Pick just 1 program to teach toddler math

Early Learning Teaching Your Child Math
1

Hello. I’m interested in teaching my 24 month old how to do math. However, there are so many programs and it’s just overwhelming. I am looking for just ONE program that will be effective. So far, I am most interested in Jones Genius. Is this alone enough to teach math?

Also, what exactly does the program teach a beginner? Does it teach numbers? Counting? Basic arithmetic? Why do you suggest this program?

My toddler already knows how to count up to 30 (possibly more, but I’ve only heard him count to 30 aloud) and recognizes/knows numbers. So I would love if he can start adding, subtracting, etc this year.

I cannot afford multiple programs and I’m afraid that if I buy too many, I will not use them anyway (this also goes for reading). Can I use Jones Geniuses (or another program) alone, with absolutely no other (not even an abacus. For some reason my son is afraid of them lol) and teach my son well?

I am a stay-at-home mom and daily, I make my son review the alphabet, sight words, numbers, & reading. Now I’d like to add math to our “curriculum.” Thanks!

2

Yep you certainly can successfully teach using just one program. :slight_smile: phew what a relief she says! :biggrin:
I am assuming you are reading the two active math threads we have going at the moment? If not please do, even if just for ideas. What to do with your 2 year old for math and This one http://forum.brillkids.com/teaching-your-child-math/math-curriculum-for-toddlers/msg86268/?topicseen
I don’t have Jones Genius but it would be very high on my list if I didn’t want an abacus. I am sure someone with it will comment.
Please don’t feel you need to buy everything to teach one subject. I have multiple programs because I have access to them and I have 3 kids, with 3 different needs and personalities. One program followed well is always better than many sitting in the cupboard gathering dust because they are all too much work. You can also teach math using free resources alone. It just takes time to research.

3

Thank you! And yes, I’ve read both threads and they’re full of valuable information. I might just get JG… I just need some reassurance before I go spend $100 on the program. Thanks.

4

You can always buy the electronic version of the JG programs for much cheaper and just print everything yourself.

5

If I had to pick one it is a toss up between miquon math. Or Rightstart math.

Miquon: The price is amazing and my son is loving the rods.

Rightstart: it is great and completely adaptable for a 2 year old.

But at 2 MathStart books are a really good jumping off point.

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Thank you. Where do you start with miquon math? I looked on the website but cannot find any information. I can’t use Rightstart because it has the abacus (I don’t know why they frighten my son. He isn’t afraid of anything at all except that lol… Weird).

MathStart also looks great. I like that it’s math incorporated with reading.

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You can do a lot of the rightstart without the abacus. It has many activities,the abacus is just one of many different manipulatives. It is likely your son will overcome his fear in time just by having one in the house. In saying that Jones Jenius will fit the bill anyway.

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Really sorry but I would really struggle with only one approach to math as my toddler likes to switch approaches regularly. I think JG is a great concept but it does depend on your child as to whether they would enjoy it or not. We got the downloadable version to save on shipping costs but my DD finds it a bit ‘dry’ and doesn’t really engage well with the activities. I’m going to go back to this again in the autumn. But I know there are other much younger children who are doing really well with it.

I don’t think we are quite ready for a fixed curriculum just yet, so I’m saving my money! So we are trying to incorporate lots of marshmallow math into daily life, playing with different number lines and 100 charts, we love the Mathstart books (reading one each week and doing all the activities listed in the back). I’m hoping we’ll be able to get more focused in a few months, but I’ve been saying that for over a year and it’s not happened yet lol

But every now and again DD demonstrates something like counting with her fingers that shows me she is taking in a lot more than I think! Good luck.

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Hi,
I’ve bought the Marshmallow Math(Trevor Schindeler) book to make sure I incorporate as much math in our playing. I think I’ts a good book and if your child enjoys the games he will learn a lot without having to invest in expensive math programmes.
Hope it helps.

