When teaching math to a child, there are three important questions to consider: Are manipulatives necessary for teaching math? What is the purpose of manipulatives? Are some manipulatives better than others? First of all, let's define … [Read more...] about Dr. Cotter on Manipulatives
RightStart Math
Dr. Cotter on Place Value
Place value is the very foundation of arithmetic. Place value packages numbers into groups of tens and tens of tens. This makes calculating large numbers similar to adding single-digit numbers: 3 + 4 is similar to 30 + 40, 300 + 400, 3000 + 4000, and … [Read more...] about Dr. Cotter on Place Value
Dr. Cotter on Multiplication
Multiplication has been the mathematical downfall of many children (and adults!). It's not so much the problem of the algorithms, but rather it's the problem of the memorization of the 100 facts. Before expecting the child to learn the facts, we … [Read more...] about Dr. Cotter on Multiplication
Dr. Cotter on Symmetry
Dr. Cotter has an article published in the Hungarian journal Symmetry: Culture and Science, Volume 34, Number 3! Her article is titled Symmetry for Children Using Drawing Board Tools and Tangrams. The abstract reads: Young children are unable to … [Read more...] about Dr. Cotter on Symmetry
RS2 Level H, Lessons 45, 46, and 47
The RS2 Level H Lessons 45, 46, and 47 are some of my most favorite lessons. They can be a challenge to grasp, but, oh, what fun when you get it! So, rather than type a long winded explanation and have you read it, I made a video for you. With … [Read more...] about RS2 Level H, Lessons 45, 46, and 47
2023 Summer Game #11: Fraction of Twelve
My two youngest children were six and eight when I started schooling them together in RightStart™ Math Level B. About half way through Level D it became apparent that my older son was ready to “fly” while my younger son was ready to “camp.” When the … [Read more...] about 2023 Summer Game #11: Fraction of Twelve
