Spreadin' the "Linky Love" around! ;)

Image from Good Deal Gal

This has been a great week here at MiaZagora's Homeschool Minutes!  I've been the recipient of two completely undeserved "random acts of linky love" (with apologies to the late President Ronald Reagan).

The latest was from freelance writer/author/educator, Kathy Stemke, who has a great blog named Education Tipster.   Kathy writes a free newsletter called "Movement and Rhythm" - to which I am a subscriber - and can be very helpful if you have a preschooler (or more than one preschooler) at your house!   Kathy has written an e-book for download (only $3) that aids preschoolers in remembering and spelling the days of the week, which is titled "Moving Through all Seven Days".  She has another ebook in the works titled, "Trouble on Earth Day". 

From the web site:

Our movement activities, book reviews, and parenting tips will help parents and teachers teach children phonics, math, writing and science!

Check out Education Tipster!

The first random act of linky love came from Janet (a.k.a. Latte Lady) over at Homeschooler Cafe'!  You should make time to head over to the Cafe' for a heaping helping of book reviews and lots of personal stories about her family's journey through homeschooling - along with a veritable buffet of pictures of her family!  Janet and her husband have two boys, who she amusingly refers to as "The Espressos"!   She refers to her husband as her "Dream Latte"!   (Love the "coffee" theme...wish I'd thought of it!)  

If you like blogs with the personal touch, you will certainly enjoy your visit to the Homeschooler Cafe'!

(The above picture is a print entitled "Coffee Drinker" by Oliver Ray.)

Here's the answer to yesterday's Mango Math Wednesday Word Problem!

(Picture from Washington University Equestrian Team)

Henry and Buck have two horses worth a total of $560 and $840 in cash, for a total of $1400. Henry is entitled to 390/840 or 13/28 of the $1400 or $650.  Since he is keeping the two horses worth $560, Buck should give Henry $90 and keep $750.

To find out more about Mango Math, go to their web page or visit them on Facebook!

Cool man...Fibonacci Numbers as explained by Ken Nordine...

This is by Ken Nordine of WordJazz.com. It's actually a pretty good explanation of it, even though he's not a math expert. He's a "voice" guy who you have probably heard on commercials over the years - such as Levi's or Natural Gas.

Now - for the educational stuff! 

See this excellent video on the Fibonacci Sequence which explains the history and - most importantly - what makes it useful.  There is also an explanation of  the golden ratio, golden triangle, golden rectangle - all of the "golden" proportions.   This is also a pretty good video by TeacherTube about the golden ratio.

For some reading on the subject, see the most comprehensive web site about Fibonacci numbers that I have found on the web at Fibonacci Numbers and the Golden Section - this is the site of Dr. Ron Knott which includes multimedia presentations suitable for everyone.  This is an excellent web site with many hyperlinks and so much material that it would keep any interested upper elementary or middle/high schooler busy for many hours.  If your child is especially interested in mathematics - or you just wish they were (lol!) - you might want to introduce them to interesting math-y topics like this.

I can't talk about Fibonacci numbers without talking about the Penrose the Mathematical Cat books, in which mathematical concepts - like Fibonacci numbers - are introduced in the form of a story about a cat named Penrose and his adventures.

Related:  Fibonacci numbers in nature