Problem: Sandy began her walk at 9:00 (face clock shown with this time), She walked for 30 minutes. What time did she come home?
First Answer: 12:00?
Second Answer: At 2:30?
Math questions like these are very hard for Sveta. Word problems in general are challenging. She is incredibly quick with 0-9 addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts.
Saxon third grade math is proving to be quite challenging for her and Anastasia compared to Math U See that they did last year, but I know that they are learning way more concepts with Saxon.
17 inspiring thoughts:
It seems, Saxon is one of those programs you have to keep with because it is accumulative - as is math in general. But, teachers say students miss some concepts or skills or Saxon preferences if they skip around. Does she work better with the aid of a clock face? Does she work better with a digital clock?
A clock with hands she can move will help some.
Many kids struggle with these concepts, mine included.
The more hands on you can use along with verbal and oral commands does help some.
As well as making it as goofy and big movement as possible.
I hated word problems in school. I think I may have had a reading-comprehension problem, but otherwise, I made all A's and B's in math.
I tended to be a smart alleck when we had problems like this. I would have left answers such as:
"The question doesn't say she came home right after walking" or "It doesn't say she left from home."
But I'm guessing the correct answer is 10? 30 minutes away from home and 30 minutes to walk back?
LOL.
I'm sure she'll pick up on it sooner or later. I still don't understand those train questions. Haha.
something that helped me when i struggled with math word problems (granted i didn't have Sveta's challenges but i did have some learning issues early on) was having someone walk me through my thought process.
for example, rather than just saying her answer is incorrect & explaining how to get the right one, you could try asking, "HOW did you reach that answer?" and then correcting the thought process. just something that helped me, maybe it's worth a try...
my personal thought about Saxon backed by our algebra tutor is that Saxon introduces a ton of concepts, but it does not cement them before moving on to a new one.
We use Teaching Textbooks. LOVE IT.
I use Saxon math in my special ed classroom- and it is amazing!! Connecting Math Concepts is another amazing curriculum that is researched based. I supplement both with a word problem curriculum. If Sveta is having problems with word problems- they have curriculums that focus solely on teaching the skills needed. Don't be discouraged!! Solving word problems is a very hard skill to master for typically developed children, let alone children with disabilities.
Sarah
Hi! I used a lot of math work books .I bought them at Sam Club real cheap. I also used a math program I bought for the computer that really help. It was very inter active. I also made up flash cards with word problems on them and broke down the word problem paragraphs so my child could understand exactly what skills were needed to do the problem.I also contacted other national homeschooling groups for ideas.Good luck Pat
We have been using Saxon since 1992. LOVE it. They have changed it too so that in the older grades there is a separate year for just geometry. It used to be divided between algebra 1, 2 and advanced mathematics.
Saxon presents concepts and keeps those concepts going through each lesson with review so you don't do something and then forget how to do it.
Our dd who has alcohol exposure and drug exposure suffers much with math because she cannot retain her times tables facts. She had them all memorized and then forgot them in 5 short weeks. We are back to memorizing again.
Yet, she can do the concepts in the 76 book.....
Not that you asked for advice...haha...BUT...
We RARELY use textbooks or workbooks...we're much more Charlotte Mason style. We don't have any learning challenges, but my background is in special education. Instead of reading a word problem and writing an answer, we would solve that problem by experience first (also teaches science topics). For example, have her record the time on the clock (if analog is too difficult, put a digital and analog clock right beside each other and have her tell the time on both each time you work with time). Then, have do an activity that should take her about 30 minutes (or whatever increment). Have her come back and record the time again. She can also use a kitchen timer, so she SETS the timer for a certain amount of time AND records the end time from the clock.
Maybe these things won't work for her, but kids really seem to do much better with experience and real life trials than with an abstract worksheet.
After we have those concepts down through experience, then we can work them on paper much easier because we've made those connections in our brain.
I'm SOOOO happy you're homeschooling even through these challenges!!! She can only benefit from unconditional love and a teacher who knows her better than anyone else!
Word problems are difficult for many students. I'm assuming Sveta is a very literal thinker and this will make it even worse. Has she mastered counting by 5's yet? That concept is very much needed before learning to tell time.
I work as a tutor for a girl on the FAS spectrum, and what I've found worked for her was to not even worry about the math for a while. I'd just ask "so, what kind of problem is that? How should you find the answer to that one?"
SO repetitive, but really really really, did wonders.
Jasmine is just the same. And it's very frustrating. It seems like she should be able to make a more realistic guess but she just says a number. We are in a very hard curriculum too. Her IEP meeting is the 19th and we are going to resource room for math and science for her.
I teach 4th grade remedial math at a public school. I have found that time in general is a difficult concept. BUT if they can manipulate a clock and move it then they generally figure it out. Even if they have to put the clock at nine and count 30 one minute tick marks on the clock... or count by fives until 30. Time is a concept worth mastering.
Hi Christine ... I've missed you and checking in on your blog. But you've been in my thoughts and prayers even though I haven't had time to visit. Just a quick word of encouragement ... the beauty and freedom of homeschooling is that you choose which curriculum best suits your child. And if one thing isn't working, you can switch. It's ok. I like Saxon. For my oldest it has worked very well. Not so much for my middle child though, so I switched him to Teaching Textbooks and he's thriving. I love their approach. Also, keep in mind, you can keep repeating lessons, or cover the same concepts using several different sources until they get it. And finally, there just may be some concepts Sveta will not be able to grasp. And that's ok too!
Hugs to you and everyone!
Does she understand that time is all about counting in 5s? That the 1, 2, 3 around the clock means 1x5 2x5 etc for telling the minutes? If so I would explain it as counting from the start time, in 5s to 30 and the answer is where you end up... I wouldn't teach time to a student who didn't know their 5 table though as it becomes a random concept....
I've been doing some research on singapore math, and it sounds like the sort of thing that would be good for Sveta. Lots of manipulatives!
Come on Sveta Come on! Give it one more try! Chiara will always send you a free virtual hug anytime you want
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