Math Caps ~ For Re-purpose-ful Math-time FuN!

Another simple, and virtually cost free, homeschooling manipulative. Saw this idea floating around in the Pintrest world, but couldn't track down it's original source. Still, I put it to use with my own little twist...

First - Collect water bottle caps 

Second - Write Numbers and Math symbols on them with permanent marker (I recommend AT LEAST 3 of each number 0-9 and 2 of each symbol - X = /and +)

Third - Find re-purpose-able container to store them in

Fourth - Put them to good use!

Easy enough, Right?!

Yes, that IS my mulleted child in CAMO!!! :oP

We are using them for simple math (addition, subtraction, multiplication) with my 1st and 2nd graders. They even did some more complicated, multi-step problems. 

Another benefit to homeschooling... no shoes, no shirt.. NO PROBLEM! :-D

For my K4 daughter (Princess Serenity) I was having her count objects (cheerios) to add up to the # presented to her. Quickly realized that this skill was beneath her level, so we started learning to ADD!  :-D She did GREAT! Used a silicone muffin pan to keep things neat-n-tidy for her. 

This new manipulative even traveled with us to the Dr's office, and the church this week. The little container I have them stored in drops nicely in our cinch-sack (Little educational bag we haul around) or diaper bag to take on-the-go! PLUS if they git lost/ruined... NO WORRIES. I can just make more for FREE!!! LOVE <3 <3 <3 This!

Working on a series of making Homeschool manipulatives on a very small or ZERO budget. Still to come...
 
Colored Rice 
Eye Spy Bottles 
Sensory Boxes
Domino Math
CandyLand Counting
Morning Board (for the basics)
Story prompt sticks
Home made Fingerpaints
Easy make Playdough
and MORE!

How do you help your wee-ones understand what's going on?

Everyone needs to be able to relate... even if that someone is only two.

My sweet little girl (River, age 2) fell from the pew during worship service this past Sunday. She's not usually much of a complainer so when she threw such a fuss, I knew something was wrong. Now, to figure out what... Everyone that had witnessed the fall said that she hit her head. Naturally, that's where I focused my attention.  She was crying so hard that she couldn't tell me what was wrong. Was she just shook up, or hurt?  I wasn't sure. Eventually she let me know that her 'foot' hurt. Come to find out [after a couple hours, and a trip to the ER] she had broken her little leg. 

http://www.facebook.com/PaldinosPhotos

 

http://www.facebook.com/PaldinosPhotos

The tears that came when the pain set in, broke my heart.  She would be herself. Then, as the ibuprofen wore off, she would change. She'd cry, and whine, and kick and squirm. She was so uncomfortable.  All I could do is comfort her and treat her with the pain relievers to try and dull the pain.

On top of the pain, I could tell that she was scared.  What IS this thing on my leg, mom? "Take It OFF, Mommy. I don't want it! I want it OFF" she kept saying.  How do you comfort someone so little through something like that?  Here's how I helped my 2 year old feel more secure about the cast on her leg. . .

http://www.facebook.com/PaldinosPhotos

Her grandma had sent her a new baby doll to help busy her as she recouped.  The day after it came in the mail, River was having a hard time coping when her medicine would wear off. Each time, I would sit with her and play, talk, or sing to her to keep her mind off of the pain. Mid morning, she and I sat down and 'doctored' her baby. We gave it a 'band-aid' just like she has.  First the 'sock'... then the padding... finally the colorful [coban] outside. (I wish I had though to do this BEFORE we went to the Orthopedic doctor. She would have better understood what was going to happen to her.) She stopped pulling at her cast. Stopped asking to have it taken off.  Now, every-time she starts to be bothered by it, she just asks for her baby, and comforts her the way that she wants comforted. She is turning into such an caring little momma and doing a great job of teaching mommy just what she needs in order to feel better.  For now she still hasn't stopped crying out in pain every few hours, but she is coping with the discomfort and unfamiliarity of having her leg casted much better.

http://www.facebook.com/PaldinosPhotos

 I love when I have the opportunity to allow my blessings to take the lead and show me what they desire from me.  I take comfort when they are able to 'show' me what they need, when they might now know the words to tell me.  I pray that you will never have to see your little one through a painful time, but if you do... I HIGHLY recommend giving them a way to relate to what's going on, and if they are too little to communicate effectively, give them an outlet to show you what they're feeling.

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