I don't know what to do anymore!

[beccad777]

My DS9 has always struggled in math. He cannot seem to memorize the facts or even figure them out without mistakes. He has finally sort of gotten his addition and subtraction facts down and we are working on multiplication. We are using R&S grade 3 math and I like the way it is presented. Very clear and lots of practice (which he needs!). He understands the concept, he just can't seem to work the problem without mistakes. We're talking 3x8 kind of stuff here.

 

So, I hadn't graded his math homework for about 2 weeks. I know, I should have but I wasn't too worried about it since he was doing OK with the oral drills. I graded them all this morning and the majority are in the 60 percentile! :confused: Unacceptable! Especially when on 2 or 3 papers he was in the 80s! I have realized that he is just lazy. If he thinks I am not paying attention he skips problems and does them wrong just to get through it.

 

I am so upset! I am making him go back and correct them all. And threatened to cancel his birthday party if he doesn't improve immediately. I just don't know what to do with him anymore! :banghead:

 

Thanks for listening! :001_smile:

[lexi]

I'm so sorry! :grouphug: it's so difficult when the kids aren't motivated and don't do their part, especially when us homeschool parents put in so much time and effort. I don't have much advice for you but wanted to acknowledge your hard work. :grouphug:

[Halcyon]

:grouphug: We are using Speed! which both my boys love--perhaps your son would enjoy a game approach to learning his facts?

[wy_kid_wrangler04]

:grouphug: We are using Speed!

 

 

What is Speed?? Can you link it please?

[Lori D.]

Not what you want to hear, but some *adults* never have been able to memorize math facts. I have a very intelligent musician friend (and math and music are connected in the brain!), who was NEVER able to memorize math facts. She finally learned some skip counting songs to help her quickly get to the math facts she needed.

 

There are MANY students at age 9 who just can't memorize math facts, at least not in the "drill and kill" worksheet way. Some finally begin to "click" (that area of the brain which processes math facts matures) around age 12-14. What helps students of ANY age who are not clicking with math facts: an auditory and/or visual input to help the abstract math facts go into their long-term (more visual) memory -- which repetition from worksheets does NOT do.

 

We struggled through this with DS, who did NOT get math facts until age 12. We gently, daily did 2 methods a day, mixing two different methods per week, until we'd get one set of math facts (we did them as math families) down, and then move to the next one:

 

 

- Listen to skip count tapes (we used Skip Count Kid, but any catchy version will work)

(the student is learning multiples and can quickly run through the song, which is easily memorized, to get to the particular multiple needed for the math fact answer)

 

- Watch Schoolhouse Rock: Multiplication Rock

(Available free on YouTube, but VERY worth purchasing the DVD. A very visual and memorable songs to memorize multiplication facts)

 

- Read together: "Times Tables: The Times Tables Made Easy"

(the unusual visual picture, combined with a story, makes the math fact extremely memorable, and goes straight to long-term memory in the brain)

 

- Use triangle flashcards

(Moves from individual math facts to 3 numbers which make a "math family". Triangle flashcards help in 2 ways:

1. allows you to visually see the relationship between the numbers as a fact family

2. condenses FOUR math facts into ONE fact family

 

For example: in the three corners of the triangle card, you have 6, 7, 42. That gives you the 4 math facts of:

6x7 = 42

7x6 = 42

42/7 = 6

42/6 = 7

 

And very important: start your triangle flashcard practice by NOT COVERING up any numbers. Ask, "what is 6x7?" Let her SEE that it is 42, and have him SAY "6x7 is 42". Then ask the related math facts. "What is 7x6?" "What is 42 divided by 6?" "What is 42 divided by 7?" Just work with one set of numbers (for example, all the 8s) for a few days or a week doing that. Then the following week, start covering one number on the triangle card at a time and ask the math fact that would require the covered number as the answer. Then cover a different number on that card, and repeat.)

 

 

Please be gentle with your DS AND yourself! Usually, not memorizing math facts is NOT an area of disobedience or laziness, but a quiet disability that can be addressed by using other different methods of input, and with gentle patience waiting on the student's unique brain maturation process to occur.

 

BEST of luck! Warmly, Lori D.

[ChrissySC]

http://donnayoung.org/math/tricards.htm

[ChrissySC]

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/triangle-flash-cards/id312229282?mt=8

[beccad777]

Thanks for everyone's help. I ordered the Speed game. I do have the triangle cards and use them. He just fights using them. I may try the skip counting song. That seems like it could work. Thanks!

[keyjoh62080]

My dd8 had the same problem until we started using rod & staff math (simple, sweet to the point). We do all the problems on all the sheets everyday. She is doing wonderfully and is so happy and proud and so am I.

[walkermamaof4]

I just told another friend this morning that a friend of mine told me to "inspect, not expect". I don't think you can expect him to be motivated to do it well on his own at that age without your supervision. I think at least for math that your kids need your attention 100% -- no computers/email/facebook (these are my temptations). I found out the hard way!!! We have delightful days when I am available and I am checking their work. I want us to love school as much as possible. But this requires a lot of me. HTH!