I am a retired head teacher with a passion for writing and discovering the most effective methods of helping children learn. My local primary school is Tonypandy and you will find me there two afternoons each week working with groups of children.
My main areas of focus are Maths with the emphasis on the early years and English, especially drama.
I am a retired head teacher with a passion for writing and discovering the most effective methods of helping children learn. My local primary school is Tonypandy and you will find me there two afternoons each week working with groups of children.
My main areas of focus are Maths with the emphasis on the early years and English, especially drama.
‘About Cuisenaire Rods’ is the first video in the series supporting the Child’s Play Maths programme.
The series is comprised of over 60 videos and follows the programme outlined in Child’s Play Maths 1 & 2 providing practical tutorials using the accompanying software.
The programme itself adopts a radical and practical approach to the introduction and teaching of maths concepts. Understanding is achieved through play, games and open ended tasks and challenges.
It utilises Cuisenaire rods recognised as the most complete arithmetic manipulative ever devised.
The programme is designed to introduce maths to young children of around 5 years but can equally be introduced at any time ideally between the ages of 5 to 11.
Because of its unique approach that embraces all the learning styles children are invariably able to grasp concepts generally considered ‘too difficult’ for their age.
Child’s Play maths can also be utilised as an effective ‘catch up’ program for children and adults who failed to grasp maths the first time round.
The first two videos are available for free.
The remaining videos will be made available in sets of four with the accompanying Power Point presentations.
Originally created to support the Child's Play Maths early years maths program the app can be used effectively as a stand alone resource for students and teachers.
This is a 'how to' video that demonstrates the educational potential of the app.
The app can be accessed for free from Page 2 of the Cuisenaire Rods Software Guidelines PDF which is also available from my shop.
I hope you take advantage of the offer and enjoy!
This short manual provides step by step instructions on how to use the Cuisenaire Rods Software App .
On Page 2 is a link that will allow you to access the software for free.
You can learn more about this exciting resource from the free video available from my shop.
The Amazing Colour Factor Multiplication Square is a resource that can be copied and duplicated for your children, pupils and students as many times as is needed.
It facilitates whole brain learning by bringing into play many of the brain’s most natural and powerful abilities.
Although especially effective if you are already familiar with the play based approach to maths outlined in Child’s Play Maths 1 and 2 it can also be used independently of these programs as a powerful learning aid.
Topics covered include:
Sequence of Tables
Products
Square Numbers
Division
Division with Remainders
Fractions as Operators
Introducing Numerators
Factors
Prime Numbers
Fractions
Handling Data and Area
Pythagoras' Theorem
I used to photocopy the Square, laminate it and fix it to the child's desk.
“I love this approach to teaching math with my students. . .”
Eugenia B. (Teacher)
“This is a wonderful program. . . I highly recommend this product and this ingenious approach to Math.” Christine Hindle – The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.
Book 2 of Child’s Play Math (ages 7 – 11) builds upon and extends concepts discovered in Book 1 through play, games, open ended tasks and challenges.
Download links to our fantastic Cuisenaire Rods app are included (Windows only).
Topics are covered in units and include:
• the Associative and Commutative properties of addition;
• Mental Substitution;
• Families of Equivalent addition;
• Families if Equivalent Difference;
• Families of Equivalent Fractions;
• Factor Families;
• Families of Equivalent Quotients;
• Families of equivalent Products;
• Reciprocal Fractions.
Books I and 2 of Child’s Play Math are comprised of 64 units.
This program embraces all the learning styles and promotes Whole Brain or Accelerated Learning.
The book comes with a download link to our unique math manipulatives app for Windows.
We are genetically encoded to learn and children are natural learners. For them the process of learning is a journey of exploration and discovery. Learning should be fun.
Today we know more about how children learn than ever before. Then why is it that so many adults have a negative attitude towards maths?
This book reveals how through the natural process of play, games and open ended activities that allow for personal exploration and discovery, young children can gain an understanding of maths concepts generally considered too advanced for them.
The program uses the most precise arithmetical model ever devised – Cuisenaire Rods.
The rods embrace all the learning styles and provide links to language and art.
But this program is not just about maths – it is about learning, specifically 'learning how to learn'. Through interaction with the program children will acquire generic learning skills that will stand them in good stead whatever they are engaged in.
Units covered in Book One:
UNIT 1 About Cuisenaire Rods
UNIT 2 Cuisenaire Rods & the School
Curriculum
UNIT 3 Incidental Learning
UNIT 4 Vocabulary
UNIT 5 Important Words and Phrases
UNIT 6 Developing Memory Recall
UNIT 7 Mental Imaging Games
UNIT 8 Cardinal Number.
UNIT 9 Staircases
UNIT 10 Staircases and Mental Agility.
UNIT 11 Extended Staircases
UNIT 12 Staircases and Multiplication
UNIT 13 Language Development.
UNIT 14 Introducing Signs +
UNIT 15 Signs < >
UNIT 16 Signs =
UNIT 17 Brackets.
UNIT 18 Signs -
UNIT 19 Signs x
UNIT 20 Signs ÷
UNIT 21 Signs: Fractions as Operators
UNIT 22 Reviewing Where We’ve Been
UNIT 23 The Importance of Questions
UNIT 24 Partitions of Length
UNIT 25 Families of Equivalent Factors and
Products
UNIT 26 Families of Equivalent Subtraction
UNIT 27 Families of Equivalent Fractions
UNIT 28 The First Phase: An Overview
Book 1 and 2 of Child's Play Maths is a program that introduces maths concepts to children through the natural process of play, games and open ended activities. Adopting this approach through the medium of Cuisenaire rods, the most precise arithmetical model ever devised, ensures young children gain an understanding of maths concepts generally considered too advanced for them.
