DS 6 – Right Start Math Level A and ABCs

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  • November 19, 2015 at 11:28 am
    Haylee
    Participant

    Hi!

    I’m a brand new hs mom of a kindergartner.  I never knew it’d be so hard!  But I’m so thankful to this web-site and this forum, they’ve both helped a lot but now I have a specific question I’m hoping for help on.

    My ds turned 6 in Sept.  He went to preschool for 3 years 2 days a week prior.  I always knew that he was a slower learner than most.  He’s a smart kid but it takes him awhile to pick up things.  He picks up all physical stuff quickly but “book” stuff it takes longer. For instance, he still does not know all his ABC’s.  He knows 75% of them but there are a few letters he still struggles with.  Which kind of leads me into one of my questions.  He’ll know a letter for a couple days or maybe weeks then the knowledge completely leaves him.  Is this normal?  To me it’s so frustrating having him now then not remember later.  Also, we’ll be working on a specific letter and he’s doing good but then move on to another one and then go back and he can’t remember, all in same lesson.  Just some help/advice would be appreciated.

    As for the Right Start Math, we are doing level A.  We started in late Aug and are going very slow as the visualizing is hard for him to catch on too.  We are on lesson 7, which is quantity of 9.  Again, some days he does so good while other days it’s as if all knowledge has left him.  I’m so frustrated and I fear I’m pushing to hard to “know” and he’ll hate it all.  Ironically he still says math is his favorite!  We do about 15-20 min Mon-Fri.  I don’t know if I should throw in the towel and try a different program (originally was going with Math U See until I researched this one) as maybe this isn’t the one for his learning style or cont to try to stick it out hoping it all clicks?  What is so wrong with counting?!?  Also, I know Right Start is big on math games but I haven’t seen any in our lessons for this early on.  Does anyone have games for just learning/visualizing the quantities.

    Well hopefully all my rambling makes sense!  I appreciate any advice, encouragement, insight.

    Thanks and Many Blessings,
    Haylee

     

    November 19, 2015 at 2:15 pm
    Carolyn
    Participant

    Hi Haylee!  My boys are almost 9yo and just turned 6yo.  We use Rightstart (my 9yo has done level A-presently in D) and my 6yo started level A this year.  This is such a great math program and I would encourage you to stay with RS.  I can see from my level A that math games start in lesson 7.  With my 6yo some lessons I spread over 2 days and I do lessons M-Th and games on Friday.  My kids love the games and they really do help them learn the concepts.  Go at his pace and play extra games when needed.  Also, I would encourage you to call RS customer service.  They have always been so helpful with my questions.

    As for the letters, he is still young and I would continue to read aloud to him and let him mature some more.  If you are interested in a curriculum, I am using All About Reading (pre-reading level) with my 6 yo.  It covers a letter a day with activities and then will repeat the alphabet and start learning the sounds.  I have been really pleased with it and my son loves the program.

    Hope this helps some!

    November 19, 2015 at 9:16 pm
    williamshome10
    Participant

    Hello Haylee.

    I have used Right Start for years and love it, for up to level E.  Geometry was too hard.  I too would encourage you to continue with the lessons.  My older children still ask to play the games for fun, though they are out of RS now.

    Your comments about learning, remembering, and forgetting made me think of what I am going through with my youngest son, who is 7 years old.  He does the exact same things.  He will forget a letter after spending 20 minutes on it and then a pause of ten seconds without the letter, after which he cannot remember it.  He does not know all of his letters yet.  Some days in RS level B he knows his math facts well (simple addition), and other days he makes all mistakes.  This is not at all how it was with his older siblings.  I wanted to let you know what we have discovered for my son is that he has a brain imbalance/issue, which may even be dyslexia.  Please don’t rush to diagnose a learning difference for your son, I just thought I would mention it as this is our current situation.  (As I have recently learned, dyslexia is not just reading letters backwards.)

    I would encourage you to spend as much time as you can reading to him outloud and not pressuring him into reading.  Perhaps taking a break for a few months will allow him to come back to his letters with more confidence and skill in the spring.

    I hope this is helpful.

    November 20, 2015 at 10:16 am
    Haylee
    Participant

    Thank y’all so much for the advice/encouragement.  I think I will take a break and do some of the other CM subjects, like art, music, nature study, while just doing fun games to reiterate what we’ve already learned so he doesn’t forget.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

     

     

    November 29, 2015 at 6:31 pm
    kurtjenvb
    Participant

    Hi Haylee,

    I’d like to chime in and share some thoughts on RightStart.  I have used this curriculum for many years, and really like it.  That said, I have skipped level A with all of my children.  It is my perception that Level B repeats much of Level A, and so, I figured, why waste the time pushing formal math earlier than I need to?  I would encourage you to at least consider waiting on it, and starting Level B when your child is older.  I usually start Level B around 1st grade.  You can make up your own simple math games with your son in the meantime – RightStart has a book of games you can purchase separately, if you’d like some guidance.  My advice would be not to stress about math yet. 🙂  Same with the other subjects – you have lots of time – just enjoy reading together and doing some simple “daily life experience” learning.  I never pushed phonics too much with any of my children – just a little here and there to help give them the “push” they needed.  Each of my children started to read on their own at different ages – some early, some later.  But, when they were ready – they were ready, and it was so easy.  I was so glad I hadn’t spent a lot of hours on “reading”, because I found I just didn’t need to – a huge time-saver!!  Of course, if there are particular learning obstacles, than that is a different story.  If I could go back and re-do my early homeschool years (and I’m so glad I have more little ones to “try again” with), I would do far less 🙂  Hope that helps a bit.  -Jennifer

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