The Math issue
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We've been homeschooling for almost 3 years, but we really just started
unschooling a few months ago. I have an unschooling moment to share.
I bought a cookbook for cooking with kids. I thought it would be fun to try
some kid-friendly recipes and maybe get some kid interest in the process. My
almost 8 year old son was very excited, although he's never shown more than a
passing interest in working in the kitchen.
Well, I couldn't find my cup measure when I needed it, and I asked my son how
many 1/2 cups I'd need, and he said 2, Duh Mom. He was making a bread recipe
that required that he cut canned biscuits into quarters. So he started
cutting them in half then in half again, just like he was supposed to. I
didn't need to tell him. I asked him how he knew, and he told me that
quarters means 1/4 which is 4 pieces.
We've really never talked about fractions at all, and I was a bit surprised
that he knew this. I remember fractions being such a struggle in school. Of
course, algebra isn't quite as intuitive, but I guess my point is, if you
make it hard, it will be hard. If you make it life, maybe it comes as
naturally as life does.
Carron
unschooling a few months ago. I have an unschooling moment to share.
I bought a cookbook for cooking with kids. I thought it would be fun to try
some kid-friendly recipes and maybe get some kid interest in the process. My
almost 8 year old son was very excited, although he's never shown more than a
passing interest in working in the kitchen.
Well, I couldn't find my cup measure when I needed it, and I asked my son how
many 1/2 cups I'd need, and he said 2, Duh Mom. He was making a bread recipe
that required that he cut canned biscuits into quarters. So he started
cutting them in half then in half again, just like he was supposed to. I
didn't need to tell him. I asked him how he knew, and he told me that
quarters means 1/4 which is 4 pieces.
We've really never talked about fractions at all, and I was a bit surprised
that he knew this. I remember fractions being such a struggle in school. Of
course, algebra isn't quite as intuitive, but I guess my point is, if you
make it hard, it will be hard. If you make it life, maybe it comes as
naturally as life does.
Carron