What is happening????? Options

[Dr. Pepper]

Math is driving me insane with my dd. Here is the background:

DD knows the material, Abeka 5th grade is basically a review of material learned to date with a few new things thrown in. DD knows how to do it. She misses an average of 5 to 10 problems on each assignment from careless mistakes. We are talking adding, subtracting, and dividing. 5th grade should have that down pat.

SHE HATES MATH! Little brother on the other hand loves math and is excelling in it. He is in 2nd and knows all of his times tables and is doing 2 digit division. He basically is catching up with her and will soon by pass her. This may be playing into the situation.

Feeling extremely frustrated I have added Math problems to her workload for homework because obviously she needs additional practice if she is missing all these problems. Correct?

Last night, I corrected one of her papers and she missed an entire section because she failed to read the directions. I highlighted the directions and wrote READ THE DIRECTIONS and highlighted that. This morning she saw it and asked a question about how to do it. I explained it and she did it identical to yesterdays. Was I not clear enough???

I also realize that alot is going on in my home with my back and possible surgery. However, I don't believe this has anything to do with it. But !!

I am also noticing that dd appears to be having a focusing issue. She has been drawing on every single paper and will start rumaging through her desk while she is supposed to be doing her math. I have talked with her that if she wants to do that, go ahead but all it is doing is extending her school day. Her brother is done by 10:30/11:00 each day and is doing more than the average 2nd grader already but then again he is not a typical 2nd grader. I am running to catch up with him. Could she be feeling 2nd fiddle to her brother??

Any insight or fabulous words of wisdom??

[hs4hmom]

Maybe have a quiet talk with her about what's going on? She may not be able to put it into words, but maybe she can. If she is really struggling with the basics, maybe just drop the other stuff and work on that for a while. Maybe she's bored if a lot of this stuff is review? I have one who hates math--she doesn't have the head for it, and it's a constant struggle. She just can't get it. She's artistic and that side of my family (the artistic ones) have a great deal of trouble with math.

Good luck. I remember my girls going through a "phase" at that age. It's like the brain goes on vacation for awhile or takes a detour into--where I sure don't know

[chocolatechic]

Sadly, I can completely commiserate with your situation. My daughter does the very same thing. I make her redo every single problem that she missed, showing her work, and if she doesn't it is redone and redone....she hates that even worse.

[Dr. Pepper]

Maybe have a quiet talk with her about what's going on? She may not be able to put it into words, but maybe she can. If she is really struggling with the basics, maybe just drop the other stuff and work on that for a while. Maybe she's bored if a lot of this stuff is review? I have one who hates math--she doesn't have the head for it, and it's a constant struggle. She just can't get it. She's artistic and that side of my family (the artistic ones) have a great deal of trouble with math.

Good luck. I remember my girls going through a "phase" at that age. It's like the brain goes on vacation for awhile or takes a detour into--where I sure don't know

Interesting comment because she is extremely artistic with art and music.

I have tried talking to her but really did not get much information from her except she HATES math and hey Mom its not your favorite subject either. She even went on to say that Dad and Christoher love math. I just don't like it.

[Melanie]

Sadly, I can completely commiserate with your situation. My daughter does the very same thing. I make her redo every single problem that she missed, showing her work, and if she doesn't it is redone and redone....she hates that even worse.

This is what I have my son do. He hates math so much.

[Dr. Pepper]

Sadly, I can completely commiserate with your situation. My daughter does the very same thing. I make her redo every single problem that she missed, showing her work, and if she doesn't it is redone and redone....she hates that even worse.

It is sooooo painful. I too keep making her doing it, showing work -- After she has shown me her work, I'll even point out that hey its an adding problem.

This is what I have my son do. He hates math so much.

Do you make him do extra problems because of his errors or am I being to hard on her??

[Sammi]

I guess it would be rude to laugh...?

I was going to ask the same question earlier!

My ds/6th, enjoys math, but frequently will get the simpliest step wrong.

DD/2nd, in 3rd grade Abeka...doesn't make simple mistakes, well, not as much.

I remember when son was in earlier math and he rarely made a mistake too. Maybe it is as they get older, there are more problems, the math gets more challenging, it just happens.

Yesterday, he had a math test. He got a 93. You would think I would be happy, but the two problems he got wrong, were very simple addition mistakes.

He says I am never happy and I should be happy with a 93. Okay, logically, that is true...but wouldn't he be happier w/ a 100%? He said, no, a 93 is the same as 100...ok, not really...not if it is b'c of a simply addition mistakes...2 of them!!! Ugh!


I guess I gave no advice...but I do make him correct all of his mistakes...all of them!!!

Someday he will get tired of it, hopefully and get them right the first time.

On the other hand, I make simple mistakes all of the time too.

[mtbriere]

My ds has trouble with confidence issues. He has reversal issues (that's what I call it since we were told he doesn't have dyslexia). So he was always behind in ps. By the time I pulled him out in 4th grade, he wouldn't do anything unless I showed him an example. In ps his 3rd grade teacher mentioned this as well. If she gave work to do, he wouldn't begin until he came up to her desk asking to be shown how to do it. He just didn't understand the directions. It was more like he didn't think he could understand the directions. So, for a year and a half I have sat down & run threw his directions. We use Saxon so when it was time for him to complete his problem set I would point to each problem & explain what he was to do. And he would do it. Well, I might add. Now he is finally working independently and confidently.

