Teaching About Money With Technology

Play money

In September, I made an entry, Teaching About Money.  In it, I explained that we have used worksheets and toys to teach about money.  Today, I want to offer a few websites that teach about money.  I thought it would be a cool idea to compile a list of online games that test children on the concept of money.  Games can be an entertaining way of reinforcing math concepts.

Some of these websites offer a list of free online games that reinforce the concept of money:

MoneyGamesOnline.com


Apples4theteacher


Math-play


Home School Math (has some stuff for sale, too)


Money Instructor


About.com


Big Money game

I think offering children an alternative to worksheets to learn about money is wonderful.  It can change things up a bit.  Sometimes, our children get bored with worksheets and workbooks.  Free online games with lots of colors can help a visual learner.  If a game has audio, that can help an auditory learner.

Well, thanks for viewing this quick blog entry about teaching about money with technology.

How about you, my readers?  Have you ever used online games to teach about money?  If so, did your children enjoy learning about money while playing the games?  Or did they like using actual dollars and coins?  I think virtual coins and dollars is a practical, economical method to learn about money.  I believe in finding technological tools to help in the home school; I hope you would consider using technology in your schools, too. 

I pray that God gives you all, my beloveds, His wisdom and peace.

This has been an entry for the Technology Tuesdays series.  Please visit my Technology Tuesdays webpage for a list of my previous entries.

Teaching About Money

Kaelyn, my 1st grader, enjoyed her shopping.

Kaelyn was looking forward to shopping.

A few days ago, I asked my youngest if she wanted to play store.  She was so excited that she told her oldest brother about it.  I felt so bad the next day because I was under the weather.  Yes, I go through that a lot.  I still decided to go through with it by asking her to bring her toy food into my bedroom.

I loved watching Kaelyn shop and purchase.

The toys ended up on my bed.  I crocheted while she shopped.  Once she had finished choosing her foods, I tallied it up on the white cash register or yellow calculator.  Then, I asked her to pay with the fake money which we had purchased with a cheap cash register tray. 

We used the scanner on the white cash register.

Play money was fun and great hands on learning.

A handy calculator added up some of the purchases.

Priced crayons provided direct experience of purchasing.

My daughter is still learning about what each coin represents.  Years ago, I had made the manilla folder, pictured below, for my oldest (who is now 15 years-old).  I want my youngest child to enjoy learning about money.  I also like making teaching material for my kids to learn concepts like money.  That's why I made the following available to her during her shopping experience:

Manilla folder with money worksheets aided the learning.

Worksheet about money can be found at Enchanted Learning.

 

It's easy to put together a manilla folder like the one above.  You can find worksheets (and cut and paste bits) that reflect the math facts and/or other subject which are desired.  Enchanted Learning is a wonderful website with lots of useful worksheets.  That's a website that features many subjects and even a paid membership.  Many of the worksheets are free, though.

 

 

Well, thanks for reading this entry about teaching money.  I hope I've given you another idea for teaching money, one of the first math concepts for the elementary grades.

How about you, my readers?  How have you taught your children about money?  Have you ever considered using fake money and mini-posters to teach early childhood learning concepts?  Your children can benefit from using a hands on method to learn.

May God bless us all with His wisdom and peace, as we teach your children.

This has been an entry for Thorough Thursdays.  

 

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How to Make a Dry Erase Binder Using Workbooks

Binder that teaches about money

When I started homeschooling, I heard that teaching children through the use of wipe off books could be beneficial.  Eye-hand coordination through the use of hands on materials can help children hone their writing skills.  I could not afford and/or find these types of  books that I needed for my kids.  I decided to make the books.  Fellow homeschooling moms recommended how to make them.

I made binders for the following subjects:

ABCs,
1-10,
1-100,
Phonics,
Time,
Measurement,
Multiplication,
Calendars,
Place Value,
Geometry and Patterns,
Reading,
Science, and
Spanish

Inside of Binder with currency amounts divided with stick-it notes

This is a sample of my binders, using the concept of money.  The above picture shows how I further subdivided the topic of money.  I found worksheets from different workbooks on the topic of money.  I made sure that, under the topic of pennies, only pennies would be covered.  I did the same thing for nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars, and then the dollar denominations.

Money workbook

It's okay to use a math workbook like the one above.  I just don't like that it thrusts a child into covering all the coins at once.  I think it should be gradual.  That's why I prefer to teach the child through a concrete manner to coincide with learning the concept of counting to one hundred.  After all, children need to count by 1's, 5's, and 10's, which will help later with multiplication.

