Math class

I at one time tried to make sure the children were all working on different topics during the day.  Mainly so attempts to multiply 5  (5, 10, 15, 30..) didn't confuse kids counting by one (1, 2, 3 blocks)  And preferably questions of imaginary numbers didn't confuse a kid working with fractions.

But all my attempts to schedule fail.  Miserably.  Either the younger ones simply refuse to do math at the right time, or the older suddenly forget how to add and take 3 hours instead of 30 minutes.  Or someone sleeps in, skips breakfast or who knows what else.

So every time I throw in the towel and go back to letting the kids work in any old order.

Yesterday that resulted in 4 kids all working on math at the same time (technically the 5th was listening in, but she didn't get much farther than 'agoo'.

I was struck by the absurdity of it all when I found myself with Baby Girl and Little One on my lap, an older kid on either side and Little Man dashing back and forth from his book to me exclaiming "They have three hundred and forty-two dollars!"  (he works best when he can dash around)

Especially after yesterdays comment from Wall street that boarding in bedlam excerpted..."If I had only 3-4 self-selected students to educate in the comfort of my own home.... I could get even better results than those parents."

Really.  here I am with only 5 students and while it might look like I have it all under control, that is really 'only by the Grace of God'.  Anyone who thinks teaching at home is easy has never truly considered the insanity of correcting algebra, multiplication and teaching a kid money math, and counting all at the same time (don't forget to nurse the baby please)

.And yet, It is easy.  Every kid aside from the youngest has learned to wait their turn.  Dude might sigh in frustration so I glance over to point out the sign matters..(OH... to the negative 6th means move the decimal left..otherwise we would have a big number not a tiny decimal)  Baby Girl just patently waits till I am done, then we count the 7 spots on the ladybug.  Meanwhile Little Man is perfectly happy with the smile and nod I tossed his way while he dashes back to the next pile of bills, and thankfully Princess seems to know how to convert hours to minutes (which I don't recall ever teaching her)  And every kid is well versed in the 'wrist trick' to get their pencil back out of Little Ones hand (always twist and down so it doest jab her in her mouth).

Those moments are well balanced by a complete lack of anything to do.  I was also sitting there while Baby Girl colored, Little one chewed on a dinosaur, and the older three chugged away on their own.  For a few seconds I started to feel guilty for just sitting there.

Thankfully the feeling passed quickly before I felt forced to do the dishes!

Speaking of the older two.  They both LOVE Aleks math!  I actually have to force them to leave of the math each day and work on something else.  I figure over an hour is more than enough.  Both kids are over %40 done with their 'pies' and seem to be picking up new information.  When they get stuck they usually want me to 'walk them through' the explanation page, but I think that is somewhat of an age thing.  Children like a little extra attention when learning sometimes.

Dude has taken two assessments, one that he flubbed by not trying, and the second that put him at 44%,  Princess only took one, but it put her almost at 40%, higher than her pie had been before the assessment.

Sadly their isn't enough math in daily life to test how much they are internalizing.  I like math because it is so logical and easy, but I have to admit without fudging,   most of the 'higher stuff'it doesn't enter daily life much.
I am sure a scientist would use plenty, but as a mom, Any 3rd grader could do the math I use.