Math Mammoth was designed by a homeschooling mother named Maria Miller. My first question (before I even saw anything else with the products) was Why is it called Math Mammoth?
She has four different series (Blue/Light Blue/Golden/Green) of workbooks available! Each series is for different levels of learning. They are available as PDF downloads or CD.
Blue Series - worktexts for different topics fromaddition to decimals.
LightBlue Series - complete curriculum that goes by grade levels.
The two series above contain explanations and problems, just like any regular math textbook. Also, the two of them are in a sense duplicates of each other: they contain practically the same material, but it's "packaged" or organized differently.
Golden Series - worksheet collections (or workbooks) for grades 3-8. These worksheets contain very variableproblems in each sheet, and are not script-made.
Green Series - same as the golden series, but by topic, not by grade.
The two series above (Golden and Green) contain problems only, but very variable problems. Again, the two series above are duplicates. The difference is in how the material is organized: either into grade-levels or into topics.
There is no teaching involved in these. There are no examples or explanations either. It would be nice if there was some kind of examples for teaching. Because of this we teachers need to find the lessons for teaching in order for the student to be able to do the worksheets, unless you use these pages as a review (and with all these pages, that’s a lot of review!) They would be great though if you have a Math text book but wanted some good worksheets to go along that.
The author, Maria, also sends out a newsletter and will also send you Math Teaching e-mails if you sign up as well. Here is that website. She also has a great blog page! It is full of free resources for teachers and parents!
We chose two topics in the Green Series, one was fractions (68 pages, 61 worksheets Price:$6.00 PDF download )
...then we also got Geometry (91 pages, 83 worksheets Price: $7.00 PDF download)
These worksheets have been pulled out from Math Mammoth Grade 5, 6, and 7 Worksheets Collections, plus two worksheets related to Pythagorean theorem come from the Math Mammoth Algebra 1 collection.
These problem sheets are written with teachers' needs in mind: each one is exactly one page, concentrating on one topic (with the exception of some "review" worksheets); therefore is easy to assign for students. In this collection, the sheets are not organized by grade but by topic. The first section deals with angles, then the pages move onto cover quadrilaterals, other polygons, and circles, then congruency and similarity, then geometric constructions, area and volume, geometricand lastly worksheets about the Pythagorean Theorem.
These Math Mammoth pdfs are available for almost instant download at a number of retailers, and are very affordable. I recommend these as backups to your current math program. They are economical as they are reasonably prices and you only have to print the pages you need - whe you need them. They are great resources for larger families that have upcoming students who can use the same program.
The worksheets cover fraction and mixed number concepts, equivalent fractions, comparing fractions, then addition and subtraction topics, part of a whole problems, then multiplication, division, and finally review worksheets. My daughter enjoyed working on these worksheets!
My five-year old students are learning to read.
Yesterday one of them pointed at a picture in a zoo book and said,"Look at this! It's a frickin' elephant!"
I took a deep breath, then asked..."What did you call it?"
"It's a-frickin' elephant!It says so on the picture!"
But it is going slower then I planned. We have not started our new books that I posted about but we are getting back into some. We had a few appointments this week that has kept us a bit busy. So I thought we would at least start back in out Math, Science and others for now.
So next week, I hope to post on our start on the new items. I am really looking forward to getting into them. I hope that the girls are too.
So as I mentioned, things are pretty tight around here right now. But not as tight as they could be. We aren't feeling it as badly as we could because of all the planning I did last fall. What do I mean, you ask? Let me explain.
Even last summer I felt a huge urge to grow as much as we can and get the pantry stocked as much as possible by fall. One reason was the impending birth of our son. But I also felt the Lord prompting me to be prepared for this winter in a way I have never prepared before. I believe He was speaking to my heart to prepare our family for difficult financial times.
In response I did many things, but not as many as I wanted to. It was difficult being pregnant and getting through our schoolwork while trying to put up food at the same time.
We got our three freezers stocked with chicken and some pork (we already had beef in there), cookie dough, pies and homemade meals for after our son's birth.
We put up jam and pickles and I froze green beans and zucchini.
We ordered our grains, flours and some medicinal items from the Azure Standard.
We ordered our beekeeping and soapmaking supplies from Glory Bee.
Between what we did this fall and the survival foods we bought last year, we could likely eat for a year with careful planning from our own food stores.
But there are a few things we have run out of and it has required my creativity this week, actually, this morning. Baby went back to sleep for a while so I could make a big breakfast. And he stayed asleep so I took advantage of the time and made the following items which we either needed or will need very soon: dishwasher detergent, bar soap and liquid handsoap. It all went very quickly and I credit the Lord for allowing me the time.
This week I have worked hard. Monday I baked. Tuesday I went to the market and saved $67 on our grocery bill. Today I made soap. All this between lessons. I am tired. But there is great satisfaction knowing that my family has what they need and I didn't have to spend much to provide it.
I will post soap recipes on Friday for my Frugal Friday post.
We've been passing around sick germs here the last few days. Of course, I am sick for the longest of us all-doesn't that figure? I am just so thankful that the baby got it very mildly-since she's not getting anywhere near the amount of breastmilk that I wish she was getting-you know, to pass on my immunity to her. Now, Pat is sick & I am still sick, but getting better.
Somehow, we've still managed to get some things done. We got the Christmas tree & all the decorations down & put away. It's so pretty for awhile, but shortly ater Christmas, it turns into a lot of clutter that starts to drive me batty.
