The Charlotte Mason Elementary Arithmetic Series

My child was diagnosed with math disability and ADHD at about age 8 through a neuropsych eval as well. Although I knew something was wrong it was still tough to read it in black and white. So first of all-hugs to you.

In approaching her disabilities we traveled the path of ‘latest research’ for a full year. She worked diligently through all of those skills like subitizing, number lines, etc and by the end of the year she still didn’t know her math facts and felt ‘dumb’ (her words). She hated math. I hated math.

When someone recommended Richele’s handbook (the Arithmetic Book 1 wasn’t available yet) I decided to forego the ‘latest research’. I trusted Miss Mason with other subjects so why not math as well? One of the most striking things about Richele and her work is the dependence on the Holy Spirit which is also a principle of Miss Mason’s. Through her encouragement (via the DVD and handbook) I let go of notions of where my child ought to be. I was able to put aside a ‘manual’ and look at my child in the face and work with her instead of against her. I was able to invite the Holy Spirit into our math work because I wasn’t too busy worrying about what the ‘experts’ said. Peace descended on our homeschool. My daughter still has disabilities. But she is making steady progress. She enjoys math and no longer calls herself dumb. I was able to hear Richele Baburina speak on math recently and I have never felt so much awe and wonder and beauty in this particular aspect of God’s creation.

The beauty of Miss Mason’s math approach (practices) is that is lines up perfectly with her principles. Richele Baburina’s Living Math honors my child as a born person. I started where my child had solid ground and worked out from there. She emphasizes that there is no behind-there is just where the child is. Her book also tells us to work at our child’s pace.

I want to add that my child has peripheral vision loss as well. Her entire left field of vision is missing (due to a surgery at age 3). She has learned to compensate on her own and I just am sure to take it into consideration if I notice her struggling with something.

So in summary-I wholeheartedly recommend this math and all of Miss mason’s practices to you!

My daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 3. It is diffuse and infiltrative so it cannot be safely removed. However-it has not grown since it was discovered. A true miracle. It covers most of the right hemisphere. When she was first diagnosed they thought it was an aggressive tumor that would end her life in less than a year. She was also having seizures due to the tumor. So the neurosurgeon decided to remove most of her right temporal lobe in hopes of providing more space for her brain to swell and thus giving her more time and to hopefully curb seizure activity. As I said-the initial diagnosis was wrong and the tumor has not grown. We knew that peripheral vision loss was a possible side effect when we agreed to the surgery. And I don’t regret the decision one bit. It did help with her seizures for about 2 years but they came back with a vengeance and so far we haven’t found any good solution.

The biggest trouble she has with that vision loss is running into things and knocking things over-but occasionally I see her leave off the first words on a page or the manipulatives that might be placed too far left. It has very little impact on her overall though.

I truly can’t imagine educating her any other way. She really struggles with handwriting also and so the limited writing in this math has also boosted her confidence. And spreading such a wide feast has introduced her to subjects that she excels at and that also boost her confidence. She is phenomenal at recitation. She has such a beautiful way of reading her scripture or hymn pieces that I am frequently moved to tears. A beautiful reminder of how this method is such a blessing to these precious children who would otherwise be cast aside and labeled as less than.

I am going to add you and your ‘born person’ to my prayer list. I am glad I was able to provide a little help and hope today.

Sadly I had not ‘met’ Charlotte Mason until after I had taught my oldest to read. I have since taught 2 others using Miss Mason’s reading instructions found on page 199 of Volume 1 (Home Education). I am currently teaching another of my girls and she is in the stage of just learning letter sounds. I don’t use any bought curriculum-just wooden letters and Home Education! I will send you more details in an email.