4Th & 1St Grader Struggling in Math

Are they using Everyday Math program? There are two types of math programs being taught in schools now: traditional and "new-new" or "reform" math.

These are websites to inform parents about the cons of New-New math:
http://www.mathematicallycorrect.com/

My school district (Conejo Valley Unified SD) uses EM and I'm not happy about it. The more I learn the more I get angry. Save Our Children From Mediocre Math is a local activist group. The mom who created the site pulled her son from the district. (She's not the only one.) I'm glad she's still active and trying to inform other parents about it.
http://socmm.home.att.net/

There was an article in the LA Times a few weeks ago about Singapore Math program being taught in an LA school and how kids are excelling with it. Singapore & Saxon are traditional programs. You can look up these topics in Wikipedia.
http://tinyurl.com/2qw29g

Youtube video on Everyday Math and Terc. This will make your blood boil.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr1qee-bTZI

My 2nd grader has horrible penmanship, so I went to a local education/teacher supply store to buy products. I was chatting with the salesperson (who was also one of the tutors) and she said she taught children from all the local private, public and nearby districts (which BTW don't use EM). She said the EM is awful. They jump and switch from subject every week (other programs are more linear) and that she reviews the previous weeks work before they start on the current week, which helps her students. Now I know that's what I have to do.

Watch the video. Ask your school what math program they are using. Ask other parents in your school how they are doing with math.

have you tried making it a game for them like using cars or something fun for them to learn it... they may not ba able to understand it with out physically doing it... does that make since? well i hope that this helps you a little bit!

I have that exact same problem. My 4th and 1st graders are both receiving private tutoring. The tutoring is helping my 1st grader but the 4th grader is still having problems. She is way below grade level, so she is currently being tested for learning disabilities, so she can receive more help with math through the school. In the meantime, her teacher started her on accelerated math. It is a computer based program and she LOVES it! She is finally seeing some success in math.

Our schools (Poway USD) also use Everyday math which I hate!! That is definately not helping the problem.

What are the teachers saying about the problems?

Kumon my help because practice is the only way for them now.
R.

Some children just have difficulty with abstract thinking. Your daughter is actually young in regards to math. The school system expects it but a child this age is just beginning to grasp the concept. With the first grader use tangibles to help her add and subtract. I would actaully use what is considered linker cubes/unifix cubes that connect to each other. That way she can see and touch. Good Luck!

Hi M.,

Math is one of those subjects where we can develop a brain freeze! Kids and adults think I can't do this and their brain shuts down. Sometimes, it can be helpful to explain that to kids. That for some math is trickier to understand but once you figure it out it will not be such a struggle. The light bulb has to come on and until it does it our brains will want to give up and think we can't do it.

We put our kids in a montessori and that has helped them tremendously with math. I think sometimes traditional schools don't do the building blocks of learning math so kids can grab the concepts.

It sounds like you and your husband are on top of it and that is probably the best thing. You are there for your kids and I am sure they feel your support and that is reassuring.

Take care,

L. W.

I wish I were a bit closer to you! Would love to help your children with this.
Often it is the style you or the teachers are using that just doesn't 'click' with the child ... can you try using a completely different approach? or several?
Especially with the younger one.
You want to meke the CONCEPT clear, whch is best with a multi pronged approach.
make it REAL life and practical too, rather than on paper, for a while. Then fond other ways to depict what is happening on paper.
For example: drawings, diagrams, things in nature, counting candy, toys, veggies going down the disposal...
Subtraction should be easy. Don't always call it that!
Addition - giving more. Also fun wth food.
Good luck!
An inventive sensitive and widely experienced tutor should be able to help.
BTW I had a child of 11 who was still clueless in any Math when she started with me and within weeks it was her fave subject! So don't give up hope.

;-)

For your first grader I recommend the DVD Leap Frog's Math Circus. It explains the concepts of addition and subtraction in a very child-friendly way with some catchy tunes that you can repeat for added memorization. Like the others said, use lots of hands-on materials to demonstrate the concept of addition.

For your fourth grader I recommend addition and subtraction flash cards. Those basic facts need to be rock solid. Don't worry about multiplication or division until he has his basic facts down. Start easy with sums getting greater as he gets better. Mad Minute books are available at teacher supply stores, take one-minute a day and do the drills with him. Stopping after one-minute, then correcting the problems together.

Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

N.
~Former third grade teacher.