Thinking Thursday: Triangular Numbers Writing to Learn Math: Number play doesn’t have to follow school math methods. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: Notice. Wonder. Create.

Thinking Thursday: Triangular Numbers

Try this week's math journaling prompt with your kids!

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Homeschool Burnout? 10 Tips for Coping Spring cleaning has made my desk look worse than before. Nobody feels like studying. The kids would rather be outside, and their mom would rather take a nap. Sound familiar? It is our annual attack of homeschool burnout. If you, too, are suffering from lethargy and can’t face another day of school work, here are some ideas that have helped me:

Homeschool Burnout? 10 Tips for Coping

Spring cleaning has made my desk look worse than before. Nobody feels like studying. The kids would rather be outside, and their mom would rather take a nap. Sound familiar? It is our annual attack of homeschool burnout. If you, too, are suffering from…

Math Game Monday: Coordinate Gomoku This is a fun and challenging logic/strategy game for upper-elementary and middle school. One of my favorites! Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. So what are you waiting for? Let's play some math! Coordinate Gomoku…

Math Game Monday: Coordinate Gomoku

Have fun playing math with your kids!

#homeschooling #mathgame #letsplaymath #mtbos #iteachmath

Thinking Thursday: Silly Definitions Writing to Learn Math: Writing helps students stretch their thinking and make sense of new ideas. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: Notice. Wonder.

Thinking Thursday: Silly Definitions

Try this week's math journaling prompt with your kids!

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2026 Mathematics Game Now that we're a few months into the year, many of our New Near’s resolutions have probably fallen by the wayside. It’s inevitable, according to Mark Twain, that we shall “cast our reformation to the winds and go to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever.” But there is one resolution that I enjoy keeping---the resolve to play more math.

2026 Mathematics Game -- I love the year game! It’s new every time, and such a fun way to build number skills. I do hope you give it a try.

#mtbos #homeschooling #homeeducation #letsplaymath #iteachmath
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Math Game Monday: Sim This game challenges students to plan ahead and think strategically. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. So what are you waiting for? Let's play some math! Sim Math Concepts: geometry, strategy. Players: only two.

Math Game Monday: Sim

Have fun playing math with your kids!

#homeschooling #mathgame #letsplaymath #mtbos #iteachmath

Thinking Thursday: Perimeter Puzzle 1 Writing to Learn Math: At its heart, geometry is all about seeing connections and relationships. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: Notice. Wonder. Create.

Thinking Thursday: Perimeter Puzzle 1

Try this week's math journaling prompt with your kids!

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FAQ: Remembering What We Learn “When we do our daily lessons, my son does great. Everything seems to click. But when he sees the same topic later, in a review or on a test, it’s like he’s never heard of it before. How can I help him pull math up from the dregs of lost memory?” This is a common problem, and there’s no easy answer.

FAQ: Remembering What We Learn

It’s easy for humans to convince ourselves we understand something when someone else explains it. It seems to make sense, but it doesn't stick in our minds.

So how can we help our kids when they can’t remember what to do?

#mtbos #homeschooling #letsplaymath…

Math Game Monday: Concentration with Math Model Cards This game lays a great foundation for your child's understanding of multiplication and fractions. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. So what are you waiting for? Let's play some math! Concentration with Math Model Cards…

Math Game Monday: Concentration with Math Model Cards

Have fun playing math with your kids!

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Thinking Thursday: Leo Tolstoy Writing to Learn Math: What did the author mean? Put the thought in your own words. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: …

Thinking Thursday: Leo Tolstoy

Try this week's math journaling prompt with your kids!

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Playful Math 184: Carnival of Living Math Welcome to the 184th edition of the Playful Math Education Blog Carnival — a smorgasbord of delectable tidbits of mathy fun. It’s like a free online magazine devoted to learning, teachi…

Playful Math 184: Carnival of Living Math -- bringing our children face-to-face with the big ideas of mathematics.

denisegaskins.com/2026/03/25/p...

Like a free online magazine devoted to learning, teaching, and playing around with math from preschool to high school.

#mtbos #iteachmath #mathgame

Math Prompt: True-False-True One of the stretch goals for my Charlotte Mason’s Living Math Kickstarter campaign is to add a math journaling prompt to the end of each chapter. So, I’ve been playing around with ideas to get readers writing. Since the book’s all about how to build mathematical reasoning, I’m looking for ways to prompt creative thinking and flexibility in math calculations.

Math Prompt: True-False-True

This puzzle pushes students to consider the structure of mathematical expressions. Make it a game by letting your children challenge you, too.

#mtbos #homeschooling #letsplaymath #iteachmath #mathjournal #mathgame

Charlotte Mason’s Living Math Launched: Order Your Copy Today And so it begins: Charlotte Mason’s Living Math is LIVE on Kickstarter! Check It Out ❯ ⭐ Don't delay! ⭐ To have a successful campaign, we need plenty of people to back the project early. The more supporters we get in these early days, the more likely the Kickstarter platform folks will help spread the news for us.

Charlotte Mason’s Living Math Launched: Order Your Copy Today

And so it begins: Charlotte Mason’s Living Math is LIVE on Kickstarter! Check It Out ❯ ⭐ Don't delay! ⭐ To have a successful campaign, we need plenty of people to back the project early. The more supporters we get in these early days,…

Math Game Monday: Factors and Multiples This game blends strategy and factoring practice, challenging players to think several steps ahead. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. So what are you waiting for? Let's play some math! Factors and Multiples Math Concepts:

Math Game Monday: Factors and Multiples

Have fun playing math with your kids!

#homeschooling #mathgame #letsplaymath #mtbos #iteachmath

Thinking Thursday: William F. Osgood Writing to Learn Math: What did the author mean? Put the thought in your own words. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: …

Thinking Thursday: William F. Osgood

Try this week's math journaling prompt with your kids!

