FrequentlyAskedQuestions < Kitchen

Frequently Asked Questions

Kitchen Table Math basics

What is Kitchen Table Math about?

Here is our original mission statement, which emphasizes having fun, helping kids learn math, and helping anyone who wants to help kids learn math. We have a definite Direct Instruction bent, and over time have developed a knowledge base and some ideas about what works and what doesn't.

But having fun is still at the top of our list.

Are Carolyn Johnston and Catherine Johnson (the hosts of Kitchen Table Math) actually the same person?

No. The fact that our names are so similar is just a coincidence.

Why do you call this site weird names, like wiki, bliki and blooki?

Blooki is a term Catherine coined to describe KTM.

KTM has a weblog ("blog") format -- meaning that Catherine and Carolyn post blog entries regularly, and invite comments, just like most other blogs do. But it is built with wiki software, in order to allow readers to create their own pages and contribute actively to KTM. This hybrid of weblog and wiki wasn't invented by us, though it's not common -- some people call it a bliki.

Finally, while entries in most weblogs date quickly -- weblogs tend to be rather like news magazines -- KTM is definitely building a knowledge base and an archive of useful posts. This makes it more like a book than most weblogs; it even has a book-like index that Catherine created for it.

Book, weblog, and wiki -- it's clearly a blooki.

How do I find the newest comments and posts?

Click on the What's New link at the top of the side bar. Alternatively, on some browsers, you can set up 'live bookmarks' that update themselves when there are new comments or posts on Kitchen Table Math: instructions and explanations are here.

Registration

How do I log in?

You won't be asked to log in unless you try to enter a comment, or create a user page, at which point a dialog box will pop up asking for your name and password.

Do I have to register to leave a comment?

No, you can leave an anonymous comment. Instructions are here.

How do I register?

Go to the registration page.

Can I be anonymous?

Yes. Instructions on anonymous commenting are here.

You do not need to reveal your real name in order to register. Users have registered under pseudonyms like InterestedTeacher.

Kitchen Table Math useability

How do I start a new thread?

Threads started by users on KTM are called 'user pages'. Instructions for starting user pages are at the top of the User Page Index.

Why does the site highlight some of my words and put a question mark after them?

Any mixed-case word -- that is, any word that starts with a capital, has at least one lower-case letter after that, and then has another capital and more lower-case letters -- will be automatically turned into a link by wiki software. Such words are called WikiWords, or sometimes CamelCase (because of their bumpy look). This is a convenient way to create new links to new pages as you go along.

Examples of mixed-case words are: McDougall, CreepyCarolyn, UtahDeptOfEducation. Normal capitalized words, like Fruity, will not be automatically linked.

The wiki software will assume, whenever you use a WikiWord, that you want it to become a link. If the page it links to doesn't exist, then the link will have a question mark after it when you're through editing the page. Click on that question mark to create the page.

Why do I see hyperlinked words with capital letters & no spaces?

See this answer.

How do I stop creating annoying unintended links on words like McDougall?

To prevent the automatic linking, stick an exclamation point in front of the word, like this: !McDougall.

Sometimes real words are WikiWords -- usually proper names, like MacDonalds and LeSalle. The wiki software will not be able to tell, and will link them anyway. Prevent this by putting an exclamation point in front of the word.

I made a mistake in a comment. Can I fix it?

Yes. Every comments page has a box at its top or bottom that says 'edit this page'. Click on that box, and you will see the page's text in a box that's similar to the little comment box, and which shows all of the comments on the page, including yours. You can fix your comment from there, then preview and save the page.

Where can I go to find help formatting my comments (using bold, italics, bullets, etc.)?

For basic directions on formatting, try the formatting rules page. For more instructions, try the WikiHowTo page.

Can I write an equation?

Alas, currently you cannot easily write a nice equation. This is a feature I hope to add in the future.

How come you don't have a 'comments counter' for a post on the main page, like other blogs?

Because it is too hard for Carolyn to program in TWiki, the software that powers this site. To see whether a comment has been added to a thread of interest recently, go to WhatsNew.

I have a question I want to ask you directly. Can I do that?

Yes! Put it on the Request Page.

Kitchen Table Math resources

I am looking for information about a specific math curriculum. How can I find it?

This page has a complete list of the subject categories for Kitchen Table Math. Many curricula, including Saxon, Singapore, Everyday Math, Connected Math, Core Plus, and Terc Investigations, have their own categories. Click on the category to see all the posts about the curriculum.

Not all of the good content is in the posts! To find more information on a curriculum that interests you, try searching for it in the user pages and comments from this page.

Finally, if you see nothing about the curriculum that interests you, you can ask about it on the request page and we will do our best to help you find out more about it.

I would like to know what curricula and materials you recommend for home supplementation.

An extensive list of recommended curricula and materials can be found here. Of the many math curricula available, we like Saxon Math and Singapore Math the best for early and middle grades (our kids are young, so we are just starting to investigate high school curricula). Loosely speaking, we recommend Singapore if you plan to homeschool or supplement consistently and have some comfort with mathematics yourself, and Saxon if a. you are uncertain of your ability to teach math or b. you have a child who is behind his grade level or has lost confidence in himself.

I would like to get up to speed on math education issues. Where do I start?

Start here at our recommended reading page.

Searching

I wrote a comment, and now I can't remember which blog post or user page I put it on. How can I find it?

There are a couple of ways to hunt for a lost comment! If it was a recent comment, look at the what's new page. If it was a while ago, try to remember some unique string that appeared in the comment (your name may work if you're an infrequent commenter), and search for it from the comments search page.

I am interested in finding an old post. How can I find it?

There are several avenues to try. If you can remember the subject it was about, check the category listing. If you can remember a unique phrase that would be in it, search for it from the posts search page. If you know roughly what month it was written, check in the archives.

How do I find all the user pages?

All user pages (pages written by Kitchen Table Math users) are indexed here.

I am interested in finding all the archived posts on a specific topic. Where do I start?

Start at the listing by category if your subject is there.

Or search for your keyword or phrase from the posts search page.

Creating your own pages

What is a user page?

A user page is a page that has been created by a Kitchen Table Math user. Some user pages are requests for other people to share information; some are write-ups on topics of interest to a user. Anything on-topic (and, of course, polite) is acceptable.

Can anyone start a user page?

Yes. We request that a user who wants to start a user page do so under a registered name, not as KtmGuest.

Can children create their own pages?

Yes, and we hope someday to snag one who will. We will no doubt adopt them as our mascot, and shower them with more math help than they can use.

If I want to create my own user page, how & where do I do that?

Instructions are linked at the top of the index to all user pages.

-- CarolynJohnston - 02 Oct 2005

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