How do you get your kids to love math?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

Mr GoG, who is far more qualified than I, is in charge of teaching math to our 7 year old. He's concerned that our son hasn't memorized basic addition and subtraction problems; so instead of using the Calvert program, he's made flash cards and has been drilling him on a daily basis.

The only trouble is he hates it. Every day I see him becoming less and less interested in math. I'm thinking it may help to begin our day with another subject and save math for a little later in the day. But I'm not sure.

I feel it's really important for him to see a direct application for this knowledge, or else he doesn't see the point. I was like this at his age...math was my weakest subject, and my father made things worse by making me feel stupid because of it. I ended up with a serious mathematics mental block that exists to this day. I don't want my kid to go through that.

I'd love to hear suggestions from both curriculum-oriented parents and unschoolers...

Thanks!

[mzteris]

1. math facts

are highly over-rated!

Especially if your son is gifted (which as I remember he's PDS) and if he's good with "math concepts" - then he may have trouble "memorizing math facts."

If he's a visual spatial learner - or he "thinks in pictures" - then you can drill him 'til the cows come home and it ain't gonna take.

Dyscalculia MAY - repeat MAY be an issue - but even if it's not at the level of a disability - this can give you insight into teaching kids who learn math "differently".

Have you tried an abacus? Or other manipulatives? I used little square colored foam "tiles" with both of my sons. One probably has dyscalculia a bit - the other does not. My younger son - the non math-LD one - also goes to Montessori so last year was heavy on the Montessori math. This year - 1st grade - they've also adopted Saxon math because of the End-of-Grade Tests they have to take! :( He just breezes through the "math facts" tests because he's internalized the answers. Not just memorized abstract numbers that aren't making sense.

Does that make sense?

Using a calculator - or other chart - can help them learn the "picture" of the "equation" they are trying to memorize - for quick retrieval. (Of course, they do need to UNDERSTAND the concept, too.)

Tell you hubby that my older son (12 yo) - who to this day cannot "recite the multiplication table" even though he basically taught himself multiplication at 4 - is working his way (slowly) through a highschool Algebra text and has been since he was 10.

It was the "timed math facts" multiplication test that gave him extreme text anxiety to this day - and was the impetus for us pulling him from public school.

I've heard good things about Miquon math and Kumon math and Singapore math, but I don't personally know anything about them.

The most important thing is to just relax. He's only 7! :)

What I've found with my anxiety prone son - is that anxiety "freezes" his working memory so he can't THINK. It's like a computer that gets "hung up". And the more anxious he becomes, the more frantic he becomes and the more he feels like a loser and he trys desperately to "retrieve" the information and he CAN'T. Ask him a "math fact" when he's doing something else of interest, and he can answer you immediately. He obviously thinks better when he's not thinking. :)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. "anxiety "freezes" his working memory "

That's exactly what would happen to me as a kid; especially since my father would get angrier as I became more flustered. I think that's what happens with Timmy as well. He gets to a point where he's just not thinking, and it seems pointless to continue.

Sometimes, like when we're almost finished with the "work" part of school, I can get him to focus for that last 20 minutes by having him take a deep breath and exhale slowly. But that only goes so far...

I'd never heard of Dyscalculia before. I'm almost certain I suffer from it mildly. I've always felt there was something about math that just didn't click...like I was mathematically dyslexic, as I'd joke with my friends. Time and time again I was placed in advanced math classes as a kid, and felt I understood nothing.

Thanks for your input!

[mzteris]

3. some links for ya -

Sorry - I should have sent them before, but *someone* messed with my Favorites and put them in alphabetical order - now I can't find ANYTHING!! I had to dig these up from an old email I'd sent to a gt/ld list a while back.

On second thought - I'll send you the whole email (ok - so I repeat myself a lot! :) ) and we were talking about multiplication table math facts - but I think it's pertinent.

****
Math facts vs. Math concepts

There are MANY kids like this out there. Dyscalculia is another LD that is little known and commonly misunderstood. Though like most "definitions" - our kids don't fit the cookie cutter stereotype. Symptoms, causality, descriptions will vary.

What seems truly common is the "inability" with Math Facts and the "ability" to practically intuit higher level math concepts. It also seems - to me - to be a tad more common amongst kids who are also dysgraphic. Also amongst "visual spatial" thinkers (which is also seems tied to dysgraphia - hmmmm...... anyways)

For my son - and quite a number of other kids I know - in person or via parent/cyberspace - the "solution" is NOT drill drill drill (an anathema to these kids!), but to just stop worrying about it, let them go on to more challenging math problems. They will have to USE computational skills to solve them but they will also be getting the mental challenge/stimulus they NEED.

For many, letting them use a grid or (in our case) a calculator - to SOLVE the problems is perfectly fine! What happened (s) is: they get the PICTURE they need to retrieve quickly (you know they know and understand the concept - because they constantly refigure - so the PICTURE is ok here). And - over time, you see them access the calculator/chart less and less.

