I bought one but haven't used it much. He's been pretty resistant to multiplication in general, so I'm considering reintroducing it at a later time. However, if you have a suggestion for a game, I would still appreciate it!

Thanks for all your input. I agree that I need to work on the emotional work and try to ease into the subject matter. I always believe that resistance has meaning, and much of what he's doing is anxiety-related. I will try to reduce my expectations for a time and build up his confidence.

Thanks for your response. I did consider putting him in a lower grade due to him being close to the cut-off. While I do consider him 3rd grade because I know he can do the work, the more recent struggles do suggest he might be better with lower expectations. It's just hard to find a balance because if I make it too easy he complains, but then things at his level are too hard. I do believe it's mostly anxiety related. He also struggles with the emotional maturity. I will try doing more games (I did buy a lot last year when he was struggling but haven't implemented them as much this year). I will look into changing my approach as well. I appreciate all your specific suggestions!

It's been a problem since last year. I've tried addressing the idea that you have to make mistakes to learn, I make mistakes, etc, but it doesn't seem to make a difference to him. We've done some growth mindset activities as well. I think it's a perfectionist thing, but I'm not sure how to get past it.

My son just turned 8 and is struggling with any subject he finds too difficult. I am trying to have him learn multiplication, but he says he will just fail at memorizing. I've tried outsourcing the subject with themes he likes (Minecraft math, etc), but eventually he gives up. He reads well, but refuses to try harder books because he doesn't want to struggle to sound it out. He says he wants to learn cursive, but then he complains it's too difficult. I'm tired of struggling with him to do his work. I don't know if the subjects are legitimately too hard for him or he just is immature. Should I take a break? Put him back a year? I just don't know what to do. Any advice would be appreciated.

@MGSI have not tried going back yet. I technically have TGATB Math 2 for her, but we never opened it. I did look at it recently and just didn't have the heart to use it. I did like the curriculum, but it didn't seem like she retained enough with it.

@Not_a_Number It has been awhile since I went over concepts with her, so I am not sure what to say in terms of what she is not solid on. I've been mainly just working on getting her to remember addition and subtraction facts rather than concepts as I felt like she couldn't move on until she had better recall. I am an English teacher, so while I understand how to do a problem, it is not my nature to understand the why or even how to teach it properly, which is why I go with instructor booklets that help me teach the ideas. I don't know how to focus on concepts without some sort of curriculum as it isn't my forte. I've started incorporating more math games, and my daughter does like them. She does like hands-on math; but again, I feel I need something to use rather than me just playing games with her. I don't mind that as a supplement, but I do feel she needs more. But maybe that is more my own issue than anything else.

@MasersI think if your child is math-oriented TGATB would be ok. It definitely has more review than MLFLE, which I feel jumps around every other page. I do think both curriculums are good about using hands-on materials. TGATB has longer lessons (though, again, they are shortening them in the new version, I believe). TGATB is very manipulative heavy, and I found it a chore to put everything together for the next day, whereas MLFLE is pretty open and go. Between the two, however, I would definitely go with TGATB as it seems more focused and comprehensive. I do like Kate Snow's K program. I like that she doesn't have a lot of written work (my son is slow in handwriting), and that it includes review daily as well as a lot of hands-on activities. They are not long lessons, either, which helps with an antsy boy. I am pretty sure I am going to stick with the program as I believe in the mantra "if it isn't broke, don't fix it." My son is more math-minded, however, so the concepts come easily to him regardless of the method. However, I do think another program with lots of worksheets would kill him 😛

@mathmarm Thanks for the tips. I have been pretty much ignoring math curriculum all year, but I do want to prepare for next year, which is why I asked for suggestions. Thanks for the detailed ways I can have her practice. @gradchica I do agree that there is no perfect math curriculum, and I hate that I have jumped around a bit this year. I looked into Rod and Staff, but I feel like the drill aspect of it would kill my daughter. She freaks out if there are too many problems (though I understand I can limit how many she does), and she can't do anything timed. I liked the idea of Singapore Dimensions (their new curriculum), but I heard that Singapore is better for the math-minded (which she is not). Has anyone tried BJU math? It seems like a good balance of mastery and spiral, and I like that it has a story element plus manipulatives with built-in review. But it is expensive, so I am wondering if it works well for a student who struggles a bit. Thanks!

I looked at it early on, but I worry about the investment for something that I am not sure on. It seems like a lot of parents switch to something else after the first book or two, but it could be useful to gain the foundational understanding.

I feel like I have looked at every curriculum under the sun and still am unable to choose a math curriculum for my 2nd grader. Some background: We used The Good and the Beautiful Math 1 for first grade, and overall I enjoyed the program and my daughter seemed ok with it. However, when we started 2nd grade with the same program, my daughter cried every day and seemed like she couldn't remember basic math facts. I decided because of her math anxiety that we would just focus on learning the basic addition/subtraction facts along with Life of Fred for the first half of the year (which we did). She has progressed some, but is still slow and still hates math. Now that it is the second half of the year, we are currently using Math Lessons for a Living Education because I wanted to introduce something gentle and more textbook-y (Life of Fred seemed too sporadic), but this curriculum is also all over the place (for me) and doesn't give enough instruction. She does seem to like the hands-on aspect of it, however. I have no idea what to purchase for her next year. She is likely going to repeat 2nd grade math just because I want her to be solid on concepts before moving on. But which math curriculum is good for a student who struggles and has a high-level of math anxiety? I feel mastery approach is best with some sort of kinesthetic learning. I am an English teacher, not a math instructor, so I do need a curriculum that spells things out for me and isn't too abstract. Any help is appreciated! -Angela