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momtomany
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| Posted: Feb 22 2005 at 3:27pm | IP Logged
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I'm going back and forth with what Math program to use with my special needs guy.
He's doing the 3rd grade MCP math right now, though I also supplement with extra math worksheets and some computer drills.
He seems like he gets each concept, though it takes longer for him. Then we move to the next one and within a week or two it seems like he's lost the past ones. He has short term memory issues so he's really bad at recalling his basic math facts. Yet, oddly enough, he's good at recalling multiplication facts. Maybe it's the multiplication song tape that we keep playing. I have those songs stuck in my head! 
I just wondered if anyone found anything that worked particularly well with special needs kids.
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Mary Ann in PA
wife to MIchael, mom to Elizabeth, Becca, Tim, Peter, Andrew, Sarah, Matthew, John, Leah and Joseph
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cathhomeschool
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I don't have any special needs kids, but I thought I'd suggest maybe using Math U See (very visual) or something with Cuisenaire rods? If you could find an addition songs cassette, it might help you figure out whether music is the key. In the Late Bloomers Thread, Angie mentioned that choral reading has improved her son's reading skills.
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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MEBarrett
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momtomany wrote:
| He seems like he gets each concept, though it takes longer for him. Then we move to the next one and within a week or two it seems like he's lost the past ones. He has short term memory issues so he's really bad at recalling his basic math facts. Yet, oddly enough, he's good at recalling multiplication facts. |
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Wow, it's like you're talking about Ryan. We are using MCP for 4th grade and I supplement with www.superkids.com math sheets and the Math Facts CD Rom from CHC. We have hit a mjor brick wall with division. He knows his multiplication down cold. Still a little hesitant with adding and subtracting but mostly does them right. To put all of tht together to do a simple division problem is beyond him. He is kid of ok if the answer is obviously a mulitiplication thin (e.g. 24/6) but if there is a remainder involved he is totally lost. Change that to 25/6 and he can't even fathom an answer. I did discover through this that he has difficulty with "more than and less than" so we have been reviewing that. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Mary Ellen
Mom to seven beautiful kids
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O Night Divine
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Willa
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Reviving this old thread:
My special needs son is 7. He is going to need lots of concrete help in getting math concepts. This year I'll probably just use Ruth Beechick's approach but I would like to plan a bit for the future.
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Willa
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Take Up and Read
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mom3aut1not
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Hi!
I have used every math program under the sun it seems except MCP and MUS -- or so it seems.
I would work on the memory issues separately. Math facts are handy but far less important than understanding math concepts. One you can use a cheat sheet and the other you can't. I used Andrea Chen's filebox method with great success with Kristin who has significant memory issues.
I like RightStart Math and am using it with Joseph. The big thing with using RSM with a special needs child is 1) go at his pace (the first lessons I did took at least 1.5 weeks to do) and 2) realize that some of the stuff can't be done now -- my ds has very poor language skills -- and "after" is a word he is still working on. Otoh, he shows through his spontaneous writing and his work with manipulatives that he is learning a great deal -- and he is learning what I want him to learn. This is another area where knowing my goals helps me pick a curriculum and then use it to *our* advantage.
I also like Singapore Math, but I haven't tried using the lower levels with a disabled child except the K level as a fun supplement. I did use the higher levels with my autistic dds, and it worked well.
In Christ,
Deborah
Mom of four -- three grown girls and one little boy
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Willa
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| Posted: Aug 25 2006 at 10:12am | IP Logged
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Did Andrea put her filebox method online? Could you describe it?
I have not used MUS or RSM or Singapore. The other kids primarily used MCP in the younger grades, with a bit of Miquon and Calculadder.
I feel some pressure with Aidan because he is followed by so many specialists who want to know what he is "using" for different areas of the curriculum. Mentioning a specific program seems to be shorthand for saying, "Yes, I AM doing academic things with my child and taking my homeschooling seriously."
Aidan's memory for songs and images and words is REALLY good but in a rote way, if you know what I mean. He has known the number names since he was about 3, just from looking at license plates and things. But his ability to count real objects is only just emerging, though he has turned seven. In contrast, his 3 year old brother Paddy is already counting and using fingers to subtract, etc, but is much vaguer on the number names.
