If there’s one thing that Darah’s Montessori education so far has taught me, it’s that learning needs to be multi-dimensional. All the senses need to be incorporated when learning a concept, and the more tactile stimulation a child can get while engaging in a lesson, the better.
Hand 2 Mind is a company that firmly believes in learning by doing, and they have created some outstanding resources to help teachers and parents promote academic success and true learning, not memorizing.
I have been perusing the Hands-On Standards Deluxe Edition Grades PreK-K book and have been creating some supplemental lessons for Darah at home all about math. Math is a subject I feared as a child and adolescent, and that fear continues in me even as an adult. I do not want the same fate for Darah at all, so I want to get past my own fears and make sure we talk about math and “do” math frequently at home!
This assessment book is perfectly designed for teachers, or for homeschooling parents or even for parents who just need some ideas for ways to teach match concepts without being abstract. I am REALLY enjoying reading this. Pinterest projects are great for getting some cool teaching ideas, but this is a very comprehensive booklet that teaches concepts that it never would have occurred to me to attempt or to know how to communicate, and in very tangible ways.
I love that this book also demonstrates the research that is backing this approach to learning. I’m a data-driven parent, which means I want to know why certain ideas in parenting and in educating our children should be considered. What studies have been performed to prove that these methods are effective? This booklet shows you, and I really love that.
While specific manipulative objects are recommended in the book, and can also be purchased through Hand 2 Mind, you aren’t restricted to these specific items. With a little bit of advanced planning, you can find excellent substitutes for what is shown in each lesson by looking around your house or planning a quick trip to the dollar store or the craft supply store. This book has 57 different lessons that teach the following concepts:
- Count up and back
- Identify sets of numbers
- 1-to-1 correspondence
- Ordinal numbers
- Basic addition
- Identify basic shapes in the real world
- Sort objects by 1 or 2 attributes
- Gather and record data
- Order objects by height or length
- Compare relative sizes of containers
I am extremely impressed with this book and I know it is going to go a long way toward helping me make sure that math is something we do and love, not something we fear. I would highly recommend hand2mind.com for their helpful kits and books designed to ensure your children stay engaged in learning, both inside and outside of the classroom. The book I reviewed retails for $49.95.
Sarah Yurga says
I like the Rainbow Color Cones
Anonymous says
I like the Learning Place for Science
ncjeepster@aol.com
laurie brown says
I like the summer stars math
Lindsey says
The Universal Play Kit looks awesome! So many toys, my son could play for hours!!
Caitlin McClure says
I like Power of Science2
kendra W says
I like the VersaTiles Reading/Language Arts
sarah keel says
the reading rods
Karen says
The VesaTiles Science
http://www.hand2mind.com/versatiles/versatiles_science.jsp
susan smoaks says
i like the versatiles
jeannine s says
the SunSprouts Early Level Topic Set: Animals, my son loves animals
Jennifer Peaslee says
I’d like to see the VersaTiles Building Skills in Comprehension and Vocabulary reviewed
Kathy Pease says
I also like the Promote Scientific Inquiry and Discovery with Activity-Based Modules
Grades 4-6
Sus says
The Reading Rods Phonics.
Brett says
sunsprouts
Diana Hatch says
Summer stars math
Heather S says
I’d like to see the reading rods!
Angela Winesburg says
Summer Stars Math.
Celeste says
I like the Pre-K dramatic play kit — would love to add to the Dramatic Play center in my kindergarten classroom!
Nicole Sender says
I like The Super Source® Big Books.
Gianna says
Summer Stars Math.
beth c says
i would love to hear more about the talk-along books! they look like something my son would love! thanks!
Jemima Puddleduck says
The GeoSafari Phonics Lab!
Meaghan McDermott says
These look fun!
http://www.hand2mind.com/catalog/product?deptId=ECPRETEND&d0=EARLYCHILDHOOD&d1=ECPRETEND&d2=63409&prodId=63409
Darlene Owen says
I also like and would like to see reviewed Jumbo Reading Rods
Ruben Ramos says
Universal Pre-K Dramatic Play kit Please!
Heather Kelly says
Magnetic Sentence Building Set.
Barbara Ell says
Kids have problems understanding math concepts, but when they “do” them with manipulatives then it becomes easier! Anything that can give me ideas to help “do math” is wonderful!!
Danielle I says
Anything Singapore math related!!!
Bocomomma O Frey says
Radius Audio Learning System looks wonderful!
mommysap@gmail.com
Jennifer M says
I like the jumbo reading rods.
Jessica Taylor says
The Center Stage math kits seem pretty neat. I wouldn’t mind learning more about them as I am going to be entering the years of home schooling my children.
Jessica waters says
Any of the prek kits!
amanda randolph says
I love the Power of Science kit!!
Sarah Walker says
I would love to see the
Sight Word Bingo Games get reviewed on here.
Summer D says
I love the tool set
Paula Michele Hafner says
SunSprouts Science looks really cool.
Veronica Cummings says
Allowance!
lisa says
CitySteps
Hoa Le says
I also like the Learning Place® for Science.
Beth R says
The Calculator Cash Register looks like it would be fun
cynthia says
The Super Source Big Books
Kristie D. says
I would like to see the Radius Audio Learning System reviewed. Looks great! kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.
Whitney at It's Gravy, Baby! says
jumbo farm animals
ani G W says
Investigating Solids, Liquids, and Gases with Toys
abby c says
This is so neat! We have some of these manipulatives in our class and it would be great to get some fun ideas on different ways of using them!
Laura says
id love to see the Content-Area Sight Word Readers Book Sets reviewed
Daiva says
I like The Super Source Big Books
Anne Lehnick says
We like the Calculator Cash Register
Katie Rose says
Have you reviewed the Hot Dots Program? (I think that’s what it’s called!)
susan says
I’d love to see any of the CitySteps reviewed.
Liz Josie says
I like this concept.
Tamar says
The PreK Number, Operations & Patterns Kit is so cute.
Nina says
I’d love to try the versatiles!
Valerie says
Conversation Cues Oral Language Cards
I’d like to see a giveaway for Gamewright Games!
Yolanda says
I would love to see the Gears! Gears! Gears!® Sets in a giveaway
Robin Blankenship says
I like the Power of Science2 kit.
Kelly D says
I like the Making Words reading rod kit.
Amy W. says
I like the Power of Science2 kit.
renee says
The Measure Works kit would be relevant to us right now.
Shannon Baas says
versatiles.
maria says
smart talk! thanks!
Heidi Daily says
Id also like to see a review of the Smart Talk
Molly says
I would like you to try out the magnet set!
Sue Ellison says
I like Reading Rods Phonics.
Sunnie says
I like the measure works set
brandy says
anything about science. there are so many moving parts that i tend not to do it with my kids (preschoolers). because i don’t know how to adapt it to their age. this is really shameful because i actually taught science (gifted middle school) in a public school for a while.
Maria Kiguthi says
I think this would be really fun – Investigating the Sense of Taste.
Katie L says
Conversation Cues™ Oral Language Cards
Elizabeth Groves says
Measure Works set
debbie jackson says
The jumbo reading rods
debbie jackson,
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
Bethany C. says
I like the jumbo reading rods.
Christine says
I have used the ones for the older grades before – great resources.
kathy says
Including manipulatives with math is so helpful in teaching the concepts and making math ‘real’ to kids. Including math in everyday life and pinting out where you use it helps decrease math fear and loathing from developing in our kids
Christy Coy says
Universal Pre-K Dramatic Play Kit — my dream purchase 🙂