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Talking math with your kids

9 and 10 years old

Dots!

Dots!

The New York Times published an article about Common Core homework this week. As is going to be the case with a news article (in contrast to say, a post on a blog dedicated to children's mathematical ideas), one can't really learn any mathematics from the...

| Jun 30, 2014 | 15

Griffin in front of huge walleye statue
Nights of Camping

Nights of Camping

The following conversation took place in the run-up to our annual summer camping trip recently. Rachel has no interest in camping, so this ritual is all mine. I started the little ones young with a one-night trip within an hour from home so that we could come home...

| Jun 25, 2014 | 6

Hints at Holiday

Hints at Holiday

I told an abbreviated version of the following story on my math-teacher blog, where I used it to drive home a point to my colleagues. This version is for parents. --- My wife had been out of town for several days. I was tired of doing all the cooking and dishes. It...

| Jun 8, 2014 | 0

8 + 4 = x + 5
The equal sign

The equal sign

It has been a long, busy semester for me in my community college work. Many interesting and productive projects, lots of interesting and challenging teaching problems. But I am tired. Wiped out and exhausted. So I devised a plan the other evening when Tabitha...

| May 21, 2014 | 11

Spirals

Spirals

A few weeks back, this short cryptic video came to my attention thanks to the magic of Twitter. https://vine.co/v/MMEJuOXYndP Thanks to kids connect (@KinderFynes on Twitter) For more than a year now, I have been posting links and other short bits on Twitter using...

| May 6, 2014 | 5

Midnight on clock face
Bedtime

Bedtime

In the thick of the holiday season last month, Griffin (9) turned his attention to the mythical midnight on New Year's Eve. Griffin (9 years old): Can we stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve? It is a nice touch that he includes his sister in this request. They...

| Jan 20, 2014 | 4

Milk by the gallon

Milk by the gallon

Milk has been on sale at our local gas station/convenience store. Griffin and I walked up there the other day to buy some milk. Two percent milk for the kids and me; skim for Mommy. Me: Griff, the milk we just bought was $5.50 for two gallons. How much was each...

| Dec 30, 2013 | 2

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