[oceanbaby]

So tonight at dinner ds1, out of the blue, starts telling me his times tables. He says "3x2 is 6, 3x3 is 9, 3x4 is 12." And instead of just letting him tell us whatever he feels like sharing, I think to myself "Hmm, does he really know the math behind this, or is it just memorized." So I ask him "What's 3x6?" And he says "15?" And I say no, and he says "12?" And I say no, and then he says "13?" and I say no. Then he says, "What is it?" I tell him 18, and then that was it, he was done talking about his times tables.

I felt so sad - he started out all proud of what he knew, and I had to turn the focus onto what he didn't know. Blah.

 

[RiverSky]

You know what's great? That you realized (even in hindsight) that it wasn't the best tactic, and hopefully, you will be able to stop yourself from doing that again! We all make mistakes now and again, but many of us don't realize we are making them, so perhaps you can be happy that you, at least, saw it, and can now change it. Don't beat yourself up over it. Just tell him, tomorrow, that you are very proud at how he taught himself multiplication.

 

[ankh]

I second that. I've done the same thing and wanted to kick myself. We are learning too, right? Don't worry, that fact you have noticed it is great.

.

 

[mommy68]

I agree that we are all learning at this along with our children.

I do have a question tho...why is it bad if your child is memorizing his multiplication problems at this point?

My 6 yr old doesn't really understand fractions and she still gets the answers correct. I figure as she gets older she will understand math more, but for now if she comprehends it at her age level then I'm okay with it. Now I wonder if I am going about it wrong?

 

[Mama~Love]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mommy68 I agree that we are all learning at this along with our children. I do have a question tho...why is it bad if your child is memorizing his multiplication problems at this point? My 6 yr old doesn't really understand fractions and she still gets the answers correct. I figure as she gets older she will understand math more, but for now if she comprehends it at her age level then I'm okay with it. Now I wonder if I am going about it wrong?

I don't think she meant him learning the times table was bad, but that she asked him some he didn't know, then he seemed to lose his enthusiasm about the times table. That's what the OP is sad about.

I'm guilty of that too, but it's a learning experience for everyone

.

 

[Jennifer3141]

Hey Mama, everyone screws up sometime. And you've realized it so you can correct it in the future. Bonus points to you for having the insight to know what and how you can do better today! So many kids in the world don't get that from their parents.

 

[Needle in the Hay]

I've done it before, asking a question that isn't a real question (as opposed to when he's telling me something I don't know about bees and I ask him a question because I'm curious). I don't do it often and inwardly cringe afterwards but I may still make the mistake now and then. I figure for every time I do it, there are many, many more times I make sure I don't do it.

 

[Lillian J]

Nice to catch something like this so early on, though - it'll undoubtedly stop you from jumping in later when it has to do with something that's more important to him.

Lillian

 

[AnnR33]

Even though you realize it wasn't the best route, it is important that you know he needs more work on this.

I remember when my DS's K teacher told me he could read his early reader and I knew he was just memorizing it. The teacher didn't believe me. When she covered up the pics and asked him the words he had a totally blank look. This had gone on for 3 mos and she had no idea! So it's good to test and find out what they really know. We just have to be innovative in how we do it

FWIW-I lost the award today too by yelling at my youngest for getting into the freezer and pulling all the food out when he says "I wanted to make my own waffle" in this innocent voice.

 

[oceanbaby]

Thanks everyone. I realized it was a mistake pretty much as the words were coming out of my mouth, but I couldn't seem to stop myself. Hopefully I can practice some restraint next time.

 

[oceanbaby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnR33 FWIW-I lost the award today too by yelling at my youngest for getting into the freezer and pulling all the food out when he says "I wanted to make my own waffle" in this innocent voice.

I have done this too.

 

[momtokea]

You mean there's an award for this?

Well .... there's another one I won't be getting

Maybe we should make a club....

 

[CariOfOz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by momtokea You mean there's an award for this? Well .... there's another one I won't be getting Maybe we should make a club....

: I'll be joining this club. I think we homeschooling mamas have just one more thing to beat ourselves up over if we aren't perfect at it

 

[sapphire_chan]

You know, a good way to work on the math behind the times tables is to make huge batches of small cookies using different numbers of rows and columns. And then arranging them in different rows and columns in different depths to fit in boxes. Large boxes. And you can get more math work by weighing them at the post office. And purchasing postage.

But then you'd need addresses to put on the boxes. PM me for mine when you've got the cookies ready to package up!

 

[TEAK's Mom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan You know, a good way to work on the math behind the times tables is to make huge batches of small cookies using different numbers of rows and columns. And then arranging them in different rows and columns in different depths to fit in boxes. Large boxes. And you can get more math work by weighing them at the post office. And purchasing postage. But then you'd need addresses to put on the boxes. PM me for mine when you've got the cookies ready to package up!

:mmm...cookies...

:

 

[Charmie981]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan But then you'd need addresses to put on the boxes. PM me for mine when you've got the cookies ready to package up!

laughup

That's actually a great idea for a math lesson, though

.

OP, I've done the same thing so many times. I've also done the opposite, which is smile, nod, say "uh huh" and have no idea or interest in what the poor guy's telling me

. I usually try to apologize for doing stuff like this, so my kids can at least learn something (ie that mama can be a real tool and at least she's capable of admitting it!).