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The Importance of Math Facts
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First, I want to give a big thanks to everyone here for sharing your wisdom and your hearts. I feel this is a safe place to ask questions and share. So, here I go……
My oldest dear son, who is 12, struggles tremedously with his math facts. I think this is mostly due to my lack of drill with him over the years. I’m now beginning to see the effects that its had on him as he struggles even in getting his addition and subtraction facts out there quickly.
We didn’t start homeschooling until he was in 2nd grade. Sadly, our first two years were a struggle to try to copy the school system – I went from workbook to workbook every time he shed tears over a math page. He is very behind in math for his age level and I’m sure that its due to my inconsistancy.
He completed Math U See Gamma (mulitiplication) only last month- the first math curriculum that he ever completed in all of our homeschooling journey thus far (and without tears). He was overjoyed when I presented him with his certificate. However, he recently was in a conversation with some friends his age and found out that they are completing long division. He was terrified to find he was so behind them and came to me in tears. I tried to encourage him and let him know he was doing great.
He loves science, robotics and mechanics and wants to be an engineer. I realize that he needs strong math skills to take the higher science courses in HS and College.
My question is after ALL OF THAT….Do you suggest I go straight into the next Math U See which is Division or take time off to work on math facts alone? Also, how in the world are we ever going to catch up so that he’s taking Pre-Algebra in 8th grade inorder to get all his Math and Science courses in Highschool? We had planned on starting Apologia’s General Science course in the fall but now I realize that there are so many math pre-requisites.
I would greatly love any advice you could offer. Only the past few years have we begun to implement the CM method in our homeschooling and what a breathe of fresh air it’s been. My three children are being blessed because of this website and forum. God is using it greatly! Many blessings and thanks to all of you.
Heather
Heather, I tried to reply to this post once before but it went off into NeverLand. If it shows up again somewhere else, I apologize.
Anyway, what I said was…You are fine. Yes, now would be a good time for your son to solidify his facts. Summer would be a great time to do that. Perhaps you could consider the Business Math program from this site. I have an 11yo going through the Pet Shop and he loves it. We use it as a supplement to his other curriculum simply because I believe we should keep moving while learning the facts.
You can encourage your son that God has brought him to a place where he is able to identify a gap. We all have gaps. When God shows us this, it is because He knows it is time to go get the information we need. There is no room for comparison in that scenario. I know this is easier for us moms to say and harder for the children to accept when they have “friends who can….” It is important for them to see their weaknesses as God’s gifts, though. We’ve had many a go-round with this topic through the years and when they get it, it is wonderful to see.
There is no math prereq. for math in the General Science. I don’t think there is one for the Physical, is there?
Blessings,
Cindy
Again, sorry if that other post shows up here, there, anywhere!!
I, too, have a son who struggles with math. We switched to Math-U-See several years ago in an effort to help him become more solid in the basic math facts. Math-U-See has done just that for him. When he started MUS, he was a whole book behind his younger brother. Talk about feeling bad about being behind! He has since caught up to his younger brother and is now only half a book behind him.
I know that my children are very solid in their math facts as MUS reviews material previously learned not only from recent lessons but from previous books. This keeps them from forgetting how to do something as they learn new material. So, yes, you can continue with Math-U-See. If you take the summer off, though, you may want to work on drill for multiplication so he can keep the facts fresh in his mind.
I tell you about my son so that you can encourage your son that even though his friends may be ahead of him in math he can have the confidence of knowing that he is getting a solid foundation which will help in the higher math courses he will need to take for a career in engineering.
You don’t say whether or not his friends are homeschooled and whether or not they use Math-U-See. If they are using a standard math curriculum then how the math is taught is different from how it is taught with MUS. Standard curriculum tends to try to cover many math aspects (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions) in the course of a year. MUS focuses on mainly one aspect each year. The approach is very different and could be the reason why your son’s friends are “ahead” of him.
As for Apologia’s science courses, General Science has no prerequisite and Physical Science requires a good foundation in basic math or the equivalent of 7th grade math.
Hope that helps.
Personally, if he is struggles with math, I would suggest doing it year round. It would help to prevent “brain loss” during the summer months-less need to review in September. My son does textbook math 4 days a week year around and on Fridays we do a 5 minute math drill/review the problems and then have hand-on math activities. This is where his love of science, engineering or robotics can come into play.
Jill
Here are some ways to drill math facts that are not quite so “painful”
Math-It game
Quarter Mile Math–computer game
MUS website has an online drill for facts
Calculadder–my sons were a little “intimidated” by this one, so we ended up finding and substituting The Mad Minute math drills. We found this at Amazon. It is a series of 1 minute drills, done daily, and you chart progress. It is year-graded, but we just began where we needed it. It worked wonders for my kids’ grasp of their math facts! We did review of math facts in one of these ways, every day year round for years. I really think this would help your son. You might consider setting a certain goal, and taking time off of MUS until you meet those review goals. You’ll probably find when you start back up with MUS that he’ll progress faster.
Also we played “drill games” while driving in the car, etc.
I’ve also seen some programs to help with math facts that I have not tried, but that may help your son.
This is the site: http://www.triggermemorysystem.com/Products.html
I hope some of this helps! Tell your son he is NOT behind, he is exactly where HE needs to be, but with hard work and determination he can progress and do the things he wants to do. Consider finding some stories of men who have had to work for their success–like Edison or Einstein, to bolster his self confidence and then go to work! Also don’t forget to ask the Lord to bless his efforts so that he can learn what he needs. I’d consider having a quiet prayer time where he brings his concerns to the Lord, rededicates his efforts, and asks for blessing and grace.
Tape Philippians 4:13 on the front of his math books and go for it! He can do it.
Michelle D
I, too, woujld recommend that you do somehting “mathy” over the summer if you take a break. Our school year runs from Jan-Oct and over the holiday vacation every math thing my daughter has learned seems to evaporate! She suggested a few weeks ago that we start schooling year round and just take a couple weeks off now and then instead of the 2 1/2 mo vacation. Also, bear in mind that MUS does not follow the regular school system either. He focuses on one major “skill” for each cd and you progress from there. There are no grade levels so he won’t always be doing the same math as public school kids. By the end of the program he will have learned all the same information, but not necessarily the same way as the others. It’s a wonderful program. My dh is considering ordering the Pre-Calc to help him on his job!
Many thanks to all of you that responded to my post. I was hoping for just a little advice but instead I was ministered to by you wonderful women of God. I appreciate the words of wisdom and practical advice that you gave. Thanks so much & my dear son thanks you too, though he doesn’t know it yet. 🙂 I have been encouraged and strengthened in my resolve to trust God with this concern – thanks to all of you once again!
Bumping this because it has such good advice and tips!
Here’s a link to The Mad Minute math facts book. Wow, it was published 20 years ago and it’s still kinda expensive!
Wanted to ask CS if you have made improvement?
My son is only going into division at 6th grade but I am not at all sad of the long wait. He knows his facts now and I’m pleased. I would not have moved on till he could do +, – & x without struggles.
Misty
I highly recommend Rapid Recall by Jan Bedell for math fact memorization. It has worked wonders for my dd.
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