mountains27 Posted August 4, 2020 Posted August 4, 2020 Hi, Not new to homeschooling but my son did a few years in public school and is now back home for the foreseeable future. He struggles very much in math and I need to find him something that will repeat concepts over and over and over and over... he might even benefit from skipping back to some 6th grade topics to re-learn because I found that with him being home for remote school learning at the end of this year that he didn't truly "master" these concepts like his report card said he did 😕 in the past when home schooling we used BA and MM but I feel like there is something else out there I just haven't discovered yet that will be the perfect fit for him! Does anyone have any recommendations that might be what I am looking for 🙂 Thank you! Quote
mountains27 Posted August 4, 2020 Author Posted August 4, 2020 I have skimmed through the website, will need to look at it more. There seem to be a lot of different options there, is there a different Saxon math for homeschoolers? I might be looking in the wrong spot because I found "classroom" packages that appear to be for public schools? Quote
Ellie Posted August 4, 2020 Posted August 4, 2020 1 hour ago, mountains27 said: I have skimmed through the website, will need to look at it more. There seem to be a lot of different options there, is there a different Saxon math for homeschoolers? I might be looking in the wrong spot because I found "classroom" packages that appear to be for public schools? Yes, there is, but I think you should be fine if you purchase it from a supplier like Rainbow Resources. Quote
mountains27 Posted August 4, 2020 Author Posted August 4, 2020 12 minutes ago, square_25 said: What topics is he having trouble with? It probably doesn't much matter what curriculum you use, as long as you pinpoint the trouble and explain clearly then give enough practice. He has trouble with all topics honestly! He just doesn't seem to absorb math at all. When I homeschooled him in 1-3 grade I had trouble getting him to anything higher than a 2nd grade level. When he went to public school in 4th grade they put him into a small class for extra math help and he was doing OK with that. Basically he and a few other students went with a teacher and got a lesson on what the rest of the class would be doing and then also did the same lesson with the whole class so he got a double dose of the math concepts. I think he is still a grade level below his age math-wise but I don't really stress about grade levels, just want him to have a less frustrating math experience at home this time and try and get him geared up for algebra in a couple years. Quote
mountains27 Posted August 5, 2020 Author Posted August 5, 2020 23 minutes ago, square_25 said: Hm. Would you say he has a solid understanding of place value? How about of the relationship between multiplication and division? How about of what an equals sign stands for? yes, I think he has those all down, for the most part. He still needs help with basic multiplication facts and needs a reminder on the steps for long division and multiplying 2 digit numbers. He was covering area and perimeter with his class during remote learning this spring, he can do the basic functions but when he was asked to solve for the missing side or figure the area of a complex shape he would get overwhelmed and not be able to even start the problem at all unless the teacher (or I) was reminding him of the steps and helping him through the process. So this makes me think he might need a program that has a heavy review of the previous grade and then repeats new concepts over and over. Quote
mountains27 Posted August 5, 2020 Author Posted August 5, 2020 46 minutes ago, square_25 said: Hmmmm. Take place value. Does "for the most part" mean that he could, say, subtract and multiply without the algorithms? Or he would know where to start to try with something like 11*12 or 1000 - 899, if he couldn't use the algorithms? Hmm, so mental math? he isn't great at it but if he is in the right frame of mind...paying attention....he can do it. Otherwise he needs to write it down and figure it out. It's like sometimes he forgets he can do it. He has ADD but I have had him off meds because he also has anxiety and it gets way worse on stimulants which is the only ADD med that works for him! 😕 Quote
mountains27 Posted August 5, 2020 Author Posted August 5, 2020 1 minute ago, square_25 said: Hmmmm. So to me, it sounds like you need to work on his confidence as much as anything else, if he's currently finding certain problems overwhelming 🙂 . A manipulative-heavy program like Math-U-See might be good for that. We don't use a curriculum ourselves, but maybe @EKS knows -- it's still manipulative-based for this age, right? yes, I had tried that a bit with him back in 1st grade but was just using someones old workbook and didn't have all the pieces to it. I think I was jumping around a lot then trying to find the perfect fit. I will have to look at that again. I did print out the Saxon math placement test and am going to have him try that tomorrow and get an idea where he might fall in that program Quote
mountains27 Posted August 5, 2020 Author Posted August 5, 2020 4 minutes ago, WendyAndMilo said: You might actually want to have him take the ADAM test instead of a curriculum placement test. It sounds like the knowledge gaps might be all over the place. Thank you, I had never heard of that test before, I think I'll give it a try and use it as a starting point! Quote
EKS Posted August 5, 2020 Posted August 5, 2020 1 hour ago, square_25 said: Hmmmm. So to me, it sounds like you need to work on his confidence as much as anything else, if he's currently finding certain problems overwhelming 🙂 . A manipulative-heavy program like Math-U-See might be good for that. We don't use a curriculum ourselves, but maybe @EKS knows -- it's still manipulative-based for this age, right? I haven't used MUS Prealgebra--just through Zeta (6th grade). I assume so though. I know he demonstrates how to factor quadratics with the blocks, and I'm assuming that's in Algebra 1. Quote
BusyMom5 Posted August 6, 2020 Posted August 6, 2020 From what you describe, Saxon could be a good choice bc it has a lot of review and breaks topics down into tiny bites. I also suggest that you look ahead every week and try to find visual explanations, draw diagrams, write him math notes to follow- whatever he needs to help him. I also do about half or more of the problems with my math struggle, talking through the procedure as I go. Best of luck! 1 Quote
PeterPan Posted August 7, 2020 Posted August 7, 2020 Also consider looking at Ronit Bird's materials if you think dyscalculia is part of the issue. Her Overciming book is the right starting point for older kids. https://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-Difficulties-Number-Supporting-Dyscalculia/dp/1848607113/ The price is GREAT here. Also highky recommend this series https://www.evan-moor.com/daily-word-problems-grade-3-teachers-edition-print Quote
blue plaid Posted August 7, 2020 Posted August 7, 2020 I will echo the CLE (Christian Light Education) recommendation. It introduces new topics very gently, and has tons of review. It has been great for one of mine. 6th grade level would review and solidify elementary school math I think. Quote
8filltheheart Posted August 7, 2020 Posted August 7, 2020 Lial's Basic College Math might be a good option. You can buy an older addition very inexpensively. It covers all elementary math concepts. Quote
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