This post was originally sent as an email to Milestone Maths subscribers and has been archived here for reference. Some formatting may differ from standard blog posts.
| This month we focus on the Milestone Maths vision: building strong foundations early. Also, the kids will learn a lesson about numbers from apple pie and we have some exciting event news. |
| Are Your Kids Really Building a Strong Maths Foundation? |
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| As homeschooling parents, we pour our hearts into giving our children the best education possible. We carefully choose curriculum, plan lessons, and cheer them on through every “Aha!” moment. But when it comes to maths, it’s easy to wonder: Are we just checking boxes, or are we truly building a solid foundation that will last? I’m here to tell you, it’s a question worth asking. Read our post “Are Your Kids Really Building a Strong Maths Foundation” to learn why. |
| The Secret Names of Numbers Part 2: Pi |
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| Hey kids! It’s winter and even in sunny Queensland where I live it’s getting chilly at night and sometimes even during the day. One of my favourite winter desserts is warm apple pie with custard. Now, I can’t send you an apple pie by email, but I can tell you what it has to do with maths! Read “The Secret Names of Numbers Part 2: Pi” to find out! |
| Event announcement |
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| Milestone Maths is hitting the road! Kathy will be travelling north up the Bruce Highway to meet with the homeschoolers around Agnes Water. On the 21st of July, she’ll be presenting two 2-hour workshops: * Reading Decoded: Your Homeschool Guide to Science-Backed Literacy Using Free Resources(No rocket science included!)Yes! you read that right. Kathy is not just a maths whizz, she is also a specialist literacy tutor. She will be sharing some of her wisdom and helping parents to help their kids learn to read and spell using free and low cost resources. * Conquer Your Maths Phobia: Master the Fundamentals and Teach Maths at Home. True to the Milestone Maths core mission, Kathy will also be presenting a workshop designed to empower parents to mentor their children along the maths learning journey. Whether you are just unsure of the best way to teach maths or the very thought of maths sends shivers down your spine, you will find tools and encouragement to make your maths journey (and that of your learners) successful and (maybe even) fun. If you’re in the area and would like to find out more or register, click below. |
| Puzzle Corner |
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| Can you solve the puzzles? The levels noted below each puzzle correspond to Milestone Maths levels. The puzzles are designed to be challenging but doable for most students at the levels indicated. Kids in the lower level in each group may need a bit of help. This month the level B & C puzzle is based on addition and the level C & D puzzle is based on multiplication. The colours have no meaning. Two adjacent bricks sum (or multiply) together to give the number in the brick that is above both of them in the row above. Can you fill in the missing numbers? Here’s a hint to get you started: the green brick in the bottom row of both puzzles should contain the number 2 (since 2 + 2 = 4 AND 2 × 2 = 4).Answers will appear in the next issue of the newsletter. |
Level A and B Level C and D  |
| Answers for May Puzzles |
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| Level B – circle = 3; star = 4; circle + star = 7Level C – circle = 8; star = 9; circle + star = 17Level D – circle = 5; star = 9; circle × star = 45 |
| Ask Kathy Anything… |
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| This regular feature is powered by YOU: our readers! This month I have a frequently asked question. From the FAQ: Why are there four books per year in Milestone Maths? Two words: flexibility and student appeal. Breaking the year up into four terms (mirroring the school year) allows you to more precisely place your child in the program. Also, with four books per year, the material is broken down into more “bite sized” chunks for the child. This has more appeal and feels less daunting to kids than one or two much bigger volumes. Some curricula featuring one student book per year come in an unwieldy size that is often as difficult for a child to manage as it is daunting. Others are lighter in weight but also in content, requiring more teacher input or significant supplementation to be truly adequate. Our four-book structure is designed to be more manageable and effective for both you and your learner. |