The rods themselves embrace all the learning styles and provide links to language and art. They help children access the most powerful abilities the brain possesses and this ‘brain friendly’ approach is often referred to as ‘whole brain’ or ‘accelerated’ learning.
Child's Play Maths consists of over 60 units of work and is applicable to every year group. It has also been eused successfully with parents who failed to grasp maths concepts the first time around.
This program is not just about maths – it is about learning, specifically learning how to learn. Through interaction with the program your child will acquire generic learning skills that will stand him/her in good stead whatever activity he/she is engaged in.
“I love this approach to teaching math with my students. . .”
Eugenia B. (Teacher)
“This is a wonderful program. . . I highly recommend this product and this ingenious approach to Math.” Christine Hindle – The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.
Units covered in Part One alone include:
UNIT 1 About Cuisenaire Rods
UNIT 2 Cuisenaire Rods & the School
Curriculum
UNIT 3 Incidental Learning
UNIT 4 Vocabulary
UNIT 5 Important Words and Phrases
UNIT 6 Developing Memory Recall
UNIT 7 Mental Imaging Games
UNIT 8 Cardinal Number.
UNIT 9 Staircases
UNIT 10 Staircases and Mental Agility.
UNIT 11 Extended Staircases
UNIT 12 Staircases and Multiplication
UNIT 13 Language Development.
UNIT 14 Introducing Signs +
UNIT 15 Signs < >
UNIT 16 Signs =
UNIT 17 Brackets.
UNIT 18 Signs -
UNIT 19 Signs x
UNIT 20 Signs ÷
UNIT 21 Signs: Fractions as Operators
UNIT 22 Reviewing Where We’ve Been
UNIT 23 The Importance of Questions
UNIT 24 Partitions of Length
UNIT 25 Families of Equivalent Factors and
Products
UNIT 26 Families of Equivalent Subtraction
UNIT 27 Families of Equivalent Fractions
UNIT 28 The First Phase: An Overview
The latter part of the 21st century and the first fifteen years of the new millennium has seen more discoveries regarding the nature of the human brain than in all the previous history of mankind.
The implications for our children are staggering and have focused the attention of many educationalists around the world on the early years of child development
Learn about the amazing development of your child's brain in those first crucial six months of life.
More importantly discover how you can have a massively positive (or negative) influence on his development.
A Science in Drama play script for Key Stage 2.
Theme: Ecology and Pollution
Why has the pond suddenly become plagued with frogs? Are the rumours of the deadly black slime true? Will Pond Snail escape the clutches of Mr and Mrs Water Spider? Can the Tadpoles trust Great Diving Beetle? What happened to Kingfisher? Can they all escape the deadly black SLIME?
For use in your school or organization.
A Science in Drama play script for Key Stage 2 THEME: Electricity
When Sherlock Ohms is summoned to Magnet Manor by the mysterious Mr A.T.Mos he senses devilry afoot. His suspicions are further aroused upon learning that five of the wealthiest men in the world have also received similar invitations. Accompanied by his loyal companion Dr Watts-On he travels to the remote island unaware of the tragic events that will shortly unfold. As one by one the guests fall victim to the evil A.T.Mos can Ohms solve the mystery and uncover the evil perpetrator before there is no one left standing?
For use in your own school or organization.
Birdflight is a Science in Drama play script for Key Stage 2 children.
Theme: Migration
Young Red start is discovering what a dangerous world he inhabits. Old Crow has told him tales of fearsome creatures like Sparrow Hawk, Stoat and the deadly Pine Marten who once hunted through the trees like a dark shadow. Yet there is one danger he cannot escape. A danger he must face with family and friends afresh each year or perish when the freezing white death descends upon the land. Is he ready to undertake the great adventure of migration?
For use within your own school or organization.
A play script for Key Stage 2 children.
Bumblebania is gripped by fear. A ferocious dragon is busily devouring its inhabitants while the King desperately struggles to find a hero brave enough to slay the beast. Queen Ammoania is also desperately seeking a suitor for the Princess Lucinda. The obvious solution is to offer the hand of the Princess to the hero who slays the dragon and delivers Bumblebania from its nightmare. Unfortunately when a hero does turn up he is not what everyone expects.
A Chronicle of Bumblebania with performance and reproduction rights for your school or organization.
A Christmas play script for KS 2 children.
Christmas is coming and the Royal House of Bumble is in turmoil.
While the King and Sir Boris the Bold set about restoring the Ancient Order of Knighthood, Queen Ammoania is feverishly attempting to find a suitor for the princess. Meanwhile, having escaped from the clutches of Prince Rupert and his gang, dastardly Baron Grime hatches a fiendishly clever plot that is in danger of coming undone, literally.
When an Abominable Snowman is sighted in Bumblebania and Aunt Grimwalda arrives unannounced for the wedding it looks as if things cannot get any worse.
But appearances can be deceptive because the children’s Christmas party looms large on the Royal horizon.
Christmas At Bumble Castle may be reproduced for performances within your own school or organization. Ideal for group reading or as a full blown production, or why not be creative and produce an audio version? How you use it is up to you.
A Christmas at Bumble Castle is one of the'Chronicle of Bumblebania' series.