Tips for Preparing Math Dots
Start out by card 100 and work your way down to number one. The higher numbers are more difficult and you will work much more carefully at the beginning than at the end. Count out the exact number of dots before sticking them onto the card. It will be a lot more difficult to count them after they have been glued onto the card especially with all the cards that have over twenty dots. Write the number with a pencil or pen in the four corners of the back of the card before applying the correct number of dots in the front part of the card. Try to not place the dots in an orderly way by forming circles, triangles, squares, or any other regular shape. Place the dots on the cards in a random way starting from the centre and moving them towards the edges now allowing the dots to touch o
r overlap one over the other. Do not forget to leave some margin in the edges of the cards. This way you will have some space to hold the cards with your hands without covering any dots when you are teaching and showing the card. It is true that the preparation of the indicated material takes a good amount of time to prepare, and it can get to be a bit expensive due to the cost of the cardboard, but if you keep into mind the emotion and joy that your child and you will feel by studying math together, your effort will have been worth it. These first one hundred cards are the only thing you need to start with the first step of the program. When you have started teaching your child math, you will find out that the child covers the new material very quickly. A long time ago it was discovered that it is better to start early. For this reason, prepare the one hundred dot cards before you start teaching your child. This way you will always have an adequate provision of new materials ready and at hand for you to use. If you do not do this, you will always find yourself being delayed.
Be smart and make sure to prepare the materials ahead of time and do not lose your pace. If for some reason you get behind in the preparation of new materials do not fill those holes teaching the child with the same old flash cards of always. Interrupt your program for one day or one week if you need to until you have organized yourself again and have prepared new materials. Afterwards, carry on from the point where you last left off. The preparation of the materials can be and should be very fun. If you are preparing the materials for tomorrow, it won’t be. Start out with time. Keep on top of things and if you need to, stop and reorganize yourself but do not teach the same thing over and over again.
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