Struggling elementary math

[Anonymous]

Do elementary schools have math specialists or any school based resources for students that are struggling in math? It seems like the teachers/staff only focus in reading interventions but nothing to help with math. Am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

Yes. Usually the staff development teacher is the math specialist for the school. And our school also has a focus teacher who works with kids on math interventions. Have you reached out to your child’s teacher to touch base about your concerns?

My kid found that Zearn (which follows Eureka) and Khan Academy (which has a sequence that follows Eureka) were very helpful when she was struggling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Usually the staff development teacher is the math specialist for the school. And our school also has a focus teacher who works with kids on math interventions. Have you reached out to your child’s teacher to touch base about your concerns?

My kid found that Zearn (which follows Eureka) and Khan Academy (which has a sequence that follows Eureka) were very helpful when she was struggling.

Yes I have reached out to the teacher but she only made suggestions for what I could work with my child at home on math facts. I don't think that is the only issue however, past 3 test grades were all D'S lots of word problems. Currently receiving reading intervention as of 2 weeks ago in small group in class. But no help ever for math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Usually the staff development teacher is the math specialist for the school. And our school also has a focus teacher who works with kids on math interventions. Have you reached out to your child’s teacher to touch base about your concerns?

My kid found that Zearn (which follows Eureka) and Khan Academy (which has a sequence that follows Eureka) were very helpful when she was struggling.

Yes I have reached out to the teacher but she only made suggestions for what I could work with my child at home on math facts. I don't think that is the only issue however, past 3 test grades were all D'S lots of word problems. Currently receiving reading intervention as of 2 weeks ago in small group in class. But no help ever for math.

What grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Usually the staff development teacher is the math specialist for the school. And our school also has a focus teacher who works with kids on math interventions. Have you reached out to your child’s teacher to touch base about your concerns?

My kid found that Zearn (which follows Eureka) and Khan Academy (which has a sequence that follows Eureka) were very helpful when she was struggling.

Yes I have reached out to the teacher but she only made suggestions for what I could work with my child at home on math facts. I don't think that is the only issue however, past 3 test grades were all D'S lots of word problems. Currently receiving reading intervention as of 2 weeks ago in small group in class. But no help ever for math.

Ask the school in writing to evaluate your dc for any learning disabilities. Your child may need more intervention than they’re currently getting. There’s a whole process that has to be followed in order to get your child evaluated and then to receive any accommodations or services. There will be multiple meetings involving you, an administrator, dc’s teacher, a guidance counselor, a school psychologist, and possibly someone from Special Ed. It takes time for the process to play out, so the sooner you get the ball rolling, the sooner your dc will receive help if they need intervention.

My own dc has dyscalculia. She has certain accommodations. She can use a calculator, she gets extra time on tests, she has a reduced workload since it takes her longer to solve problems (if the rest of the class has been assigned 20 problems for homework, she only has to do 15), and now that she’s older, she’s in co-taught classes so there’s more support and someone can review a lesson with her one-on-one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Usually the staff development teacher is the math specialist for the school. And our school also has a focus teacher who works with kids on math interventions. Have you reached out to your child’s teacher to touch base about your concerns?

My kid found that Zearn (which follows Eureka) and Khan Academy (which has a sequence that follows Eureka) were very helpful when she was struggling.

Yes I have reached out to the teacher but she only made suggestions for what I could work with my child at home on math facts. I don't think that is the only issue however, past 3 test grades were all D'S lots of word problems. Currently receiving reading intervention as of 2 weeks ago in small group in class. But no help ever for math.

Is your dc only struggling with word problems? Do you suspect it’s more of a reading issue than a math issue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Usually the staff development teacher is the math specialist for the school. And our school also has a focus teacher who works with kids on math interventions. Have you reached out to your child’s teacher to touch base about your concerns?

My kid found that Zearn (which follows Eureka) and Khan Academy (which has a sequence that follows Eureka) were very helpful when she was struggling.

Yes I have reached out to the teacher but she only made suggestions for what I could work with my child at home on math facts. I don't think that is the only issue however, past 3 test grades were all D'S lots of word problems. Currently receiving reading intervention as of 2 weeks ago in small group in class. But no help ever for math.

