Do I Have Enough Money Yet?

When I was asked this question (yet again) today, I decided he was interested enough for me to do more than just say, "No, you don't." First, we looked online again to see how much that Barbarian Assault Tower costs, shipping included, because he couldn't remember. Then we counted out 31 blocks to represent $31. Then we counted his money-$8. Then we counted out 8 blocks and compared the 8 to 31. Oh, yes...he was now seeing the reality of the situation. :)


At this point I pulled out the nifty pad I picked up this week at CVS and started writing. (I definitely had his attention!) After I was done I explained it to him and showed him how he could color in 8 blocks to show how much money he has, and each week he can shade in more blocks when he gets his allowance, and always be able to figure out how much more money he needs. "Oh, what a good idea," he said. :)



I told him that he could keep the notepad and it could be his math journal where we can work out all kinds of math questions that he might have. He made no comment, but I knew it was a hit when he drew a giant dollar sign on the page, closed the notepad, and put it in the basket with his prized Egypt and Pirate notebooks. :)