Crazy 8s Math Club

I learned about a seriously fun sounding after school recreational math club curriculum that I just HAVE to share. It's too good to pass up- the curriculum is free AND it comes with some of the necessary math gadgets, like measuring tapes and and protractors! Seriously- it sounds to good to be true, doesn't it? Somehow, though, it isn't. I want to introduce you to Crazy 8s.

I realize I sound like I work for them, but I swear I don't. They don't even know I am posting this- I just had to share because I loved the idea so much!

Crazy 8s comes from a company called Bedtime Math. They publish bedtime stories that involve math to help kids develop number sense and operational knowledge early. My son is only 1 year old, but I read him the beditme math stories and count things out to him. I enjoy the stories and think that he will as he grows older, too.

I learned about this program at the NCTM conference a couple months ago, and the representative was genuinely eager to spread the word about this program. This is designed to be a "recreational math club" for young kids. It is social, fun, and collaborative and not competitive or focused on worksheets.

from bedtimemath.org

The club motto is "where math meets mischief," which gives you an idea about their activities. They include things like toilet paper olympics, glow in the dark geometry, and bouncy dice explosion. Seriously, how much fun does that sound like?

from bedtimemath.org

There are two age level activity kits available, K-2 or 3 - 5. The activities are geared toward kids within those levels, but are not intended to be a substitute for typical curriculum or intervention. They are math activities that are designed to inspire a love of math in kids. So many kids dislike math and think of it as a chore- this is how to show them the fun side of it! The club lasts for 8 weeks, and each session is designed to be about an hour. Bonus activities are included if you would like to make it longer! 

from bedtimemath.org

Here's what you need to get started:

• Request a kit from Bedtime Math
• Commit to coaching for 8 weeks and to follow the honor code
• Gather a group of 10 - 20 kids in the age band you select
• Have a place to host the club for about an hour a week for 8 weeks

That's it! I can't get over how great it sounds. I talked to the representative for a long time at the NCTM conference, and also got the chance to chat with a few other teachers who had used it. The teachers said that it was wild, messy, and fun- all in a good way. I knew right away I had to sign up! Since school it out of session, I won't be able to start my club up until the fall, but I had to share the information with you all now so you can request your kits.

Once you request your kit, you will get a call from Bedtime Math to talk about the program with you and make sure you have everything you need. You WILL need to provide some basic supplies, like markers and paper, but most of the supplies have been taken care of. They also give you a checklist of the things that you will need to provide on your own, and they estimate it will cost about $10 for those materials (but I bet you already have some of them).  If you still have questions, check out their FAQ page. 

It's not often something like this comes along, and is FREE! I am super pumped to try it out. :)