What grade?

3rd grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Usually the staff development teacher is the math specialist for the school. And our school also has a focus teacher who works with kids on math interventions. Have you reached out to your child’s teacher to touch base about your concerns?

My kid found that Zearn (which follows Eureka) and Khan Academy (which has a sequence that follows Eureka) were very helpful when she was struggling.

Yes I have reached out to the teacher but she only made suggestions for what I could work with my child at home on math facts. I don't think that is the only issue however, past 3 test grades were all D'S lots of word problems. Currently receiving reading intervention as of 2 weeks ago in small group in class. But no help ever for math.

Ask the school in writing to evaluate your dc for any learning disabilities. Your child may need more intervention than they’re currently getting. There’s a whole process that has to be followed in order to get your child evaluated and then to receive any accommodations or services. There will be multiple meetings involving you, an administrator, dc’s teacher, a guidance counselor, a school psychologist, and possibly someone from Special Ed. It takes time for the process to play out, so the sooner you get the ball rolling, the sooner your dc will receive help if they need intervention.

My own dc has dyscalculia. She has certain accommodations. She can use a calculator, she gets extra time on tests, she has a reduced workload since it takes her longer to solve problems (if the rest of the class has been assigned 20 problems for homework, she only has to do 15), and now that she’s older, she’s in co-taught classes so there’s more support and someone can review a lesson with her one-on-one.

Did you find out through the school testing about the dyscalculia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Usually the staff development teacher is the math specialist for the school. And our school also has a focus teacher who works with kids on math interventions. Have you reached out to your child’s teacher to touch base about your concerns?

My kid found that Zearn (which follows Eureka) and Khan Academy (which has a sequence that follows Eureka) were very helpful when she was struggling.

Yes I have reached out to the teacher but she only made suggestions for what I could work with my child at home on math facts. I don't think that is the only issue however, past 3 test grades were all D'S lots of word problems. Currently receiving reading intervention as of 2 weeks ago in small group in class. But no help ever for math.

Is your dc only struggling with word problems? Do you suspect it’s more of a reading issue than a math issue?

The teacher suggested it could be reading related but I'm wondering if its a learning difference that includes both??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Usually the staff development teacher is the math specialist for the school. And our school also has a focus teacher who works with kids on math interventions. Have you reached out to your child’s teacher to touch base about your concerns?

My kid found that Zearn (which follows Eureka) and Khan Academy (which has a sequence that follows Eureka) were very helpful when she was struggling.

Yes I have reached out to the teacher but she only made suggestions for what I could work with my child at home on math facts. I don't think that is the only issue however, past 3 test grades were all D'S lots of word problems. Currently receiving reading intervention as of 2 weeks ago in small group in class. But no help ever for math.

Ask the school in writing to evaluate your dc for any learning disabilities. Your child may need more intervention than they’re currently getting. There’s a whole process that has to be followed in order to get your child evaluated and then to receive any accommodations or services. There will be multiple meetings involving you, an administrator, dc’s teacher, a guidance counselor, a school psychologist, and possibly someone from Special Ed. It takes time for the process to play out, so the sooner you get the ball rolling, the sooner your dc will receive help if they need intervention.

My own dc has dyscalculia. She has certain accommodations. She can use a calculator, she gets extra time on tests, she has a reduced workload since it takes her longer to solve problems (if the rest of the class has been assigned 20 problems for homework, she only has to do 15), and now that she’s older, she’s in co-taught classes so there’s more support and someone can review a lesson with her one-on-one.

Did you find out through the school testing about the dyscalculia?

Yes, we did.

[Anonymous]

I agree that you want to request testing. I would also say that given that your child is below grade level (which Ds indicate) you would like to know what supports the school will provide to get your child up to grade level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Usually the staff development teacher is the math specialist for the school. And our school also has a focus teacher who works with kids on math interventions. Have you reached out to your child’s teacher to touch base about your concerns?

My kid found that Zearn (which follows Eureka) and Khan Academy (which has a sequence that follows Eureka) were very helpful when she was struggling.

