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Math Question (MUS)
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Someone stop me from going crazy and buying something, please!My son is 8 and almost finished with Alpha. He does great when we are working on just one skill (like +8’s) but when all the different skills are mixed up on a systematic review page he can’t remember which “tricks” to use get the answer. I have to remind him to look at the problem. “It is a +8 problem. Remember what to do when 8 wants to be a 10?” Is that normal? Shouldn’t he be able to just know that 8+3=11 without all the tricks to remember? At this point he can’t. But he makes 100 on the tests and can tell me how he gets the answers too.
My daughter is in Gamma and has to look back or skip count to get the answers to multiplication problems that she had “mastered” but is now reviewing. They both will make 100 on a test and then the next time those types of problems come up, they don’t know the answers.
So, do I go back and drill? Do I add more review and contiue on? Do I try a different method? Help please!
That has been a normal experience in our house for most of the kids. We have a math whiz who does not have that problem, and three non math whiz types that do. In our experience, it just takes practice. Don’t forget, there are a lot of new concepts introduced in Alpha and Gamma.
We use Math U See also, but we do change one day a week for “Focus on Problem Solving” by Continental Press, and math games or logic puzzles. You are probably already doing this, but I’ll mention it anyways: try to have them practice math outside of their workbooks – “Anna, we need ten plates on the table and six are already there – how many more plates do we need?” I think the more ways we can present mathematics to our kids, the more chance of success they will have.
I have a Flashmaster that the kids use for drill. It is handy. Games with a deck of cards are good too. “War” slightly modified is popular here – turn up two cards and add or multiply the two cards. More skilled players have to count to a certain number before answering if playing with a less skilled brother or sister.
Hopefully this is a little helpful.
My personal opinion is that they probably just need more practice. One of my kids never did get the 8 wants to be 10 – she figured 8 should be happy being 8. 🙂 However, she can still add 8 to other numbers. If a trick isn’t helping, don’t worry about it.
The Flashmaster is just a hand held electronic flashcard device. It’s not necessary at all, but it is useful. Here is a link:
5 or 10 minutes a day does wonders!
I just wanted to say that my 9 yo son had difficulty remembering and using the “tricks” that Mr. Demme teaches them in MUS Alpha and Beta. I didn’t ditch MUS, however, but what I have done is to take a break from it . We have been using Rod and Staff Math for grade 3. Rod and Staff is mastery so it has given him LOTS of practice which is exactly what he needed. Also, their use of the triplets ( 11 9 2, 11 8 3 , 11 7 4 and so on), really helped him get his combinations down in an easier way.
We have done 40 lessons on adding and subtracting and yesterday we just started multiplication. I pulled out the MUS video and had Mr. Demme explain how multiplication works (Rod and Staff doesn’t explain how multiplication works). We got out the blocks and we sat down and I showed him how multiplication works. He said, This really helps!”
I really like the way Mr. Demme teaches math. My oldest child COULD NOT get fractions until she did MUS Epsilon. Now she considers herself a fractions expert. 🙂 MUS was the first math curriculum that really worked for her. I think it will work for most children, but sometimes if something is not clicking with a child, we have to take another approach. For my son that has meant using something different for a while to give him the practice he needs to gain confidence so he can move forward.
HTH,
RuthAnn
Someone told me today about a diagnostic test online to try. It is on A.C.E. Ministries’ website. I am thinking of doing this for both kids tomorrow to see where they really stand in math.
I looked at several different math progams and am not convinced to switch from MUS to something else. I do think we need more drill. I am going to begin using the online drill on the MUS website daily for that. I may also use one day a week to review things like money, time, temperature, etc.
Do any of you know of any good, free websites for math practice worksheets?
Flashmaster is great, it is a small electronic device that lets kids practice their math facts at varying levels. Here is a link from Amazon and one from the website. My daughters loved this thing and would actually practise.
http://www.amazon.com/FlashMaster-Handheld-mastering-multiplication-flashcards/dp/B0002MHMFM
http://www.flashmaster.com/multiplication_table/multiplication_tables.htm
I highly recommend this for anyone. Linda
Amanda, My daughter also seems to have “mastered” her facts and then we go on to a new lesson, she does great with the new stuff and then the review pages come and she forgets what she had just mastered from the previous lesson. I think that they need the review everyday. So I’m going to have her start doing the online drill everyday – just once – it doesn’t take even 5 minutes… and then print out a worksheet from MUS covering the math facts and have her do it at another point during the day, and then have her do the math lesson during school. I may just have her do a drill and a page right before breakfast and lunch just so it’s routine. She also likes to play Uno, so sometimes we play Math Uno and she has to add whatever math fact I pick to whatever card she puts down… so let’s say I pick add 8 to whatever number you put down, she puts down a 6 and has to say six plus eight equals 14. If she gets it right, I draw a card, if she misses it, then she draws a card. She loves it because then she wins Uno! Hope that helps! Rebekah
http://www.worksheetworks.com makes great free sheets for a variety of topics
Thank you all for you help.
Ruthann,
I went to a used curr. store yesterday and had a look at Rod and Staff. I think my children would have a melt down if I switched to that for a day or two. LOL! They do not like a lot of things on one page. It intimidates them. Glad it is working for you all, though. And thank you for the recommendation. I also think I may leave out the “tricks” unless they are having a hard time with a certain group of problems.
Rebekah,
I plan to use the online drill and worksheet generator too. We have a workbox set aside now just for Math Drill for both kids. I like the Uno idea too. I need to add some math games to our week.
missceegee,
That is a great website for “extras”. Thanks!
Just wanted to mention a good free resource for practicing math (and learning it) as long as you don’t mind them using the computer.
It has right from basic math, all the way up to (and including) Algebra, and maybe more. There are videos to teach all the concepts, and for math, there is a program online that gives questions and checks answers. When you get 10 right in a row, it figures you know how to do it and suggests other more advanced topics – or you can continue.
I know some people use it for their main curriculum….. I just use it with our MEP for a change-up now and then.
Someone stop me from going crazy and buying something, please!
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