She gets it! (and a story by Miss R)

I was thrilled to pieces grading R's math sheet last night.  Our math curriculum uses a mastery approach and focuses a lot on mental math.  R is a quick learner, and usually this program has worked well.  But, being the perfectionist that she is, Miss R has a tendency to get frustrated with math if she can't get it right away.  I will have her take a break until she can calmly think through the problem and talk it through with me. Sometimes she can arrive at the correct answer, but she can't really tell me how.  On those days I have questioned if maybe this is just too much for her.  But on the other hand, I think it is a good character-building activity for her to work through this because things do normally come so easy for her.  And I do want her to be able to think mathematically, not just spout out math facts (as important as it is to learn those math facts!).
Well, this time she didn't need any help.  No tears.  And she not only arrived at the correct answer, she was able to show how she got there.  She's getting it!  It's working!  It was like a light bulb went off in her head.  I am just so thankful to God for helping her, and so proud of my little girl for working so hard!  I was seriously so excited I couldn't fall asleep...yes, I am a homeschool mom!

Great Job Miss R!

Today we started something to help with mental math that I wish I would have learned.  Take 8+4.  It's much easier to add 10+2 mentally, so we take 2 from the 4 and give it to the 8, making a ten.  Then there are 2 left over from the 4 to add to the 10, making 8+4 = 10+2 = 12. (Okay, yes, it's obvious, but I don't remember learning this!)  Anyway, I was a little nervous about how this would go over.  My little author not only got it, she told me she wanted to write a book called Math Stories and she would write this story:

Once there was an 8 who went to the house of the 6.  "Knock, knock," he said.  The 6 opened the door.  "Can I have two from you to make me a ten?"  asked the 8.  "Sure," said the 6.  He gave 2 to the 8.  Now the 8 was a 10 and the 6 was a 4.  And when they are together, they make 14!

Oh, I loved this!  =)