OK, call me stupid,
But today I was going through a Kindergarten curriculum with my three year old (yes I know he’s only three but he gets it). Any way, I was going through lesson 9, (keep in mind that this is FIRST YEAR MATH lesson 9!!) And we were doing greater than > and less than < and equal to =. We are going over what it means to be more than, or less or equal. Ok, no biggie, he gets that. Then, they introduce NOT more than NOT less than which look sorta like teh greater than and less than signs with an underscore. (I cant draw them here for some reason.) Anyway… Here’s why Im stupid.
WHICH ONE is WHICH? I always remembered the greater than and less than signs because it “ate” the bigger one… No problem. But the not less than not greater than are confusing. They are supposed to point the opposite way? grumble… I guess Im going to have to admit to my husband that I couldn’t figure it out from the directions and ask him to make it plain! ROFL… I mean sheesh I went to college you would think I would know this one!
And really why are they teaching that in KINDERGARTEN? I mean I didnt learn those signs till third grade or later. But if I want to continue with this otherwise excellent curriculum, then I better teach these, because math always builds on precepts.
Well thats my rant.
Mrs. Meg Logan
I think the curriculum did badly in framing them as “not more than” and “not less than”, because that turns them around from what you’re used to. It’s easier if you think of them as follows:
> : (strictly) greater than
< : (strictly) less than
≥ : greater than or equal to (aka NOT less than, but don’t call it that)
≤ : less than or equal to (aka NOT greater than, but don’t call it that)
This way it’s plain, it says what it means, and you don’t have to confuse yourself with opposite directions for what amounts to a difference of inclusive vs. exclusive limits.
The way your curriculum teaches this particular thing is REALLY DUMB.
Also, while it is unusual that something this advanced would show up in a kindergarten curriculum, but I don’t think’s a bad thing. IME, the only thing that limits most kids’ ability to do arithmetic is the schools’ refusals to teach the more advanced stuff earlier. If your 3yo can grasp this stuff, I so go for it. And even if he can’t, there’s not harm in trying. Just don’t push it and traumatise him. The last thing we need is another person with an irrational fear of arithmetic.
Good explanation, Jake. I agree that the way it was presented in this curriculum is confusing. I’ll have to be on the look-out for that, though I think that I remember that kind of presentation even in my Christian School education. What a strange way to think of inequalities.
Thanks. THat is what I thought, and the curriculum did confuse me! Im wont traumatize him! lol I promise. The kid begs me to do school with him.
Mrs. Meg Logan
Just curious,
what curriculum are you using Meg? My wife started using Abeka this year for our eldest son. Some of it is too easy for him, while other parts are quite challenging. I think, overall, my wife is pleased with the material.
Homeschooling is quite a job, I admire both you and my wife for your efforts.
Later,
We love Professor B math! It only cost me $50 and covers preschool, kindergarten, and first grade all in a nice sized book. The price included book, workbook and answer key. I print out all the wkbk pages so that I can reuse it for the next child down the line. Prof B makes everything simple…and he has game charts to help reinforce the facts. Who knew math could be so simple. You might want to check him out.
I looked into Saxon K and at the time my daughter already knew most of what it covered and it seemed to me to belabor most every little thing. Now, I loved Saxon in high school…taught myself Alg 1 with Saxon’s help when my private school’s curriculum (Abeka) muddied the math waters beyond comprehension.
Anyhow, glad you got your answers!
I got my curriculum free of charge from An Old Fashioned Education, http://oldfashionededucation.com/ . The curriculum is http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm
It is a free UK curriculum. It seems pretty good, and as I mentioned was FREE. Math isn’t a very complicated thing to teach at this stage in the game. I thought I would try this one, because the Math in Bob Jones, Kindergarten 4, was WAY too easy. And that is the curriculum we use for social studies/ heritage studies, science, and literature. I teach reading from “Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy lessons”, plus just reading readers, and primers that we find at the library.
Seems that Peter is doing quite well with all of the curriculums. He really can read, and do basic math.. so i guess he’s learning! LOL.
Mrs Meg Logan