25 years since HS...... now helping kids with homework?

[Papa Deuce]

OK, not yet, but I am DREADING trying to help my kids with math, when the time comes. Sure my kids have 1.5 years to go before 1st grade but I'm worried about maybe 4th or 5th grade.

The slide rule post made me realize that I no longer know how to do math except for the basic 4. And, actually, I can do most of the basic 4 in my head very quickly.

But after that, I have ZERO recall about how to do math. I'm worried.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Don't worry. The good thing is that they start with the simple stuff and work themselves through the hard stuff.

DS is in 4th grade and doing division and reading at least two books a month.

I have him do his homework and then check it to make sure he's doing it properly.

I also read the books that he is reading, so I can discuss the book with him and also review his reports prior to handing them in. I don't know if this is what should be done, I just do it and it works for us.

Ask the teacher what the studies will be and brush up if you feel overwhelmed.

You can always ask us here on the boards - we'll try to give you our best guess

You will do just fine.

 

[gr8tpanther]

I think the schools teach stuff that most kids will NEVER use. Basic math, fine, but get into that algebra and trig? Who uses that? Unless you are a chemist or something like that. However, in schools today, they teach kids stuff that USED to be selective.

Same with language, I just found out that my DD HAS to take foreign language next year! Since WHEN did that become mandatory?

 

[always quiet]

I have only one piece of advice for you...get verizon dsl. They offer MSN Premium for free...included in this in Encarta homework help!! My kids (high school and middle school) and find their algebra book listed and it will take the kids step by step on how to do specific problems ("page 64, #5 for instance) WITHOUT giving them the answer. Believe me, if it weren't for this, homework time would be something like this in our house........ followed by , maybe some and DEFINITELY many many

 

[damo]

Papa Deuce, you can relearn at the same as your kids. You should be better at it since, for you, it will be review!!! Just be honest with them. If you don't know the answer, just say you don't know but you will find out for them. Your kids will respect you for it.

 

[crz4mm2]

Don't worry. They will teach you

 

[OhMari]

I am out of h.s. 25 yrs too and I have 2 in college and 2 in h.s. I went back to college when my youngest was 4. I had to retake all the math, algebra, calculous and statistics. I got straight A's, in h.s. I couldn't even manage a decent C. You will be surprised how you can do it and help them out. But let them explain it to you first then you can help.

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

I feel your pain . . . .I graduated in 1985 . . .my DD is a junior in h.s. and my DS is in 7th grade . . .let me just tell you, I DO NOT do math! I don't even understand what DS is doing . . .I never had algebra or geometry and I am glad that he knows what he's doing . . .otherwise he'd be staying after for math help . . .He also had to take either Spanish or French and chose Spanish because when he goes into h.s. he wants to take Italian . . . DD on the other hand never understood anything besides basic math and that is what she is in in h.s. They are both good students and DD even got on the honor roll this year . . .

Basically when your kids go to school you'll most likely be learning from them on how to do the math they are teaching them . . .nothing at all what we learned way back when . . .

 

[LBAK]

I gave up once my girls got into 6th grade. The school has extra help or they can go on the computer. I am severely math challenged!

 

[Jennifer S]

Don't fret - they changed they way they do math now anyway- at least in our area (which is YOU too). It's called Everyday Math and is taught entirely different than they way we were taught. I can barely do second grade. They don't even add how we did. SO forget everything you were taught - it's stoneage!!

One good thing, our school district has a class for parents so they can help their kids.

 

[Annette_VA]

I am in the same boat. I remember nothing from school - esp. math, history.

Luckily DH is a brain - he'll be the one helping the boys w/ their homework!

 

[Jimmae05]

don't worry, just do what my mom or dad does when they don't remember something, look it up in the text book. Google works too.

 

[SleepyMom]

I am in the same boat. I remember nothing from school - esp. math, history.

Luckily DH is a brain - he'll be the one helping the boys w/ their homework!

I am the same as you, when DD20 was in HS she was having problems one night and I looked at her book and was totally stumped, did not have a clue! DH came home from work and took one look and told her how to get the answer . He probably had not seen a problem like that for years, but he could still remember how to solve it. Looks like dad is the one to go to for DD12.