Thoughts About Silly Putty

This is a GUEST POST by Leslie Crane, aka Classical Mom, our resident representative of linear minded, non-Sizzling moms who share a life with those of us who are Sizzlers.

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Silly Putty. Just what is so silly about it?

Silly Putty is a big deal in our house. It is a Very Important Thing. Like many of your children, my oldest son has a serious case of “fiddle fingers” and he loves – no, needs – to have something in his hands much of the time. For him, a wad of Silly Putty does the job pretty well.

Allow me to pause for a moment and tell you…

Five Random Facts About Silly Putty:

1) It takes exactly 3 hours and one bamboo skewer to remove Silly Putty from the keys of a TV remote control.

2) No amount of bamboo skewers will remove it from a fuzzy white bathrobe.

3) Silly Putty also sticks to hair. Shampoo and a fine-toothed comb will remove Silly Putty from hair.

4) Silly Putty can be removed easily from shiny sweat pants.

5) It is the most addictive thing in the world.

So what have I learned about Silly Putty?

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MATH-IN-MOTION Mondays–Major Motion

Welcome to MATH in MOTION MONDAY! This is our second installment of exploring the many ways you can put motion into learning math.

Last week we looked at some minor motions to add to your lesson plans. But on some days, “minor” just isn’t enough. If you’re having one of those days where trying to sit still and learn is going to be useless, then MAJOR motion may be called for. There is a downward spiral that frustrated kids sometimes step on. And no amount of explanation or forging forward will get them to step off. It’s better, at such points, to close the books and do something that involves serious movement (and the burning off of excess energy),

However, that doesn’t mean that learning has to stop. We’ll just find a way to take our lesson into the activity. And since this is MATH MONDAY here in Sizzleland, let’s go find some ways to put. . .

Major Motion into Math.

MATH-IN-MOTION Mondays — Minor Motion

Here’s what you typically hear for “keeping your child focused”–
Clear your desk
Sit still.
Feet flat on the floor.
Elbows near your sides.
Be silent.
Breathe deep.
Exhale slowly.
Get ready to work.
Now. . .focus, focus, focus.

Isn’t this what we typically hear as instructions on how to focus?
And for most kids, this might be useful advice. <though I remain skeptical>
But for the Sizzler, this simply won’t work. It can’t.
They have a movement requirement as part of their learning process.
Truth is. . .

Finding a Social Group for Sizzlers

The kids were all playing nicely on the grassy area of the State Park. <cue carefree happy summertime music. Release romping puppy. > But oh, wait. Who’s that eager young man leading a small pack of wild-eyed young children across the rocks that traverse the rapidly moving stream?

Ah. . .that would be my son, the Sizzler.

Elsewhere, children were happily engaged in a friendly game of tag at the group family camp out <cue soundtrack of squealing, playful-but-still-safe children making laughing sounds>. But oh, wait. Whose feet are those dangling from the bottom of the chimney indicating that someone had left the playful group and was now stuck in that giant unused (we hope) outdoor Barbeque?

Ah. . .that would be another Sizzler. (It took about an hour to get him out. No kidding. We were minutes away from calling the fire department.)

And what did all the other parents have to say. . .

MATH WEEK – Day 4

BREAK IT UP

Sometimes our kids are perfectly capable of handling the math concepts in front of them. In fact, that can almost be part of the problem.
How’s that?–you ask.
Well, if they are learning a new concept, they have to focus really hard to learn it. The newness of it may be enough to keep them paying attention.
But when the math skill being reviewed is one they fully understand and even find to be easy. . . well, then they may be more likely to loose their focus.

That’s when you need some ideas in your arsenal that permit ways to add an element that is focus worthy in and of itself.
That usually involves motion, or fun, or both!

Here are some ways to take a traditional math lesson and break it up a bit.

MATH WEEK – Day 2

There are days when the skies are sunny, the planets align, and the baby wildabeest remains safely away from the water’s edge.
Feel the calm.
All is well with the world.
Peace and tranquility reign in your school.
On such days you can expect that your child will do all their school work well and joyfully, with only the slightest need for encouragement to motivate him.

However, for the remaining 364 days of that year, you need another plan.