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Topic: When is it time to switch ...

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Natalia
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Joined: Feb 07 2005
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Posted: Jan 09 2008 at 11:04am \| IP Logged

math programs? We use Singapore. We used it very successfully with our oldest but I am not sure is working with our 10 yo. It is not that he is not grasping math. He is. He has a good understanding of math. So the program is delivering understanding and skill. The problem is that he hates math. AND, I am tired of hearing his complains and his sighs when he is working. He cries and whines, he says he hates it. Frankly I am tired of it. I don't know if changing programs would help or maybe the problem is "endemic"

?
This year I have been stopping after each Singapore unit and doing exercises from mathwire. He respond well to hands on. He likes applied math. He doesn't like pages of exercises (I know he wouldn't like Saxon Math!). I am not confident enough to let go of a math program, plus I don't think his engineer father will agree to just do away with a math program. Do any of you have a similar situation? any advice? suggestions for a new math program?

Thanks,

Natalia

Anne
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Joined: May 21 2007
Location: Tennessee
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Posted: Jan 10 2008 at 6:40am \| IP Logged

Natalia,
I know how you feel. A few years ago I had the same problem with math curriculum. We have gone from Saxon to MUS to Everyday Math and finally Singapore. We plan to use Teaching textbooks for the remainder of their schooling God willing.
Here is a link to a search on this site forTeaching Textbooks.

This curriculum has been given rave reviews by many of my HS friends. Here is a link to the TT sites TT Home Page.

There is also the Life of Fred curriculum. This is a more story based math program and is written to the student. Very different yet I have also heard great reviews. I believe there have also been threads on this topic as well.
I hope this helps.

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Anne in TN
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Natalia
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Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Louisiana
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Posted: Jan 10 2008 at 11:23am \| IP Logged

Thanks Anne for your response. My high schooler is using TT for geometry and used it for Algebra last year. Life of Fred looks interesting. I wonder if a 5th grader can use it successfully...

I guess more that what program to use, I am wondering about how to tell if the problem is really caused by the program or if it is maturity/personality/character issue. Singapore is an excellent program. I would hate to give up and the find out that the problem was the child. Do you kow what I mean?

How much do you accommodate a student? Can a program make such a difference in the attitude of a child? when do you just tell him to buckle up and do it?

I know this questions are vague (maybe that is why I don't get many answers to my questions) but posting it here helps me to think it through.

thanks,

Natalia

Leonie
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Joined: Jan 28 2005
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Posted: Jan 10 2008 at 3:39pm \| IP Logged

Natalia wrote:

I guess more that what program to use, I am wondering about how to tell if the problem is really caused by the program or if it is maturity/personality/character issue. Singapore is an excellent program. I would hate to give up and the find out that the problem was the child. Do you kow what I mean?

I undestand this commemt, as I have one son who has a more, well, complaining nature

and so for him it is less the progamme and more an attitude.

He uses Kumon ( I am a Kumon Supervisor) and we take pure unscooling breaks and we supplement with activity maths - things from Mathwire or the maths curriculum that goes with the TV Show Numbers ( This son is a teenager). Or maths journaling.

But, basically, I tell him that he knows he needs maths for the career he is thinking about and so he just needs to suck it up and do it - no complaining.

Ostensibly maths is his choice, because of his future goals. But switching programmes make no sense -he hss switched programmes in the past and we can see that Kumon works for him - he just doesn't always want to do the work!

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Leonie in Sydney
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