Confusing Question as a result of testing

[MicheleB]

My 9yo ds took the WRAT-3 today as his required 3rd grade state testing.

 

My question is this: He struggled terribly with spelling simple words, he could not remember how to spell his last name, he could not remember all the letters of the alphabet or how some were formed, etc. (This is typical. I wasn't surprised.)

 

However, when it came to the math part, on the subtraction he was confused (which he is at home; he can't flip his brain that subtraction is opposite of addition). But addition, he did great. In fact, he had to add two 3-digit numbers together. He could not do it on paper, he didn't understand carrying on paper etc. But he figured it out in his head. He said, "I know what I wrote down but the real answer is 591." And he was right.

 

How is this? If he sees letters reversed I don't understand how he does this math in his head. Any insight?

[Laurie4b]

I think you could get some real insight by asking him how he did that in his head. There are many ways to do mental math. Using a way that makes use of his strengths for teaching other math concepts could be really useful. Once you know how he does it, then you know that that is a strength.

[MicheleB]

I think you could get some real insight by asking him how he did that in his head. There are many ways to do mental math. Using a way that makes use of his strengths for teaching other math concepts could be really useful. Once you know how he does it, then you know that that is a strength.

 

True. I have asked him and he always says he doesn't know, he just does it. It's strange to me... when I have learned a language, I can just understand the concepts. For example, dh and I were learning spanish years ago. He would ask me, "How do you know how to....?" I didn't know. I just did. Maybe it's something like that? Or do you think he can really break it down for me if I keep prodding? :)

[Laurie4b]

Just me, but I'd keep trying. Maybe try to guess what it might be like. Try asking the question different ways: like What do you see in your mind? Or do you hear things in your mind? Tell me what happens in your mind. Or how does the answer come to you--do you see it or hear it? Just knowing whether he sees or hears the answer would tell you what modality he's using. Maybe it's both.

 

I don't mean badger him--just try to guess some things that it might be and ask him.

 

You might also try to ask him right before he goes to sleep and then again when he wakes up. His mind might come up with something overnight.

[Claire]

Mental math might be a strength for him. We used a mental math book that was very helpful for my dd. There are three versions of it (elementary, middle school, high school). Here is a link to the elementary version on Amazon. The middle school version was the one we used, and it was very easy to do on a daily basis.