Setting the Manipulatives FREE

[Ging]

I've been slowly making changes in math the past few months. Today I decided to gather all the fun math stuf and make a happy home for it. I pulled together the math storybooks into a basket by the unused coffee table. Next I put the book The Librarian Who Measured the Earth into a book stand in the middle of the table. Then I decorated home school mom style-
Mini themed erasers into pint jars
Popsicle sticks into tin pail
Assorted clocks, watches, and timers into a pretty box
Abacus and peg board into another basket
Then I cleared out a two drawer end table and used it to store the MUS blocks and Right Start pieces. I'm now working on a shelf for the math games. Surely this is better than the top shelf in the bedroom .
I think having this all out and arranged in an inviting way will be a great begining for our school year. I've picked out some living math books to use the first few weeks of school.I'm also going back through Family Math and plan to use it more this year.
Ging

[Anne]

I would love to see pictures !

[Jocelyne]

I would love to see pictures !

Agreed!

[Rachel]

Me 3!!

[Jimmie]

Pics AND tell us how it went over with the kiddos.

[Ging]

I have pictures but I'll have to wait until Sunday to see if the babysitter can help me
My children love it! Today they read about probability in the book Googol and started flipping coins and keeping a chart. I had nothing to do with that learning adventure it was their own project. Also my 8 yo gave my 6yo some beads and started making up word problems for her to solve -"just cause"
Ging

[Jocelyne]

I have pictures but I'll have to wait until Sunday to see if the babysitter can help me
My children love it! Today they read about probability in the book Googol and started flipping coins and keeping a chart. I had nothing to do with that learning adventure it was their own project. Also my 8 yo gave my 6yo some beads and started making up word problems for her to solve -"just cause"
Ging

Can't wait!

I have actually been thinking a lot about this the past week or so. My idea is to set up a table or shelf with a few related living math books and some supplies/manipulatives that will help him have fun with the concept. I tend to toss books randomly around the house in all the different places he tends to frequent. But I had never really considered doing anything with math until just recently.

[ami]

Ging,

I love your idea! But, I'm afraid if I set the manipulatives free, they would never return.

Seriously, I know a certain preschooler who has way too much fun dropping things down vents and such.

[Ging]

Ami,
Bless your heart! I'm sure that's why my stuff was so very unavailable. It seems like I was surrounded by little people for so long and then poof! my youngest is 6. You must be in the bind the manipulatives season of parenting and I'm in the freedom mov't
Ging

[Jimmie]

Ging,

Your idea here about setting the manipulatives free really got me thinking. I'm going to do a whole blog post! Thanks!