Homeschool World Forum

Lynn30120 · User Joined: 15 Jan 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Georgia, USA

I'm new at this. I'll begin homeschooling this coming fall (07) my 6th grade daughter so I'm looking into and researching everything. I'm struggling to find the right curriculum for her. She has always struggled, primarily in problem solving and reasoning. I'm not a math person either. Any suggestions that can help a math-challenged 6th grader and her mom would be greatly appreciated.

Jally · User Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Posts: 8 Location: PA

Hi. I heard that Math-U-See is really good. But I have never tried it. I get books off of Ebay and workbooks (with an answer key!! LOL) from stores plus use everyday experiences and lots of computer games. Do you remember School House Rock? Well, they have an awesome computer game that teaches math. Ds is also math challenged, so am I for that matter; the calculator is my best friend LOL Anyway, the key is to make math fun and interesting. And, one thing I tell my ds is, it doesn't matter how he gets the answer, just as long as it is right.

Word problems are hard for my ds too. It helps if we write them out as we are figuring them up. And one of our favorite tools to use is a big dry erase board.

Remember to go at your dd's pace. Good luck!

Kitty-Cat · User Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 62 Location: Australia

I will second Math-U-See. I choose that because I am math challenged and couldn't imagine just using a manual. MUS has all the lessons done on dvd or video with the writer of the programme Steve Demme as the teacher. http://www.mathusee.com/
_________________
Jo from Australia

Carmella · User Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Colorado

Lily · User Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 427

I will third Math U See. Laughing

We started it a few months ago now and the change in math attitude is amazing! We started with one level below where he was currently working to give him better confidence and he's zipping right through. It's summer and he's asking to do math!

You may want to check out the Critical Thinking Co. for logic books. They have a ton of great resources there.
_________________
"The greatest sign of success for a teacher... is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist."
- M. Montessori
Proud non-member of the HSLDA

knobren · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 7:32 am Post subject:

I have read some good things about a math book geared toward middle school girls. It was written by a female mathematician/physicist/actor.

Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle-School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail by Danica McKellar

http://www.mathdoesntsuck.com/

Of course there is some debate about using examples from shopping, fasion, cell phone minutes, etc. to stereotypically reach out to girls, but if the regular math books use sports examples that stereotypically reach out to boys, then maybe this is a balance for those girls who don't like math as it is traditionally taught, but who might get excited about examples that they are interested in.

http://scienceblogs.com/aetiology/2007/07/followup_on_math_doesnt_suck_d.php

ncmom · User Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 324 Location: Eastern NC

I have never used it but I heard good things about and have a friend who swears by math-u-see.

mark_egp · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:56 pm Post subject:

I really like Saxon, as do our 2 middle school girls. It's a simple approach, no bells/whistles. You can go at a slower pace when they get stuck. I've posted details about it at our family site:

http://www.everygoodpath.net/search/node/saxon
_________________
Mark - http://www.everygoodpath.net/ Homeschool ideas
http://www.everygoodbook.com/ Classic Book lists easy to search/sort for history, literature, and reading lesson plans