Yes I have reached out to the teacher but she only made suggestions for what I could work with my child at home on math facts. I don't think that is the only issue however, past 3 test grades were all D'S lots of word problems. Currently receiving reading intervention as of 2 weeks ago in small group in class. But no help ever for math.

Is your dc only struggling with word problems? Do you suspect it’s more of a reading issue than a math issue?

The teacher suggested it could be reading related but I'm wondering if its a learning difference that includes both??

Then ask for a follow-up meeting and what the teacher recommends in terms of testing and best practices. They should be guiding you too. Obviously you can get your kid a tutor or attend a mathnasium type program for more help, but both of those options will be $$. If the school is coming to you because your child is getting Ds (whether it be because of a reading deficiency or something else), you can be more aggressive to get them to offer you ideas (I agree just memorizing math facts won't be the right route if it's something related to the greater complexity of word problems).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Usually the staff development teacher is the math specialist for the school. And our school also has a focus teacher who works with kids on math interventions. Have you reached out to your child’s teacher to touch base about your concerns?

My kid found that Zearn (which follows Eureka) and Khan Academy (which has a sequence that follows Eureka) were very helpful when she was struggling.

Yes I have reached out to the teacher but she only made suggestions for what I could work with my child at home on math facts. I don't think that is the only issue however, past 3 test grades were all D'S lots of word problems. Currently receiving reading intervention as of 2 weeks ago in small group in class. But no help ever for math.

Is your dc only struggling with word problems? Do you suspect it’s more of a reading issue than a math issue?

The teacher suggested it could be reading related but I'm wondering if its a learning difference that includes both??

Then ask for a follow-up meeting and what the teacher recommends in terms of testing and best practices. They should be guiding you too. Obviously you can get your kid a tutor or attend a mathnasium type program for more help, but both of those options will be $$. If the school is coming to you because your child is getting Ds (whether it be because of a reading deficiency or something else), you can be more aggressive to get them to offer you ideas (I agree just memorizing math facts won't be the right route if it's something related to the greater complexity of word problems).

Yes. I worry about the cost and helpfulness of just getting a tutor. I've looked into it and the cost is so high. I would need someone who had experience with learning differences possibly. I'm just not sure how to solve it myself. I'm in communication with the teacher but no solid plan or advice so far. Waiting to hear from the math curriculum teacher. I'm just shocked how little is done for kids who struggle in math from my experience so far with mcps, I've had to reach out with concerns not the other way around.

[Anonymous]

Don’t just ask them to come up with a plan for now; submit a written request for an evaluation for learning disabilities right away. Unless your dc has a 504 or IEP, interventions and accommodations are completely at their discretion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Usually the staff development teacher is the math specialist for the school. And our school also has a focus teacher who works with kids on math interventions. Have you reached out to your child’s teacher to touch base about your concerns?

My kid found that Zearn (which follows Eureka) and Khan Academy (which has a sequence that follows Eureka) were very helpful when she was struggling.

Yes I have reached out to the teacher but she only made suggestions for what I could work with my child at home on math facts. I don't think that is the only issue however, past 3 test grades were all D'S lots of word problems. Currently receiving reading intervention as of 2 weeks ago in small group in class. But no help ever for math.

Is your dc only struggling with word problems? Do you suspect it’s more of a reading issue than a math issue?

The teacher suggested it could be reading related but I'm wondering if its a learning difference that includes both??

Then ask for a follow-up meeting and what the teacher recommends in terms of testing and best practices. They should be guiding you too. Obviously you can get your kid a tutor or attend a mathnasium type program for more help, but both of those options will be $$. If the school is coming to you because your child is getting Ds (whether it be because of a reading deficiency or something else), you can be more aggressive to get them to offer you ideas (I agree just memorizing math facts won't be the right route if it's something related to the greater complexity of word problems).

Yes. I worry about the cost and helpfulness of just getting a tutor. I've looked into it and the cost is so high. I would need someone who had experience with learning differences possibly. I'm just not sure how to solve it myself. I'm in communication with the teacher but no solid plan or advice so far. Waiting to hear from the math curriculum teacher. I'm just shocked how little is done for kids who struggle in math from my experience so far with mcps, I've had to reach out with concerns not the other way around.

Request for an evaluation in writing to the principal.