MathHouse Games

I am a firm that learning should be fun.  When fun is incorporated into learning, the lessons stick better, and kids WANT to do them.  We play math games with Mister a lot.   Of course, Sister thinks she is playing, too.  Mister loves math.  He loves math games.  Which is why I agreed to review Carlito C. Caterpillar’s MathHouse™ Game Cards

The MathHouse Games were created by Domenico Marcario, M.S., a retired high school math teacher and grandfather.   By involving all of the senses—sight, touch, hearing, smell, and taste—MathHouse Games brings the whole child into the learning game.  And if they don’t realize they are learning, it is all the more fun.

Based on Domenico’s proprietary 20 Step Sensory Math Teaching System
Featuring two uniquely designed games to demonstrate each step (40 games in all)

The set contains

• 30 double-sided, full color, illustrated Game Cards
• Related editorial information explaining to parents The What, Why and How of Each Step
• Each 8″ x 4″ loose leaf card is printed on heavy card stock, lacquered to help protect from spills and ring bound to keep together and facilitate play

Printable Math Manipulates are available on the c3pla website to facilitate the games.

We have played a few of the games in the deck thus far, and enjoyed them.  I have used household items (socks, toy cars, toy animals, and Legos) as well as math manipulatives that I already own to play the games.  The games are fun, and Mister enjoys them.  Concepts covered include adding/subtracting, counting, writing numbers, multiplication and division, number placement (tens, hundreds, thousands), and more.

While I have downloaded the printable math manipulatives that are available on the website, I have not actually printed them.  The reason being is that the pdf’s are formatted as 11×17 pages, and there is a lot of wasted space on the pages.  The pdf for the first stage has fourteen pages, and it could have easily been condensed into less than ten pages by taking away the cutesy caterpillar that is not part of what you are supposed to cut out.   Why print the caterpillar if I am just going to throw him away?  It’s a waste of ink, and a waste of paper.

Overall, I really like the MathHouse Game Cards.   They give me fresh ideas on playing math games with the kids.  They are colorful, and the lacquered cards are quality construction.  And best of all, they are FUN.  If I didn’t already own them, and saw them at a curriculum sale, I would buy them.  I do think, however, that the manipulatives should be included with the cards.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”