My daughter is bright and creative, but she's struggling. She STILL doesn't have her math facts memorized, though I haven't pushed it too hard because she is so reluctant. I've had her do xtramath, Mathrider, flashmaster, chanting, flash cards, and skip counting. I've purchased the MUS skip counting songs, but she hates them because she says they are babyish.
She's in Saxon 5/4 and I feel like I'm dragging her through. I teach the lessons myself and draw pictures or use manipulatives as needed. Manipulatives seem to annoy her, but sometimes those things are just necessary to explain a concept. Sometimes I'll see her eyes light up in understanding, but it seems short-lived. I love the way Saxon develops concepts, but the tight spiral might be part of the problem. She doesn't think mathematically at all. During the mental warm ups she melts down when presented with a problem like 278+300. Even when I give her a strategy to do it mentally, I can tell she's trying to add the ones/tens/hundreds in columns in her head. I naturally think in pictures and patterns, but she looks at me like I'm crazy when I show her how I do it.
I really don't know how to explain this child. Her gifts are in the creative arts and language. I accept that math might be difficult for her, but it shouldn't have to be miserable. I do expect her to follow a college-prep path for math. I don't want her to cry or say she feels stupid.
I've put the math book away for now. I want her to work on her math facts, but not in a way that is drudgery. She does tend towards laziness when something doesn't come easily for her. My son will practice difficult things just for the sheer joy of mastering them, but she avoids the conflict. So basically her problems are a combination of no fact mastery, lack of true understanding, and a lack of perseverance. How should I tackle this?