Math and Thomas Trains

Every once in a while, I come up with a way to help DB learn difficult-for-him concepts in a way he'll enjoy. Usually he scorns my efforts -- "I know what you're doing!!" he'll say, and ignore me.

We had the Thomas trains out yesterday, and I got some coins -- pennies, nickels and dimes. I made Harold the Helicopter try to carry 2 nickels and complain, "This is too heavy, I need one coin that's smaller that is the same amount."

He figured out the answer, then realized "I know what you're doing!", but wanted to continue. More coins, more trucks and trains involved, we had a whole economy going on the floor! Trains and trucks buying eggs and flour and milk to make popovers (we've got the egg cars, and popovers was the only thing I could think of that DB eats with eggs in them), other trains buying Hotel for Dogs toys as pets, and on and on.

And he was delighted! Even talking about how he was going to get "extra credit" with his teachers for practicing his math.

I think part of it was that he was happy to realize that he knew some of the answers. And I didn't make him have to count for Every.Single.Transaction, some I did out loud and some we did together.

He'd rather use a skill in a real-world application Any.Day over a skills drill, which he sees no point in.

And now I can say we practiced the counting, which is lumped in with about another hours' worth of concepts at the bottom of the first grade homework sheet each week, in addition to every day's assignments:
This "Reminders" list is in addition to 2 sheets that come home, plus 1 or 2 math sheets, and at least 1 vocabulary words assignment. Oh and every weekday also includes "Read for 10 minutes with someone you love." I find that confusing --does he have to read? Or does my reading to him count?

Overall, though, when he gets home at 4 (or later on swimming lesson day) and bedtime is between 7:30 and 8, when is he supposed to eat, take a bath and recover from his day, let alone read? Or play? First grade, people, first grade.