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Though I haven’t used it I was just about to suggest maybe just getting marshmallow math and incorporating it into your daily life. Save your money for a more extensive program in a few years and you know what kind of things she likes better.

Even though I have a few math programs I very seldom stick to what is set out each lesson. I used the, as a rough outline. And it is nice to use them for guidance in scope and sequence. We deviate quite a bit each lesson, just as long as he is learning the concepts. We add more, Add less. And go for weeks using one program and none of the other. Or use several programs in one lesson.
Right now I am focused on playing math and making it fun for my son.

I haven’t used this site extensively, but I love it for their scope and sequence.
You can introduce a differnt concept each day or week, without a curricula just through play.

http://www.ixl.com/math/pre-k

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Thanks everyone! I appreciate it!! I like the ixl site, although my son can it use the site yet. However, the concepts on it are great. I might use that as an outline to teach him myself.

I thought about buying the digital JG to save on money, too. How do you get the program? Can you just download it onto one computer, or is it linked to your account?

MathStart sounds great too. Are there any books in particular you recommend? I cannot afford to buy them all at the same time. Also, how long are the books? Do they tells story, then ask questions as you read? I can’t really find info on these books.

Miquon math seems a little advanced. Is it adaptable for a 2 year old?

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The mathstart books vary in length. I will talk about 3 books that we like. All books have suggestions on how to maximize learning from them inthe back.

We started with a pair of socks. Basically it is a story narrated by a sock. On each page he thinks he has found his pair in various places, washer, dryer, basket etc. but upon closer inspection he realised that each sock is a little different. I would usually ask my son, is this sock the same? What is different about this sock? Etc
After we had read the book every night for about a week I made cards with various different socks and had my son help them all find their pairs.

The second book we read was beep beep vroom vroom. It is about a girl who gets into her brothers toy cars when she is not supposed to. Her mom and dad help her line the up in a pattern just how her brother has them. (red, blue, yellow etc) everyone does the wrote pattern. But a different pattern is made several times. Once again after reading the book for a week I made my son some cards with differnt colored cars and had him do patterns our of them for me.

The third book, possibly my sons favourite, is No More Carrots. It is about a boy rabbit going shopping with his mom. He wants to buy more carrots because he loves them. And his mom points out that a certain shopper has fewer carrots, another shopper has the same amount and a third shopper has more carrots. This more, fewer, same thing is contiuned several more times with other things they buy… Worms, nuts etc. During this book I would ask my son how has more, fewer(less) the same etc. after a week of reading I would then introduce him to the signs greater than, less than and equals, I had him show me with homemade carrot cards which was had more, fewer or the same.

We havent gone through all the books yet. But I try and go through them one week at a time until he masters the concept in the books. Many of the books align with the standards on the IXL site. I borrow the books I can from libraries. I also like to shop at half.com and abebooks.com for good deals. And amazon has a buy 3 get 1 free promotion, so I get 4 at a time when I can.

I do try and keep the books in as pristine condition as I can so I can sell them once we move on.

Oh and I have seen that there are books you can buy that tell you how to use the mathstart books for lesson plans.

Here is also a bibliography of books that may be available to you through a library that cover the same concepts. I have not read any other books yet. But I do plan to check out a few.

http://www.mathstart.net/books/math_bibliography.php

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This page might give you a better idea about what each book covers.

http://www.mathstart.net/activities/activity_ideas.php#anchor15

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Math start books are often available at the library so do check there before you spend $$$$ if you ask a librarian they’re bound to show you an alternative also. Our library has a number of different options.
We use IXL in this house :slight_smile: it is very thorough. It’s curriculum covers everything and is a great way to be sure you don’t miss anything. As mentioned you can just use it’s concepts/ year lists and teach yourself. IXL also allows you to do a couple of problems daily free. The early years ( up to grade 1) will read out the questions too ( not on an iPad and still useless for under 5s anyway :tongue: )
My kids use IXL to reinforce their learning at school, and to make sure they don’t miss anything that they are supposed to know. I have found a number of things on IXL that my girls didn’t cover at school at all! :wacko: And of course those things pop up in our national testing. IXL isn’t the best program for INTRODUCING a concept its more for mastery and practice. It doesnt teach HOW to do something very well. The questions get harder as the kids get them right and easier if they get them wrong. Gradually building up to a timed, accuracy and a gold ribbon :slight_smile: great for bigger kids.
Also of note is that we log into an “au” Australian site lined with our Australian syllabus so check if you country has it’s own site.
You could make a great, free math program easily using this as a guide. Check out sparklebox.com when you need some Printables like the socks mentioned above :slight_smile:

