Learning with Kayla
A word from Kayla
Hi! And welcome to my web page, where you can find problems to work on, so you can get your math “down-pat” just like I did! You can also practice adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing in timed activities, so you can see that you’re getting better with practice. Probably the most important thing I learned from Ms. Gibbs is that practicing what you want to learn makes it easier and easier.
When you want to practice one of these skills, click on one of the “Online…Practice” links near the top of the home page. You will see four links; just click on the one you want to practice.
If you want practice doing problems, click on one of the links below. There are two links for each book; the first one just repeats the problems that are in the book, and the second one contains all new problems. Click on whichever one you want, and you will jump to a page with the right kind of problems for you to work on. At the end of each problem page is a link to the answers for that page.
Don’t be discouraged if you get stuck on a problem. Getting the right answer is great, of course, but you will also benefit from the time you spend trying to figure out how to get that answer. If you work hard on a problem but don’t get the answer right away, don’t worry about it! Just think about somebody who exercises by running around on a track. If they run around it ten times, they are right back where they started; they didn’t get anywhere! But did they benefit from their running? Of course they did! And you benefit from your thinking about a problem in the same way: you are exercising your brain even if you don’t solve the problem. But you will find that as you progress, problems that seemed very hard at first become easier and easier. Trust me; it’s true!
About the Hurtova Foundation
The Hurtova Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation which sponsors the series of books. It is named in honor of Vicki’s Mother, whose formal education stopped at 4th grade, and who successfully raised a family while working outside the home. Here is a first draft of the mission and purpose of the Foundation:
The Hurtova Foundation, Inc.
Mission Statement: To improve the understanding of math and the development of basic math skills in elementary school students.
Problem: Too many elementary school children, particularly children from lower socio-economic families, have below grade level math skills.
Solution: Multidimensional math program involving the following:
1. A focus on at-risk minority and poor children with below grade level math skills, to be identified in school districts.
2. Specialized math books, “Learning Math with Kayla,” created by The Hurtova Foundation, focus on positive behavior reinforcement, simple math models, and creative-expressive experience for the child. Books use step-by-step math lessons appropriate for the child; they are short, culturally focused, and geared to the child’s experiencing a sense of mastery. Unlike most math books for young students, these books engage the reader using a narrative style from the point of view of a student who is struggling with math.
3. The Hurtova Foundation will provide advisers to parents, guardians or older siblings to assure positive reinforcement and a uniform process that encourages them to act as tutors.
The immediate goal of the Hurtova Foundation is to donate a set of Kayla Books to each of the Public Libraries and Elementary School Libraries in Sarasota County.
About the Author
Vicki married when she was 21, the norm in the late ‘50’s, and with her husband, Ed, raised six children. Working nights as a nurse to help support the family while Ed was in graduate school, she was at the same time continually taking part-time courses to complete her B.S. and M.S. degrees.
All during this time she was also teaching her children and they never went to bed before a story was read to them.
The year that her youngest children (twins) started college, she went off to graduate school to earn the Ph.D. in Community Health. Thereafter, she taught Women’s Studies at the university level for twenty-five years, during which time she attended the fourth World Conference for Women, held in Beijing; traveled to Central America and Cuba to witness and report on social injustice; and presented scholarly papers in Norway and Uganda.
Her passion for excellence and hard work was instilled in all six of her children and was passed on to her thirteen grandchildren as well. Vicki and Ed’s dedication to the intellectual development of their children resulted in all six earning Ph.D. degrees. Her oldest granddaughter has earned the Ph.D. as well and is currently a university professor.
The guiding principle for Vicki in all aspects of her life has always been simply:
“Be nice!”
In her retirement, in addition to swimming 100 miles a year, she has worked to serve disadvantaged youth by volunteering to tutor elementary school mathematics. As a result of this experience, Vicki established The Hurtova Foundation, a charitable organization whose mission is to help kids who are behind in school, and is writing the Kayla Books. These books are offered free to those who cannot afford them, and for a donation for those who can.
More Practice
Click on the green flag to begin each exercise and wait a few seconds. When you are asked for a number to practice, hit the number you want to practice and then hit the “Enter” key. From then on hit the number you want to use for your answer and hit “Enter” again. Repeat until you are told how long it took you to do them all. You might want to record your time.
Click on the green flag to begin each exercise and wait a few seconds. When you are asked for a number to practice, hit the number you want to practice and then hit the “Enter” key. From then on hit the number you want to use for your answer and hit “Enter” again. Repeat until you are told how long it took you to do them all. You might want to record your time.
Click on the green flag to begin each exercise and wait a few seconds. When you are asked for a number to practice, hit the number you want to practice and then hit the “Enter” key. From then on hit the number you want to use for your answer and hit “Enter” again. Repeat until you are told how long it took you to do them all. You might want to record your time.