Math HELP

[topekaclark]

In a nutshell I started to homeschool our oldest daughter (6th) grade this year, I have been homeschooling her younger sister for awhile now.

I am soooo struggling with her, she was an honor roll student in public school but does not have basic math concepts down (gee wonder how that happened). So here we are doing 6th grade math and she struggles so much. Her work is sloppy so then she makes mistakes and struggling remembering formulas. She has been allowed to write sloppy so long that it's like pulling teeth to get her to write neat, she thinks I'm nit picking.

Here's my dilemma, some days I am so ready to send her back to school for two reasons:

1. she wants to go and makes sure everyone knows it, about 2 months ago we had a crying fit for two days off and on about school.

2. Math is not a strong subject for me, I have been able to help her with the exception of one lesson plan, I could not. I'm in need of a math program that will walk us both step by step. I use Abeka right now.


Help:idunno

[MochaMel]

Don't have any help -- maybe a tutor -- that's what i do for my son.. It's Granny though so i don't have to pay.

I jsut wanted to say hi Mrs. Topeka!! Missed ya! :hug

[topekaclark]

:hug Awww, you are so sweet and I do miss you too,:hug

A tutor is something we aren't able to afford, I have done it in the past with her brother but I was working and I believe she was $20 an hour.

She is bright but I come to realize a lazy student and I believe she has been allowed to operate that way, so now its second nature to her. Who ever said it takes 21 days to break a habit, lied.....lol

She will not return to the same district if allowed to return to school.

Her sister has learning problems and all reality, that girl may struggle at reading however she has a memory like I have never seen. She is easier to teach however she doesn't not bicker with me.

It's good to hear from ya sis,,,,,, maybe we can meet in heaven pretty soon.

[DebJo]

Math-U-See is a great program. I use it with my DS 8yrs. They have a DVD that explains the lessons. They have a great web site. www.mathusee.com
We also use Math Windows for warm ups. I got them from Rainbow Resource. www.rainbowresourse.com
Math is not my strong subject either. With this program I feel like I am learning math in a way that makes sense.

[Tron4JC]

In a nutshell I started to homeschool our oldest daughter (6th) grade this year, I have been homeschooling her younger sister for awhile now.

I am soooo struggling with her, she was an honor roll student in public school but does not have basic math concepts down (gee wonder how that happened). So here we are doing 6th grade math and she struggles so much. Her work is sloppy so then she makes mistakes and struggling remembering formulas. She has been allowed to write sloppy so long that it's like pulling teeth to get her to write neat, she thinks I'm nit picking.

Here's my dilemma, some days I am so ready to send her back to school for two reasons:

1. she wants to go and makes sure everyone knows it, about 2 months ago we had a crying fit for two days off and on about school.

2. Math is not a strong subject for me, I have been able to help her with the exception of one lesson plan, I could not. I'm in need of a math program that will walk us both step by step. I use Abeka right now.


Help:idunno



Several things can be of help:

1) Work on her concentration level when she do the math homeworks. Not just concentration on not making mistakes on math equations and the like. But like you said, also on the handwriting. Bad handwritings and mistakes do often go hand in hand.

2) Have her attend remedial or tutoring classes, either in or outside of school. There are no shortage of tutoring service places she can get help from.

3) Check out the selections of math programs the others suggest to you.

4) And while you are helping her with her math work, also learn the subject found in the math book ahead of time before she has to do the work, so you are ready to help her when she needs your help.

5) Help her when she really needs your help, but also get her to be competitive to want to finish the work as much on her own as possible.

Hope that helps.

[Tron4JC]

And don't forget practice, practice, practice!

If you got any specific math problems that are hard for that grade level, let me know. I was a "math wiz" in my junior high and high school day (got sick of it by college time, and instead when history for major, lol).

[lisaann]

Math-U-See might be a good option. :nod

Another one is http://teachingtextbooks.com but it is more pricy than MUS.

[Freedbychrist]

I think there are some great pieces of advice on here, but if she remains defiant, perhaps you could send her to another school? Perhaps one with a Christian foundation? If her original school was really educating her poorly then perhaps there is a voucher system you can use?

Or, I know that my church has a home-school resource group that meets there once a week, with both parents and children. It's a great support group and they often discuss methods, books, and plan field trips. If there is one at your church, I recommend it! If not, maybe you and some other like-minded parents could start one?

[HSmomto4]

If defiance is the problem, sending her to school won't help but make it worse. If you let her go back, she wins. She then will become defiant in more areas in her life because she knows it will work. I would say start with MUS and be very strict with her. No math done, no ___(you fill in the blank). If she whines and cries about it, let her, but she still has to do the math. She will learn that soon you mean business and remind her of the first commandment with a consequence...honor thy father and mother or your days will be shortened.

[topekaclark]

Thanks all to who replied and for the guidance.

The math u see and teachingtext books I will check out, I was thinking of a dvd with it so I can learn and help her when she is struggling.

I did look at the 7th grade Saxon Math books, was a tad bit overwhelmed. Last year I was gonna to use the abeka's dvd programs however talking to them they told me since she was tested ( I had her tested last summer) and was behind in some stuff, that the current grade level would be to hard for her.

Tron4JC I will pm you if we need help, just wished I did better in math.

hsmom, agree that is one of the reasons I took her out of school was because of her choice in friends, I saw her down the road and knew where we were headed. I needed to be remind it will get worse, I have been struggling and praying to figure something out. Then this week I saw several things on school violence and then tonight at church I was reminded in our last days kids will rebel against parents. Help put things into perspective.

thanks you all:hug