Math for struggling learner

Your son sounds like mine.  After 3 years we’ve finally managed to get past fractions.  We started with the Key to series this year.  This provides lots of reinforcement on a given topic, so we wouldn’t always do every problem.  I will usually assign about half the page and then if he gets any wrong we go over it again and he does a few more to show that he gets it.  I will take some of the problems not done to use as review occasionally in the following weeks as we move on to different concepts.  At least 3 times a week we’ll do a few review questions as a warm up before getting really into it.  I specifically throw subtraction with regrouping and fraction problems into the mix as those are the things he struggles with the most.

Though somewhat familiar with Paces, I can’t speak for the math as I’ve never used it.  If you do the online placement test it will show you which paces to use to cover gaps and then where to pick up from.  When we did the placement it said to start him halfway through third grade.  The booklets are pretty juvenile looking, so I didn’t think my then 14 year old would be too impressed with that.  Key To books are directed to the older student, but they are topical for a mastery approach.  There is not really any review.  For example, you won’t really find fraction review in the decimals books, so if your son requires more review you will need to find another way to provide it.  I will be watching to see what others recommend in terms of “Real World” math options.

My daughter, who will be 13 this month, does not ‘get’ much math. The neuro-psychologist explained the different pathways of the brain. My daughter’s vertical pathways are on target age-wise, meaning, when given information, she can tell it back (memorizing). But, she doesn’t always ‘get’ the concept. Those are the horizontal pathways in the brain. She only tested at an 8yo level in that area. She doesn’t understand all the ‘whys’ in math, and doesn’t always understand the lesson or moral of a story, although she loves when I read to her (she has dyslexia, so she doesn’t do a lot of independent reading).

For math, the recommendation was to focus on time/sequence, use of calculators (he said to table facts), checkbook math/money, and my evaluator also recommended measuring, which was something I had thought of myself. We need to focus on these areas because we want these struggling children to be able to survive on their own as adults. I would recommend, at 16 years old, these areas be focused on.

I did paces in high school, so I am familiar with them. My evaluator was a supervisor in an ACE school for many years (the one I attended), and she is not a fan of the math, especially for someone struggling. We have Math On the Level. That uses real life math to teach concepts. It is pricey, but once you have it, you will not need to buy another math program. Personally, knowing what I know from the psychologist, I would work on those areas I mentioned. If he understands money, let him use a calculator to add or subtract for the checkbook. Don’t spend a lot of time having him practice on paper. My daughter is only 12, and this is what the doctor said to do with her. At 16, it is even more imperative that he be working on those areas that will help him as an adult. HTH