Need help with MM

[mommyof3blessings]

I am new here and this is my 1st year hsing my DS8, DD6, and DD3. My oldest 2 were in ps until this year and they used Saxon math. I chose MM for them both, but they are struggling. They both can do the basic math that they are expected to do (for instance, my daughter could do pages of subtraction problems all day long IF they are all set up the same way, i.e. 6-2=4, not all mixed together with addition, word problems, etc.) but are getting bogged down just trying to figure out what the problem is asking for.

I have been so frustated this morning (they both had math tests) that I was crying and don't know which way to turn! Does anyone have suggestions for a GREAT math curriculum that I should look into? Any one have this sort of situation with MM and what did you do about it? I appreciate any help or suggestions:bigear:. Thanks!

[warneral]

I am new here and this is my 1st year hsing my DS8, DD6, and DD3. My oldest 2 were in ps until this year and they used Saxon math. I chose MM for them both, but they are struggling. They both can do the basic math that they are expected to do (for instance, my daughter could do pages of subtraction problems all day long IF they are all set up the same way, i.e. 6-2=4, not all mixed together with addition, word problems, etc.) but are getting bogged down just trying to figure out what the problem is asking for.

I have been so frustated this morning (they both had math tests) that I was crying and don't know which way to turn! Does anyone have suggestions for a GREAT math curriculum that I should look into? Any one have this sort of situation with MM and what did you do about it? I appreciate any help or suggestions:bigear:. Thanks!

 

It can take some time on your part. I'd sit with them and help them out patiently. As they go on it will make more sense to them. My dd struggled with it at first, but by sitting with her and reassuring her, she caught on. Both kiddos are now much more independent with it now. It took me changing my perspective, and it took some time.

 

Math shouldn't be completely independent at these ages IMO.

 

I'd give it some more time because I think is a great program which teaches strong mental math.

[Five More Minutes]

From your post, it's hard to tell if the difficulty lies in the curriculum or not. It may be that MM will work just fine with some adaptation.

 

You could consider, for example, adding in some Miquon Math a couple of times of week. Miquon sets problems up differently and encourages discovery, which may help your students when they approach different sets of problems in MM.

 

Or you could spend some time at the beginning of your math periods doing random question types together, so that your students get a chance to work with you in tackling a range of problems. (I'm thinking of 5-10 "easy" problems that involve different operations.)

 

Another thing to look into are Singapore Math's Challenging Word Problems and/or its Intensive Practice books. These books could supplement your MM program and give them practice with variety. (I think that boscopup does this; hopefully she'll pop in and give you ideas on that.)

 

I guess I wouldn't ditch MM and the investment yet. However, if you're determined to try something new, then Singapore Math is absolutely worth considering because of the variety of problems and approaches.

[warneral]

I should also add that I selected pages from the level before it as a summer review. This may have helped them "get" the method at an easier level than if we had jumped in at their level.

 

All of those different ways of looking at the same type of problem gives a strong mind for numbers. They're essentially doing algebra!

[Critterfixer]

I had two beginning second graders who came out of Saxon 1 with what I thought was a good grasp of basic math facts. Anyhoo, we charged into MM and got a rude awakening. I still want to use MM, because I really like so much about it, but it just wasn't going to happen soon.

My solution was MEP at the first grade level. They are about five lessons away from finishing, and like it so much that we could do two lessons a day and everyone would be happy. And you can't beat the price.

Be forewarned however. It takes some getting used to the way it works. (The worksheets are not the lessons. Only part of them. Try to look at a lesson alongside a workbook page. Makes more sense that way.)

I still use my MM to generate worksheets on topics I feel they need to practice that don't show up in MEP all that often. They love these.

Not all the tears are gone, but I've seen their confidence go through the roof with math using MEP.

Since so much of math is understanding the problem and not just trying to find the answer, I chose to focus on that and we've been a lot happier every since.

[cjbeach]

It may just be a practice thing, I like to use something in addition to MM like the regular blue books (per subject arrangement) OR just route drilling (like the Saxon worksheet drills or mathdrills.com). For my dd her issue with fluidity was the lack of practice in her skills. The more we drilled, it all just clicked for her.

[justLisa]

I think the problem is you are not used to this method of understanding math. Some math programs teach mostly drills, and memorization but the student does not learn the relationship between addition/subtraction.

