Is this approach to math ok?

[mamashark]

We have quite the math graveyard behind us, and my public school background has me concerned about computation at the moment.

 

We are in the beginning of Beast 3A, and my hope and prayer with it is that she learns how to problem solve, something she's never been willing to do before. She learns concepts lightning fast, but "hates" math because her computation skills lag behind her conceptual skills. 

 

Is it ok for me to just focus on determination and trying again, working through Beast? Or do I need to add computation into the mix with MM?

 

Focusing only on Beast might help her regain her love of math, but I worry that I am going to cause a problem later by not continuing to focus on computation?

[Jackie]

Well, we're coming off of a six month "math break" and I'm not really the voice of experience, but it took us that long of an official break to start to regain DD's love of math. She's another that loves concepts and hates computation.

 

It turns out even with a six month break from any type of required computation, it took about five minutes to remind her how to do multi-digit addition and subtraction. That's it. All my worry about losing ground, and she was pretty much able to pick up right where we left off.

 

Eventually, if she doesn't become more fluent on math facts and algorithms just by using them in BA, she may need to go back and do some work, but I'd vote for letting her enjoy some math for now.

[slackermom]

I think it is fine to continue on with the more challenging conceptual work, knowing she'll get computational practice as you go, but just keep it at a pace that allows enough time for her computation level.

 

When we plowed ahead, I generally reserved Fridays for math "standards," as opposed to the rest of the week, which was more about math concepts and complex problem solving. That was a good ratio for us, and I could pick a math standards lesson to cover any weaker areas that were revealed.

[Arcadia]

My younger is slower speed in reading and computation. On untimed tests, he approximately equal his brother in ability. On timed tests, he is very much left in the dust compared to older (e.g. ACT). He remembered his multiplication tables after finishing the AoPS prealgebra book.

 

So while computation speed does not matter at this stage for your child, just be aware that if speed is below norm, it can affect the child when timed tests come around.

[pkbab5]

My daughter also is not fond of repetitive computation.  I've looked a little at MM and I think if I ever gave her a "page of problems" like that she'd just cry.  So we try to use computer games (she loves computer games).  She did Reflex Math last year which is basically a timed page of problems, but it's a computer game so that makes it okay.  Every day that she completed the recommended number of problems in the game, she got a sticker.  Fill up the sticker chart, and we take a trip to Baskin Robbins.  She does okay with this - she is getting better with her math facts and doesn't hate math yet. 

[SarahW]

I'm sort of in the same boat.

 

Crazypants is really good with concepts - but the computation is awful. BA is fine - yes there's lots of practice with computation as you're figuring out the problems. The thing I noticed as we were getting further in BA is that his weakness in computational fluency really started to hurt him. The curriculum comes to expect that the student will be able to flip through computations quickly to notice patterns or see how to simplify the problem. Without immediately noticing that, say, 56 is 8x7, he would get frustrated and stuck (and moan and cry and etc.).

 

I put him on Prodigy, which was all fun and games until he declared "this is the worst way to learn math ever!" IDK. Now he's signed up for the EdX Alg1 course, that's better. :001_rolleyes:  (It starts by reviewing PreA).

 

I did try some MM when he was younger, and he found it quite disheartening. Probably because it was so strict on computation. And the number of problems on a page, yeah. However, I've restarted him on MM recently (using various topic books I've picked up over the years and samples on he site) and am hitting topics he's weak on (the goal is to give him some end-of-grade tests soon, since he'll likely be going to school now and I do not expect his teachers to be familiar with BA, especially here in NL farmland). He likes it and hates it. He likes how it explains concepts (not too slow, but time to play with the examples) but there's no hiding the fact that he's not solid on computations, and has to redo nearly every long division he does to fix issues in calculation, handwriting, place value (because handwriting), and so on. On the one hand, I feel that he needs to internalize the importance of proper calculations (and handwriting) now, but on the other hand it's tough to see him struggle to convert a fraction properly over and over when all he wants to do is chat about the properties of absolute numbers.

