Any homeschooling parent who has struggled with math in the past knows that having access to many math resources these days is a huge blessing! Compared to past generations, we as homeschoolers have so many hands-on tools, online programs, and experts available for learning math. Let's dive into some of these math resources today!

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Wooden Math Boards

Hands on, wooden toys are a classic way to teach math skills. Learning addition and subtraction facts, or even multiplication facts through math boards is engaging and helps connect a fact with a body movement, something that's sure to create meaningful learning. Here are a few of my favorite boards out there. 

Addition and Subtraction Board

One of my favorite educational toy companies is Three Wood Shop, a family-run woodworking business based out of Ukraine. Although their business was sidelined due to the war, they have found creative ways to keep producing some of their products. That kind of creativity and gumption is so respectable! 

We love to use this board with pompoms, and find that it motivates reluctant learners to practice math facts. 

Multiplication Board

Miru's Toys makes creative, beautiful wooden boards and toys. This multiplication board is like a hands-on multiplication chart that gives your child opportunities to practice. They also have an arithmetic wheel for practicing multiplication facts through 12. 

Math Manipulatives

The term "manipulatives" always gives me pause, because my computer's spell-check unfailingly does a mean red underline on it! 🙂 A manipulative, like I've explained in this math series, is anything that can be handled to demonstrate mathematical functions. 

I've add some of my favorites to my Amazon Store math list, but let me tell you about a few of them!

Unifix Cubes

We've used these cubes for years, and have even purchased multiple sets! They are great for a wide range of math skills, including counting, skip counting, creating equal groups (multiplication), and addition/subtraction. As an added bonus, younger children enjoy playing with these during math time, so it makes for a fun, simple way to include them. 

Multiplication Pop-it

My 4th grader is enjoying this toy, which is visually pleasing and is basically a malleable multiplication chart. She practices her multiplication facts for fun with this, and also  uses it as an aid during independent work time. 

Base-10 Blocks

This set of blocks, in which the little cubes are either single, or melded into groups of 10, 100, or 1000, are so helpful for learning place value.  We have a magnetic set that takes up a little less room. 

Math Wrap-ups

Learning math facts can be monotonous and dry, and can also involve a lot of support from parents. Math wrap-ups are self-correcting, meaning your child will see if their answers are right or not as they wrap the string around this little plastic key to match the problem with the fact. We don't currently have these at home, but I loved them in the classroom!

Math Games

Playing math games is a fun way to engage your child in math! It also allows you to spend quality time with them. Sometimes, when we're feeling a little "mathed out," especially in the winter, we take a hiatus from our math  curriculum and just play math games. 

Think Fun Math Dice Game

This is a really simple game that's fun to boot! Children simply roll two dice and then add up the amount they rolled to move forward on the game board. This is a great way to practice addition facts!

Mathematical World or Sum Swamp

An eye-catching game like one of these is a great way to practice addition and subtraction. (Note- we have Mathematical World, but I was unable to add it to my Amazon store.) 

Mathological Liar

I ordered this game for Miss H, age 9, towards the middle of her 3rd grade year. After reading reading lots of reviews, I decided to buy the 4th grade level for her. We have both had so much fun with this! It's a blast trying to solve a mystery by solving math problems! The players eliminate the suspects with correct answers, leading them to those with incorrect math. All of the cases are mild and funny, like who moved the balloons at the school fair. 

Shut-the-Box

Someone gifted us this game a few years ago, and it's one that we all can enjoy together. It requires some strategy to choose which numbers to put down after you roll the dice. The goal is to have the fewest number of points at the end of the game, so pushing those big numbers down first is key!

Online Resources

It's hard to find online resources for math that thoroughly align with Charlotte Mason's philosophy. Sometimes, I think a break from the usual math routine can be a refreshing, necessary respite. 

IXL

As a public school teacher, this program was really helpful. There's a small fee associated with it, but students can learn new skills and be assessed on them so that parents or teachers can understand what they are doing well with or need extra support with. 

Prodigy Math

While the goal of Prodigy Math is similar to IXL's, the method is different. It is more of a game than isolated sets of math lessons. This is one that was recommended to me by my sister, but I haven't checked out yet. 

Smartick

Hadley had a chance to check out Smartick math when she was still very young. At that point, the program was mostly assessment- she answered questions. I believe that at older levels, there is an instruction component as well. 

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