Right Start for struggling writer/ADD

[UnlikelyHomeschoolingMama]

So my son may have a touch of ADD.  My best friend has her doctorate in clinical child psychology and is the director of a developmental clinic in a children's hospital.  She knows my DS and also watched a recent 9 minute video of him doing school work.  She says there are some "flavors" of ADD, but nothing TOO major.  However, he has a MAJOR relative learning difficulty with pen to paper writing.  My goal next year is to minimize that (he will be in 2nd grade) so he doesn't end up hating school.  He is so smart and GREAT at math.  It is just writing that kills him.  

 

So, I want to possibly start RightStart.  Is that a good move?  I also think that it may be good for my Pre-K boy....who is already doing simple math problems in his head, greater than less than, etc.  I would love to develop conceptual math more.  We've been doing ABEKA and while my older DD and my DS (mentioned above) do fine on their standardized tests I KNOW there is something missing.  My older DS will be doing Saxon 6/5 with BA supplementing next year.  

 

Does RightStart make sense for my 2nd grade DD?  Is level B appropriate for him?  The placement test isn't very extensive and gave us that because he "doesn't know his facts up to 18" but then again he is "regrouping when needed his double-digit addition facts" which would put him in C.  

 

What do you all think?  Thank you!!

[OneStepAtATime]

I'm confused.  Are you saying that he struggles with the physical act of writing and it is affecting his functionality in math?  Or he cannot get his thoughts on paper but the physical act itself is fine?

 

What are the things you are seeing that make you think he has ADD?

 

As for whether Right Start would work or not, I don't know.   Are you seeking a math program that requires very little physical writing?

[UnlikelyHomeschoolingMama]

I'm confused.  Are you saying that he struggles with the physical act of writing and it is affecting his functionality in math?  Or he cannot get his thoughts on paper but the physical act itself is fine?

 

What are the things you are seeing that make you think he has ADD?

 

As for whether Right Start would work or not, I don't know.   Are you seeking a math program that requires very little physical writing?

I'm sorry.  Yes, physical act of writing.  So he can do math well, but the act of writing the answers KILLS him.  Or he can do his phonics or spelling, but the act of writing is torture.  We are going to work on it, but I don't see any reason to stick with ABEKA (worksheet heavy) if we can do something else with less writing.  I also would like more emphasis in mental math ANYWAY, so this seems to fit the bill. 

 

His ADD symptoms are minor, easily distractable, impulsivity has always been an issue (a little more than a normal 7 year old boy), hard time transitioning activities, sensitive to noises, tastes, etc., quick (very quick) temper.  But more than that in his schoolwork is the act of writing....poor kid just hates it.  And it isn't behavioral..he has such a hard time with it that distractions kick in, he gets more frustrated, etc. 

[nixpix5]

It sounds like you want to limit writing by using RightStart and to use it for a solid foundation of conceptual math. For both of those reasons, yes, it would be a good move. The added bonus if he does have some AD/HD traits is that it brings many different manipulatives and games into play to keep the novelty and pace fun.

[UnlikelyHomeschoolingMama]

It sounds like you want to limit writing by using RightStart and to use it for a solid foundation of conceptual math. For both of those reasons, yes, it would be a good move. The added bonus if he does have some AD/HD traits is that it brings many different manipulatives and games into play to keep the novelty and pace fun.

 

Thanks!  He will be in 2nd grade and did great in ABEAK 1.  Math facts are down!  Should he start in B or C?  Looks like B may be better in terms of the newness to RightStart, but would it set him back?  Or if he needs to speed up, can we?  Just curious if you can pace that way with the curriculum.  

 

Thanks!

[OneStepAtATime]

FWIW, that sounds more like dysgraphia than ADD.  Handwriting doesn't have to be illegible to have dysgraphia.  But certainly those issues can be co-morbid and often are.  

 

Sometimes work with an Occupational Therapist can help.  If he does have dysgraphia that can be a lifetime issue but it doesn't' have to cripple his functionality, especially in today's day and age.  Often times learning to type and uinge text to speech/speech to text software and things like a Livescribe pen can be of enormous help as well.  Regarding typing in particular, though, if he does have dysgraphia it may take years before typing is something he can use with any speed.  It can be a VERY necessary and useful tool.  It just may take a lot longer to master that skill.  

 

As for Right Start for math, it sounds like it might be a good fit for your child's current needs.

[nixpix5]

Thanks! He will be in 2nd grade and did great in ABEAK 1. Math facts are down! Should he start in B or C? Looks like B may be better in terms of the newness to RightStart, but would it set him back? Or if he needs to speed up, can we? Just curious if you can pace that way with the curriculum.

 

Thanks!

Personally, I would start in B and just move faster if need be. I think so much of the foundation of RS is in B. I am familiar with Abeka and I promise he will do things in RS not covered in Abeka at that level (parallel and perpendicular lines, right triangles, etc) plus it is such a new way of looking at it that reinforcing what he knows will just make him that much stronger. However, if you think he will be board then C would probably be fine.

[UCF612]

Right Start C has a lot more writing than B. B is great! C is good. My ADD son does very well with RS and loves the games.

[Aloha2U]

I'd recommend RightStart B.

[PeterPan]

Some kids with dysgraphia do fine with writing their math, others don't. Given that you have sensory issues *and* the ADHD *and* he's shying away from writing, it's time for an OT eval. You want them to check for retained primitive reflexes. Look until you find an OT or PT who is actually really good at them. I went through *5* before I found one. ;)

 

While that's a nice thought that RS would solve your math problems. It's going to be teacher-driven, so you're going from something he could do somewhat independently to something very dependent on you. BJU or Singapore might be more middle of the road options. 

 

As far as mental math, RS will do two digit math mentally, yes. They cover 4 digit addition in level B and 4 digit subtraction in C. If he has done through 4 digit addition, then you would use the Transitions book and go into C. Some people use B instead of Transitions for going into C, and it sounds like that would fit your situation better. B and that first part of C are the strongest levels for RS, imho. You'll be glad you did them. At that point you could move on to something that allows him more independence.

 

I would suggest you go ahead and get evals. 

[jmjs4]

My ds with ADHD (who also hates writing) LOVES Math U See. It has totally clicked with him, and he is loving math now.

[mamamoose]

I have a kiddo with ADHD/dyslexia/dysgraphia/slow processing speed and he did okay in level c in 2nd grade, but we drug it out into this ear and he finished the last 40 lessons in the first quarter of this school year (3rd grade). We started D but have used some math mammoth and beast as well. Personally, level C was very advanced for where he was coming out of public school. Right start is advanced conceptually but moves with a different sequence. My 1st grader did A last year in Kindergarten and B this year and breezed through...but the conceptual aspect is fabulous. There is not much writing and there is a lot of learning from games, which is a bonus for kids who struggle to write.

 

I agree an evaluation is a good idea but honestly it didn't tell me much except confirm we had issues which needed attention, and I already knew that. I don't think it has done much for us in the way of school. I make accommodations but I would be doing that regardless. It does give me an excuse with his sisters, who don't get accommodations but even that could be worked around.

 

Anyway, I sort of rambled, but I have loved right start. It was a great way to shake things up for my ds. I would start in level B and go faster when you can. Skip a few lessons if he's grasping concepts. But touch on them all.