Calling all Teachers - Math help needed!

[justjulie]

Here's the scoop. My son has always struggled with math - he's in grade 5 - he can do it but it doesn't come easy to him. For example even now, he uses his fingers to add and subtract.

I KNOW he needs to know his number facts to 18 and multiplication to 10 x 10. What is the BEST way to help his master number facts?

I know there are some great teachers (and teaching methods) out here - PLEASE give me your best ideas on how to get him back on track. I have some ideas but I want to make sure I'M on the right track and once I start, how long do you suggest we "practice" nightly?

Thanks everyone!

 

[golfgal]

The best way is going to be the way he learns the quickest and that is different for everyone. Some kids do really well using flashcards over and over, others do well using manipulative, coins, etc., some kids learn best by writing them over and over again. Is he the kind of kid that can pick up a book and learn how to put things together by reading a book or is he the kind of kid that learns best by doing (taking things apart and putting them back together again)?

 

[TLHB70]

Does he grasp the "why" to the facts?

Make sure that he understands that first.
Then maybe you can look at your local school supply store and find some CDs with the fact songs. I have the division and multiplication facts tapes/CDs. They put the facts to music. Most kids like that. I can remember loving Schoolhouse Rock as a kid. That is how I learned the Preamble. (I still recite it to the song!) I remember the multiplication songs. I bought my DDs the Schoolhouse Rock video. I wish I could find the Schoolhouse Rock multiplication fact songs on CD too!

 

[minnieandme]

Flashcards work every time. You can also try buying a math software program he can use at home. That will help build up that skill since it's mostly memorization.

 

[justjulie]

He's a creative "artsy" soul - he can put together a 300 piece Lego set without batting an eye and create wonderful illustrations but Math is not his thing.

I think he understands the "why" part - when adding and multiplying the numbers increase, when subtracting and dividing they decrease - I think he gets that part (he told me that a 5 x 3 is the same as adding 5 three times)but the can't tell you that 9+8 is 17 off the top of his head.

We both get frustrated when I try to explain something and the "wording" doesn't match - and I'm not THAT old. I checked his multiplication last night and asked him where his "place holder" was and he look at me like I had three heads - he's never heard of a "place holder" ...

Oiii, help, please!

 

[mickeyboat]

I also suggest the multiplication songs. Just think of all the songs he knows the lyrics to. He should be able to memorize math facts the same way.

I remember having an card with multiplication tables on it that was decorated on the outside with an American Flag. Anyone else remember that?

Denae

 

[golfgal]

He's a creative "artsy" soul - he can put together a 300 piece Lego set without batting an eye and create wonderful illustrations but Math is not his thing.

I think he understands the "why" part - when adding and multiplying the numbers increase, when subtracting and dividing they decrease - I think he gets that part (he told me that a 5 x 3 is the same as adding 5 three times)but the can't tell you that 9+8 is 17 off the top of his head.

We both get frustrated when I try to explain something and the "wording" doesn't match - and I'm not THAT old. I checked his multiplication last night and asked him where his "place holder" was and he look at me like I had three heads - he's never heard of a "place holder" ...

Oiii, help, please!

Email his teacher and see if he/she has suggestions. Mention that you are trying to help and the place holder thing and find out how it is being taught in class. I know that when I was learning when we carried over a number we always put it at the top of the problem and our kids learned to do it at the bottom--not a big deal but you do want to be consistent. Again, it is ALL memorization so it is just going to be a thing where you are going to have to go over and over the facts every night.

 

[justjulie]

I've already contacted his teacher and he has agreed to send home a math textbook to keep at home so we can work on what they are currently studying but he needs to KNOW his math facts as they are slowing him down. (Of course I missed his call so I only got his message but I've placed another call to clarify where he thinks I should start).

I am hoping there may be a peer tutor or extra math help class brewing that he can attend as I know he is not the only one in this position. I feel sorry for the kids whose parents are not involved in their schooling. Yes, maybe I am a nag but I also know if you don't get a good foundation you're going to be in big trouble.

