Please Help me with math!

[JavaFinch]

We're really struggling with math here and I hope someone can help me to what feels like starting over yet again, and we're running out of time!

My son is 12.  We started off kind of unschooly and I knew my son was a late bloomer and I didn't want to push him too early.  Then we got started for a couple of years with Math U See.  It seemed to be going OK but then I realized when my son was like 9 or 10 that he couldn't even add or subtracted without those blocks!!  I chose Math U See because of the idea that you learn 'concepts' over just rules and counting, but my son needed the opposite.  So then I taught him Touchmath and that helped him a LOT with addition/subtraction, but he still does things like if the problem is 9-8, he'll sit there and count backwards from 9 to 1 rather than just 'knowing' it's 1.  I've tried so many times to try to get him to see this and he just tells me he wants to do it that way. 

He picked up the multiplication facts fairly easy and we're still currently working on multi-digit multiplication and 'long' division using only a single-digit divisor going into like a 4-digit number.

He's getting better on his multiplication  but he does still make too many mistakes where he just forgets what he's doing half way through and will randomly multiply where he's supposed to add.  He makes more mistakes when he's adding up after multiplying than he does in the multiplication part.

We also did Saxon Math 3 for a while, and I'm thinking now maybe of going back to Saxon, maybe starting with 5/4.  I know that is very 'behind' where he should be, but I don't want it to be too hard, either, since he struggles a LOT.

But then I was looking at the middle grades placement test, and it all seemed very hard.  His weak point is 'critical thinking'.  If it can be memorized and repeated, he can do it (like multiplying) but if it's abstract, is So hard for him!

In looking at the placement tests, I'm thinking maybe Saxon gets too abstract?  Maybe not?  Anyone have any suggestions for a math curriculum that we could try? 

Thank You!

[JavaFinch]

Any opinions on "Mastering Mathematics"?  I know it's not as popular as many other programs.  It sounds like it might be good for DS.  Part of me feels like he 'needs' a lot of that stuff that was in Saxon (like, for example, filling in blanks in patterns which he HATED), but then again I feel like when I try to do that stuff, it's so hard for him and he never really seems to learn it, so then we wasted a lot of time.

[OTMomma]

I have never used Mastering Mathmatics- sorry.  I think you are on the right track trying to find something that won't be too much of a struggle.

Last semester we tried doing Kumon math books to work just on one topic at a time, and for us, that was a great step.  Math Mammoth also does workbooks that focus just on one topic- division for example. You complete the whole book on that one topic, then you move on to another book and another topic.   I found for my child who struggles with math, that doing just one topic until she knew it well, instead of some of the other books that seem to switch topics every day (or week), was helpful. 

I would also consider doing some specific games or activities to focus on his critical thinking and problem solving skills.  I believe Rainbow Resource has a whole section of their catalog dedicated to that topic.  You can strengthen those skills in a non math way by working puzzles and putting together lego sets too. 

[AAK]

Not a curriculum recommendation, but I love the right start math games kit.  It has been really helpful for my kids.  I will second Math Mammoth--the "division" book was just what one dd needed. 

For logic, have you looked at the Critical Thinking Catalog.  We use:

"Building Thinking Skills" http://www.criticalthinking.com/getProductDetails.do?code=p&id=05242

"Balance Benders" http://www.criticalthinking.com/searchBykeyword.do?catalog=p&searchKey=balance+benders&x=0&y=0

"Mind Benders"  http://www.criticalthinking.com/getProductDetails.do?code=p&id=01333

I like them because they strengthen overall logic skills which transfers to math (and other subjects too) without feeling like we are doing math all day long.  My kids like them too because they are challenging and usually fun.  

Amy

[hsmamato2]

I personally feel that if you're looking for solid basics, Saxon has it all. Get the books,including the teachers edition,instead of worrying right now where he 'ought' to be, just concentrate on helping him get there. I like how Saxon has LOTS of repetition,if the child needs it.

[moominmamma]

A program that might meet your son where he's at very nicely is JUMP Math. It was originally designed as a tutoring program for school students in 5th/6th grade who were several grade levels behind. JUMP is a math tutoring charity which ended up being so successful with remedial students that it has been adapted for use in regular classrooms, and has also become increasingly popular in homeschooling families. 

What's special about the program is that it tackles the confusion and anxiety that struggling math students often have, the mental blocks that tend to interfere with them trusting their critical thinking skills. So it starts with steps that are very simple and rote-based to build confidence and faith in the "sense" of math. They actually suggest jumping into a unit on fractions: adding, subtracting, common denominators, all that. Which seems very advanced, but this is taught in a unique way to children who may not even be able to multiply or do multi-digit subtraction. Enjoying step-wise, rote-based success with what is usually considered "on-grade-level" learning gives the student a huge boost, and begins to whittle away at the anxiety and defeatism that has interfered with remediating their difficulties with earlier concepts. 

I'm a parent who believes really strongly in giving kids a strong grounding in "mathematical thinking," in the logic of math, in understanding why numbers work the way they do. So the rote-based tactic used early on in JUMP Math initially turned me off. My own kids are very advanced in math and have thrived with Singapore materials. But from watching friends with kids who are "behind" in math use JUMP, and from reading more about the program, I now see that this is exactly what is needed for students who have learning challenges and already feel like "I'm not good at math," because it gives them the success they need in order to start to believe that math is understandable. Only then can they begin to get past the rote learning to the meaning, and by all accounts JUMP Math does take them to that next level when they're ready.

The JUMP Math main website.

The Introductory Unit on Fractions -- downloadable

JUMP Workbooks on Amazon (teacher resources are downloadable from the website)

Miranda

[JavaFinch]

Thanks so much for the recommendations!  I bought some of the Mastering Mathematics just because there was a good deal on ebay that was ending in minutes, so I jumped on it.  I'm not sure I like it, though ... not really what we need, and there is a lot (I mean a LOT) of Christianity in it.  A little doesn't bother me (since it teaches culture/history/knowledge of others' religion) but a lot of it is too distracting.  After looking at it I was thinking about Saxon again .... I will definitely also check out all the other recommendations ... firstly, I'm going to look at the Jump program!  Thanks again!

[pigpokey]

Just for automaticity of math facts, I like http://www.bigbrainz.com/.  And I do believe that knowing them stone cold helps when tackling the bigger concept stuff. 

[kathymuggle]

Is some of the issue organisational?  Why is he having trouble with the adding part of multiplication?

If it is organisational, I would turn a lined  page sideways so the columns line up properly before adding.  I would focus on writing large so things don't get messy (followed by unnecessary errors). Colour coding columns works, as does using a highlighter to highlight columns (and important info in word problems)   I would also ask him to check his work before giving it to you.  As a student, I used to cover my answers and do them again before handing them in.  Another (faster) way to check work is to ask oneself - does this answer make sense?

Example:  45 x 18..... 

I know 45x10 equals 450

so 45x20 = 900.

I would expect the answer to be below 900, but not by much.  

is it possible he is having trouble due to not liking the algorithim?

My kids do not like the common algorithims - for both multiplication and division they prefer partial quotient and partial products.  Here is a page with alternate math methods.  some kids really do prefer one method to another  http://www.math.nyu.edu/~braams/links/em-arith.html  Youtube has neat videos as well.

So...the above are not curriculum, but tips that have helped me. 

Good luck.