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ShannonJ
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| Posted: Sept 05 2011 at 9:23pm | IP Logged
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Any ideas on how to rearrange math for my 8yo? We have been struggling with this for years. She is very bright in math and grasps concepts easily, but now that she is into multi-step problems she frequently can't keep her attention on a problem long enough to finish.
Although we don't have an official diagnosis (and aren't looking for one) we are fairly sure that she is ADD. Her father does as well and also struggled with math in school, which completely amazes me because as an adult he is extremely quick with math equations. He blows me out of the water!
We used RightStart A-C and are currently in Math Mammoth 3A. I circle only a few problems for her to complete each day, but the time that it takes to complete only a few problems can drag on for hours! I'm not quite sure how much more I feel comfortable cutting at this point. When I see her beginning to wander I try to sit and talk her through the problems. This speeds things up immensely! I do not do the problem, but simply read it and break it down into pieces so that she can concentrate on only small portions at a time. She understands the hows of multi-digit addition/subtraction and multiplication, but just can't focus long enough to complete her problems! I feel bad because she struggles to hold on so hard. I literally have to stop her to take a break.
I guess my question is if anyone has any advice on dealing with a similar situation? How far should I cut back on drill problems if she understands the concept? How much practice is too little? 15 minutes might yield 1-2 completed problems.
I love living Math books, but don't feel confident that they would provide the type of practice that would be necessary for her age. Math games possibly? We have several, but it still feels abstract to me. Of course, I am not a math person at all! I wish I could piece together a rigorous and thorough math program that doesn't feel like such a chore. 
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~Shannon
Mom of dd 12, ds 9, & dd 5
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Sept 05 2011 at 9:50pm | IP Logged
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ShannonJ wrote:
Any ideas on how to rearrange math for my 8yo? We have been struggling with this for years. She is very bright in math and grasps concepts easily, but now that she is into multi-step problems she frequently can't keep her attention on a problem long enough to finish.
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How far should I cut back on drill problems if she understands the concept? |
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If she's understanding the concept, and can demonstrate that to you (in a few practice problems), I'd stop there and move on. Her seeming lack of attention could just be boredom. I don't push overly repetitive review problems if they aren't needed....after all, their purpose is to review a concept until it is mastered. If it is mastered early, their purpose is no longer necessary, and to an intelligent child, will be boring and redundant.
ShannonJ wrote:
| When I see her beginning to wander I try to sit and talk her through the problems. |
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This is the point at which I'd just stop math. It sounds like she's given you some good effort at this point. Close the book and consider the math for the day done! Even if the concept isn't mastered yet, at this point (in which you can clearly see her beginning to wander), she's lost the ability to offer attention. It's ok to stop there.
Math games are certainly a great way to build in a little reinforcement as backup!
That's my 2 cents anyway.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: Sept 06 2011 at 7:14am | IP Logged
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We have had the exact same issues with my 7 year old son for as long as we have been doing math. We have tried several programs. The only one he seems to do consistently well with is Teaching Textbooks (which is NOT my favorite program, but it works for him). We keep the lessons short- no more than 15 minutes a day. We use a timer and then he is required to stop where he is. We also only require him to do 2 lessons of TT per week, and the other days we do math games and living math books. That way we keep it fresh and fun. We can use the living math books to introduce much harder material in a fun way, and we do a short (5 minute) review every day of addition and subtraction facts in a game format so that he is cementing those.
If we do the 5 minutes of review it keeps us able to move forward in the lessons and keep him from getting bored from constantly reviewing.
So I am teaching him at three levels at all times:
- lowest level: review. No more than 5 minutes per day, using a 'beat your best' game format with flashcards. Occasionally I will let them play a free math review app on my iPod called Rocket Math.
- standard level: this is our main program, TT in our case. Short lessons a couple times a week.
- highest level: this is introducing new, challenging material through living books and games. We use a lot of the *I Love Math* series, Family Math, and the Greg Tang books.