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I would use IXL in a heartbeat if they had an iPad app!
Good to know that australia is different. I am going to go and compare. :slight_smile:

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I don’t intend to start a controversy or derail this thread, we can start a new one if needed, but I do not use sparklebox. To each their own, but just so you are making a fully informed decision here is an article about the site and it’s creator. http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6041853

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Here is a good alternative http://www.twinkl.co.uk/resources plenty of socks too :wink:

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Okay!
So I somehow just noticed that there is yet another toddler math thread!

I will TRY to be useful as I seem to be using at least a majority of the math programs in question…

If I had to choose JUST ONE of the various math programs and manipulatives we incorporate into our daily play? …hands down, Right Start!

We LOVE much of what JONES GENiUSES has to incorporate, as it got us started and has a fantastic program for speed reading. Memorization of information, and advanced skills…

Unfortunately, at a young age, Alex seemed to be memorizing arithmetic facts rather than understanding them…so we have switched to a more RightStart approach, with JonesGeniuses supplement!

So…
I can completely commiserate with a fear of an abacus! Weird how kids develop random fears! BUT! HAVE you tried all the options?!

First, with enough proper exposure, I strongly believe that almost all little ones will become accostomed to the RS abacus! Also, the RS program has lots of beginning programming without an abacus!!!
If they absolutely will not Try the regular abacus? Try the digital version. If you have an IPad, RS has an abacus app! This has A completely different feel than an abacus, and might help him get ready for a proper abacus…
If he still isn’t liking it, be assured…you absolutely can do RS with other manipulatives until he is ready for an Abacus…

RightStart has an app

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Thank you so much Korrale and Mandabplus3 for suggesting the ixl website (www.ixl.com). And thank you to Mandab for giving more information on the site. I appreciate it so much.

Questions, please.

1). The IXL site is very thorough (as Mandab mentioned) and contains the math curriculum requirements for several countries. Is there a comparable site for reading, writing, etc? Please. I’ve been very impressed with ixl contents, and was wondering whether there are comparable sites like those for other subjects.

2). Mandab, you mentioned that you’ve had great success with it. Did you have to sign on to the site to get more resources? Are there advantages to signing on? And are there advantages to paying cash? I noticed there was a section where people pay for several types of membership.

3). As you mentioned, the site is mostly good for practice of previously known concepts. Do you know if the site (or any other one) sells books for which the child could read, master the book, and come to practice the sums. What I mean is this: for example, the UK math curriculum for year 1 could require mastery of so and so concept. Are the corresponding books which parents could study with their kids before they come to practice the sums? Or is that where Marshmallow Math and MathStart books come in?

Thank you so much for your responses.

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Thank you everyone! It seems like Rightstart is the way to go. I plan on eventually incorporating Jones Geniuses though. If I add JG in 6 months, do you think this is okay? Or is that too long? I just don’t know when I’d be able to afford it.

And thanks, kerileanne99, for the suggestion of a digital abacus! I didn’t think of that. I think the my son wil be fine with the digital abacus. It’s probably just the noise (when the abacus shakes) that scares him.

Can you recommend which Rightstart kit I should begin with? I see that there is a basic and deluxe kit. The deluxe starter kit is a bit expensive, around $200. If I have to spend that amount, I was wondering if I could just buy the basic kit and the downloadable JG. This way I will have both programs. What do you think?