So THANK YOU for the hard work you do each and everyday in the lives of your children and students!

Now to CELEBRATE! To celebrate 10 years, I’ve got lots of goodies to share below.

First, you’ll find the TOP 10 articles that I’ve written and shared over the last 10 years.

Then, you’ll be able to enter my 10 years GIVEAWAY.

Lastly, you can snag a coupon code for $10 off ANY resource in my shop!

Ready to get started? Ok, let’s go!

The Top 10 at Math Geek Mama:

10. Fairy Tale STEM Challenges

This was definitely one of my favorite things to create and do with my kids when they were little. There are a variety of different ideas here!

9. 3 Types of Math Errors & How to Prevent Them

Hopefully this article is just as useful today as it was when I wrote it. Not all mistakes are the same, and this is still something I discuss with my students. I also use the test correction pages regularly!

8. Multiplication Equation Search

This simple activity is a great way to help kids practice those multiplication facts! You can grab the download for free, or grab the paid option for a set that includes answer keys.

7. Pi Day Activities: HUGE List of Ideas

Pi Day is Coming! Bookmark this page to check back each year to help you plan your own Pi Day Celebration (March 14). There are ideas for all ages on this page!

6. Online/Virtual Math Manipulatives

Want to help kids visualize math concepts without the cost and the mess? Try some online/virtual manipulatives! This list includes tons of resources for nearly all math concepts.

5. Printable Multiplication Games

These simple print and play games are another fun option for practice multiplication facts. There are 3 versions, allowing you to choose the level that’s right for your kids.

4. The 20+ Best Math Card Games for Kids

Want a purposeful use for that deck of cards in the game drawer? Here are dozens of math game ideas using just a deck of cards!

3. Math in Nature: 5 Stunning Ways We See Math in the World Around Us

This is always a popular post, and one that I really enjoyed researching and writing! What would you add to the list of ways we see math in nature?

2. Spiral: Simple & Adaptable Math Card Game

This is a go-to game around here, as you can adapt it to practice such a wide variety of math skills from addition to multiplication to integer operations. Grab a deck of cards and start playing!

1. Foldable 3D Shape Nets

And the #1 post? This super simple set of foldable 3D shape nets. Use these to introduce 3D shapes, to compare their attributes, to think about surface area & volume, and more. Your kids will enjoy decorating, folding and taping their own set of 3D shapes to use as a reference!

Now, who’s ready for a GIVEAWAY!?

To celebrate 10 years, I am giving away a one year membership to DigitalMathGames.com (grades 3-6), a one year membership to Math Geek Mama+ (grades 5-8) AND access to my entire “Math Math Engaging Course Bundle” with 13 hours of PD certificates.

Use the forms below to enter the giveaway(s) of your choice! You can enter once per day from January 22-24. Winners will be chosen and emailed on Saturday January 25.

The giveaways are open to anyone, worldwide. One winner will be randomly chosen per giveaway.

DIGITAL MATH GAMES ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP ($57 value)

Want access to simple, self-checking games that are aligned to the math standards for grades 3-6? Enter to win a one-year membership to Digital Math Games! This growing library is perfect for extra practice, real life examples, math center games and more. Use the form below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MATH GEEK MAMA+ ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP ($150 value)

Do you teach math in grades 5-8? You will LOVE the all-access membership, with ready-to-use lessons, notes, games, digital activities, professional development and more.  Use the form below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MAKE MATH ENGAGING COURSE BUNDLE ($247 value)

Are you looking for ways to grow as an educator? Are you interested in learning research driven, tried and tested strategies for making math visual, meaningful and engaging for your students? This collection of 7 online courses is for you! Use the form below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A GIFT FOR EVERYONE!

Lastly, I can’t give away the above prizes to everyone, but I don’t want anyone to walk away from this celebration empty handed!

As a ‘thank you’ for being here and supporting the work that I do, you can use the coupon code below to save $10 off ANYTHING in my shop. That means you can grab $10 worth of resources for FREE!

COUPON CODE–> CHEERS10YEARS

>>POP OVER TO MY SHOP HERE TO CHOOSE YOUR RESOURCES!

Thank you again for encouraging me, supporting what I do and sharing my site with your teacher besties!

I am so thankful for you!!

The post 10 Years of Math Geek Mama: A Celebration! appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

But I want to do more for them than simply send a check each month. I want to do more than occasionally send letters with bible verses and pictures from my kids. My desire is to meet these children and their families, so they can know I am a real person who loves them and prays for them. And so I can learn more about them and their community.

The Impact of Meeting My Sponsor Child

As of today, I have met 2 of our 3 sponsored children. And the impact of the time spent with them is truly life changing. To see their face light up as they tell you about their hope center or introduce you to their family, or to see a sheepish grin when they aren’t sure how to respond, and to see that kids are kids, no matter where they live.

It is a universal fact that kids love to run and play, or pick on their siblings or get embarrassed when their mom kisses their cheek.

But the greatest impact for me comes from visiting their homes and meeting their family. Both of the children I sponsor are being raised by single moms.

Moms who love fiercely and want the best for their kids. Moms who are working long hours because they have to do what is necessary to survive. But who do so joyfully, because they want only good things for their kids.

Talking with these mamas has allowed me to return home and remember why we made this commitment to these kids.

I’m not just sponsoring one child. I’m providing support to a family that desperately needs it.

And in return, I have learned how I can best pray for these families and the community in which they live.

For example, one child is growing up in Nicaragua, a country which is very near to my heart, and has faced tremendous political upheaval in the last year. He and other children are in a vulnerable place, and have gone through trauma I can’t even imagine. The hope center teachers struggle to teach basic skills because kids don’t have a way to process the atrocities they have seen or heard.