Box of sheet protectors

Individual sheet protector

Here's how to make your own subject binder: Buy sheet protectors and cheap binders.  Get your desired workbooks and tear them up from the spine.  Then, organize the pages according to how you want to present the information to your children.  Slide the individual sheets, sometimes back to back if necessary.  Don't be afraid if you "lose" a page of a workbooks; as long as you are covering the content, it is okay to go without one or two pages.

Individual sheet slipped into sheet protector

Manipulatives for money placed in the back of binder

To solidify the learning of money concepts, manipulatives added to the binder is a perfect idea.  If the binder has no pockets or small pockets, you can use a gallon size baggie.  Punch holes into the baggie and slide into the back of the binder.  That way the manipulatives stay with the binder.  The child can take the binder to the sofa or his/her desk.

Wanted pennies to be covered first

More about pennies...

And more on pennies

The three pictures above show worksheets covering "pennies," sometimes found online, and printed them out.  It is wonderful that I have the internet to cover concepts using "free resources."  I took the time and effort to print these worksheets because I knew I could use them with all four of my kids.  Yes, I used these binders with my oldest, who is now 15.  For me, it has been worth allowing my kids to reuse these binders, saving me time and effort in the future.

Dry erase markers to fill out binder

I have bought dry erase markers, with low odor.  Also, different colors for variety help the children customize their learning.  The eye-hand coordination involved in marking the binders is helpful, especially as they are learning how to write.  That's the beauty of using the dry erase markers--a child can erase and start over again.  All four of my children have used at least some of the binders.

Ingredients to clean dry erase binder

When the binders need to be cleaned, it is easy.  Grab some wipees and baking soda (for hard to remove stains).  Once the sheet protectors are cleaned, use the paper napkins, like the ones below, or paper towels to dry them.  The binder will be ready for the next child. 

To dry the cleaned sheet protectors

Cleaned up even after four years

 

My youngest, Kaelyn, was recently ready to learn about money.  I sought out this green binder.  I opened it and found it needed cleaning.  I worried because it had not been cleaned since about four or five years ago.  When I tried the above method to clean the sheet protectors, it worked wonderfully.

 

 

Well, thanks for reading this entry and viewing these pictures.  I hope I've given you an idea for teaching money, one of the first math concepts for the elementary grades.

How about you, my readers?  How have you taught math?  Have you ever considered using wipe off books to teach early childhood learning concepts?  Your children can benefit from using a hands on method to learn.

May God bless you all with His wisdom and peace, as you teach your children.

This has been an entry for Thorough Thursdays.  Hope you liked it.

My Contemplation of Verse 20 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today, I want to focus on verse 20 of the Tao Te Ching, specifically this portion:

Most people have too much; 

I alone seem to be missing something.

Mine is indeed the mind of an ignoramus

in its unadulterated simplicity.

I am but a guest in this world.

While others rush about to get things done,

I accept what is offered.

I alone seem foolish,

earning little, spending less.

Living in this world is tough when you consider what you are up against.  We have to meet deadlines.  We have obligations to others and ourselves.  We have goals to meet.  We are under the microscope to those around us, watching our every move.

It is no wonder that I have asked myself several questions:

What are my priorities in this life?

What do I need to do to get through those priorities?

What material things do I need to reach my goals?

Who do I need in my life to help me reach my goals?

What information am I lacking?

After asking myself those questions, I have to learn to accept those things that I cannot change.  I cannot change how tired this body gets.  When I start a project, like blogging, I throw my whole self into it.  Sometimes, I get obsessed.  Sometimes, I suffer for my craft.

Now, am I the only one who does this?  No.  We are all guilty, if we love something, of throwing our all into the said project.  This verse of the Tao Te Ching is asking us to stop striving for material possessions, prestige, and money.  Afterall, what did we come with into this world?  Nothing.

We will someday pass on from this life.  Our spirit will go back to God, the Source of our spirit.  We are not taking anything with us.  It will all stay behind.  That's why in the Bible, we are encouraged to store up treasures in heaven, instead of down here on earth.

Many people are used to reaching for the latest new trends.  We have this mindset that we need to get those new things.  Really, we do not.  I'm not saying that I don't have technology in my house.  How do you think I'm reaching you, my beloved readers?

I love the technology for what it can do for me.  It can also become a burden.  Just think about how Facebook, Twitter, and the many social mediums we have available to us.  We can communicate with people around the world.  I have visitors to my blog from Hungary and India, and I think that is awesome.

I am happy to be a blessing to anyone who passes through this blog.  I would that you leave with new-found wisdom or a new way to think about life.  Again, I will state--I do not want to change your religion.  That is not my intention.  I am intent on getting you to be at peace with your current situation.

If we let go of the control for a bit, we can let God work in our lives.  From the Source of everything can flow abundance.  If we are not of this world, then let us turn to God, our Father.  He is our provider.  Let's turn our tough situations over to Him.

