This review is sponsored. All opinions are my own.

When teaching my kids, number sense is something I am very passionate about! 

I want my kids to not only be able to recognize number symbols, but to visualize the value of them. Sometimes young children have trouble understanding the difference. They can commit number symbols and operations to memory, but they don’t fully understand the quantities those things represent. 

To help teach this concept, I normally use base ten blocks or money but I have found something even BETTER! Newmero Bricks! 

They are amazing for building numbers and their representation. At first, these bricks seemed like simple stacking blocks with numbers. I realized they can be used in really creative ways to teach my kids math! 

On their website they also have a free pdf manual with tons of fun games and learning exercises for kids. These games and exercises are awesome because you can combine activities and the manual is super easy to read making setting up very simple. I can let my children help with set-up which just adds to their fun! 

Click the link to get the PDF Manual emailed to you! You will need to scroll to the bottom of the page to see where to enter your email. I have LOVED the free manual! 

5 Creative Ways to Teach Math with Manipulatives

Activity #1: Find the Fish! 

Math with manipulatives is so simple for number symbol recognition, but can also evolve into counting. 

You start by having the kids pick out all the yellow Newmero Bricks. This is a simple way for me to delegate tasks to kids. This peaks their interest even more and preps their mind for learning/having fun. 

Place the bricks out onto the floor. That pile then becomes our “pond”! The kids “fish” for the brick by choosing from the “pond”. They’ll say what number they see on their brick. If one of my kids is having trouble with saying which number they see, I’ll just have them count the knobs on the top! 

To make the game more challenging for my older kids we will use more than just the yellow bricks, we add different colored bricks into the “pond” to represent the hundreds and thousands and as they fish they’ll add up their numbers. 

If they get stuck, the knobs are always there to help them count! Isn’t that super fun? If you want to check this one out in action, check out the video below!

Activity #2: Who is Largest?

I like to call this “I am greater than you, I am less than you”.

This game you can change up in a lot of ways! I have a couple variations that my kids love and make this game more fun for them! We use mathematical language by saying “I am greater than you” if they have a greater number and “I am less than you” if their number is smaller.

You’ll find that your children are highly intelligent and will easily understand the proper language with instruction or explanation. We play this game in a circle using partners on the left and right and each child gets to say whether they are greater or less than the person on the right or left.

We also love to make shark or alligator hands and eat the bigger Newmero Brick number of the person on their left or right! This all helps with understanding size, and the shark and alligator hands will help when teaching greater than and less than symbols! > <

Math with Manipulatives Activity #3: Number Bingo 

Who doesn’t love a game of bingo?! It is a fan favorite in our home! When you sign up to receive the Newmero Bricks Manual it will have free bingo boards in the document. I repeat, free bingo boards! I do not know about you, but whenever I am playing bingo with my children I have to scour the internet for a blank bingo board or try to find an already done bingo boards and make it work for my activity.

The fact that they have one ready to go is perfect for me when teaching my kids at home. You can also print out the Number Bingo materials here.

This game is simple. All you have to do is get the bingo cards for your kid and lay out the Newmero Brick. I’ll usually start as the announcer, but I love to change it up by making one of my kids the announcer. Then, watch them lead with pride! If I am playing with lots of kids, I like to have crayons, markers, or even colored pencils, and when I say the number they can color their Newmero Brick on their paper! 

Activity #4: At the Cash Counter

This game is SOOO much fun for me and my kiddos! To start, the kids and I run around the house grabbing items we would like to put into our home store. Each child can choose pretty much anything in the house as long as it is not a danger.

My kids like to choose each other’s toys, it’s pretty fun. Then I set up the table and line up all the “products” we gathered and I’ll act as the store owner where I decide how much each item costs. The different colored Newmero Bricks are used as their money, and each person will start with a random handful so that no one has the same amount. Now they get to go on a small shopping spree from the items we chose at the beginning! Once chosen they’ll have to count out their “money” to make sure they can afford it. 

I usually let the child’s knowledge of numbers determine the price of the item; larger numbers for my older children, and smaller numbers for my younger children. Sometimes my kids work together by helping each other count, or even pooling their bricks together to buy something big!