Here's my next question - do I start back at adding and subtracting number facts from 1-18 until he knows those and then move on to multiplication?

 

[golfgal]

I've already contacted his teacher and he has agreed to send home a math textbook to keep at home so we can work on what they are currently studying but he needs to KNOW his math facts as they are slowing him down. (Of course I missed his call so I only got his message but I've placed another call to clarify where he thinks I should start).

I am hoping there may be a peer tutor or extra math help class brewing that he can attend as I know he is not the only one in this position. I feel sorry for the kids whose parents are not involved in their schooling. Yes, maybe I am a nag but I also know if you don't get a good foundation you're going to be in big trouble.

Here's my next question - do I start back at adding and subtracting number facts from 1-18 until he knows those and then move on to multiplication?

I would start at the beginning with him just to refresh things. Sometimes they don't click right away and a refresher helps them make more sense. If he doesn't know his addition/subtraction very well, he won't be able to learn multiplication/division very well.

http://www.edu4kids.com/index.php?TB=2&page=12

This is a site that we used with our kids when learning math facts. It is really customizable, you DON'T have to pay to join for what you need but you can to get more options. It is a very basic site, not flashy, and something a little more interesting then flashcards--which again are a good way to practice.

 

[elizke]

He's a creative "artsy" soul - he can put together a 300 piece Lego set without batting an eye and create wonderful illustrations but Math is not his thing.

I think he understands the "why" part - when adding and multiplying the numbers increase, when subtracting and dividing they decrease - I think he gets that part (he told me that a 5 x 3 is the same as adding 5 three times)but the can't tell you that 9+8 is 17 off the top of his head.

We both get frustrated when I try to explain something and the "wording" doesn't match - and I'm not THAT old. I checked his multiplication last night and asked him where his "place holder" was and he look at me like I had three heads - he's never heard of a "place holder" ...

Oiii, help, please!

Sounds just like my 10 yr old! If there's a system out there that makes numbers like building something that would be great! (Is yours good at geometry like mine? Well, relatively good anyway, at least he likes it....)

And I too struggle with their methods. For example, I know he loves the "lattice" for multiplication (makes a shape out of of math, which is great for him.) But it just doesn't click with me.

I'm hoping to hear more on this thread about better learning methods out there too...

Good luck OP.

 

[suzannen]

Another vote for Schoolhouse Rocks. My DD struggled until I got the Schoolhouse Rocks DVD and she suddenly was singing her multiplication tables.

 

[BuckyFan04]

I'm not a teacher, but I think flashcards are a great way to learn math facts. If you want to, you could drill him with a deck of flashcards a few times every night. It might help to use a deck of addition cards first (the easiest to learn, IMO), then once he has those down, go to subtraction, then multiplication, then division. Just keep going over the flashcards again and again until he knows the facts like the back of his hand.

You could play games with the flashcards, too. I did this with a girl that I've been tutoring in math for 7 years. The game is called "Train." We lined up a bunch of flashcards in a row. The objective is to get from the first card in the row (City A) to the last card (City B) without any mistakes. The child has to say the math fact written on the card out loud, give the answer, and then move on to the next card. If he/or she gets the fact wrong, then he/she has to start over from the beginning. Once they've gotten to the last card without making any mistakes, then they've reached their final destination (i.e. won the game )! The girl I tutored enjoyed this game and it helped to engrain the facts in her head.

We also did "Mad Minutes." Each week she brought a sheet of paper that had 100 math facts on it (all simple addition, or all subtraction, etc.) You get 1 minute to do a certain number of problems from the sheet. When she first started doing the "Mad Minutes" I had her try to (correctly) complete 25 problems in 1 minute. Once she could do that, then we moved up to 50 problems in 1 minute, then 75, then all 100. If you want, you could give your son a little treat/prize when he is able to complete all 25, 50, 75, and eventually 100 problems in 1 minute as a little incentive/reward.