Do NOT "hold them back" for silly things like math facts. (Do you stop your kid from reading more interesting books because they can't spell??) It will make them bored and resentful, and they will come to HATE MATH and question that wonderfully intuitive skill they have.

And for (whatever diety you wish)'s sake - DO NOT GIVE THEM TIMED TESTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This will only increase TEST ANXIETY which can - and does (BTDT) - spill over into every OTHER test they ever take.

FWIW - Timed "math facts" tests were a large part of what drove my son out of PS. The teacher knew he "knew" them, but he absolutely could not - between dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and test anxiety - legibly complete the test in the time alloted!

As my son has advanced to more complex Algebraic problems, he's figured out that he HAS to "show his work" (aaaggh!) in order to work through the problems. He also has to "proof" his work (so he's doing mostly self-checking.) He still wants the calculator there, but he doesn't use it very often for basic calculations.

Although, on his recent yearly test (we do ours in January) - he again - scored about 50% on Math Calculations and 99% on Math Concepts. Even though they were basically the "same problems" - whereas the Math Calc problem was "just numbers" - and the Math Concept problem was buried in a "word problem".

http://www.dyscalculia.org /

http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/math_skills/math-ski...

FYI - Einsteins wife checked ALL of his math before publication. ;)

****

**I can get him to focus for that last 20 minutes by having him take a deep breath and exhale slowly. But that only goes so far...**

I've incorporated meditation into our "school day". I think it helps him focus, and when he starts to get tense about things, it's easier to calm himself back down.



Oh - here's a "game" I made up with my younger son one day when we were waiting for big brother - we'd throw a pair of dice and who ever had the most "points" per turn would win. To make it more interesting, after the first person throws, the 2nd person can decide if they'll throw a "higher number" or a "lower number" to win (kinda gets into a probability analysis thingie on a very elementary level.)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

6. Thanks for the links!

Now all I need to do is convince Mr GoG that he'll respond better if he's not pressured... ;-)

[unschooler]

16. I second the abacus idea. Just let him play with it. It's a great tool

for encouraging real understanding of numbers.

As for math programs, Kumon is just based on drill and memorization and does not emphasize genuine learning. Kumon does a lot of time-pressured testing, a disastrous approach for a very young child in my opinion.

The best tutoring program is Mathnasium, from what I've heard. It emphasizes understanding and doing what you're ready to do, not just getting a lot of problems completed quickly.

I think your son is way to young to be considered a candidate for a learning disability based on not knowing his "math facts." Give him time and remove the pressure. Math really is fun - when you're ready.

[mzmolly]

4. Video games my friend.

Video games.

;)

We just ordered Saxon math as it's 'hands on' and I hope that my dd's interest will heighten. However, I bought a grade appropriate "jump start" and she already knew many of her lessons?

I think many kids need "visual/hands on" math instruction? Be that instruction video games or math manipulative's or a combination of both.

As for math mental blocks, I too am mathematically challenged, and I eventually became an accountant. Thank goodness for MS Excel and a calculator LOL. I don't think mathematically, but I think somewhat logically so that helps.

Here is a link to the best educational software, scroll down to the math heading.

http://school.discovery.com/parents/reviewcorner/software/interests.html

FWIW my daughter LOVES jumpstart. We were about to begin a lesson on money the other day, and she already knew the material b/c she learned it playing jumpstart advanced first grade. PHEW! I asked her a few questions regarding what was in the singapore workbook we use and she knew the answers to the lesson we were about to do.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

5. Thanks so much!

I'll check those out. He does love computer games!

[mzmolly]

7. No problem, I struggled with this question just a few weeks ago.

I feel so relieved to have found a fun/simple solution.

:hi:

[fight4my3sons]

8. I have dyscalculia

and I do much better with manipulatives. I was not diagnosed until I was older. I did not get my Regents diploma (a NY state thing) because I could not pass Course 2 Math in high school. I took it over and over again. No amount of tutoring could make me understand that course. When I was in my graduate program to become a special ed teacher I had this amazing teacher for Teaching Elementary and Middle school Math. He was from Denmark. He showed us how to teach everything with manipulatives and it was the first time that I actually understood the concepts. Even as far back as 4th grade fractions. It was amazing. There were classes that I would stay after and go up to him in tears telling him that for the first time in my life I understood an elementary school math problem.
Needless to say, I am NOT the one who balances the checkbook in my house :-)


edit for spelling

[mzmolly]

10. Saxon Math

The math is manipulative based, and I just started using it with my daughter. So far so good, she spent all afternoon just playing with the manipulatives!

:hi:

[fight4my3sons]

12. Thank you

That is great to know :-) Many people say they really like Saxon Math.