When money or items run out I change the game up by allowing one of the children to be the store owner, or, if you’re very entrepreneurial, your children can sell items back to the store! How fun would that be?!

Activity #5: Ten Friends (I call this, Finding Friendships)

Ten Friends is all about making groups of ten using the jigsaw side of the Newmero Brick.

I lay out all of the yellow bricks and explain to my kids that we are finding friendships, not just any friendship, but a very special friendship that adds to 10. Only bricks that can add to 10 can fit perfectly together. For example if my child tries to connect a 4 brick and a 5 brick, the two bricks will not fit perfectly together. I then tell my kids to find all the special friendships.

What I love about this is my kids do not need a lot of knowledge of counting to do this task. Yes, if you know how to count this game would be easier and faster, but I love watching my kids explore the numbers as they try attaching different sides, and counting the knobs.

This is one of my favorite games because I love watching my kids explore the possibilities. Seeing how smart children are when they are able to learn for themselves is so rewarding. For changing this game up, I use the other colors and do Finding Friendships of hundreds and thousands! 

Newmero Bricks for Math with Manipulatives!

There are so many fun, amazing, creative games with Newmero Bricks! This list for Homeschoolers by grade with all of the games has been awesome for me and my kids.

I am super passionate about keeping math fun and engaging. These Newmero math bricks help me do just that! I did not even mention their games for higher level math, up to algebra, solving for missing numbers and side lengths.

If you have a creative math with manipulatives activity mention it below in the comments! All of our children could benefit from fun math learning tips, tricks, and tools! 

The post Ways to Teach Kids Math with Manipulatives! first appeared on True Aim.

As a math teacher, he saw how much his students enjoyed his lessons and so he decided to record those and put them online for students around the globe to access. He decided to homeschool and knew that he couldn’t do both CTC math and teaching. So he decided to quit teaching and become a full time homeschool dad and owner of CTC Math! I sat down with his chief operations manager Nadim who was a student of Pat’s and has been with the company for seven years! 

Learn the behind the scenes store of this amazing math curriculum and how you can change the way you teach your children math! Plus, you’ll get a look inside the online program and how it also can be used to create your own worksheets so your children are practicing what math skills they need and not what they don’t.

Watch the video for the full interview or check out the transcript below!

It’s Janine Latulippe and we’re here with Nadim from CTC math! We’re talking all about the amazing features and how it could change your homeschool!

Janine: Nadim, please give us a little back story on how you got involved with CTC math and also to talk a little bit about Pat the creator of CTC.

Math Curriculum Was Created By Homeschool Dad of 10

Thank you for having me! I actually new Pat because he was my teacher. I had him in highschool. And in the early stages of CTC Math in Australia, it was mostly through tutoring centers and CDs. I have a passion for math, and went to school for it so when I went to college I stayed in touch with Pat and I was helping him part time with content creation. An opportunity came up and it worked out and I’ve been with CTC for 7 years.

Janine: That’s amazing! He was your teacher and you liked his teaching so you knew that you wanted to be apart of it. Tell us a little about his teaching and how he went about starting CTC math.

Made by Australia’s Best Math Teacher!

Pat is the best math teacher I have ever had. He has this ability to explain the concepts in a very clear and concise manner. It’s amazing. It will take him a few minutes only! It’s like lightbulb moments!

That’s amazing! That’s how I like to learn math too. Lol So did Pat make CTC before he was a homeschooler? 

He was working on CTC the whole time while he was teaching and homeschooling. He started getting really busy with the kids and CTC and so he transitioned from teaching to doing CTC full time.

In Austraila, we had a big deal with McDonalds, Mackers. They approached us in Australia only, and said that they see a lot of our employments failing our numeracy tests and we would like to use your program to help them. They purchased the program for all their staff and saw amazing results so they asked what they would have to do to make it available for all students in Australia. They struck up a deal with Pat to provide it to students for 3 years for free and CTC math exploded! 

What Sets CTC Math Curriculum Apart?

So we know that it is proven and that people love it. So tell us what sets it apart from other programs out there.

