In HIS Hands

Jan. 25, 2008

Math Trouble

Posted in Math

Math is not my favorite subject to teach. You could say teaching math is the bane of my existence - no wait, that would be paperwork and record-keeping. Math is close, though. It's right up there. With Emily in Kindergarten, I now have 4 math students. Bill can do his math on his own, but convincing him to actually do it is the hard part. Jesse is great at math and understands new concepts very easily, but just like Bill, convincing him to actually do his math is the hard part.

Then there is Dylan and Emily. Convincing them to do their math is not the hard part. Trying not to have a nervous breakdown while teaching them math skills - now that's the hard part. I went into my bedroom and CRIED after Emily's math lesson today. I cried. It is just too stressful. Of course I try not to let her see how stressed out I get over her lack of comprehension and retention, but after trying to explain the concept of adding 0 to another number for well over 5 minutes - and that was just today and that is just one example of several math comprehension problems we encountered today - oh, and I've been trying to teach her this concept and all the others for about 6 months now - I can get pretty irritable.

Dylan has always had bad math comprehension skills as well, and I have never found a curriculum that works well for him. So he just trudges along, day after day, year after year, forgetting almost everything he's ever learned over the 3rd grade level. Actually, he wasn't bad at math until he got to long division. It's been all downhill from there. Thank God for the invention of calculators and computer programs.

But Emily .... she is just not getting ANYTHING past 2 +2, and that is only because she has it memorized. She does a tiny bit better when we use manipulatives, but transferring that over to written work (which she LOVES to do!!!) is another story. And retaining what she's learned? Hasn't happened yet. So how can you teach a child who just does not get it?

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Comments

Jan. 27, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by crysnrod

I enjoyed reading over your blog!!!

Blessings,
Crystal

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Feb. 6, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Patiecake

Math is one of the subjects I enjoy but I get shivers in my spine when I think about teaching science. My kids like it but I don't.

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Feb. 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by CandyFoote

Hi, Diane!
Thanks for visiting me over at my blog!
If my husband wanted to chill out in front of the television I would let him.
Remember this order:
1. husband
2.children
3.homeschool
I know that it's not easy!
It is so much easier to have this order:
1. homeschool
2. children
3. husband
Your children are always learning. Just because a math lesson didn't get done doesn't mean that they are not learning.
One of the most important things for them to learn is how mom and dad relate to each other. You are teaching them to honor God and family.
Anyway, moms have a way of throwing learning in somehow through out the day. I was just recently told that most mothers do not have a vocabulary lesson while watching television. This can even be done while watching cartoons. I simply repeat the word that was said on television and ask, "What is that suppose to mean?" I use a questioning voice. They either tell me or say that they don't know. Then I quickly tell them the meaning.
We homeschooling moms need to laugh and enjoy regular life with our families - this includes our husbands, not just kids and school.

Concerning math, why not just have your little ones read off the math problems everyday. (two plus two is four, etc.) Have them work on the twos until those are memorized, then move on. It works amazingly!

Sorry for rambling on and on and on......

Candy

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May. 5, 2008 - Math

Posted by MommaBear9

I struggle with math or taking two years to get through the instructions in order to teach any subject. We are planning on using Math U See. I t comes with a demonstration dvd for the lessons for mom and many parents have their kids watch them as well. Mr. Demme has a corny sense of humor but all of our kids seemed excited . I understand math but now that we have children getting older I am finding it more difficult to explain.

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May. 5, 2008 - P.S.

Posted by MommaBear9

I am planning on using TOG. We have a large family and it seems to fit my personality and how I want to teach our children.

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