Education Through Imagination Newsletter

Trigger Memory Systems

...committed to instilling an unquenchable desire to learn which will last a lifetime.

Home Of Times Tales

Home

Articles

Creative
Learning

Site Map

Products

Creative Learning Newsletter
Volume 1 Number 4
February 2005

Newsletter Archives
Click Here

Newsletter Archives
Click Here

Subscribe to Our Monthly
Education Through Imagination
Newsletter Here!

Education Through Imagination Newsletter
______________________________

Vol 1, No. 6 - October 15, 2005
www.TriggerMemorySystem.com
mailto: webmaster@triggermemorysystem.com
Copyright 2004 Times Tales
All Rights Reserved
______________________________

IN THIS ISSUE:
-- "Welcome"
-- Math Troubles? Go Shopping!
-- Sticky Note Fun!
--Pastor Appreciation Month
-- Crock Pot Granola Recipe
--What's New? Shopping Cart Math
____________________________________________

Welcome Readers!

Fall is in the air and the holidays are fast approaching! It's hard to believe that time is flying by so quickly.
Our newsletter this month is chock full of great ideas for your family and homeschool. We hope you enjoy this issue and pass the word on to friends and family that might enjoy receiving our newsletter. Be sure and check out our latest product, Shopping Cart Math, here http://www.triggermemorysystem.com/gcmath.html Also, we'd love to hear from you. Email me HERE with any newsletter ideas or articles. Thanks so much!
Dena @ www.TimesTales.com
_____________________________________________

Math Troubles? Go Shopping!

by Dena Wood

Well...for pretend, anyway.

My children LOVE to grab the latest magazine that arrives in the mail and circle everything they like. An Oriental Trading Company catalog can keep them busy for hours! (I would pack them along to my older boys' track meets to entertain the three littlings) Each child would have their own color marker and happily circle their "wants". The interesting thing is that they were never under the impression that they would receive any of these items, nor did they even ask if they could. They just liked circling.

I was thinking the other day of ways that I could use catalogs in teaching math skills. Once I got going I realized that the ideas were probably endless but I thought I'd share a few.

For your youngest children you could simply have them find certain items. For older children, add more details.

Example: "Find a black shoe on page 46"
Example: "What is the price and catalog number of the shoe on page 46?"
Example: "There are three basketball shoes on page 46. Which do you feel is the best bargain and why?"

You could issue a budget and let your child shop.

Example: "Choose three tops that each cost less than $15"
Example: "You have a budget of $45. Find three toys you'd like to buy. List the page number and price."
Example: "You are responsible for your new wardrobe. You may purchase three pants, four tops, one skirt and one pair of shoes. You have $150 to spend. Use the order form in the back of the catalog to list your purchases. Be sure to factor tax and shipping into your budget. (You could adapt this to having your child plan a birthday party, choose Christmas gifts for the family, etc.)

Basic math computation:

Example: "Is item number V385 on page 43 more or less expensive than item number B395 on page 64?"
Example: "Choose four things you'd like to purchase from page 30. If tax is 8.8%, what will be the tax on these items?"
Example: "Pick three pants that you would like to purchase? What is the total cost? Oops! You don't have enough. Return one pair. How much will you spend now?"

Counting Money:

Issue Monopoly Money and play or real coins. Have your child choose items, total the cost and pay you with real money.

Consumer Math/Critical Thinking:

Engage your child in conversation. What makes one item "higher quality" than another? Are the most expensive necessarily the best quality? What are the pros/cons of ordering from a catalog or online as opposed to at the mall?
Example: "Find an item of clothing that you like. See if you can find the similar item for less." (Encourage your child to search other catalogs, online, or even find a sewing pattern. Try and facilitate THEIR figuring out how/where rather than just telling them if possible. Offer hints rather than answers)

Truly, I could go on and on. Think about what you are learning in math and see if there is some way you could apply it to a catalog "shopping trip". I think you'll find it an enjoyable break from the everyday.
______________________________________________
Sticky Note Fun!

by Jennie von Eggers

Materials Needed:
Sticky Notes (also known as Post Its)

This is a fun hands-on game for the beginning reading who is learning the sounds of the alphabet. Give your child a paper with 5-10 sticky notes on it with a few letter of your choosing written on the front. Have your child walk around the house and place the notes on objects in the house that begin with the letter sounds. For example; if the letters are T, R, and B they can stick the T on the tub, the R on the rug and the B on the bed. This is a great visual way to teach them to connect the sounds with the letter. Kids love this game and learn the alphabet sounds the fun way!
_______________________________________________

Pastor Appreciation Month - Involve The Kids!

By Dena Wood

October is Pastor Appreciation Month and a great opportunity to teach your children to show appreciation and let them in on the fun. There are several simple inexpensive things you can do to show your pastor you care. At our church we are all performing little "acts of kindness" anonymously throughout the month. These are things you and the kids could plan and carry out together. And don't forget to include your pastor's wife in the fun! Following are a few ideas to get you started brainstorming:

1) Send anonymous notes & cards (be sure to list a specific quality in your pastor that you admire or appreciate)
2) Make a bookmark and sneak it into his Bible (Romans 10:15 is a great verse to use)
3) Make little signs for the back of their car window that say, "We Love Our Pastor!" and "We Love Our Pator's Wife!"
4) Leave cookies on the doorstep (or some other safe place)
5) Put a $5 or $10 gas card under their windshield wipers
6) Leave new mugs with curly ribbon by the church coffee pot
7) Visit your local Christian Supply store and stock up on fun things like fish mints, note cards, etc. that you can wrap and leave around the church on Sun. for you pastor to find.
8) Keep brainstorming!! I'd love to know what other ideas you come up with so I can post them to my blog. If you have more you'd like to share email me at wood7@charter.net with the words "pastor appreciation" in the subject line. I'll list your ideas on my blog in a post later this week and give you credit. www.homeschoolblogger.com/redmom
______________________________________________

Crock Pot Granola

This is a yummy and simple recipe that you can easily teach your kids to make. I found this on a blog belonging to Tam in AZ Recipe reprinted with permission - Thanks Tam!

5 cups of oats (not quick cooking)
1/2 cup of oil
1/2 cup of honey
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup coconut
Cook on low for 5hrs or until brown, stirring occasionally. Make sure you keep the cover cracked on the crockpot. The more frequently you stire, the finer the consistency. If you prefer it clumpier, stir less.
Add raisins, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate chips...whatever you desire. This is delicious as a hot or cold cereal, as a snack, a topping for yogurt or made into granola bars.

Note: Join the blogging fun or just check out other homeschool blogs HERE!
________________________________________________

What's New? Shopping Cart Math!

If you enjoyed the type of activities listed in the Go Shopping article above you'll be excited to learn that we are now offering the book Shopping Cart Math at our website. The book was added just last week and is already quite popular. Geared toward children in the 3rd - 5th grades, it gives them a sheet to fill out while Mom is shopping in the store and then activities to process once they are back home. The activities increase in difficulty as you work through the book. This is EXACTLY the kind of learning product we at Trigger Memory Systems LOVE. And it sells for only $8.

Check it out HERE!

If you have a friend who would like to subscribe to our Education through Imagination Newsletter they can find subscription boxes at the follwing sites:

www.TimesTales.com www.TriggerMemorySystem.com www.CreativeHomeschooling.com
Have a wonderful school year!

Blessings,

The Times Tales Crew
Dena, Jennie & Marillee