have a child starting their first year of formal arithmetic in the fall?
Wouldn’t that be great, but alas we are farmers, so until the middle of October when we harvest apples, we do not go anywhere in summer except to make delivers to the Front Range.
I am trying to find the Strayer Upton books as I have seen several mentions of them, but I am finding all the good books are out of print so you have to find used copies.
Richele,
Do you have a list or link where we can see where you will be presenting more of these Math Immersion sessions?
I have the Living Math DVDs. But would love to learn more.
Well, I think my initial panic is over. I finally read where CM did use curriculum, for some reason I was thinking there wasn’t any! She just made sure to follow her methods as you discussed about Strayer-Upton without all his explanation, but could use the book as a guide on what to teach next. I had found an old book by Frank hall I had picked up for $.25. While there is talk of fractions in the first few pages, there is time, quarts, pints, and other math topics. So there are guides. That was my concern and I had not realized it until I started to discuss it. Whew.
Thank you for asking. Unfortunately, I had to turn down the other speaking invitations this year as they fell too close to our move. I’ll be back in the saddle soon though and will let you know if/when any other presentations are scheduled. I’m on Instagram @rbaburina and periodically post on math there if you’d like to join me there.
It’s always good to discuss and think through things. What Charlotte said over 100 years ago is exceedingly relevant today, “Such teaching as enwraps a child’s mind in folds of many words that his thought is unable to penetrate, which gives him rules and definitions, and tables, in lieu of ideas – this is teaching which excludes and renders impossible the divine cooperation.” Even in 6th and 8th grade, my kids are excited to “discover” math rules for themselves and, once they have, they record them in their math notebook for reference.
We know from Charlotte’s writing that her joy in the children’s work was equaled by her admiration for the teachers and parents who so faithfully worked out her principles and method. I’ll look forward to hearing more as you venture forth in faith!