Karyn's Blog

The Nifty Numbers Family Math Night Kit – The Banners

October 9, 2011 Karyn Comments 0 Comment

This photo is an excellent example of the power of the Nifty Numbers Family Math Night banners. A parent is showing her child how the fraction 3/3 is the same as the number ‘1’ and then uses this information to help her child complete the activity. The banners serve several important functions. Besides being attractive, they give the participants an indication of what to expect at each station. In addition, they provide some specific examples of the activities and help…

Money Messages We Send Our Kids

October 8, 2011 Karyn Comments 0 Comment

Have you ever thought about how kids learn to speak a pretty complex language? And when I say ‘speak’, I mean all the intricacies that go along with it…body language, inflection, nuance, …in addition to vocabulary and sentence structure. It’s a pretty amazing feat and, yet, we all learn how to do it pretty seamlessly and without formal instruction. Much of it happens indirectly. Our kids are absorbing what we do – it’s how they learn to operate in the world. And while absorbing…

Teaching Kids Multiplication Facts, Factors, Primes, Composites

October 6, 2011 Karyn Comments 0 Comment

See how simple objects like tiles, stickers, rubber stamps, dice, and graph paper help teach students important concepts in number theory: factors, primes, composites, and square numbers…not to mention the great reinforcement of multiplication facts. Grades 2 – 5 To get the pdf version, click here. If you do any of these activities with your kids/students, let me know how it goes!

PTA Take Your Family to School Week Grant Money Available

October 5, 2011 Karyn Comments 0 Comment

WooHoo! Free Money! Okay, so technically there’s a little work involved. But the kind of money we’re talking about here is definitely worth the effort. The PTAs Take Your Family to School Week is sponsored by the AXA Foundation and includes 45 $1000 grants. One of them could be yours if you take action before October 28, 2011 by completing the short application. Of course, we’re going to want you to use that money to purchase our Nifty Numbers Family…

Teacher Tip: Using Transitions to Reinforce Multiplication and Division Facts

September 22, 2011 Karyn Comments 0 Comment

The first in a series of elementary math videos: .