I know Ramen Noodles are for eating and Roman Numerals are for counting, but sometimes my kids get mixed up.
My older kids, who were allowed to eat Ramen Noodles on occasion, used to get frustrated when learning their Ramen Numerals, then wanted their comfort food, Roman Noodles, for lunch.
Due to dietary decisions, we have nixed the Ramen Noodles and kept the Roman Numerals, although we still get them mixed up on occasion.
A visual person, I’ve learned I teach better according to my style. When the kids were having a hard time grasping Roman Numerals, a concept we don’t often use except in math class, I needed to land the learning so they would have success for a lifetime.
I invented Roman Numeral Tiles.
One inch squares of Fun Foam were labeled with a permanent marker. This lesson we were just learning to count from 1-30.
The patterning makes it very easy to understand the rules of adding consecutive numbers together, subtracting a lower number when placed before a larger number, and not using a number more than three times in a row.
When set out in numerical order the beautiful number patterns also remind us of a God who created in pattern and order.
To test her skill, I quickly made number cards, and had her use the tiles to show the Roman Numeral equivalent.
When she stumbled with 19, I reminded her it’s 10 + 9, then she quickly found the correct tiles.
It takes a little extra time to pull out the manipulatives to enforce a lesson, but it’s time that usually won’t need to be repeated.
A longer introduction to a concept, followed by a few short reminders, is more successful than a short introduction, and a lot of lengthy reminders.
I found a few free Roman Numeral worksheets from abcteach.
I gave up trying to find a free bingo game, they all wanted me to buy or subscribe to something, so I made my own.
Yea, right in the middle of trying to blog, finish up school, prepare for a meeting, and eat dinner, I had to make a bingo game.
Stay tuned. I have another fun way to learn Ramen Numerals.
I will definitely steal this one. My super smart math girl, who does algebra in her head, simply can't grasp Roman Numerals. Thanks for the tip.
That is a great way to teach Roman Numbers — I'm passing it on to my friends in co-op!
very creative. Thanks for sharing. I always love math suggestions.
So cool. So simple. So useful.Wish I had thought of it. 🙂
Agh! My kids get Roman Noodles about once a month and I cringe every time! I only put a tiny bit of the flavor pack in the water just to flavor them.What a great idea to learn Ramen Numerals. I hope I remember it in a few years. My brother while learning about Mt. Rushmore mispronounced it once as "Mushmore". It became quite a school joke… sometimes Roman, Ramen and Mushmore moments make it easier to remember the right one in the long run. Laughing about it helps too. 🙂