Ugh! I have been doing math with my 8 yr old son every morning since June. I am trying to get him to memorize his addition math facts. We are up to doing 100 math problems daily. We are working on 1 thru 3 addends ( i.e +1, +2, +3). He is using Touch Math so he is counting on the numbers. I thought it would evolve into memorization but it hasn't. I am incorporating 2 ideas together. I taught him touch points from Touch Math. Also I fashioned worksheets to emulate Kumon because I like the intense focus on self directed practice and repetition. I think my son needs alot of practice to internalize any new facts. Also he has trouble working independently and the Kumon style seems to promote good independent work habits. Anyway I have been very proud of his efforts and he is becoming more focused and independent. However he has only memorized 3 math facts - 1+1=2, 2+2=4, and 3+3=6. For everything else he is still counting the touch points. Also I am anticipating difficulty with addends greater than 5 because he gets confused with the double touchpoints. In spite of everything, I have decided to focus on the goals not the obstacles. My plan is to just take it real slow in the hopes that much repetition will eventually lead to automaticity and memorization. I was feeling happy with this plan.
Then today my neighbor bragged that after just 4 sessions at Aloha Math her 6 yr old is doing double digit mental addition and subtraction. Now I have severe math envy. I'm having urges to enroll my son in Aloha Math. Logically I know it is a terrible plan because I just got Touch Math added to his IEP and I can't keeping changing techniques. He has ADHD and consistency is very important. So I talked myself down from changing math plans. Then for a brief moment, I satisfied myself with visions of my 4 yr old daughter excelling in Aloha Math. Then I realized that I don't really want my daughter to do mental math and it won't satisfy this envy. My daughter already reads very well and I do some math with her too. I want my son to finally be really good at something - specifically math. He loves science and wants to be a scientist, so math proficiency is very important. I know it isn't fair to compare him to other kids or to expect the same the results. I am very proud of his efforts and reliability. He shows up at the kitchen table every morning ready to do math. I don't even need to nag. So tonight I'm going to bed chanting "adversity builds character." My son is far more interesting than most kids. He dreams about black holes and infinite alternate universes. Hopefully I'm his mommy in all of them forever into infinity.
Here is the Aloha Math link:
http://www.aloha-usa.com/?gclid=CMna5eHRoKoCFaZd5QodYyNeVwLori
Digg
