A Math Surprise

Happy Monday!

I wanted to pop in and quickly share some thoughts about something that happened unexpectedly today.

I walked in to the room after Connor had his quiet time to start our math lesson and this is what he had written all on his own:

(In case you can't read his writing, he wrote: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 10010, 10020, 10030, 10040, 10050, 10060, 10070, 10080)

After commending him for writing the numbers (and ignore the handwriting- totally different rabbit trail!) I asked him if he would like to learn a little bit about how to write those "hundred numbers" correctly.

Annnnnd, forget the "planned" math lesson for the day!

THIS is what I absolutely LOVE about homeschooling:

1. He used his own personal time to experiment with writing numbers in a way that made sense to him and felt NO pressure or discomfort about it at all

2. We explored a concept RIGHT at the moment his curiosity was piqued. No waiting. No having to say, "That is a really interesting thing you've done there and I would love to explore that more, but right now we really have to do ______."

3. Because I like to have a variety of curriculums to pull from, I just happened to have one that I was able to quickly pull out to help explain this complex concept. (I didn't really NEED a curriculum to explain this, but it was definitely helpful!)

I pulled out our blocks and the whiteboard and we went to work.

Will he understand this complex concept of place value immediately? No, of course not. It's going to take mannnnnny more practice opportunities and lots of exposure, but he is now exposed!

You can see in this first attempt he was still wanting to write in the zeros for the hundreds place:

But after practicing several more numbers he finally started to get the hang of it.

After this impromptu lesson on place value, he still wanted to do the lesson in his regular math book. And today we did the very last lesson! Technically, I could say he "completed" kindergarten math, although I'm learning more and more not to even attach a grade level or number to the books we complete, because in reality, learning is endless. It doesn't stop just because we finished a book. I digress...

The book we used today is one we will begin spending more time in soon now that we finished the other one so he will get more practice with this. (And again, I didn't NEED a curriculum for this particular concept)

But besides the curriculum resources, what amazed me today is that I was reminded, yet again, that when given the time and space to really think and explore and contemplate, kids can and will guide their OWN learning. They are innately curious and want to learn about this world around them.

What we did today is not part of the traditional kindergarten curriculum because the TEKS (the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills that outline that requirements for what children are to learn at each grade level) only dictate that students need to recite numbers up to 100 and only really "work" with numbers up to 20. And the concept of applying the place value concepts up to 100 doesn't come until much later.

Don't misunderstand me- I'm not saying that I'm going to skip the foundation-building that is so important for this later learning, but what I am not going to do is deny my child an opportunity to learn something simply because it isn't technically required of him yet. FYI- I firmly believe that some concepts (especially in math) require rote memorization and practice first, and then more detailed conceptual explanations later (even thought that's not always how it's taught in schools), but that's a conversation for another day!

Children are SO capable of learning complex things. The things we have learned this year and that Connor has actually retained is truly astonishing.

Being the one right beside him to witness these learning moments first hand and to be the one who guides him to the discoveries is magical. It's truly so much fun.

If you don't homeschool, please don't shy away from teaching your child what they are eager to know, in whatever way you are comfortable teaching them. I know (remember, I spent eight years teaching public school!) that schools are teaching math in new ways these days and that as a parent you might feel afraid that you might confuse your child. But let's be honest- math is math. Conceptual understanding can and will come later. If a child is excited and wants to learn something- teach them in your own way!

No, it might not look exactly like how their teacher is teaching them, but what's more important is that they have a moment to bond with you and share in the pure joy of learning something new. As a parent, YOU are their most important teacher.

I'm so excited to watch my boys on their learning journey, and learn and grow more myself.

Happy learning!