#homeschooling #mathjournal #letsplaymath #mtbos #iteachmath

Can You Help Me? I'm finishing up my plans for the new Charlotte Mason's Living Math Kickstarter project and pledge levels, which launches early in March. And I'd really appreciate your help. Could you please take a few minutes to look over the project page and give me some feedback? Preview & Comments Page (NO account required to see the preview, but you may need to log in if you want to leave a comment.)

Can You Help Me? Check out the preview for my Kickstarter, and let me know if everything makes sense.
#mtbos #homeschooling #letsplaymath #iteachmath

Math Game Monday: Strike It Out

Have fun playing math with your kids!

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Thinking Thursday: Gadgets Galore Writing to Learn Math: When students create their own math, they forge a personal connection to mathematical concepts and relationships. And it’s fun! Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: …

Thinking Thursday: Gadgets Galore

Try this week's math journaling prompt with your kids!

#homeschooling #mathjournal #letsplaymath #mtbos #iteachmath

Coming Soon: Charlotte Mason’s Living Math Coming Soon! In March, I'll be launching my newest book, Charlotte Mason's Living Math: Applying the Principles of Education to Help Children Develop Mathematical Reasoning. And the Kickstarter prelaunch page is now live. That means you can sign up to get an email from Kickstarter as soon as the campaign launches: Visit the Prelaunch Page ❯ (If you back the campaign on launch day, that encourages the Kickstarter folks to share it with more people.)

Coming Soon: Charlotte Mason’s Living Math -- bringing our children face-to-face with the big ideas of mathematics to help them develop their reasoning skills.
#mtbos #homeschooling #letsplaymath #iteachmath

Math Game Monday: Bowling (Shut the Box)

Have fun playing math with your kids!

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Thinking Thursday: Exponential Folds Writing to Learn Math: People learn math by playing with ideas. A math journal can be like a science lab book. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: …

Thinking Thursday: Exponential Folds

Try this week's math journaling prompt with your kids!

#homeschooling #mathjournal #letsplaymath #mtbos #iteachmath

Mental Math: Advanced Division The farther we go in math, the more division disappears. It ceases to exist as a separate concept. Instead, we learn to see division as: an inverse multiplication a fraction (ratio) a proportional relationship Each of these perspectives offers us a new way to think about and make sense of our calculations.

Mental Math: Advanced Division

The farther we go in math, the more division disappears. It ceases to exist as a separate concept. Instead, we learn to see division as: an inverse multiplication a fraction (ratio) a proportional relationship Each of these perspectives offers us a new way to think…

Math Game Monday: What’s My Rule?

Have fun playing math with your kids!

#homeschooling #mathgame #letsplaymath #mtbos #iteachmath

Thinking Thursday: Goose and Grapes Writing to Learn Math: Problem-solving cares less about whether an answer is right and more about whether a solution makes sense. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: …

Thinking Thursday: Goose and Grapes

Try this week's math journaling prompt with your kids!

#homeschooling #mathjournal #letsplaymath #mtbos #iteachmath

Mental Math: Advanced Multiplication, Part 2 The methods in last week’s Advanced Multiplication post only work for certain numbers, but we have another, more powerful multiplication tool: We can always use a ratio table to make sense of any multiplication. Ratios are the beginning of proportional thinking. We can systematically alter the numbers in a ratio to reach any quantity required by our problem. Students begin working with ratios in story problems that help them visualize and make sense of a proportional relationship.

Mental Math: Advanced Multiplication, Part 2

Ratios are the beginning of proportional thinking. We can systematically alter the numbers in a ratio to reach any quantity required by our problem.

#mtbos #homeschooling #letsplaymath #iteachmath

Math Game Monday: Target Ten This equation game for elementary students builds creative, flexible thinking about addition and subtraction. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. Target Ten Math Concepts: addition, subtraction, multistep calculation. Players: any number. Equipment: one deck of math cards, pencils and paper, timer (optional).

Math Game Monday: Target Ten

Have fun playing math with your kids!

#homeschooling #mathgame #letsplaymath #mtbos #iteachmath

Thinking Thursday: Ernest Hemingway Writing to Learn Math: What did the author mean? Put the thought in your own words. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: …

Thinking Thursday: Ernest Hemingway

Try this week's math journaling prompt with your kids!

#homeschooling #mathjournal #letsplaymath #mtbos #iteachmath

Mental Math: Advanced Multiplication, Part 1 Mental math is the key to algebra because the same principles underlie them both. As our children learn to do calculations in their heads, they make sense of how numbers work together and build a strong foundation of understanding. Remember that while mental math is always done WITH the mind, reasoning our way to the answer, it doesn’t have to be only IN the mind.

Mental Math: Advanced Multiplication, Part 1

As numbers get bigger, we tend to have more factors to work with, thus many more options for solving any calculation. And the more we play with numbers, the more we learn about the web of relationships that we call mathematics.

#mtbos #homeschooling…

Math Game Monday: Clock Math This game encourages players of all ages to think creatively with numbers. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. Clock Math Math Concepts: arithmetic, number properties, mixed operations. Players: any number. Equipment: clock, pencil and paper or markers and whiteboard.

Math Game Monday: Clock Math

Have fun playing math with your kids!

#homeschooling #mathgame #letsplaymath #mtbos #iteachmath

Thinking Thursday: Estimation Writing to Learn Math: Research prompts help students view math as a human endeavor. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: Notice. Wonder. Create.

Thinking Thursday: Estimation

Try this week's math journaling prompt with your kids!

#homeschooling #mathjournal #letsplaymath #mtbos #iteachmath