Math—when to worry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:6th grade DD at a school that’s an upper elementary, middle school starting next year. She’s never been particularly good at math, and while WE have always been concerned, teachers never seem to be. It’s almost as though she somehow falls through the cracks because she’s not advanced, but also not failing. But to us, she seems slightly below average, which I guess to teachers is fine, as long as you aren’t failing?

At her last conference we voiced concern because it’s clear when she does homework she struggles. The teacher wasn’t the least bit concerned and even seemed surprised we were even inquiring about getting her extra help. It has been the same thing every year, since about 4th grade when we started noticing.

So what’s the deal? Should we stop worrying until we hear from the teacher that we SHOULD be worrying?

Teachers do not give AF.

We took our kid for an outside educational assessment and he did HORRENDOUS on the math. We now have 2hrs of tutoring a week to get him up to speed. Don’t wait until SATs in 11th grade to get on top of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:6th grade DD at a school that’s an upper elementary, middle school starting next year. She’s never been particularly good at math, and while WE have always been concerned, teachers never seem to be. It’s almost as though she somehow falls through the cracks because she’s not advanced, but also not failing. But to us, she seems slightly below average, which I guess to teachers is fine, as long as you aren’t failing?

At her last conference we voiced concern because it’s clear when she does homework she struggles. The teacher wasn’t the least bit concerned and even seemed surprised we were even inquiring about getting her extra help. It has been the same thing every year, since about 4th grade when we started noticing.

So what’s the deal? Should we stop worrying until we hear from the teacher that we SHOULD be worrying?

What areas do you see her struggling with at home? Can you give a concrete example?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you been lulled into complacency by teachers all this while? It's fine for them that kids are below average. They don't care, it's not their kid. If you want your child to be above average, the teacher is not the expert you need to consult.

Your daughter needs re-teaching, either with you, and the helps of Khan Academy or other products, or with a good tutor. She needs it because math classes build on each other through the years, and at some point she won't be able to to keep her head above water.

Also, and not to scare you, but college admissions are getting crazier and crazier. Some kids with really strong GPAs, lots of advanced classes (APs, not just Honors) and strong SAT/ACT scores are rejected from their flagship state universities. So unless you have the money to pay for a no-name private college, it's in your best financial interest to help your child now. I mean it: I've got a senior in high school and I'm seeing where kids land with what sort of academic profiles. It's getting to be where it's not even a discussion of academics and love of learning or something like that. It's a question of where your child can go to college and much will you pay, if she continues to struggle in math.

Tiger Mom has entered the chat!

Wrong.

I have a senior in high school and the PP is spot on. Test optional, record high applications, common app, full pay international students, and yield protection has thrown everything into chaos. My son got waitlisted at VT, rejected from UVA, and got accepted at Georgia Tech and CalTech. He has a 4.4 and an SAT of 1530, varsity sport, student body president, and NMS. We are now totally on the hook for out of state tuition, no way around it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6th grade DD at a school that’s an upper elementary, middle school starting next year. She’s never been particularly good at math, and while WE have always been concerned, teachers never seem to be. It’s almost as though she somehow falls through the cracks because she’s not advanced, but also not failing. But to us, she seems slightly below average, which I guess to teachers is fine, as long as you aren’t failing?

At her last conference we voiced concern because it’s clear when she does homework she struggles. The teacher wasn’t the least bit concerned and even seemed surprised we were even inquiring about getting her extra help. It has been the same thing every year, since about 4th grade when we started noticing.

So what’s the deal? Should we stop worrying until we hear from the teacher that we SHOULD be worrying?

What areas do you see her struggling with at home? Can you give a concrete example?

Mainly new concepts. Like, back when multiplying/dividing ratios were introduced, she was so lost, brought home the first test on the subject and got half wrong. But then it’s like she suddenly learns it well enough to pass.