 

We watched The Code, a BBC math documentary, a bit ago and I had to laugh when the mathematician had to sit down and make some calculations for the circumference of a stone circle and joked "Calculations, never the mathematicians strength!" So yeah, I don't want to kill CP's interest in math with dividing decimals. So there needs to be a balance - exploring the great big things, but also being able to do the nitty-gritty. It's tough. And on most days incredibly frustrating.

 

I don't have a magic answer. MM could be fine, if you cross out some of the problems it looks less overwhelming. There are some Singapore and Singapore-ish practice books which may look better. Mostly I fly by the seat of my pants. Sorry.  :o

[Arcadia]

SarahW,

 

Do you know if the school your son may be attending would allow calculators or multiplication chart?

 

Can't see signature on phone so below is our BTDT for public school.

 

For example, my DS10 can't tell time on analog and can't remember the multiplication table until 8/8 years old. So he had a fail for the analog clock section from K to 3rd grade on his detailed report/progress cards. His teachers know he is quirky or they would have think he is "slow".

 

My 5 years old niece in SG is already taught clock and multiplication (there is a chinese chant for it). Kumon and mental abacus is still the rage. Expectations when she goes to primary one public school will be high. My friend's son who went to an American school in SG as an expat didn't have to know as much.

[SarahW]

SarahW,

 

Do you know if the school your son may be attending would allow calculators or multiplication chart?

 

Can't see signature on phone so below is our BTDT for public school.

 

For example, my DS10 can't tell time on analog and can't remember the multiplication table until 8/8 years old. So he had a fail for the analog clock section from K to 3rd grade on his detailed report/progress cards. His teachers know he is quirky or they would have think he is "slow".

 

My 5 years old niece in SG is already taught clock and multiplication (there is a chinese chant for it). Kumon and mental abacus is still the rage. Expectations when she goes to primary one public school will be high. My friend's son who went to an American school in SG as an expat didn't have to know as much.

 

He's 9.5 and entering Groep 6.

 

I don't know if they do calculators here. I'm not really sure what the S&S is here. Parents here (generally) don't "get involved" in schoolwork like in other countries. My general impression is that elementary math education here moves quite slowly and is heavily "real-life" a la Everyday Math.

 

In Groep 6 math class he would likely get lots and lots of computation practice. So that's the up side. The down side is that he'll probably hate it, and slop his way through it, and get poor marks, and, yes, maybe get the "slow" label. My goal with MM is to head that off and convince the school to enroll him in the Kangaroo (if the school doesn't, he doesn't get to do it). If the school would give him extension work that would be gravy, but I'm counting on afterschooling BA and then Pre-A this year.

 

Calculators aren't allowed on the Kangaroo. I know that. Not that I make life decisions based on math competition rules, lol, but since he has an interest in it, I'm keeping it in mind.

[daijobu]

My goal with MM is to head that off and convince the school to enroll him in the Kangaroo (if the school doesn't, he doesn't get to do it).

 

 

Calculators aren't allowed on the Kangaroo. I know that. Not that I make life decisions based on math competition rules, lol, but since he has an interest in it, I'm keeping it in mind.

 

If you are referring to Math Kangaroo, the annual exam that takes place in March, just so you know, I've hosted the exam ostensibly for local homeschoolers, but I've had several students from local schools show up as well.  So your ds may be able to take it outside of your local school if you or someone else hosts it.  (We host it at the local library.)  

[SarahW]

If you are referring to Math Kangaroo, the annual exam that takes place in March, just so you know, I've hosted the exam ostensibly for local homeschoolers, but I've had several students from local schools show up as well.  So your ds may be able to take it outside of your local school if you or someone else hosts it.  (We host it at the local library.)  

 

Yes and no, sorry. I meant the W4Kangoeroe. For that there's no route to test outside a school. There's no homeschooling in NL. As for students whose schools don't offer it, I don't know. Maybe we could swing having him test with a neighboring school. But that would cause...unrest, going outside the norm, doing something unusual. It would be weird.

 

I'm looking at online and international self-test options as well. But if we do stay in NL, I'd like to start getting him into the national stream, so to speak.