We're also working on everyone getting up earlier to get the outside animal chores done so we can get school started earlier. The baby has gotten to a point where she is occupied with toys for longer periods of time so we can get more done than before. That's a relief. I would so love to just sit and play with her all the time, but the pressure of reporting to the state gets at me, you know? LOL Seriously, I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about what we haven't gotten done for school.
Can you believe it-we have too many books! I never thought I'd say that, either. How can one have too many books? Well, when one does not have enough shelves and the books are in piles all over he house, one has too many books! When a certain 4 yr old uses the piles of books to create horse jumps and build houses, one has too many books! LOL
So, using my twaddle-o-meter, I am culling books. I've gotten thru half of one bookcase so far. It feels good!
Here's a series of pictures of Alyssa following current events-she's such a smartie at 8 months old! (probably because she's home-schooled-LOL-tongue in cheek)
She's really helping Hannah-see?
She's sure the paper is tasty-if only we'd let her try a little nibble.
I didn't get a pic of it, but she did get a little taste-and tore off some, too. Hannah did manage to do her current events-after I took the little grabby girl. LOL
Visionary Womanhood sent me this information on a fabulous prayer challenge for 2009. As I read through it, I was greatly inspired and challenged to commit more of our time as a family to "fervent" prayer for our country. We can wring our hands over it, or we can go to a living God for help!
Will you accept the challenge?
"We are an apathetic church in America...for the most part. We'd rather watch American Idol than pray. But while we are glued to our brand new plasma TVs, our freedoms are being taken away. The church in early America saw it as their duty to disciple their new nation. Family by family. Town by town. And while they fulfilled the Great Commission in their nation, the nation grew and thrived. We've lost our vision. We think we can have our fun, count on Christ to rapture us before it gets real bad, and let our responsibilities...and our posterity...slip through our fingers."
I mentioned that my sister came down to visit from Massachusetts during the Christmas break.I was so excited to have the opportunity to spend sister time with her.She spent a day or so with our parents and then stayed a day with us.She and I went out to lunch and then shopping for my daughter’s birthday, which was New Year’s Day. We had a blast. With so many miles between us we don’t ever get to do the normal things that sisters get to do that live close to each other. We usually get to visit only about once every four or five years. My baby sister is such a fun spirit and so full of life. I am so glad that we got to spend this time together.
Jan. 6, 2009
The Charge is. . .Intellectual Abandonment
Homeschoolers have been brought to court for many reasns but I think this is the first time I've heard of intellectual abadonment. Such is the charge against one homeschooling family in Brazil. Currently homeschooing is illegal in Brazil but a bill is in congress that could make it legal.
I believe homeschoolers have proven that home education heightens one's intellect. The Nunes children have proven through various tests that their intellect isn't neglected, let alone abandonded.
Pray for the Nunes family and that Brazil will make homeschooling legal.
You are probably guessing that this new little baby has got me out of my groove, and you would be right. I still don't have my routine back, but I'm working on it.
Here's my meal plan for this week, even though it's Tuesday :
Monday: Ravioli, Caesar salad, sourdough bread
Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas
Wednesday: Tater Tot Casserole (I had a craving. What can I say?), green beans and rolls
Thursday: Chicken Fajitas
Friday: Homemade Pizza or Stromboli
Saturday: Burgers
Sunday: Last Homegroup Meeting - We're having soup and sandwiches. My contribution: Split pea with smoked sausage.
Memory Verse: Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 2 - To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven; A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.
Assignment: Tell about your prayer box, if your family has one that you peruse at New Year’s Eve or New year’s Day and share those prayers, thoughts and acts of faith on the next year.
Photo options: pictures of your prayer box(es), collection of prayers, thoughts, or photos; your family sharing the prayers or writing them down.
Ok, not sure if this is what you want, but after a lot of thought this is what I decided to do.
We don't have a `Prayer Box` per se.. But, we do have a couple of `Boxes` I made several years ago.
The first box is our box with slips of papers of things we give to God never to pick up again.
The second box is our `Blessings` box.
(I have no idea what the art is..)
In our `Blessings` (or `Joy Box`) are things we put that have very special meanings to us.
(Cobblestone rock Dad brought home from Williamsburg, V.A.)
(`D` items from young childhood years)
(`D` Friendship Bracelet from 2002)
(Nature Collection)
(pictures of the boys)
Our Blessings box is actually full of stuff.
It is always a joy to pull out this box and reminisce.
If you would like to see others please visit Blogger Friend School.
And while your there please sign up to join us. Would Love to see you there.
Musings from the me.... I am married to my very best friend, who happens to be perfect (for me!!) and am honored to be the Mama to the best four children in the world. The Lord has surely blessed me most abundantly!!!
You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel like an adult, and you're optimistic about life.
You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences.
You're still figuring out your place in the world and how you want your life to shape up.
The world is full of possibilities, and you can't wait to explore many of them.
I didn't get a pic of it, but she did get a little taste-and tore off some, too. Hannah did manage to do her current events-after I took the little grabby girl. LOL 
:
(I have no idea what the art is..)
(Cobblestone rock Dad brought home from Williamsburg, V.A.)
(`D` items from young childhood years)
(`D` Friendship Bracelet from 2002)
(Nature Collection)
(pictures of the boys)
