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Jann in TX
02-19-2008, 06:50 PM
I will be going to Uganda this summer. My team will be working with teachers at one of the many children's homes for HIV/AIDS orphans. Last year the team took a simple phonics kit and it REVOLUTIONIZED the way reading was taught--not only in that school--but in the surrounding schools too.

My job will be to help train teachers in teaching basic math and science skills. Currently the school/home houses 90 students ages 3 to 10. They will be raised in this home until they are adults--and the goal is for these to be among the best educated people of their country.

It has been a few years since I have looked at elementary curriculums and helps in these areas...(I'm more of a Jr high/high school teacher).

I'm hoping some of you wonderful moms (and dads) could help me and my team by making suggestions into what 'goodies' and methods I can bring and share with them.

This particular school is Christian if that helps.

To let you know the extent of the situation in Uganda--currently there are more than 3,000,000 children who are considered 'HIV/AIDS' orphans in a country the size of Texas. Most are under the age of 10--and most are turned out into the streets when their parent(s) die --especially if their mother dies (most do not have HIV and the country is closed to foreign adoptions). It will be a humbling experience to see these children sifting through garbage dumps and starving to death... at least the small number of children's homes offer some hope to a lucky few. The government in Uganda--like many countries in that region--is full of corruption. They do not have any type of public assistance/charities in place. Churches are among the few organizations that can raise funds to meet this need.

Thanks for offering your suggestions and prayers!

Ali in OR
02-19-2008, 07:15 PM
Not much time to respond here, but my first thought is MANIPULATIVES! Cuisenaire rods (lots) and tracks (very cheap and easy to demonstrate addition), counting bears (weighted) and scales, pattern blocks, etc. Magnifying glasses for science. I'll think about this some more and let some other folks bring up some good ideas--I'll check in later. What a cool project!

Karen in CO
02-19-2008, 08:40 PM
It is an old-fashioned math book with simple progression of concepts. There are no workbooks. It was designed to be used in the old one-room school houses. It is a no-frills math course. The books go all the way through calculus.

R&S is also a good basic math program. It is workbook based, but inexpensive. It stresses learning the facts and learning them well.

For something innovative, Right Start math. I know they have regular class room books instead of just the homeschool books. It stresses mathematical thinking and uses a variety of well-thought manipulates including the abacus.

Beth in Central TX
02-19-2008, 11:38 PM
To help with basic math skills, how about Learning Wrap Ups?

http://www.learningwrapups.com/wrapsOverview.asp

Beth in Central TX
02-19-2008, 11:43 PM
Another thought on science: I think the Usborne books would work well in this situation. A good series would be the Science Activities Vol 1-3.

http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?sid=1203478766-1824362&subject=11&category=2958