Get the workbook Daily word problems from skill builders. start below his level so it is easy for him. Let him do two pages a day and build his confidence. He will improve and just plug along doing two pages aday. Explain it to him or guide him when it is hard. I also wrote out steps for solving word problems for my son. 1. Read the problem outloud twice. 2. What does the diagram mean? 3. Do you need manipulatives? 4. Do you need to draw a picture? Instead of talking him through the problem I would have him redo the steps outloud in front of me....if by the end he still didnt have a way to start...I would give him the least amount of help it took for him to be successful.. I am pleased with him word problems skills.

I think that some of the instruction my actually be built into how the problems are arranged. It is true that the actual instruction at the top of the worksheets is minimal....I supplement with manipulatives and white board instruction as needed.

I think your son's narration is similar to what my 9 year old son would give. He also likes to add in details that were not there. I just say that you have to tell me what was in the book. I let him add in his imagination for almost everythingelse in life.

Yes....we pull out other manipulatives to learn concepts. MM gives me just the right about of info for teaching....not too much like saxon and not too little like singapore.

My son finally got math facts with MM after all the other ways of learning without real retention. The mental math is awesome for really understanding concepts. It has helped me really understand things. It sometimes takes me a few minutes to really understand the unwritten why behind the problems but I do get it. I like that it is challenging at times initially for me and then I have an "aha!" moment! After trying at least 5 different math programs in K and 1 and tons of research...MM is the one for us. The cost is so minimal it is not a risk to try.

We supplement with Daily Word Problems which are interesting and have more variety. We still do MM word problems.

Me too! I am blunt and love to tease my real friends without any meanspiritness behind it. Do you feel they were being mean-spirited or just joking with you about something that is actually true from their perspective. It's okay to be a book snob.....I am a restuarant and food snob!!

The regimen the allergist put my son on included nasonex and zyrtec. The nasonex helps the most. It stops the rhinitis in the nose before it can cause other problems. You have to take it everyday for 30 days to reach the therapeutic level and if you miss one day of dosing it loses significant amount of effectiveness until you build back up. I also have asked for this and it helps GREATLY with my sinus issues! The allergist said that my son would have less colds taking nasonex than the average child and that is true.

[ Stress to your kid that you are NOT trying to change him - but give him tools to be happier and fit in. If NORMAL was a rock band he wanted to fit into, he'd need to learn how to play an instrument to fit in, right? I think of "normal" and "not normal" in this way also. I work with alot of kids under the Autism spectrum.......there are alot more people out in the world who technically could be in the "not normal" category these days that one would think. I tend to view everyone as "not normal" to some degree....If you really know who had dx mental illness you would be surprised....who is taking activan........I happen to think "normal" people are pretty boring and much prefer interesting but happy, functioning people. My rule for success is.....is the child functioning well in his environment? If not....then we learn skills to help with success.

). I hear you about library books and such not coming in on time. It's really frustrating when a library book that you've had on hold for 5 weeks finally arrives and it's for a chapter you did 3 weeks ago. :glare: I have given up trying to coordinate History so well. I just figure we will read books about the Ancients during that time so we read the books whenever I get them and keep going. I think of it as adding layers. We watch great movies I find after the fact lots of times.

Thanks for your suggestions. Do you think this is too ambitious or just about right? He is weak in writing so I was trying to push the skills for writing harder for a while thus more narration and copywork.

MMA is mixed martial arts. Thanks for all your suggestions. I like the idea of reducing but not eliminating things entirely. The whole routine on a long day is at least 5 to 6 hours not counting breaks, outside time and the pace is not relaxed with time for off-task activities.

I do not know what is best about structure versus freedom. I struggle with this theme contantly in many different ways.

I agree! I regret more the things my parents did not teach me that I had to learn the hard way. I will teach my own son things he needs to learn even if it requires effort and aggravation when it would be easier to let him have cavities and dress poorly!

He is happy with his outside activities meaning MMA and PE. We was taking gymnastics 2x week but we stopped for a while because of heel/foot pain. He loves to be FREE! Structure is not his friend. Plus he needs much stucture and routine and supervision to keep on task. He can waste more time inbetween things. He is most happy when we flow and are free....like fieldtrip days. He likes to explore and learn about his own thing when it strikes him. Classical style schooling is not his natural way to learn but it is very effective. He does not dislike school anymore than any other structured activity that keeps him from being free. This type of learning challenges him and really makes him use his brain. Things that use to be difficult are now enjoyable because he has reached a level of mastery like with reading. He loves all the reading we do! Thanks for any suggestions and feedback!