So I think getting down the concepts is going to be really important for Aidan and that something concrete like the abacus would be useful for him.
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Willa
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Take Up and Read
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mom3aut1not
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Willa,
Since Ryan has good rote memory, I wouldn't worry about the filebox.
If you want to know about it anyway, here 'tis. You get a small filebox with 3x5 cards. On each card you put an individual fact *you* feel is important-- 2x6 or 1492 or "Months of the year". Sort by category -- life knowledge (days of the week, for example), history (1492), science (characeristics of an insect), math (2x6), "7 sacraments" (religion). Put each set of cards behind a divider in the file box. Then use these cards as a separate subject (Memory Work) as follows. Pick a few cards from each category you want. Make sure you have at least a couple of cards he can do with ease and add one or two new ones. Ask him each fact; correct as necessary, but give no grade. If he does exceptionally well, note it and have ice cream. When a new card has been answered without difficulty three times (or more -- YMMV), put it with already mastered facts in the back of the subject section. However, newly mastered material should be checked once a week. I did it on Friday IIRC and only did review material that day. When he has it really down, put it in once-a-month section. Over time, some cards will be retired completely, some move to once-a-month, others to once-a-week, and new cards are introduced in a regular fashion. This is only way I got my youngest daughter to learn her x facts. It's gentle, thorough, and takes less time than it may seem. (She has significant memory issues, and this was really necessary. It was helpful, and she enjoyed being able to remember stuff. Unfortunately, it is a lot harder to do when they are older and supposed to take more responsibility. I will say, tho' -- even tho; she has retrieval problems, she still knows her x facts!!)
Well, if you don't reallly want to do a program, you could just write out a set of reasonable goals (Will develop number sense) and methods to attain them (In informal situations, student will be introduced to number concepts using concrete objects found in daily life).
I do recommend manipulatives heartily. I don't recommend workbooks.
How is he with patterns? Doing puzzles? (Puzzles are an important early math skill.) Mathematics is the science of patterns and real math is more like puzzles than worksheets. You might want to check out math games materials as well -- tho' I do like RSM. (Btw, RSM discourages counting and encouraages visualization. This is based on some research as well as the practice in Japanese schools which do math education better than any other country on the planet.
In Christ,
Deborah
who hasn't quite finished with Jospeh for the day....
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Victoria in AZ
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We are trying this math program this year. Their materials claim they are used for special needs also.
www.touchmath.com
We have not had our first lesson yet, but it does look promising.
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Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
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Elizabeth
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We're using touchmath too and supplementing with lots of cuisenaire support materials.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Victoria in AZ
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Oh, please, do tell how Touch Math is working!
Thanks.
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Your sister in Christ,
Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
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Elizabeth
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Haven't started yet 
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Taffy
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We've been using Singapore Math. I really like this program but it is quite challenging to teach! My special needs guy is language delayed and it seems that this program requires a good grasp of language.
BUT, it has been very helpful in helping me understand where my son excells and where he has trouble in math. My son has a good aptitude for solving math equations. His problem lies in understanding the basic concepts of more, less, fewer, greater, and comparing numbers. This was tough to see with the program he had been using while attending school. 
Sorry Willa, I guess I'm not being very helpful here. I do like Singapore Math but, with teaching a special needs student, I would advise the instructor to have a firm grasp of the information as I've found I've had to teach the concepts in many ways more than what the program does.
One thing that I've found very useful so far is the use of Math Journals. We're very new at this but it's really helping my son to solidify the meaning of these problematic words (more, less, etc.) in his mind. If you have the time, this may be the way to go. I would also suggest using a checklist of required skills - I've found it helpful. The Evergreen curriculum is the curriculum used by Saskatchewan and it's all online. The curriculum guide for math is pretty comprehensive.
Good luck!
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Susan
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mom2mpr
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We use Shiller Math and it has changed our math time so positively. Many manipulatives, little workbook work, a lot of thinking and exploring, music, etc. You might want ot check it out. I have found the support to be wonderful too!
Anne
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4Real Forums : Special Blessings
Topic: what Math for special needs?
