As I've watched my third son basically breeze through high school math by using Teaching Textbooks, I have thought back about my two older boys and their high school math programs. Once again, I'm reminded how important it is that we approach each of our children individually.
My first son and I tried three DIFFERENT math programs before one "took" for him when it came to beginning high school math. We tried a private tutor. We tried Abeka videos and finally came upon Math-U-See. By the time we found Math-U-See it was time for my second son to begin high school math and so they did Algebra I together. However, my second son was not challenged enough with that approach so we kept a special tutor for him who challenged him in math. (He's the one that was accepted into Georgia Tech.) So you see, even with the first two boys, even though we could share SOME of our approach to math in common, we still had to individualize it to meet each child's needs. Math-U-See would have bored my third son and so Teaching Textbooks and an occasional tutor have been the answer for him.
For us, it wasn't that any of the programs we tried were not good programs, they just weren't the right ones for that particular child. Why am I sharing this with you? Because I see so many parents try to use the same approach to math with each student. I don't know of another subject that needs MORE of an individualized approach than math, and I don't know of any other high school subject that brings more frustration to parents AND students. How I WISH that I could have been taught math according to my learning style instead of being forced to learn it like everyone else. Maybe I wouldn't break out in a cold sweat now. . .every time I see fractions and decimals. HA! If your student is struggling with math, take a look at your teaching style and the approach of the curriculum you've chosen and then compare it to the type of learner you know your child to be. Chances are, if your student is struggling, it may just be as simple as the wrong match up in these areas. Don't make math a DO OR DIE situation. . .be flexible and most of all, stay calm as you walk through the math maze so that your student stays calm and positive. This way, he will be able to keep an open mind toward this subject if it is one that he is currently struggling with.
Faith and Courage,
Lori Lane
Lori is married to the love of her life John and together they have four sons ranging in age from 23 down to 10. She is the author of “Beginning With The End In Mind”, a frequent speaker on home education, family and the arts, as well as serving as the Executive Director of The Artios Academies. (www.artiosacademies.com) You can see some of the pictures of their home in the central Colorado Rockies by visiting Lori’s website at www.theendinmind.net where you will receive encouragement for the journey.
