I do not have a math brain. In fact, I often joke that I have to take off a sock to count to 11. You chuckle, but it’s not really that far from the truth. I was in third grade when I realized that I was never going to be the queen of mathematics. My teacher put me in the advanced math group, and I remember being completely lost. So down I went to the lower math group, and I’ve pretty much been there ever since. That’s a long time to hate math, my friends. And I do hate math. I hate it like I hate hangnails and stopped-up drains and people who say “whatever” too frequently. Nothing sends my blood pressure up like a whole bunch of numbers.
When I was searching for a fun little internet meme for this post, I searched the words “Math Funny” on Pinterest. I discovered something. A bunch of you out there hate math as well! There are tons of memes out there that poke fun at math. I recommend you check them out for a chuckle. (Or if you’re one of those math lovers, you may check them out and glare heatedly at the screen.)
Sometimes I wonder whether my math hatred is something that I could have overcome if I had better math experiences or had given myself more of a chance. After all, everything improves with practice! In light of that thought, see below for one of my favorite math props with activity options. And I say “favorite” because, although I do hate math, I actually enjoy teaching it. Yes. I am an odd bundle of contradictions sometimes.
So how do you feel about math?
Student Sticks
Counting, identifying numbers, comparing sets
To make student sticks, attach trimmed student photos to craft sticks. Set out the student sticks, a mound of play dough, and a set of number cards. Then invite a small group of youngsters to join you and choose one of the options below.
Counting: Give each youngsters a few student sticks, varying the amounts. In turn, ask each child to count his sticks as he stands each one in the mound of play dough.
Identifying numbers: Give youngsters equal sets of student sticks and individual mounds of play dough. Display a number card and direct each child to put that many sticks into the dough.
Comparing sets: Pair students, giving each child his own mound of play dough and set of student sticks. Have each youngster put a few student sticks in his play dough. Then guide the partners to compare their sets using the words more, less and equal.
Hate math too but totally love this idea.
I love the idea of making the student sticks for manipulatives. In kindergarten we are writing + and- number sentences and the children would love working with these to create a story and then write the number sentence. For example: John, Pete, and Mary rode the bus to school, and Paul and Suzy came by car at the same time. How many people are at school? 3+2=?
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