Math—when to worry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I like the Singapore workbooks for concepts practice which was why I started there. I switched my kid to the Kumon workbooks when I realized that it was her fluency with the basic basics that was holding her back vs her conceptual understanding. We went back to 3rd grade workbooks and worked up through addition/subtraction/multiplication and division (she's in 5th). I'm going to have her go back through some Singapore books this summer to make sure she's ready for 6th...probably 4th and 5th, but haven't decided yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I like the Singapore workbooks for concepts practice which was why I started there. I switched my kid to the Kumon workbooks when I realized that it was her fluency with the basic basics that was holding her back vs her conceptual understanding. We went back to 3rd grade workbooks and worked up through addition/subtraction/multiplication and division (she's in 5th). I'm going to have her go back through some Singapore books this summer to make sure she's ready for 6th...probably 4th and 5th, but haven't decided yet.

Adding...my kid seemed to do better with Singapore when I could sit down with her. Kumon we started easy enough that she could really just do the pages independently and my goal was for it to start so easy that she really shouldn't be missing anything. It took her a few days, but also seemed to turn on something inside her to pay closer attention and her accuracy and speed improved quickly.

[Anonymous]

I woudl start on Khan academy now and then enroll her in a summer program.

[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!

Seriously. Jesus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Seriously. Jesus.

You do you.

[Anonymous]

Another vote here for Mathnasium. In a year, going 2x/week my MS son's math grade has gone from a D to a B. He's even starting to like it and say things like "I'm good at math" because they are so encouraging.