Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kangnamdragon]

Does anyone know of any alternative/unconventional math programs which were used back home for elementary students? I am looking for something other than just memorizing and doing problems.....maybe something with manipulatives and hands-on experiences.

[Dawn]

If you're looking for a complete curriculum, Math Their Way is the most hands-on that comes to mind. Everyday Math (from the University of Chicago) isn't quite as hands-on, but tends to hold the kids' interest through use of real-life problems. Kind of nice in an ESL/EFL setting as it also helps them hone their communication skills. Another contender on the playing field is Saxon. Can't say that I'm fond of teacher-centered, scripted instruction, but in the new series, manipulatives are used fairly heavily in the early grades, plus you can get kits through Saxon that include all the manipulatives you need for each grade level. Nice if you're, oh, say, 6,000+ miles from the nearest Lakeshore Learning.

If you're looking to supplement a curriculum, Hands-On Math from Creative Teaching Press is a pretty solid resource. There are two editions, one for K-1 and one for 2-3. One plus is that they make use of a lot of common items -- macaroni in various shapes, dried beans, beads, buttons, bottle caps, paper clips, magnets, etc. -- so you don't necessarily have to go out and spend a fortune on manipulatives that aren't easy to get in Korea. Evan-Moor's Math Is Everywhere presents mathematical concepts through real-life hands-on activities. Books are leveled with the earliest mathematical concepts introduced through such things as gardening, nursery rhymes and classroom pets. More advanced skills are introduced through cooking, the human body, shopping, childhood games, etc. Also, http://www.learningresources.com/ offers a huge assortment of manipulatives, activity kits, and resource books to help teachers make effective use of their materials. Oh, and they also ship internationally.

If you're really looking for unconventional, look into Mortenson Math or Miquon Math (popular in the Montessori and homeschooling communities). Both are designed to help children explore and discover mathematical concepts on their own rather than to provide explicit instruction.

Math Phonics (from The Teaching and Learning Company) also probably merits mention. Though it's not a complete curriculum, it really helps kids understand the whys behind addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. (I've got Addition Phonics in e-book format. PM me if you want to see it.)

[kangnamdragon]

Is Math Their Way a program which can be purchased from a publishing company? Is it a textbook series? For what grades is it for? I am looking to create a curriculum for students at a math hagwon which will be different from the traditional way Koreans learn...memorization and drills.

[Dawn]

Hmm. Math Their Way might be too basic for a math hagwon. It's geared toward early childhood (K-2) and is largely book-free. There are a couple of Workjobs designed for students, but these basically guide them through the same hands-on processes teachers can guide them through. There's a component for older elementary students called "Math ... A Way of Thinking," but it doesn't seem to be quite the rage Math Their Way is. The publisher's website is http://www.center.edu/, and they do sell directly to individuals.

As far as math hagwons go, I met a guy at the last Early Childhood Expo who's importing Learning Resources materials, packaging with his own curriculum and selling franchises. Can't remember his or his company's name, but he said he's a regular Coex Exhibitor. Might be worth trying to track him down just for market research purposes. (I'm not recommending his franchise. Don't know anything about the curriculum he's supposedly written and have assembled pretty much the same collection of manipulatives he's hawking for a fraction of the cost.)