[Anonymous]

The situation you are describing I would 100 percent get her a math tutor now. She should be going over content weekly with a tutor. And keep up math over the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:6th grade DD at a school that’s an upper elementary, middle school starting next year. She’s never been particularly good at math, and while WE have always been concerned, teachers never seem to be. It’s almost as though she somehow falls through the cracks because she’s not advanced, but also not failing. But to us, she seems slightly below average, which I guess to teachers is fine, as long as you aren’t failing?

At her last conference we voiced concern because it’s clear when she does homework she struggles. The teacher wasn’t the least bit concerned and even seemed surprised we were even inquiring about getting her extra help. It has been the same thing every year, since about 4th grade when we started noticing.

So what’s the deal? Should we stop worrying until we hear from the teacher that we SHOULD be worrying?

This was my son to a T. He absolutely fell through the cracks and the teachers never raised any concerns with us because he was just barely getting by. We had issues in other areas as well so we decided to have him tested for learning disabilities. I had no faith in the school testing him. Turns out he has dyscalculia, among other things. He is a hard worker and smart enough to just barely get by. He now has tutors and accommodations in place at school and he's now at grade level, although we switched him to a private school which honestly I think helped. He came in well below grade level in 6th grade and now in 7th he's right in the middle which is all I ask for at this point.

If I were you I would look for an outside tutor. Preferably one on one and one that specializes in math disabilities-dyslexia tutors sometimes have a specialization in this as well. They go hand in hand.

[Anonymous]

Start tutoring. /parent of 9th grader who wish we started much much earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6th grade DD at a school that’s an upper elementary, middle school starting next year. She’s never been particularly good at math, and while WE have always been concerned, teachers never seem to be. It’s almost as though she somehow falls through the cracks because she’s not advanced, but also not failing. But to us, she seems slightly below average, which I guess to teachers is fine, as long as you aren’t failing?

At her last conference we voiced concern because it’s clear when she does homework she struggles. The teacher wasn’t the least bit concerned and even seemed surprised we were even inquiring about getting her extra help. It has been the same thing every year, since about 4th grade when we started noticing.

So what’s the deal? Should we stop worrying until we hear from the teacher that we SHOULD be worrying?

What areas do you see her struggling with at home? Can you give a concrete example?

Mainly new concepts. Like, back when multiplying/dividing ratios were introduced, she was so lost, brought home the first test on the subject and got half wrong. But then it’s like she suddenly learns it well enough to pass.

That's identical to my 7th grade daughter who has slow processing speed. She gets it eventually, but by the time she understands it, the class has moved on and she's playing catch-up again.

[Anonymous]

Get her tutored. Teachers usually only worry about kids who are obviously struggling. But to move ahead successfully in math you really need to have a complete understanding of the material, and if she doesn’t then I suggest a tutor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6th grade DD at a school that’s an upper elementary, middle school starting next year. She’s never been particularly good at math, and while WE have always been concerned, teachers never seem to be. It’s almost as though she somehow falls through the cracks because she’s not advanced, but also not failing. But to us, she seems slightly below average, which I guess to teachers is fine, as long as you aren’t failing?

At her last conference we voiced concern because it’s clear when she does homework she struggles. The teacher wasn’t the least bit concerned and even seemed surprised we were even inquiring about getting her extra help. It has been the same thing every year, since about 4th grade when we started noticing.

So what’s the deal? Should we stop worrying until we hear from the teacher that we SHOULD be worrying?

What areas do you see her struggling with at home? Can you give a concrete example?

Mainly new concepts. Like, back when multiplying/dividing ratios were introduced, she was so lost, brought home the first test on the subject and got half wrong. But then it’s like she suddenly learns it well enough to pass.

This is exactly it, PP! Thank you for articulating it for me.

We DO get her tutoring, but she’s always playing catch-up. It’s like even though the teacher is teaching it and her tutors are reinforcing it, she really just catches up on her own in her own time. Like a light switches on.

That's identical to my 7th grade daughter who has slow processing speed. She gets it eventually, but by the time she understands it, the class has moved on and she's playing catch-up again.

