Writes and Wrongs #10: Subtraction Without Borrowing – The Nines Plus 1 (Number Sense)
My mother-in-law wanted my husband to hang up a picture. When she couldn’t find the hammer she brought a ping-pong paddle. We all laughed. After a time searching, she produced … Continue reading
Writes and Wrongs #9: New Math Reassurance for the Parents 2 (Number Sense)
Mr. McNamarra was my seventh grade pre-Algebra teacher. On the first day of class he went to the blackboard and wrote “3” with white chalk. He asked us … Continue reading
Mad Craft #9: DIY Digit Manipulatives with Counting Angles
Are you cheap thrifty like moi? Want math manipulatives, but can’t bring yourself to spend your bottle-return money on teaching cards you may only use for a few months? Can’t … Continue reading
Writes and Wrongs #8: New Math Reassurance For the Parents (Why We Need Hows and Whys)
Let’s face it. If you are reading this, you are probably old. That’s not a bad thing. We are experienced and wise in the ways of the world. Experience is … Continue reading
Writes and Wrongs #7: Subtraction (Regrouping / Decomposition / Borrowing) For the Parents
I am not a math genius. I am quite average in skill. I know this series started with writing, but I figured why not share some basic math skills. … Continue reading
That’s Totally Random #19: Stupid Common Core Memes and Videos (Part 2)
I guess this video got under my skin more than usual (see part 1), so I decided to explain why it is important to be able to understand why this … Continue reading
That’s Totally Random #18: Stupid Common Core Memes and Videos (A Rant)
I am so sick of these common core memes and videos. Watch it: Common Core Video The person in the video is actually demonstrating a simple concept. Basic number sense. … Continue reading
Mad Craft #8: An Angry Bird Fourth Birthday Party – DIY Hats, Banner, and Cake Topper
My son was adamant that he wanted an Angry Birds themed party. Being a February baby means that a mid-winter birthday needs to be indoors so we normally don’t have … Continue reading
Musings #32: In the Land of No, Remember to Say Yes
My favorite line in one of my favorite books is: There was no one there to tell her she couldn’t. It’s a line from Clan of the Cave Bear by … Continue reading
Musings #31: The Hurts We Hold On To (Yeah Write Non-Fiction)
The other day late in the night my six-year-old smacked her three-year old brother across the face so hard the imprint of her hand lingered for an hour even after … Continue reading
Mad Craft #7: Halloween Edition – Basic Budget Disney’s Inside Out Costumes
Halloween is my favorite holiday! In the last few years I haven’t had the energy to go all out with the decorations or have a party, but I have embraced … Continue reading
Article #12: Why Behavior Charts Haven’t Become Progressive Only More Colorful
I am not giving elementary school teachers a hard time; I am an educator myself, though the older student is my area. I know that one teacher (who is lucky … Continue reading
Article #11: Yeah, My Daughter Knows Where Her Clitoris Is And Doesn’t Say Vagina When She Means Vulva
I know someone must have cringed at the title there, and not because of its length. The thought of a toddler or kindergartener knowing certain vocabulary sends a lot … Continue reading
Musings #25: Happy Sixth Birthday to My Baby Girl
Here we are again with my annual reflection on the wonder that is you First Born. What a year! This winter you took up skiing with your dad and not … Continue reading
Mad Craft #6: A Frozen Sixth Birthday Party – DIY Frozen Trolls (Part 4 – Tin Can Troll Bowling)
I bet you are wondering what I was going to do with those tin cans I had paper mache’d from the scraps from the mentioned Epic Snowflake Project and the … Continue reading
Laissez Faire 