A little while ago, I was asked to review a Waldorf Math lesson block written and designed by Jennifer Compton, who runs the Etsy shop, From Jennifer (www.fromjennifer.etsy.com ). Since I have a 1st grader who really doesn’t care that much for math, and since I had recently purchased this awesome set of math gnomes from Toadstool Forest, but didn’t really have an idea of how to incorporate them, I was excited to get her book.
But first, a little about Jennifer and her shop:
“My name is Jennifer Compton. I am a stay-at-home wife and mother. I have three handsome sons and a beautiful daughter. They bring me lots of joy and keep me busy. I do manage some spare time to craft. I enjoy anything creative–music, sewing, cooking, homeschooling, making home movies, writing, scrapbooking, woodworking, and pretty much anything DIY. I am passionate about my spirituality and beliefs, home birth, healthy diet, natural healing, and sharing my heart and soul with the people I love. Since I am in a constant state of creating something, I end up with many things to share. My Etsy store is an attempt to reach out to others and offer some of my creations.”
The book, The Gnomes’ Gemstones, is at the foremost a Math Story that is at it’s heart a Grade one Math Block, but can be modified to be used for grades K-3. The story is divided into 12 lessons that introduce the numbers 1-12 in real and tangible ways. Per Jennifer, ” Reading a new lesson every other day or so and doing the related crafts keeps a fun focus on math for the next six weeks”.
Each lesson tells a part of the overall story about 4 little gnomes (Plus, Minus, Multiply and Divide) who find some gemstones and begin an adventure to visit King Equal. Each lesson is a continuation of the story from the previous lesson and while detailed and engaging is short enough to read aloud to your child each day and not be cumbersome (roughly 1-3 pages).
At the end of each lesson is a section called “Teacher Notes”. This is where this program shines. Jennifer has done the work for you! This Teacher Notes section gives you easy to implement, creative ideas to teach the lesson that incorporate Math, Verse, Art and Number forming. There are also color examples of lesson block work and chalkboard drawings included. The end of the book offers a Lesson Projects Section that includes more supplemental activities you can use with each lesson including recipes, songs, and craft directions. And for those of you who want to make your own Math Gnomes, she includes a pattern! I am super excited to start using this book with my younger girls when we begin our new school year lesson blocks. My 4 year old is going to love the story and crafts and my almost 2nd grader will enjoy a nice review of the basics and a chance to see Math as not only a real part of our everyday life (great ideas throughout the book for this) but FUN.
The book is available through Jennifer’s etsy shop in both PDF download and in print version. I’m kind of old school so I opted for the printed version. While I was supplied a copy of this lesson block for review, my opinions are my own and I loved this story and the activities!
For My Sweet Homeschool Readers, I am offering a givewaway this morning for a chance to win the PDF version of this story, or you may choose one of the other two lesson block stories that she offers! To enter, go to Jennifer’s Etsy shop, then come back here and leave a comment on this blog post telling me which of the three PDF stories you would like to win. That’s it! Winner will be chosen at random and announced next Wednesday here on the blog and on our facebook page!
Updated: The winner was Gale! Thank you everyone who commented and entered!
Have a beautiful day,
I love that there is a book to go with the math gnomes. Thank you for sharing!
I love that there is a book to go with the math gnomes. Thank you for sharing!
I would love the “Gnome Gemstones”. Very cool. Thanks for the chance.
I would choose The Gnomes’ Gemstones since Math is a hard subject for us here and I would love to have more resources to make learning it more fun. Thanks for the chance. 🙂
I love her painted sillks!! But as for pdfs I’d love to win the math one.
If my granddaughter didn’t already know her letters etc I’d have gone w/ the fairy one – so cute and that would have really appealed to her. Ty for the giveaway!
cokelush at gmail
I would love The Gnomes’ Gemstones! We start homeschooling this fall and it would be a wonderful math block.
I have had my eye on gnomes gemstones for awhile. Thanks for the review!
I would love the Fairy Mail book! My girls love fairies!
What an inspired Etsy store! I loved everything in it… I may have to get the fairy alphabet later for my littler daughter. But I would LOVE to win the Gnome’s Gemstones!
The math gnomes is what I would choose. I think it would be great for my 5 year old daughter.
Such a sweet shop. I would have to choose the Gnome’s Gemstones for my mathphobic 7 year old daughter. Thank you for the chance.
All 3 books look lovely. We would have fun with the Gnome’s Gem Stones. My youngest is starting First grade an email this would be a big help in learning the 4 processes.
Ok so…my comment isn’t showing up and I realize it may be delayed but wanted to be sure to get it in…so I’m re posting (sorry!!!). My daughter is very interested in numbers, so I would choose the Gnome’s Gemstones. However, the fairy alphabet books look amazing too, and I’m so excited to have found this!
The Gnomes Gemstones is definately one I would like. Love teaching math through story…suits my English major mindset and my son’s imagination.
Gale, you were the winner and we have been waiting to hear from you! Please contact me at my email homeschoolfam@gmail.com by 7/29 or we will have to pick a new winner! Thanks, Katie
The Gnomes Gemstones!