There are a few main things, but I think the main one is his video tutorials. The way he teaches is incomparable. The next, is that he understands homeschoolers, what they need, and there are a lot of things that are built into our program that are there to serve homeschoolers. He had them in mind when he built the program. 

So tell us about another main feature that you really think stands out and people like to use.

One of the BEST Features of the Program

Access to all grade levels, so you can use all of it from grade K-12; addition to calculus. It really is learn at your own pace. Pat understands that and so he understands that most kids need more to either review or to get ahead.

We do the same thing so I totally understand that. We don’t know what grades the kids are in! LOL so that really helps. One feature that I saw that I wanted to ask about is the pen and paper tool.

Maybe I can show you a little later on what they look like, you can actually make your own worksheets. It is really important to do pen and paper style math. So you can print off the worksheet and have it there during the video lesson or you can print it off and do it later.

I love that because I think it is so important to do the equations in different ways. Is there anything else you wanted to cover before we jump in and show people inside the program.

I wanted to mention that Pat does have 10 children! 5 girls and 5 boys so he understands homeschooling families and knows what they are going through.

Let’s talk about how parents can try the program. If you click in the top right corner, you can sign up for the free version which gives you access too samples in all of the grades. So just go to CTCMath.com and click free trial at the top.

The post Homeschool Math Curriculum from Father of 10 – CTC Math first appeared on True Aim.

Free Royalty Fractions Pack

I love learning math without a textbook, through games and fun learning activities. Fractions can be hard to learn at first, but are a lifelong skill that we often use daily. Print this pack and laminate it for durability and multiple use, or stick them in plastic sleeves.

Use this pack to make fractions more exciting in solo work, group work, or partner work! You can use manipulatives  This royalty themed packet includes princesses and princes of different skin colors, hair colors, and outfit colors. There are three pages: one of princesses, one of princes, and one for pretty flowers. The color words are color-coded to assist kids in reading the color.

You can easily adapt this pack for different age ranges. For preschool and kindergarten, you can have your kiddos fill in the blank with the number. For slightly more advanced learners, you can write the answer in a fraction or the least common multiple. For more advanced learners, you can write the answer as a decimal!

Grab Your Free Royalty Fractions Pack Below!

The post Free Royalty Fractions Pack for Kindergarten first appeared on True Aim.

Preschool Math Hands-on Activities

Preschool Activities: Color and Math with Pom Poms – True Aim Education

Practice math AND colors with this great activity! It can also help develop fine motor skills.

Counting Beads on Pipe Cleaners – Laughing Kids Learn

Use beads and pipe cleaners (both can be found at the Dollar Store) to practice counting!

Free Printable Roll It, Write It, Count It Mats – Frugal Fun 4 Boys

Learn all about numbers with this counting mat. You can practice seeing the number, the quantity, and spelling the number.

The Secret to Skip Counting in Kindergarten – Kinder Craze

Skip counting is a life skill that makes counting a large sum of things easier and faster. Practice skip counting with these free printables!

Snap Plus One Math Game – Kids Activities Blog

Practice counting, addition, and subtraction with this simple Snap One! game! All you need is a deck of cards.

Adding: Dollar Store Project – Mothering with Creativity

With foam cups and paper towel rolls, create this simple addition board!

Feed the Hungry Shape Monster – The Imagination Tree

Practice shapes by feeding the hungry shape monster!

Preschool Math: Straw Match up – Playdough to Plato

Practice comparing, width and length with straws!

Number Writing Activity: Salt Tray Game – Learn With Play at Home

Use sensory techniques by creating this easy salt tray game. Practice matching and number recognition.

Kindergarten Math Game: Bubbling Addition – Mess for Less

When it’s warm outside, try this bubbling addition game!

Counting Cookies Common Core Math Center – Happy Little Kindergarten

Create a math center with chocolate chip cookies! Practice counting and number recognition.

Bear Color Graph – Early Learning Ideas

Practice graphing with little bears! You can substitute the bears for LEGOs, or any other small toy you have on hand.

Money Math for Kindergarten – The Measured Mom

Money is one of the most practical ways to teach math. Use these free printables to teach basic math!

