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mom2mpr
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| Posted: April 04 2009 at 1:39pm | IP Logged
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One of my reasons for home educating has been the quality of the education my children will get. The good stuff they are exposed too-books, poems, artwork, music, etc. Also, my ability to use the best programs for different subjects and the programs that work for them.
I am struggling with math. We are using Singapore(have been for about a year now). We have so many meltdown days. Yesterday I realized that I was learning with ds, I was not getting the lesson, and when I did get it, not presenting our lesson well to him. I did review the lesson the night before, I just forgot 
So, I am looking at Teaching Textbooks but wary for a few reasons.
-I know how good Singapore is. I like how he learns from it(when it goes well).
-TT is supposed to be easy. I can see he will be way up in TT 5 or 6--is only in Singapore 3B right now-ouch!
-I have switched math programs, oh, about a dozen times now. I make myself feel guilty that that is the reason we are so behind. I don't want to do it again.
Is his happiness in learning so much more important than the program he is in and the goals I(that is revealing--but he is only 11) set for him? If he is happy is he learning?-or just lazy.
In some ways, I am tired of always trying to make it fun. I have been oriented that way since kindergarten and I am tired. But, it is another reason I homeschooled. So he wouldn't have to be lost in a boring classroom.
I guess this is mostly a vent but also looking for ideas from those with experience. Maybe I'll take votes--stay the course with Singapore or try TT?
What do you think?
Anne
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: April 04 2009 at 1:48pm | IP Logged
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We chose Singapore because it's how I naturally was teaching my children anyway.. and my children were clambering for workbooks 
I do think you need a program that you as the teacher can understand. It's much easier to adapt within a program if it's something you understand.
Did you struggle with math yourself? Is it Singapore or would you struggle with any program? Are you projecting any negative feeling of math on your son? (like math is boring  )Can your dh work with him at math in the evenings? Maybe if you were able to step back some (and have dh see more) you could tell if your son is really struggling or just being lazy?
Since we're using Singapore as well and I haven't run into problems yet and I know I have at least one through 3B (I can't remember where everyone actually is right now) you could pm if you didn't understand and I could see if I could help you. I usually have some free time in the evening.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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stellamaris
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| Posted: April 04 2009 at 2:38pm | IP Logged
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mom2mpr wrote:
In some ways, I am tired of always trying to make it fun. I have been oriented that way since kindergarten and I am tired. But, it is another reason I homeschooled. So he wouldn't have to be lost in a boring classroom.
I guess this is mostly a vent but also looking for ideas from those with experience.
Anne |
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I don't think there is really any math curriculum that will make it fun all (or even most of) the time. Math is discipline, and it takes discipline to do it! I don't think it is possible to completely take the "boring" out of math, especially for a non-mathematically oriented student. It's OK for your son to have to work at things that are not always fun...kind of like eating vegetables, it's good for you. I also wonder if you are taking over in areas that he should be doing himself. Once you have gone over the lesson with him, can he do it on his own, or do you have to walk him through each problem? Does he seem to understand the material when you work together, only to "forget" it when he's working alone? Then he is probably letting you do his thinking for him and you need to tell him to "keep working on it". If he is not understanding when you present the material, then he may be struggling because of one of two reasons: 1)you don't understand the material and so can't present it clearly, in which case you need something like TT or Math U See or Chalk Dust some other self-contained/video type course that does the teaching for you or 2)he isn't understanding because he either missed out on underlying concepts due to switching curriculum or he may have some kind of learning disability in the area of mathematics. I think you need to try and discern if it is one of the above problems before you decide he's lazy.
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In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to  dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
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4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: Bouncing around, happiness and such