Oh, I wanted to add. When we had reached critical breaking point of frustration with math about a year ago, I took a few months off math all together. The first few weeks we did nothing. No math. After that we started getting living math books from the library and I bought Family Math. Our whole curriculum became games and living math books. It really helped bring some of that joy and wonder back to the subject. After doing that for awhile I started looking into actual curricula. I found TT and let my DS do the free trial for TT3. He loved it, and was begging to do it everyday. So we bought it for him for his birthday. He still has days where his attention is wandering off and he stares into space with TT, but most of the time it's very good for him. We may or may not continue. As I said, it's not MY personal favorite. But it is working.
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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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ShannonJ
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| Posted: Sept 08 2011 at 9:56pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for chiming in. After my little breakdown, I decided to give her two equations to work on the next day, along with a timer set for 20 minutes. 20 minutes later she had one problem done - with the wrong answer. I'm thinking, "OK, is this worse than I thought?" After looking at the answer to this 3 digit subtraction equation and trying to figure out how she got there I realize that she subtracted part of it and added another part. Distraction at work again.
So from here I slowly begin to realize that she just isn't ready to work alone in Math. I guess that I've known this all along, but with the littles demanding so much attention, I have pushed her to be more independent in the one area that she needs my guidance the most. I'm not sure why I have struggled with this for nearly a year. The answer is really so clear now!
We rearranged things and for the past couple of sessions we have been sitting together and she walks me through each problem as she does it. Today we did three pages in 20 minutes!
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~Shannon
Mom of dd 12, ds 9, & dd 5
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Sept 09 2011 at 7:49am | IP Logged
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ShannonJ wrote:
she just isn't ready to work alone in Math. I guess that I've known this all along, but with the littles demanding so much attention, I have pushed her to be more independent in the one area that she needs my guidance the most. I'm not sure why I have struggled with this for nearly a year. The answer is really so clear now!
We rearranged things and for the past couple of sessions we have been sitting together and she walks me through each problem as she does it. Today we did three pages in 20 minutes! |
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That's great, Shannon! Really great! Sometimes just identifying the problem as best you can, and then sitting down and really observing what is going on gives you the best clue to the situation, and that's exactly what it sounds like here!
I can't tell you HOW.MANY.TIMES I thought I knew what a problem/challenge was....and then finally really took the time to quietly observe my child in action, and came up with an "AHA" to the problem that yielded a common sense answer. It's always a distinct, almost tangible relief for me, and it seems like it has been just that way for you, too! I'm proud of you! You sat down with her, and could have gotten hung up on the fact that she *couldn't do the math problem correctly in 20 minutes*....but you looked beyond that and could see that what she really needed was a little more direction from you!   Fantastic brainstorming!!! And then, further brainstorming your schedule, managing your time so that you can be present to her during her math time is perfect! I'm so proud of you for working this out and finding common sense answers to address her real needs!
Not only will you be rewarded in terms of the obvious in her blossoming math skills, but you've just fostered a trust between you and your daughter which builds relationship. As she grows into this time of more independent learning (and she's getting there, trust me!) your showing her this attention and your commitment to providing her with the tools she needs (in this case - YOU!) provides a gentle, but strong foundation of TRUST and confidence! AND...you've just banked some MARVELOUS brainstorming skills! There will be more challenges in homeschooling, but if you tackle them all in the EXACT SAME WAY --> talk it out with someone, observe your child, prayerfully consider results in light of variables, brainstorm, action <-- you will do GREAT!!!!
GREAT JOB, Shannon!!!!!! Grant yourself a little reward cup-of-tea time today, Mama! You just earned it!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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ShannonJ
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| Posted: Sept 09 2011 at 9:45pm | IP Logged
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Thank you so much for all of your encouraging words Jen!
This really has been a wonderful break through for the two of us and I do feel that this wonderfully simple guidance will only continue to strengthen her skills so that as she continues to grow in knowledge she will also be learning the skills that she needs to keep her focus. I only wish that I has seen it sooner, but am so grateful that we are there now! 
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~Shannon
Mom of dd 12, ds 9, & dd 5
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4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: 8yo unable to focus