Smack the Number Counting Game – Mom Inspired Life

With only minutes for prep time, create this simple counting game that can be used for independent work, partner work, or center work.

Free Interactive Shape Pages – This Reading Mama

Explore the ways shapes are used in the real world with these interactive shape pages!

Graphing with Preschoolers – Stay at Home Educator

Practice graphing with simple unifix cubes in this preschool/kindergarten activity.

Gumdrop Pattern Printable – The Kindergarten Connection

Learn about patterns with delicious, edible gumdrops. It comes with a free printable!

The post Preschool Math Hands-on Activities first appeared on True Aim.

Addition Games

1. A deck of cards

Grab a deck of cards and divide them into two, the the Jack as 11, Queen as 12, King as 13, and Ace as 1. (or throw these cards out) Similar to “Speed” – whoever can name the sum the fastest gets a point.

2. Play “Don’t Get Zapped – Addition version

Check out the Dollar Store for plastic jumbo craft sticks for this activity. Get full directions at Swamp Frog First Graders.

3. Dominos

Use the dots on dominos to practice addition. Add up both sides of the domino to get your sum. Get full directions and free printables at The Kindergarten Connection. Image credit: The Kindergarten Connection

4. Addition with water balloons

For an outdoors activity, practice learning sums with water balloons! All you need is some water balloons, chalk, and of course decent weather! Check out I Can Teach My Child for more details.

5. LEGOs

Use different colored LEGOs for hands-on addition. Playdough to Plato has some free addition printables for this.

6. Dice

Roll a pair of dice and tally up the sum. This also encourages practicing number sentences. Grab a free printable at Math Geek Mama. Image credit: Math Geek Mama

7. Math Facts Baseball

For kids interested in sports, try this math facts baseball activity. You can grab directions and free printables at Frugal Fun 4 Boys.

8. Ladybug Addition

Have fun with the spots on a ladybug and play ladybug addition. Grab the printables at Schoolhouse Snippets.

9. Addition pancakes

If you have some thin cardboard, a spatula, a permanent marker and a cup – you’re good to go for addition pancakes! This pancakes twist is more memorable and fun than traditional flash cards. Grab full visuals at I Can Teach My Child.

10. Math twister

Take the classic game of Twister into a hands-on addition game! Get full directions at Math Geek Mama.

11. Addition flower puzzles

There are many different addition problems that can make 9, 14, and so on. Discover those different ways with addition flower puzzles. Get full directions at The STEM Laboratory.

12. Gross motor addition game

With a beach ball, practice simple addition. Write random numbers on the beach ball, and when they catch it, have them add up whatever two numbers their hands are touching! Check out the full activity at Mom 2 Posh Lil Divas.

Subtraction

13. Farkle

Take the traditional game of Farkle to learn about subtraction and regrouping. Grab the how-to freebie from Teachers Pay Teachers.

14. Grocery store coupons

Math games can also mirror the real world. Bring subtraction into practical, real-life learning by going through coupons, and subtracting the coupon from the store price.

15. Subtraction Bowling

With a tennis ball and disposable cups, try subtraction bowling and record your results. Get full directions and a free printable at What The Teacher Wants. It’s easy to set up, but has a major hands-on aspect!

16. Subtraction BINGO

There are many ways to combine subtraction and BINGO. See how one mom used BINGO with manipulative for her kids, at 123 Homeschool 4 Me.

17. Cootie catchers

Practice subtraction with cootie catchers. Get the free printable at 123 Homeschool 4 Me for an addition, subtraction, multiplication and division version.

18. Subtraction squash with play dough

Keep engaged with this hands-on activity involving play dough. Get full inspiration at There’s Just One Mommy.

19. Funbrain

Funbrain is one of the best for online gaming for kids, with nearly all of their games being educational in some way, whether directly or indirectly.

20. Flashcards

Flashcards are a great visual way to quickly learn sums or differences. Download this set of bright addition and subtraction flashcards! Use them as independent work, or as partner work.

What are your favorite math games for kids?

The post Math Games: 20+ Addition and Subtraction Games first appeared on True Aim.