Hannah Montana and Math Learning Theory

One area of Marley's academic education that Paul and I are supposed to be working on is her basic math facts.  Oh, she can add all right, but sometimes she runs out of fingers and toes.  It is best if a child can have those math facts readily available.  We have played Go Fish math in which you play Go Fish by adding up cards instead of finding pairs.  I will also quiz her from time to time on the fly.  "Marley, what is 8 plus 7?"

Of course, if you know me and Paul, you know that we have been less than diligent about this math work.  We are a haphazard outfit here at the So Cal Cinema.  Last week I was discussing Marley's resistance to what little work we do with her and one of her teacher's recommended making the math relevant to her interests.  She had Marley pegged as being social and interested in persons such as Hannah Montana, etc.

So, in the car the other day, I decided to test this theory.  I asked Marley to add two numbers.  She did it but begrudgingly.  She said it gave her a headache.  I asked her in a different way.  I said, "If Hannah Montana had 9 wigs and someone gave her 4 more, how many wigs would she have?"  Miss Hannah Montana fan answered right away...  "13 wigs!!"   I said, "See how easy that was?"  She responded in that way that only a child can:  "Of course!  Because it is someone I like!!!!!"  (Duh, mom! was the implication.)

I guess Marley's teacher knows what she is talking about!