[Melanie]

Do you make him do extra problems because of his errors or am I being to hard on her??

I have him correct all the problems he has missed. If he truly doesn't understand something (not just missing things because of carelessness) we will not do a lesson that day and I will make up an extra worksheet for him to practice and I will go through it with him. I rarely have to do that.

I don't punish them with schoolwork for making mistakes, careless or otherwise. The only time I add more work is if they are whining about something - if my son makes a big fuss over doing one math lesson, then he will do two.

[donnamichelle]

MATH.


It's a four-letter word.


MY least favorite subject.

SIGH.

I wish I had something helpful to add but... like I said...

Math is a four-lettered word.



Ok in all seriousness...

Here is a site JUST FOR GIRLS that will be helpful with "liking" math

www.girlstart.com/alexa.asp

HERE is one for teen-ish (10-14) that helps them "like" math

www.gnarlymath.com

AND these two are also full of fun math related games etc kids can play online and NOT know they are learning...

www.cybrary.org/math.htm and www.mathcats.com

The idea is to make it fun... and since I am not big on Math-Cheerleading... I leave it to the experts.


Hope this helps you some... I really think your dd will like the just for girls one--- it is fun.

[Dr. Pepper]

MATH.
It's a four-letter word.
MY least favorite subject.

SIGH.

I wish I had something helpful to add but... like I said...

Math is a four-lettered word.
Ok in all seriousness...

Here is a site JUST FOR GIRLS that will be helpful with "liking" math

www.girlstart.com/alexa.asp

HERE is one for teen-ish (10-14) that helps them "like" math

www.gnarlymath.com

AND these two are also full of fun math related games etc kids can play online and NOT know they are learning...

www.cybrary.org/math.htm and www.mathcats.com

The idea is to make it fun... and since I am not big on Math-Cheerleading... I leave it to the experts.
Hope this helps you some... I really think your dd will like the just for girls one--- it is fun.

I just saw this. Thank you Donna Michelle for all the great math sites. Having her do more math games is probably better than giving her additonal math homework. Thanks for the idea!!

\

[wings]

We use MCP Math. My dd is a compliant child but all my girls at that age would rather have had their teeth pulled. Go easy on them and help them work through some difficult problem areas. The one thing you don't want is a block or digging in of the heels. They will convince themselves it is much harder and horrid than it is and you will be stuck.

One thing is if she is struggling them it may be a basic problem a key to the puzzle that was missed. Just review basic skills with manipulatives, read the instructions with her, and let her do every other problem. If she gets it go on. That is what we do.

Ber

[Sharilyn]

We hated math until we switched to MathUSee and since then we've not had a day of the "I hate Math" tears in our house. It's been such a blessing. I have 9th, 8th and 6th grade. Switching 2 years ago was the best thing we could have done. They all love math now (as do I )

Sharilyn

[shelbygt]

Ds dreaded math and we were using Saxon 2, we recently switched to Horizons 3 and he is loving it.
I think it is hard to find a program that fits your child and it can be costly too. So for now will stick with Horizons math, which I believe will go up to 6th grade.

[Sharilyn]

I think it is hard to find a program that fits your child and it can be costly too.

Yep! We switched a couple times before we finally found what worked for us!

[Dr. Pepper]

I am thinking that I need to just SCREAM as loud as I can outside. DD is driving me insane!!! We just took 4 drill tests and she failed 2 (multiplication and addition).

Then we took our normal test and she earned a D-. One more point and it would have been an F. It is simple stuff - we are talking addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and adding of fractions. What is the problem??? She understands division of fractions but is messing up on the easy stuff.

I am even thinking of changing curriculums at this point. From ABeka to ????

Ughhhhhhhhhh. Thank you for listening.

[Sammi]

I am sooo sorry you are having a hard time. I think I would go back and have her do them again, but not so many in one day.

We were so good about keeping up with our speed drills, from Abeka, but my timer broke, so until I got another one, we stopped out timed drills.

I won't say this outloud, but even though I bought a new timer...we haven't gone back to speed drills.

Shhhh! Don't tell anyone!

I figured they are doing so much review in Abeka anyway, they will be okay.

[Dr. Pepper]

I am wondering if I am fighting the I don't wanta attitude and I don't care or if there is an underlying problem. I don't think it is an underlying problem because she does well with all her other subjects except spelling. Spelling is difficult for the girl but she works hard and does well.

Up to this point she has been making A/B on math tests; however, misses numerous problems on her everyday work - like 15 plus. I make her redo them until they are correct which is why I think she is scoring well on her tests. However, now I am starting to see a decline on the tests too now.

I don't know what to think and I am feeling so desparate with this one subject.

[foxchild]

A different circ might help. Maybe something with a different way of tackling the problems. I hope you find something that works. I know I developed a math problem my senior year of high school. I did the hard stuff correct but messed up the simple addition. I was nervous and my fears got in the way. It may be part of the problem, too much drilling that she is being careless or getting nervous about making a mistake.