[renie408]

9. At his age, I would use baking...

visual aids like beans for counters, turn everything into a real life word problem...stuff like that. I had my daughter figure out how many rolls of chickenwire we would need to build our new chicken coop if it was of various sizes and then we went to the Home Depot and figured out which size wire cost us the least money on each size of coop. When I change the feed chart for the horses, I have her refigure exactly how many bags of grain we need to order (there are 36 cans of grain in each bag. We use XX cans each feeding. To last two weeks, how many bags do we need to order?)that sort of thing.

Baking is great, especially if you change the number of servings for the recipe. Gas mileage is good. Anything like that. At your son's age, simple word problems using some kind of counters might be good. I use edhelperdotcom to come up with printable math pages.

[mzmolly]

11. Hey GOG, check this out - from Scholastic.com

Scholastic.com has some great software and games.

Here is a link to some of their software for math that parents can order without an account:

http://search.scholastic.com/searchApp/search/SSOResultsPage.jsp

You can also register as a teacher b/c you homeschool. That way you can earn free books as well as get a great discount. They latest Winter/spring catalog features "hands on math and science" and Jumpstart Math is under $2.00! They also have some great board games that reinforce skills, one "boy centric" game is called "monster truck math."

Again, best wishes.

PS

Do you use a math curriculum now? We just got Saxon math, very hands on, very teacher friendly. I think we'll enjoy it.

:hi:

[unschooler]

17. Great math computer games include Jump Start and Clue Finders

series, as well as the "Blasters" CDs from Davidson.

My kids especially enjoyed the Clue Finders series, wherein a group of young adventurers solve mysteries by gaining clues through solving different kinds of math problems. Heck. I even enjoyed them myself!

[Sabriel]

13. There are lots of books that include math issues/topics

It's sneakily hidden in the story, which are sometimes quite good. Try this series: Hello, Reader: Math (Scholastic).

I pick out a lot of math/science oriented books, like Math Curse, or Sir Cumference and the Knights of the Round Table.

I also talk about how much I like working with numbers and math ideas (which I don't!) and how important math skills are to me on a daily basis. Basically, I talk it up and act really positive.

Get away from the flashcards, though. If it's killing math for your child, it's a really bad idea from which you might not recover.

[kath]

14. Check out Constance Kamii's books.

"Young Children Reinvent Arithmetic", "young Children Continue to Reinvent Arithmetic, 2nd grade" and "YCCtoRA, 3rd Grade"

I used quite a few of the games in those books with my girls (some can be bought, others you make yourself) and it was a GREAT low-stress way for them to become comfortable with using numbers. We didn't do any "book -type" until they were *quite* "up there" in years, but they are picking it up quite easily. Schools end up teaching the same stuff over and over and over, because IMO they introduce concepts too early and in the wrong way.

I also like Kamii's book "Achievement Testing in the Early Grades: The Games Grown-ups Play" (with a circle and red slash through the words "achievement testing" on the cover <g>)

[unschooler]

15. Throw away the books and flashcards. Don't memorize anything.

I can't overstate how wrong, wrong, wrong your husband's approach is. By definition, math must be UNDERSTOOD. It CANNOT be memorized. Memorizing is not math. Memorization is a surface-level, short-term memory task. Math involves deep thinking and understanding - real brain work - and your 7-yo may or may not be ready to do it.

Math is not about memorizing algorithms or facts. It's about understanding the reality that the world is made of numbers.

Really. I am deadly serious about this. My kids are all really, really good at math, at least according to their standardized test scores, and none of them have ever once cracked a math book or a flashcard (and Mr. Unschooler and I both suck at math, so there is no inherited talent at work). And, yes, they can answer quickly if you ask them one of those "math facts" questions such as what is 7 times 8. The great thing is that if they forget what 7 times 8 is, it's not big deal, because they can very quickly and easily figure out a strategy to solve the problem.

100% of our arithmetic consisted either of figuring out "real world" problems (how many giraffes would you have to stack up to reach the top of mommy's office building? how would you go about doubling that recipe?) or in math games we invent. To learn times tables, we did a lot of counting by tens, fives, sevens, eights, elevens and so on. To learn division, we played a game where we imagined there were a set number of cookies to be divided amont a set number of children, with the leftovers (remainder) going to the dog. We also figure out the area of all kinds of things. Another favorite is the "number machine" wherein one person puts a number into the "machine" (the other player), which spits back an answer. The first person continues to "insert" numbers into the "machine" until he can figure out what the machine did to the "input" number in order to generate the "output" (the machine can do something as simple as adding one or two or as complicated as algebra).

Sometimes, I'll throw out a problem for one of the kids and let them think about it for minutes, hours or days. There's no rush. I'd rather they think deeply about it and figure out a way to solve the problem than memorize an algorithm and not understand what they are doing.

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has embraced a pedgagogical approach based on deep understanding of numbers rather than memorization of facts. I'd encourage you to look at their ideas and also those in John Holt's excellent book "Learning All the Time."