Homeschool World Forum

BethTN · User Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 2

My 7th grade dd just doesn't get math at all. She can do some basic operations, but anything above that is very hard for her. When learning a new concept, she seems to understand and works her way through it, but when it is reviewed at the end of a chapter or anywhere else along the course, she forgets the concept and has to relearn it again. We have homeschooled for 6 years.I am very weak in math and it is my hardest subject to explain to her. I thought it was just my teaching skills, but we are doing HomeSat this year and she still doesn't understand. I think a lot of her problems stems from never learning her upper times tables. We have tried everything. Drills, Worksheets, Flashcards, etc.. She has never memorized them entirely. Please let me know what I need to do to catch her up. She has to be tested in March and I'm afraid she will score very low in math. We have homeschooled from the beginning and this has always been a struggle.
Thanks!
Beth

Theodore

Have you tried Saxon Math? Every problem set contains a few of each type of problem used throughout the previous sets, so it's good for keeping drilled in the concepts without beating them to death. Regular drills might contain dozens of the type of problem currently being learned, but someone who has trouble with math will only remember the basic concept long enough to finish the drill - not terribly useful. You need reminders for at least several weeks to move the concept into long-term memory.

Also, have you tried checking her learning style? Auditory or kinesthetic-tactile (hand-on) learners often have a lot of trouble understanding and retaining concepts through visuals. You might do better with videos or math manipulatives if your daughter isn't visual.
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BethTN · User Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 2

Thanks for the reply. Here is what I think I am going to do. I think I will stop BJU math, because there is not any review except at the end of the chapter. I am going to get Saxon 76 and give it a try..and use some supplemental books that I printed online.

I am just so worried about the standardized test she has to take. She has not been tested since 3rd grade and she scored low in math then. I wish there was a way to catch her up before march.

thanks!

Theodore

If she doesn't score well, then she doesn't score well. The best you can do right now is find a method that works - hopefully Saxon - and start catching her up to where she should be. If you work year-round rather than taking the summer off, you can keep her workload small while still doing significantly more than a grade of math per year. She may or may not score well now, but she should be able to score well in another year or two.
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The board game has sold over 350,000 copies worldwide, garnered many awards, is used by over 2,000 schools, and is used extensively by homeschoolers.

Mary Pride · User Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 2

If the problem is not knowing math facts, the BEST way to upgrade those quickly is with math drill software. The best I have found so far is Barnum Software's "Quarter Mile" program. It's very motivating, as you are racing against your own best speed scores, and completely customizable, so you can drill just the facts you need to improve.

I suggest you drill not only the missing multiplication facts, but ALL the math facts, as if your student is slow in ANY math facts it will really slow down higher math, as you have found!

Go to http://www.thequartermile.com to find out more.
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Princess_Fyara · User Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Posts: 39 Location: Idaho

Here's a link that might help, if she get's interested, she might get hooked! http://thatquiz.com/
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Tabz · User Joined: 06 Feb 2006 Posts: 89

There's a great tutoring site out there that works on-line. It's mindsprinting.com. I really wish that I would have had something like this to help me with math. They offer a free assesment test and sample lessons on-line. It can be used as a stand-alone curriculum or it can be used to suppliment a student's understanding. Try it out and see if it's right for you.
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