Need SERIOUS math help

Misty, I used the tables through 12 x as copywork on a daily basis as part of the math lesson.  I just wrote them out and they did one a week.  I also allowed them to use a table chart so they could use it while doing their math early on.  Over time, with the copywork and the table chart, they learned all they needed and we moved on.  They too struggled with just trying to do it by memory – but the constant writing and feeling relaxed using the chart helped them enormously.  It may not be the standard way, but it worked for us – and I did not want tables becoming a battle ground.  Hope this helps a bit.  Linda

I don’t know how you feel about computer games, but my son has done so much better since I downloaded TIMEZ ATTACK.  I am NOT into gaming, but this has motivated him like nothing else, PLUS it was free!

http://www.bigbrainz.com/Download.html

~Heather

Misty

We did the same as missingtheshire above did. both my boys were just not memorizing the times table–so we did the facts as copy work —we stuck with the 3s until memorized then moved on. And yes you write the answer also.

They just copy the whole fact –that way they are ‘seeing’ it correctly. I also had them ‘say’ it out loud as they were ‘writing’ it. That way they were ‘seeing’, ‘hearing’,and ‘writing’ the fact correctly.  It does work. Some times it just takes longer with these boys. : )

Mic

Misty, Quarter mile Math is a program like that here is the link:

http://www.thequartermile.com/

My daughters used this as well, though the copywork worked better.  Still it may be worth a go.  With the copywork, I would just give them the completed say 3x table and the answer so they copied that, then when thy did math problems, they had the table to check answers with and so had to look for the answer.  After a few months I found that they knew a lot of the tables and it was quite effortless.  We did occasionally ask what is 3 x 3, but not as a formal sit down thing.  Within a year they had their facts down.  We used Quarter Mile to reinforce and review.  Linda

Misty – do you know what type of learner your son is?  Certainly the copy work would cover both auditory and visual, but I’m thinking if you specifically KNEW he was an auditory learner, you could record the facts on CD, tape etc… and then play that for him each night as he goes to bed.  I used to memorize all my Bible verses that way as a child and it was super helpful.

The other thing that I thought looked super helpful (though we’re not at times tables yet so I haven’t tried it) is the Times Tales…  It might work if he’s a visual learner – it’s a little pricey for JUST times tables, but if it works or you could find it used and it works, might be money well spent!

Blessings,

Rebekah

Thanks for the link, Rebekah.

I am in the same boat as Misty – my 10yo 5th grader just can’t seem to memorize anything.  Everything is figured out – every time, no matter how many times we have done the tables, and how many different ways.  The problem is that she makes errors in her “figuring”.  

We have been through the copywork, we have been through times tales, we have used times attack(she hated it LOL).  No retention with any method.  I have decided she just doesn’t think that way.  So I like schemes like are illustrated on the link Rebekah gave – they are ways to figure it out that may reduce error.  :sigh:  Currently I am focusing on skip counting (again) and using the multiplication Math Wrap-up to practice each group.  

We are trying RightStart and not quite through the transition lessons yet – then on to level E.  In the transitions exercises we have been working on mental math – and I think she is making some progress.  Just taking the sheet of paper away had been good to force her to do some recall.  Before, every math sheet would be covered with little problems and number lines and dot patterns – all her work done while figuring out the equations.  

In the living math yahoo group, I read a persuasive argument for going ahead with math concepts, even without memorization of the math facts.  This is where I am going.  If she needs to use a paper table for some of the more difficult facts, then that is what we will do.  We are also using some math readers – Murderous Maths – The Essential Arithmetricks now and we have the next one about fractions, and I am ordering The Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat. I really never even thought of a math reader before being introduced to these books, but I think they are already helping her (us) see the math concepts in a big picture way, then use the numbers as tools to apply them.   Anyway, I feel like getting her more comfortable with numbers, how they work, and the patterns in mathematics will help her in recalling the times tables – like there will be something familiar there, not just this alien language she is supposed to parrot back when asked.  I don’t know if this is making any sense LOL.

Good luck Misty!  You all are not the only ones struggling!  Hang in there, and let us know if you find a miracle solution.

My 10 year old son had this problem too.  We had moved on to division because he got the concept of multiplication just not the facts… Poor thing had the worst time.  Say 25 divided by 3.  He’d figure out by skip counting that it was 8 and write 8 up top.  In that short time he would forget what 8 x 3 was!  We were beside ourselves with frustration.  For him, he had a working memory issue tied into his timing stuff…  (internal timing–affected speech and movement too).   We ended up doing OT and using interactive metronome and what a world of difference it has made!  We have moved on–with success!