Lani has had a bit of a phobia of money, totally freaking out whenever it came up in maths last year. I realized that she had a problem visualizing numbers in her head and was constantly confusing their place value. Because I didn’t want her to panic every time she held a coin in her hand I thought it best not to mention Money Maths till she got basic addition down pat. The freedom to allow Lani to work through her fear at her own pace has been one of the most wonderful outcomes of our adventures through the uncertain waters of home schooling.
The other day after we had just completed the unit on basic addition I dumped Glenn’s change box on the table. And while I washed the dishes after lunch I asked the kids to sort all the coins, placing each value into a separate box. I didn’t mention adding them up or even encourage them to take any particular notice of the coins at all, really I just wanted them to get used to touching them.
It wasn’t long before Lani found a commemorative 50 cent piece. This one was about remembrance day, so we had a conversation about the past. We talked of greed and pride, of misplaced loyalty of fear and dictatorship and of the brave men and women who stood up against it. And suddenly coins were interesting, they had a story to tell. the race was then on to get through the box and find all the picture coins and hear their stories.
We learnt of selfless people, of those who stood up against adversary, of those who strove to be the best in their chosen fields and we learnt a little more of our place in the world. Then they wanted to know why the old lady on the back of the coins face kept changing, so we had a little talk about showing due respect to the monarchy and I showed them were the date was written on each coin.
Because they all seemed on such good terms with the money I decided to set them a little challenge. I told them that they were each allowed to keep 4 dollars, but that they couldn’t use the 1 dollar or the 2 dollar coin and that once they had counted out a dollar with one type of coin they couldn’t use the same coin again.
They had no problems at all. Lani instantly knew that two 50s were needed and then all of them got to work skip counting by 20s 10s and 5s. Oh what an incentive monetary gain can be.
Later that day Lani came up to me and sain “Mummy, we forgot to do Maths today, you should get out our math sheets”
great idea they all seem to be enjoying maths without knowing they were doing maths
You’re so clever! Well done in easing them into money! Being able to direct their learning when they’re readay for it is definitely a great incentive for home schooling!
Well done Sarah, I’m sure you could manage our 100 staff with your inventive skills. Live the photos they all look like they are having a great time. What did they spend their $4 on???
Clever Mummy! Glad they had such fun – is Lani making a love heart in the last picture??
I remember many rainy days sorting and counting out money boxes – still love doing it today!
She probably is making a love heart but it’s being counted by 5s too. And JIll no spending yet, she’s saving it to buy a white Chihuahua with a pink diamond studded collar called Chloe.