SCM Discussion Forum

1. 

   Tovi
   Member

   I am wondering if it is better to do a lesson a day, or work for a timed amount of time, say 45 minutes....this in in regards to pre-algebra and higher math.  What have you found to work best? Thanks, Tovi

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
2. 

   dztamra
   Member

   I'd like to know this answer as well. My daughter is doing a lesson a day right now but it easily takes an hour. I was just wondering if I should set the clock and let it be, rather than worrying about the quantity.

   Sorry I wasn't helpful but just wanted to chime in to say that I'm curious as well. :)

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
3. 

   jawgee
   Member

   I'm not sure, either. My son is working through TT7 right now and I am having him do 1/2 lesson each day, which works out to 20-30 minutes (if he stays focused).

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
4. 

   greenebalts
   Member

   Our dd is doing Math-U-See Algebra 1.  She completes one lesson per day regardless of time.  It normally takes her 20-30 to complete the lesson, then we correct orally together, she makes any corrections if necessary and we  check orally again.  The entire process can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes depending on the day.  However, I would say 30-40 is more average.  

    

   At the high school level, she averages 40-60 minutes per day per core subject.  Again, depending on the day and workload.  It may be more if she's completing a paper or Fridays are a lighter day.  

    

   Blessings,

   Melissa

   http://reflectionsfromdrywoodcreek.blogspot.com/

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
5. 

   Tovi
   Member

   So.....I am thinking that maybe I should have him do 45 minutes....but what do you do to keep retention from one day to the next without a lot of backtracking time?? You know, if he didn't finish a lesson one day and then had to jump in the following day to finish the one he started the day before....is that detrimental compared to finishing an entire lesson at a time?  What are your thoughts? Tovi

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
6. 

   Bookworm
   Member

   I can't see why.  We stop in the middle of lessons all the time, or in the middle of tests, or anything else that takes longer than we think it will.  My kids have never really had any trouble, they learned what they learned the day before and we don't erase it overnight.  :-)  We just pick up where we left off, just like we would a book we were reading or anything else.

   My kids work for an approximate amount of time on a math lesson.  If the usual time is up and they are not done with a page or whatever, we just leave it for the next day..  If there's just a tiny bit left, we finish it.  If we finish a few minutes early, we just go on. If we finish a LOT early, we start the next page.  Just depends. 

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
7. 

   Tovi
   Member

   Bookworm, That sounds like what I've been thinking we should do.....just work for a set time and then go on...I think that my son won't get overwhelmed that way.  So, just one more question, I think.....what is a good amount of time for a lesson?  30?  45?  My son is 14.  Thank you so much for your help!  Tovi

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
8. 

   Bookworm
   Member

   The right amount of time is how long he can maintain concentration and attention without tiring.  When he tires or his attention flags, it's time to move on.  Most of the time my kids can sustain good attention on a school subject for up to an hour or so (funny how much longer they can maintain interest on their hobbies, lol) but this sometimes takes some building up to.  If he's never concentrated for longer than 30 minutes on math, I'd start there and move up. 

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
9. 

   Tovi
   Member

   Thank You!  I think I will take this last part of 8th grade and do 30 minutes....he concentrates pretty well, but I don't want to jump too soon to a longer period. when we start highschool, I will allot 45 minutes. Thank you again.....I just need things spelled out sometimes.   Tovi

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
10. 

    TailorMade
    Member

    A while back I challenged my 12yos to see just how much math he could complete accurately in 30 minutes. Now he is challenging himself for an hour. His older siblings work on their math assignments for 1-2 hours, completing 1-2 lessons per day. The older ones are using different levels of Saxon 12yo and 5yod are using Rod and Staff. I will tell you we have been influences by the Robinson Curriculum in terms of math. Math is studied year round and I use a timer in the beginning to establish a set time, not a set number of problems. When the timer buzzes, they are able to set it aside until the next day. You might have a dawdled, but give them some hints on how much faster they can get through a text when they apply themselves. Or, if it persists, set the timer again. ;0). I did this a few times with my 12yo. Once he figured out that he could actually get it all done ahead of the buzzer, he wanted to see if he could do 2 lessons in an hour. He still dawdled some days, but then he feels "behind" and realizes that he had control of his time. He can utilize it, or waste it. I use the timer for myself, too. ;0). I can easily dawdle.
    Becca<><

    Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
11. 

    Tovi
    Member

    So....if a lesson is completed in the 30 minute time frame, then have him move right on to the next if there is still time on the timer, right?  The exception being if he comes to a test, maybe.....so it isn't really one lesson per day, it is however far you get in the time period, right? Just finalizing this all in my head.  It is making a lot of sense.   Tovi

    Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
12. 

    DawnD
    Member

    We use TT math.  I have my kids do 1 lesson or 45 min., whichever comes first.  My one daughter can complete one lesson easily in 20-30 min.  But my son takes forever.  He would do math 2 hours some days if I made him complete a lesson.  So the 45 min. is for him mostly.  It seems to work well for us.

    Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
13. 

    Tovi
    Member

    Dawn, That is what we are using also.....and so I guess that's prompting my questions, because of the type of program it is.  May I ask what the age of your son is?  I was thinking of scheduling 30 minutes, but maybe 45 is a better timeframe because then he wouldn't get stressed if he didn't finish but if he did finish a complete lesson, he would be able to take the rest of the period off......he is in pre-algebra and I know the lesson length gets longer the higher the math........ is that how you do it with your son?  if he completes a lesson in one day, then he is done? Thanks, Tovi

    Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
14. 

    TailorMade
    Member

    Yup. That's what I'd do. But, you can also require it to be as accurate as possible to lower error rate and increase attention to detail. To start that, the reward can be to beat the timer at 100% accuracy. Build from there as it suits. Short time frame/lessons until attention increases. 
    Hth,
    Becca<><

    Posted 1 year ago # Report Post

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