 

[dmslush]

Another vote for Schoolhouse Rocks. My DD struggled until I got the Schoolhouse Rocks DVD and she suddenly was singing her multiplication tables.

I agree! I used them when dd was in 3rd grade and struggling with math. We were homeschooling that year. When she went back into public school, she was a full year ahead on math simply from those videos. The songs are catchy and will stick with you!

But in the mean time, my 9's were always the hardest for me in school when learning to multiply, but I learned this trick as an adult. I'll try to explain it, but it is easier if you are in person.

Lay both of your hands out in front of you. Let say that you want to multiply 9X5, look at your left hand and count 5 spaces to the right (starting with your left pinkie). Curl the 5th finger down (which will be your left hand thumb). The fingers that are raised are now counted as this: The numbers to the left of the curled town finger are the 10's, the numbers to the right are the ones. So, look at your hands, you have 4 fingers still raised on the left hand and 5 on the right (4 tens, 5 ones). So, the answer to 9 times 5 is 45. It will work with all of the nines!

 

[Cool-Beans]

If he doesn't understand the concepts, you going to have to go over all of that first.

Then have him write them out over and over. Use flashcards and give him timed tests (where they have to be written out quickly, in a short period of time.) These are old-fashioned concepts, but they work.

Good luck!

 

[pixiepower1971]

http://www.amazon.com/Mad-Minute-Ma..._bbs_sr_1/002-1237056-0598403?ie=UTF8&s=books


This book is worth every penny for kids learning their facts. It goes from addition through fractions ,I believe.

They spend a certain amount of time(say one minute) to answer a certain # of problems. They have to answer a certain % correctly to move on to the next mad minute. You just make copies of each page as they need them. Its quick, easy, fun for the kids, and helps them to memorize their facts. You can't pass if you are counting on your fingers!

 

[hlbtimes2]

But in the mean time, my 9's were always the hardest for me in school when learning to multiply, but I learned this trick as an adult. I'll try to explain it, but it is easier if you are in person.

Lay both of your hands out in front of you. Let say that you want to multiply 9X5, look at your left hand and count 5 spaces to the right (starting with your left pinkie). Curl the 5th finger down (which will be your left hand thumb). The fingers that are raised are now counted as this: The numbers to the left of the curled town finger are the 10's, the numbers to the right are the ones. So, look at your hands, you have 4 fingers still raised on the left hand and 5 on the right (4 tens, 5 ones). So, the answer to 9 times 5 is 45. It will work with all of the nines!

I know that method, and still use it now and then. I just taught it to my 3rd grader last week.

 

[golfgal]

I thought of another thing for addition, play blackjack/21 with him. Make him add up the cards for both of you.

 

[damo]

You can start by getting him to know his countings by 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 and 12. He can repeat these over and over and over and then he will be able to do multiplication very quickly.

For example, if he can rhyme off 3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27,30,33,36 he will have his 3 times tables. Getting him to do these rote helps a lot.

Not all kids have success with flash cards.

 

[bcvprincesses]

My dd's are using Timez Attack game and they love it to learn multiplication. There is a free version that you can get here. http://www.bigbrainz.com/index.php My dd that is 7 is learning her multiplication from this game and is retaining it. They can't wait to play it everyday.

 

[donnajon]

We did the bigbrainz this summer too for DS9. He loved it. I did upgrade which helped because it gives different graphics so he didn't get bored.
We used the 9 finger trick as well. Also, remember when multiplying by 9, the answers will always add up to 9.
9x2=18 1+8=9
9x3=27 2+7=9
9x4=36 3+6=9 etc.
That way they can double check their answers for 9.

Another rhyme my DS likes is:
I ate and I ate and fell sick on the floor
8 x 8 is 64.

DS's teacher just told me about lattice multiplication as well. It is really cool. He couldn't grasp the multiplying double digits by double digits. I think this is going to really help. I don't know how to explain it but do a google search on lattice multiplication. It really is pretty neat how it works.