Homeschool tip: Times Tales

If your kids are struggling with learning the multiplication tables, there's a great system out there to help in memorizing them.  Several years ago I bought a spiral bound book called "Times Tales" by Trigger Memory System.  It has a different picture on each page which represents a multiplication fact.  These pictures really stick with you. 

I was reminded of this the other day when Tabby was working through some math problems and in one she needed to know what 4 times 3 was.  She paused a minute and then said, "Oh yeah, 4 buttons and 3 mittens.  That's 12."

I see by the Times Tales website that there is a Times Tales dvd available now too.  If you want to see how everything works - and learn your 9s times table! - watch this YouTube video.  This company also has a number of other really interesting products (see here) including "Learning Games in  a Bag."  (I've always been curious about those but have never tried them.  If you have - I'd love to hear what you thought of them.)

Below are a few random pictures from our recent homeschool days.  I've mentioned that we love studying birds.   A week or so ago, Tabby noticed a female cardinal laying on our tiny deck.  We were afraid one of the dogs might get her.  So Tabby put on gloves, and then went out and picked her up.  She really enjoyed holding the bird, and then put her in the flower garden.  Not too much later, the bird was able to fly off.

Here Hunter is working in his math workbook (he's a "workbook type") and Solomon is busy learning by holding things and chewing on them.

(Hunter likes the Mathematical Reasoning workbooks from the Critical Thinking Company.  He's on book 2.)

Time for piano practice!

After reading some Bible stories which mentioned Jerusalem, Hunter decided he must build the walls of Jerusalem:

Finally, trying to make breakfast lately was getting tricky.  Solomon no longer wants to sit in the Bumbo seat and I just can't hold him while trying to get the food prepared.  If I sit him on the floor, I have to stop too often to put him back in siting position.  So, Hunter now slowly pushes him around the house in the stroller.  As long as he's moving, Solomon is happy!  And Hunter likes pushing strollers anyway because they have ... wheels! 

"You have put gladness in my heart . . . ." - Psalm 4:7a