I hate math!!!! I have heard this more times than I care to remember. I think I may have found a way to improve math concepts, direction following skills and a way to give to our community too! I want to teach my children to knit!
My students are low income, learning disabled children with hearts of gold.
In order to help them with their academic problems, it is up to me to find innovative and interesting ways of teaching. A large portion of our population are also english language learners. Teaching a skill, as a means to academics, creates a common ground for all. Teaching children to help those in need teaches the best lesson of all.
My Project
Following written and spoken directions to achieve a goal is something we do everyday, usually without thinking. My kids have poor direction following, math, visual and auditory processing skills. The art of knitting is precise and direction driven. Using needles and yarn, we will weave not only a scarf or hat, but we will weave a sense of why following directions is important. These children have never used knitting needles before. By giving them this opportunity, we hope to show them realistic direction following that will transfer into real results. Putting math and knitting together will let the kids see the outcome of a job well done. The hands on element of knitting makes the connection to the math and directions real. Don't follow the directions, your scarf or hat looks funny. We hope to have them create one project for themselves and one to give to a local shelter. We hope these lessons teach the kids beyond the scope of academics.
A child with a learning disability always needs some sort of help.
Giving help to others doesn't happen often.. Our hope is that, through this project, the children will better their math planning and conceptual skills while also learning how rewarding giving to others, less fortunate than yourself, can be.
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