 

Say the problem you gave 6-4=2 . It is also beneficial to understand that 2 is the difference between 6 and 4, or you can look at a number line and count the steps between, or what do you need to add to 2 to get to 6? as in 2 + __=6. Math mammoth uses this from the get-go because it works. Are you using grade 1? SHe presents them as "fact families." Such as this:

 

2 + 4 = 6 or

4 + 2 = 6 or

6 - 2 = 4 or

6 - 4 = 2

 

I would just move very slowly through MM. My kids both did great with a number line. Also play games with marbles. I think in MM she calls it some went hiding. This was extremely helpful with DD 5.5 and she is finally able to see those marbles as numbers on the paper. Singapore math is another curriculum that teaches the same way MM does, but I would caution purchasing if you already have MM. I finally caved and bought SM after wondering if the grass would be greener and it did not help at all. The books have more pictures, and that kind of thing but conceptually I realized we prefer the way MM breaks things down.

 

I think if they are coming from PS maybe start very slow. Manipulatives and games to help understand that the numbers tie in to something, and then go to the worksheets.

 

ETA: I also wanted to add about the struggle with word problems. This is where manipulatives can be a huge help. You have some apples, take some away to get how many. Take the marbles or beans out, and talk it through not just with reading the words on paper. With a child who struggles with application problems but knows basic math facts it may be that they have them memorized but don't know how to apply that to something.

 

I will say that Singapore primary math is very nice to look at if you have a child who is overwhelmed with MM. MM IS very plain looking, which is why I need it for DS who is very mathy and hates frills. DD on the other hand needs the visual appeal. They have a textbook which is in color and gives examples worked out, and then the workbooks for the practice. The HIG (home instructor guide) can be very helpful for you to teach and explain things to them as it is very scripted and gives ideas of how to illustrated math concepts.

Edited November 11, 2011 by 425lisamarie

[wapiti]

I am new here and this is my 1st year hsing my DS8, DD6, and DD3. My oldest 2 were in ps until this year and they used Saxon math. I chose MM for them both, but they are struggling. They both can do the basic math that they are expected to do (for instance, my daughter could do pages of subtraction problems all day long IF they are all set up the same way, i.e. 6-2=4, not all mixed together with addition, word problems, etc.) but are getting bogged down just trying to figure out what the problem is asking for.

I have been so frustated this morning (they both had math tests) that I was crying and don't know which way to turn! Does anyone have suggestions for a GREAT math curriculum that I should look into? Any one have this sort of situation with MM and what did you do about it? I appreciate any help or suggestions:bigear:. Thanks!

 

Only being able to do the problems if they are set up in a certain way might reflect a weakness in conceptual understanding. Learning how to do problems that are set up differently is one of the strengths of MM, and a reason to stick with it rather than ditch it. The goal is to understand the concept from all angles rather than just a straightforward perspective. It may take some getting used to; you may need to slow down or back up or add manipulatives or hand-hold some more, but it will be worth it. In math, as in life, problems are not always going to present themselves in the same way, and math only gets more difficult from here.

 

I'd look carefully at the types of problems they did not test well on, and practice those, re-teaching the concept along the way.

 

If you want to spend more time on one particular type of problem before moving on, use the MM worksheet maker in the extra materials folder. Also don't forget the cumulative reviews.

[bbkaren]

I'd like to add that the three-cornered flash cards helped my son understand that all the above equations lisamarie mentioned above, are in fact related.

 

One flash card shows all of those equations.

 

My son loves them and it totally clicked for him using them. It's been a breeze for him phasing into subtraction from addition.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Three-Corner-Flash-Cards-Addition-Subtraction/dp/B0006HXTY6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321040428&sr=8-1

[boscopup]

You may need to back up some in MM for both kids... Go back to MM1 and at least hit some highlights. Don't do every single problem, but teach them the material. You could do this at the white board with the text in your hand, and just have them work a few problems to demonstrate each concept. Pull out the manipulatives if you need to. I agree that it sounds like your kids are demonstrating a lack of conceptual understanding, and that is very much needed to keep going in MM.

 

Also, are they placed correctly? When I pulled my son out of school, he'd done half of Saxon 1. After school, I had been doing MM1A alongside it. He was learning a LOT more in MM1A than he ever was in Saxon 1. It felt like I was doing two different grade levels!

 

So back up, slow down, get the basic concepts solid, then move forward. MM1 does a pretty good job of introducing word problems and having kids practice thinking about what a problem is asking.

[mommyof3blessings]

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone! I am regrouping and hoping Monday will be a better day:001_smile: