Homeschool Math Blog

The Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science (IMACS) is offering a a series of online math courses for gifted/talented students titled Elements of Mathematics: Foundations . The first of these, Operational Systems, will be FREE if you enroll before January 1, 2013! What is it about? Operational Systems course covers modular arithmetic using secret codes and online games. Learn about operational systems and their properties (commutativity, associativity, neutral elements, invertibility) by building interactive machines and evaluating non-numeric operations. Get a solid introduction to the concepts of least common multiple and greatest common divisor, as well as to the geometric notions of midpoint and reflection.  It is a self-study online course, where suitably talented students are able to work independently and at their own pace while still developing a deep understanding of the material. Elements of Mat...

So, Math Mammoth Grade 4 is now aligned to the Common Core Standards. I will mention here some of the main changes as compared to the previous edition. The main changes in the revised edition of Grade 4 are that some topics were taken off and moved to 5th grade, and several topics were added in. Again, this is all due to the CCS. Other than that, the basic framework and conceptual development did not change substantially. Of course, I edited the lessons to make them better, added more space or grids for calculations, etc. so there were many cosmetic changes. Topics moving to 5th grade: Numbers beyond 1,000,000 multiplying a 3-digit number by a 2-digit number 2-digit divisor in long division multiplying decimals by whole numbers circles volume In measuring, the problems about conversions between units are easier, and the more challenging conversions will be in 5th grade. Topics added that weren't in 4th grade before: divisibility prime numbers finding factor...

I have revised the popular worksheet-making pages for grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 on my free math site so that they now follow Common Core standards fairly closely. I also added handy "jump to" links to the different sections. And, I added NEW worksheets about order of operations, equivalent fraction worksheets with pie models, comparing fractions worksheets with pie models, and a few others. Each page listed below contains LONG list of links that each allow you to make a worksheet for a topic... and the worksheet is different each time you make it (generated on the fly). Free math worksheets for grade 1 Free math worksheets for grade 2 Free math worksheets for grade 3 Free math worksheets for grade 4 These pages are a work in progress; I have plans for several new worksheet generators to be made and added to my site. Enjoy! Tens of thousands of other people already do.

Registrations are now open for this yearly, free event, at http://www.americanmathchallenge.com/ Practice for all students starts MONDAY October 8th. The actual COMPETITION EVENT is on October 16-17th, 2012. In American Math Challenge, students compete using mental math problems such as 2 x 8 or 50 - 14. I t is based on Mathletics , an online Math program. Students will be tackling adaptive curriculum-based math questions and competing against other real student peers in timed mental math showdowns---for prizes.

I've updated one of my old articles, dealing with helping a student who is (perhaps seriously) behind in math: How to Help a Student Who is Behind in Math? I hope it is of help!

A recent addition to my site Homeschoolmath.net... free worksheets for equivalent fractions with pie images (or not... they're optional). There are five problem types to choose from: Two fractions are given with 2 empty pie images to color in (e.g. 3/5 = 6/10). There are 2 pie images that are already colored; the student writes both fractions. Two pie images are given, one colored in, one not; the student writes both fractions. There are 2 pie images to color, one fraction is given, one not (e.g. 4/5 =     /     ) Problems without any visual model; the student writes the missing numerator or denominator in one of the fractions (e.g. 2/3 =     /12).   Check them out! These are meant for grades 3 and 4 in the Common Core standards.

Want to do some problem solving? MathCounts Handbook for 2012-2013 not only includes information about their programs, but also creative and fun 300 problems to work! Answers are included as well. You could use these problems as challenging word problems or for problem solving workouts, not only for grades 6-8, but I'm sure for high school as well, since they are (mostly) not your typical math book problems but require some thinking. Here's the direct link to the Handbook: http://mathcounts.org/document.doc?id=886 If that doesn't work, go to the program's home page and scroll down to see the link to MathCounts Handbook.