Ds1 is still struggling in math

[PamE]

Just for background, ds1 is 9yo and has been in special ed since he was 3. I am very thrilled with his reading progress!!! :* It was a skill I was never sure he'd ever learn.

Math has been more of a struggle for him than reading. It has taken him from kinder until this year to understand and be able to count one-on-one consistently. He is still unable to add and subtract. We've used manipulatives, number lines and something called touch math (each number is counted by touching the dots drawn on that number). He's going into 3rd grade in the fall and I'd like to help him build skills over the summer.

Is straight memorization of math facts a bad thing in this case? When other methods have been tried and failed? Should I just start helping him memorize fact families? If it's okay, how/where should I start? If it's not a good idea, does anyone have any suggestions of what else I can try with him?

I was hanging clothes on the line this morning before ds left for school and I asked him out of the blue, what's 4-4? He had kinda that "deer in the headlights" look and started throwing out (wrong) numbers. So I handed him four clothespins and said, you have four clothespins. I took them away and said, if I take four clothespins away from you, how many do you have? He grinned and said none. I said, right! you have zero clothespins. Now, what's 4-4? He grinned again and said, it's zero! Maybe that little scenario will tell you something more about his abilities or lack thereof and give hints on what I can do. I'm not sure how to interpret it, lol!

[AnnW]

Not a teacher here, but the clothes pins are like manipulatives and he got that concept. While incredibly boring, memorization does work. It doesn't help with the understanding of 'why' 4-4=0, but he would be able to answer it. Is he good at memorizing? I think I might try different manipulatives like beans, match stix, legos something like that...or just stick with the clothespins, they seem to work.

[PamE]

The only reason they quit using manipulatives is that they seemed to distract him so. He is not great at memorization but if it will help him to make the next steps in math (hopefully understanding the why!) then we can work on it. As far as I'm concerned he learned his letter sounds rather quickly and that is memorization. With repitition he does his spelling words the same way, so it shouldn't be too hard.

[AnnW]

Can't make it worse! Go for it!

[Judy]

Try to think of something you son loves and see if you can incorporate that into math lessons for him.

The boy that I worked with loved the computer. I was able to find a voice activated computer program which allowed him to get some extra speech therapy while playing on the computer. It worked wonders with him.

Also, I would suggest you keep math terms in mind when working with your son. The clothespin thing didn't initially work when you used the term 'minus', if I read that correctly. But when you put it into more understandable terms when working with the clothespins, he understood the concept. At that point I would reiterate the math term while showing him the action with the clothespins again.

[aztec_judy]

PamE,
I was thinking about the computer programs that are out.
I know my grandsons are having a blast with the educational games I have found to help them learn with.
But of course that would depend on if you allow him on the puter much.
There is the Rogers Rabbit puter ones out that teach them alot of different things from pre-school up.
But sounds like the clothespins might be great to work with him.
I know when I first started with mine I would have them copy it about 3 times each then if they were having problems with one I would have them write that a few extra times. I used whatever I had available at the time. And while they watched me wash dishes or fold clothes we would count them as we went.
But back then we didnt' have puters... lolol
I taught them their ABC's while sitting writing out letters to friends an family. Then moved up to doing my own set of flash cards for them.

seeee yaaaa....

[PamE]

I'm not so sure how I feel about the computer games. Ds is good at games on the computer but I'm not sure how much he's learning and how much he's memorizing the steps.

For instance, he can tell time on the hour and on the half hour, but *only* on the clock in his special ed room and on worksheets. It's just another manifestation of his processing problems.

He would love them though. Maybe as a fun reward for working hard on the other stuff it would be an okay thing.

He definitely needs work understand plus, minus, equals, etc! :D Maybe I can make flashcards for those too.

[aztec_judy]

PamE,
Recently I was on the Broderbund Site. And found some neat little games to get for the grandkids, one a sandbox, a letter machine, etc ...
But one of them on there was a clock game. It had the old fashion clock face to it. It gives you a time : example 11:45 and asks you to please set the clock at that time. It has a "handle" that you put it for either forward or reverse and then you set the other : hours - minutes - seconds. It really is a cute little game. And I don't think your ds1 would be able to memorize that one.
Its a free download.
Go to : http://www.broderbund.com .... then to : Top Sellers ... then to Downloadable Software .. Then to Free Downloads.
It will bring up a list of items that you can choose from.
This one is called : "Calendar Clock". And I think you might find it can help with your ds1.
They have some cute ones on there that are free. There are some that you have to login to be able to download for free.
I was just looking to see if there was anything that would interest my gdk because one is having trouble with math also, but with multiplication. Which they do have one for that. But they don't have one for addition.
I know my gdk are having a blast with them. I for one am not one to allow the kids on the computer. But these are educational for them so have allowed this for them. And even my 2 yr old gds is having a blast with the sandbox & letter machine.
And I also have purchased "Reader Rabbit : 1st Grade" for my 3 & 4 yr gdks. Which helps with colors, spelling, math, etc ...
Anyways... hope this helps some??
seee yaaa....

[PamE]

Thanks, Judy! Time was another thing I wanted to work with him on this summer and that looks great! I'm downloading it now. :)

[aztec_judy]

PamE... Greattttt ... I forgot it also does the days and months also. I think its really neat for them, since it uses the old round face clock. Just make sure you volume isnt' tooo loud. It does to be loud for sure.
The letter Machine is one that teaches the alphabets. Its set up like a small laptop and once installed you can have it with the alphabets set up as the typewriter way or in order. And it will give a little animation of the alphabets too... like : find the letter Bb ... then when you click on the correct one, will say : bees board bus, then it gives a little animation of bees boarding a bus.
Which my 2 - 3- 4 yr olds think is neat !!! But they like the sandbox the best so far. lololol

see ya later again ... lolol made the mistake of opening my emails and have yet to leave the puter ... lololol hmmmm
anywaysss am outta here now...
have a great one...