I have health conditions that seemed worse a few weeks ago.  It is by laying it at God's feet, that I am sensing a transformation.  I really do trust that He is working in my life.  He is healing me.  He is directing me to people and information to bring my healing about.

I had to get out of the way.  I'm asking you to get out of the way, too.  Let God handle your problems.  If He puts people in your life, listen to them.  Let them be a blessing to you.  

Let go of the control.

I know that God is working in my life.  I can sense that through this writing, He is wanting to reach someone.  If God can use this post to get through to somebody reading this, I have done my job.  I pray that I don't get in the way of his message to you, my friends.  

What about you, my readers?  Are you striving too much?  Are you burning out?  Slow down and ask yourself what is important in your life.  You might need to take a break.  You might need to re-evaluate your priorities.

May God bless you all with His peace and wisdom.

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.  I pray you were blessed by it.

I am currently drawing inspiration from Change Your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer.

For past entries, turn to Wisdom Wednesdays.

 

Different Uses of Crafting Hobbies

Manipulatives--simple crafts for educational purposes.

I have dabbled in several crafts.  A lot of them have been hands on learning tools for my children.  I learned how to make some of them back in my college days during my elementary education courses.  I still on occasion make some for my kindergarten child. Manipulatives for teaching language arts, math, social studies, and science are just some of the collections that I have made and/or kept.

Bracelets--made by my oldest daughter and me.

I once made some bracelets, with red, white, and blue beads for patriotism, which a lady bought from me during a yard sale that I was conducting.  That gave me the idea to encourage my daughter to create some with different types of beads of different colors.  It was fun to see what she could come up with.  Even more exciting was to see that she can make money with the bracelets she made.  My aim was to show her that she could make money with something she created. 
 

Many years ago, I saw that my mother, as a widow, always struggled financially. I'm not saying that I am rich, by any means.  I just decided to equip my daughter with a means to help herself if she were ever strapped for cash.  I like the saying that if you give a fish to a man, he will not be hungry for that day; however, if you teach that man to fish, you feed him forever.  I know, I'm paraphrasing, but you get the idea.

I think it is important to show our children that we can conduct yard sales or create novels to sell for money.  If they see us do those things for ourselves, instead of depending on the government for handouts, we can change their lives.  The legacy we can pass on is immeasurable.  I have seen too many families passing down the idea of entitlement of financial help in the form of food stamps.  I want to change that in my lifetime.  I want to be an inspiration to my children.

How about you, my precious readers?  How do you use simple crafts in your life?  Do you use them to relax?  to make money?  to socialize like in crocheting clubs?  I hope you have some craft you participate in to enrich your life in some way.

May God bless you all with a deep peace, my beloveds.

I Belong in the Suffragist's Era

I believe that if I ever existed in the past, I would have been fighting for the rights of women.  I think I would have been protesting for something or another, especially for the right of women to vote. I would have been working towards the goal that women be allowed to work to provide for themselves, especially if single or widowed.  Another goal would have been for women to own their property, without having to defer to a man. 

I am not necessarily saying that I would have fought for women to be allowed to have all the abortions they ever wanted.  I'm not even saying that I would really want to work outside of the house if I were married.  I'm just saying that a woman should be able to help her spouse financially if she could handle the physical and emotional aspects of working, whether in or out of the house.  She should not have to be considered a man's property, born to him or married to him, without any rights of her own.  It is sad to think that other cultures and nations still have this situation in their hands.  Hopefully with time, this will change elsewhere and also improve here in the United States.

In today's standards, women are still not getting paid fairly in the United States.  If I worked at Walmart, I would only be making $7 an hour--that is, if I were to get hired.  You see, with a university degree, I would probably be over-qualified to work there.  My husband gets paid over twice the amount (as a seasoned welder) than I would earn at Walmart. It wouldn't be worth it for me to work there or at any other similar job site.  I think about the cost of the gas, the upkeep of the car, having to leave my kids behind, the stress of dealing with rude/greedy customers, and I realize that I should just stay home and educate my children.  Anyway, there are other opportunities to make money with virtual (online) and physical (yard) sales.

When I was a teenager, a teacher once told me that I resembled a protester.  I immediately took that as a compliment.  Since then, as an adult I have emailed my representatives many times.  I have added my voice to certain issues that were dear to my heart like home schooling and parent's rights.  Much like the empty chairs and small bookcase above imply, we must decide when to stand up out of them and exact change in our society. 

What sorts of things do we fill our shelves with?  Books, knick knacks or artifacts?  What about our hearts?  What's important in our lives?  Let's act on what is top priority in our lives and not worry about the rest.

How about you, my readers?  What era or time period would you belong to?  Why?  What would it mean to you?  Think it over.

My peace I spread to you, my beloveds.