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knowloveserve
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| Posted: April 04 2011 at 4:56pm | IP Logged
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My 6 year old son is rather bright as it is; he taught himself to read last year and has a natural perception on how to sound things out well. He's a better reader than my 8 year old, and it appears he's on the road to being a better math student also.
He's enjoyed watching big brother do Teaching Textbooks math on the computer all year. And he's been begging to do it himself.
So I finally let him. He's now well into TT 3. I feel reluctant though because I really would rather have a more hands on, tangible basis for math for his age. I feel like kids need to understand what abstract problems represent in real life before getting into the work-booky stuff. He uses his fingers and the abacus for adding and subtracting, so I know he's making the connection in some ways. The only thing I've noticed he struggles a wee bit with is in translating word problems into actual equations. But with some guidance, he's making sense of that too. So while we started the school year with him technically as a Kindergartener... he's now cruised well past First grade levels of reading, writing and arithmetic.
Anyway, he enjoys TT so much (in fact I use it as a sort of reward... he "gets" to do it when his copywork and other little things are done.  )-- he even begs to do multiple lessons a day and on weekends! Because of his enthusiasm, I'm letting him go with it. But because TT is so wickedly mom-friendly (speaking as a woman who's not particularly fond of teaching or doing math), it feels like I'm taking the easy way out. But most of all, I wonder if it is prudent to have the majority of his math formation be on the computer.
What do you think?
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Ellie
The Bleeding Pelican
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: April 04 2011 at 6:02pm | IP Logged
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I'd let him do it if he's loving it. I think that can be more important than anything else.. you learn when you WANT to learn it.
And then just take everyday stuff along the way.. play some games where the kids use math. Involve them in cooking (wonderful math and you can actually see your fractions), involve them in figuring costs in the store etc.. things you can just do with them as they come up because they come up in life. And that will help them connect what they're learning on the computer to the use of it.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: April 04 2011 at 6:18pm | IP Logged
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Go for it! What a wonderful combination of talent, interest, and tool.
Ellie, I remember trying to, I don't know, "hold back" or direct my dd's reading when she was 6. I had well thought out ideas about reading and educational philosophy. She clearly hadn't the same concerns  . So off we went in the direction she gravitated and...now she is studying words (journalism and lit) at a major university  .
Also, as a mom of kids who show no particular talent or interest in math, I think that watching this math passion unfold would be remarkable  .
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: April 04 2011 at 6:55pm | IP Logged
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I am so glad to see this thread. I just bought TT3 for my almost-seven year old.
I already know he can do lesson 54, he did it on the website and got it all right, so I imagine it's going to be too easy for him, too, but he loved it so much that he begged me to buy it for him! The child has never asked to do a math program before in his life, and we have used several programs (none of which worked well for us).
I had the same concerns about it being all computer based. I am glad to see this, though. It's making me feel better about going ahead and getting it.
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Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: April 05 2011 at 12:48pm | IP Logged
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I would allow him to plow ahead, but I wouldn't necessarily assume that he will retain everything. I would assess him from time to time maybe using other methods, like maybe flashcards for math facts.
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Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: April 05 2011 at 1:57pm | IP Logged
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My son's TT3 came in the mail today. I finally stopped him after lesson 6 so I could have a turn on the computer. He was still begging for more.
The only thing is, I wish they had visuals when they introduce new ideas, like adding numbers together. I assume, since simple addition and subtraction is not typically something new in third grade, that they are sure you already understand how addition works.
My 5 year old desperately wanted to have his turn, but I think it was just a little beyond him. He needs to have a more concrete understanding of the 'how' before I let him move to just TT.
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God bless,
Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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AmandaV
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| Posted: April 05 2011 at 4:01pm | IP Logged
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Krista, have you already looked into Miquon? We are using it to supplement MEP, and it is meant for first through third grade. Since Miquon uses cuisenaire rods to illustrate the concepts of addition, multiplication, etc., that might help him to "see" what he's doing on TT. I had thought about adding TT3 next year, as I had read its more like a late second grade level than solid third, but we really like MEP's methodology. Your son might like some of the puzzles in year 2a and up. Oh, and at 3a it has interactive practice pages that self check. If he just wants more and more math, supplementing with these programs might enable you to slow him down a bit to make sure he is retaining. For now, we are going to stick with MEP and games in order to build foundations. MEP math You can click on Year 3 interactive to see the interactive pages.
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Amanda
wife since 6/03, Mom to son 7/04, daughter 2/06, twin sons 6/08 and son 7/11, son 1/2014
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4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: My 6 year old is a math fiend.