[Anonymous]

One of my kids was similar. I dug around and realized she just didn't have a solid, fluent grasp on place value and math facts (probably at least in part because her school has gone all in on the conceptual/Jo Boaler approach) She knew them-ish, but was having to really still think through basic calculations which was slowing her ability to really move forward. We went in the opposite direction of school recommendations for practice (things like ST Math, other apps) and went to back to paper math. We started with Singapore Math and then switched back a few grades and just had her work through the Kumon Workbooks when it became apparent that she just wasn't fluent. Now she's rolling along and ahead because the basics are automatic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The situation you are describing I would 100 percent get her a math tutor now. She should be going over content weekly with a tutor. And keep up math over the summer.

I would agree with this. You can always back of on the tutor later if you see she is feeling more confident.
Your DD is managing right now, but she may have gaps that only show up in higher level classes. Not taking care of this now, limits what math classes she will be comfortable taking in the future, which could influence her future. It may have just been a matter of her not being taught the material properly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my kids was similar. I dug around and realized she just didn't have a solid, fluent grasp on place value and math facts (probably at least in part because her school has gone all in on the conceptual/Jo Boaler approach) She knew them-ish, but was having to really still think through basic calculations which was slowing her ability to really move forward. We went in the opposite direction of school recommendations for practice (things like ST Math, other apps) and went to back to paper math. We started with Singapore Math and then switched back a few grades and just had her work through the Kumon Workbooks when it became apparent that she just wasn't fluent. Now she's rolling along and ahead because the basics are automatic.

I like this approach for summer, on top of a tutor.

They make Singapore workbooks. Do you prefer Kumon workbooks over them? I think I’ll take her back to 4th and do a couple pages a day over the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:6th grade DD at a school that’s an upper elementary, middle school starting next year. She’s never been particularly good at math, and while WE have always been concerned, teachers never seem to be. It’s almost as though she somehow falls through the cracks because she’s not advanced, but also not failing. But to us, she seems slightly below average, which I guess to teachers is fine, as long as you aren’t failing?

At her last conference we voiced concern because it’s clear when she does homework she struggles. The teacher wasn’t the least bit concerned and even seemed surprised we were even inquiring about getting her extra help. It has been the same thing every year, since about 4th grade when we started noticing.

So what’s the deal? Should we stop worrying until we hear from the teacher that we SHOULD be worrying?

I wouldn't, but thats just me. We got an enrichment tutor for our DC during the 'rona years. We felt DC wasn't getting a proper math curriculum. After we got through the "this isn't a punishment" feelings with DC, it has worked well. A's in HN Algebra, HN Geometry, and HN Algebra 2. And more to the point, DC understands it in ways that I never did. DC is comfortable with math and has a good foundation (I was a "through the cracks" math student, for sure. Grades were "fine" but I never really, truly got it). I don't regret it for a minute. And if you ask our DC, you'd get agreement there too. We use the tutor much less than we used to but def do for big test/unit tuneups and extra work. And if DC has questions, can text the tutor and work through them to get the needed understanding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you been lulled into complacency by teachers all this while? It's fine for them that kids are below average. They don't care, it's not their kid. If you want your child to be above average, the teacher is not the expert you need to consult.

Your daughter needs re-teaching, either with you, and the helps of Khan Academy or other products, or with a good tutor. She needs it because math classes build on each other through the years, and at some point she won't be able to to keep her head above water.

Also, and not to scare you, but college admissions are getting crazier and crazier. Some kids with really strong GPAs, lots of advanced classes (APs, not just Honors) and strong SAT/ACT scores are rejected from their flagship state universities. So unless you have the money to pay for a no-name private college, it's in your best financial interest to help your child now. I mean it: I've got a senior in high school and I'm seeing where kids land with what sort of academic profiles. It's getting to be where it's not even a discussion of academics and love of learning or something like that. It's a question of where your child can go to college and much will you pay, if she continues to struggle in math.

That’s a lot to think about. We do tutoring, but I like the idea of a supplemental summer program. Thank you!

If she already has a tutor, what does her tutor say?