It is my desire to visit him again and provide some encouragement and prayers as they seek to move forward.

Another child, a precious little girl in the Dominican Republic, is growing up in a community seeping with witchcraft an demonic practices.

The church and hope center pray and work daily to bring hope and light into this dark community.

These are things I only learned by visiting and walking through the community myself. Now I can pray intentionally and with an urgency that I would not have had before.

What Does This Mean for You?

If you currently sponsor a child, perhaps through Compassion International or One Child Matters, would you pray about visiting them?

Yes, it may require sacrifice, and it may be scary, but it will be worth it to deepen your relationship with a beautiful family and to learn first hand what their daily life looks like.

Now, I realize that most people will not be able to meet their child in person, and that’s ok. So even if you can’t, please just know that you are impacting their life, their family and their community in a big way.

Even just a letter with some pictures of you and your family will encourage and strengthen them!

If you don’t yet sponsor a child, would you join me in praying for the children in Latin America?

I and my friends are partnering with One Child Matters to try and find sponsors for 1,000 children throughout Latin America.

Yes, that is a big, scary goal. But we serve a big and mighty God!

Would you be willing to help just one of those 1,000? Or will you share this message with those who might be able and willing?

None of us can change the world. But we can change the world of just one child. Help us by supporting one in 1,000.

Go HERE to see the list of children needing sponsors.

Even if you aren’t in a position where you are able to sponsor a child, would you consider sharing this (or the link above) so that we can try to find support for every single one of these kids?

Thank you for considering!

The post Why Meeting Your Sponsor Child is Worth the Time & Expense appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

And while I do love math (obviously), and many people tried to persuade me to pursue some other, more lucrative career with my math skills and degree, that was never even a question for me. I am a teacher. It’s in my DNA. It’s just a part of who I am and always has been.

Over the years, my love for teaching has only grown, and while there have been many hard days (both in the classroom as well as with my own children), the bottom line is this: teaching impacts lives.

*Please Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and support the work of this site. Read our full disclosure policy here.*

I think that’s what I love the most.

Having opportunities to pour into students, to love on them and to help them succeed.

To watch and marvel as a child has a light bulb moment over a concept or question that seemed impossible.

To be there to answer questions about life and college and the real world as my seniors prepared for a brand new adventure.

Teachers have a unique opportunity to speak into kids’ lives in ways others can’t.

Teachers care so much for students’ success that they are willing to go above and beyond the call.

Because I had my children young and (very) close together, the ways that I have been able to teach have looked different over the years. I’ve been a classroom teacher, a private tutor, a substitute teacher and a homeschool mom.

But no matter the capacity, I have this need and desire and passion to teach. Whether it is to empower students to tackle math with confidence, or to raise my kids to be rock star readers who love God and His word, or to teach a Sunday school class at church, I have a desire within me to impact the world through teaching, even if it’s just one child at a time.

A few months ago, I was interviewed to teach at a wonderful and prestigious private Christian school. Everything about it sounded perfect. I could go back to teaching (which I always miss like crazy when I’m not in the classroom) and my kids could attend this school at a significant discount.

After a considerable amount of prayer, however, I turned it down.

As much as I miss teaching, and as much as I would love the opportunity to impact those kids and bring in some additional income for my family, I feel like right now, in this season of life, I need to be home.

And so, because I still have a desire to use my gifts and potentially bring in some extra income for my family, I started this website.

And you know what? Something amazing has happened!

I have been able to reach more parents, teachers and homeschoolers than I did when I was a classroom teacher! I’m able to help and encourage teachers and parents all over the world that I never would have had the opportunity to help otherwise!

I recently read the book, Money-Making Mom: How Every Woman Can Earn More and Make a Difference, by Crystal Paine, and was so inspired and motivated to keep going.

Crystal knows what it takes to build a business, run a website and make a full time income from home, and so I appreciated her wisdom and encouragement.

Reading the book has given me so many other ideas to expand this site to be able to better help teachers, homeschoolers and parents, while also supporting my family.

But most of all, I was motivated to use my resources to make an even greater impact. She shares her family motto (which is now our family motto):

As a Christian, my greatest desire is to honor God with my time and energy and money, and my hope with this site is to be able to make enough money to fund some of the dreams that we have to impact the world for Christ.

Ultimately, as my site grows, I hope to make an impact by giving to meet the needs of people in my life and church, as well as around the world.

Even though the way I teach right now does not look the way that I thought it would when I was “playing school” with my dolls as a kid, I am a teacher.

And I can still impact lives, encourage moms, equip classroom teachers and give generously to impact the world.

Here’s a quote from the book that sums it up for me:

“Life is ultimately not about the traffic numbers, the amazing marketing techniques, or the income generated. It’s about impact-the impact you make on the lives of others.”

~Money Making Mom

If you are a teacher (in any form), know that you are making a difference in someone’s life!

And if you would like to use your knowledge, love and passion to make a greater impact for your own family or in the world, I highly recommend reading Money-Making Mom. It is inspiring and so very practical. It’s full of tips, success stories and motivation to get out and make it happen! (Here are some money-making ideas to get you started!)

Teachers are unique and impact the world like no other. It might be your own child or grandchild, a classroom full of students, or just a neighbor kid who needs your help.

Whoever it is, know that you are making an impact on their life.

What teachers have made a significant impact on your life? Please share in the comments and celebrate the amazing and hard-working teachers who have made a difference, big or small in your life or in the life of your child!

~Math Geek Mama

Photo Credit: Thomas Tolkien via Compfight cc

The post The Unexpected Impact of a Teacher appeared first on Math Geek Mama.