My dd's teacher makes me want to SCREAM

[Eeyore'sthebest]

what I used to do with my DSD was write out problems on a sheet of paper, just like at school. After homework, she would have to do her test using the time already set at school - think it was 1 minute. After she was done she would go watch tv, I would "grade" it. When she was relaxed, we would go over the answers and any problems. Usually I picked one equation every day and would ask her the answer about 50 times during the rest of the night. For example: "What's 6x3?" This would be done randomly, while cleaning up from dinner, when she was walking out of her room, when she was on her way to the bathroom. She never had to stop what she was doing, she just needed to answer. I would say it in a silly manner and she would roll her eyes and answer. By the end of the night she would spit it out like her own name. It REALLY helped.
Sorry about the school problems. It sounds like the teacher could have approached it in a different manner. But not to fear, she gets a new one next year. One year, we had an absolutely miserable teacher (personally I think she was just miserable - it didn't matter her profession ) and the following year we had a wonderful woman that had my DSD smiling and happy to go to school!
Good Luck with everything.

 

[dg39]

My dd also wasn't very good taking those timed math quizes. We did use the flash cards and they worked wonders. We used them alittle bit every night and by the end of the week when the quiz was taken she did great. In fact we love using home made flash cards for other subjects too. When she has a test in social studies or science or any other subject, we write questions on one side of an index card with the correct answer on the other side. She studies the flash cards for a little while then I test her. I show her the question and I have the side with the answer on it facing me. Flash cards may not work for everyone, but it sure makes studying a heck of alot easier in my house. The only draw back is that we go through index cards like there water, but, its all worth it when she brings home the good grades.

In fact, she's in 6th grade now and we still use this method.

 

[Cindy B]

Flashcards are the key. Yes, it does take time out of your schedule since you need to administer it or proctor it, but it does work. Since she is not doing the math game every night, it is not being reinforced.

Try it. You will see some difference if done every day.

 

[Mom21]

I used this site a lot when my dd was learning the facts to generate test sheets. You can specify what numbers you want it to use to generate problems. That way if she knows all of her 1 facts, for example, just eliminate them from the problem generator. http://themathworksheetsite.com/

Each night I would do at least 5 minutes of flashcards and then give her a worksheet to do timed made up of the same numbers she had just done on flashcards. For example, start with all the 1 facts (1+1, 1+2). When she has that down move on the next night to 2's. The worksheet generator will help you make up a worksheet quickly using only the numbers you want to use. Then use the computer as a fun end to the math session. I hope that makes sense.
I really believe 15-20 minutes a day (maybe 2 session each weekend day) will make a lot of difference in only a few weeks. I can tell you if she doesn't get this down now, and only gets enough to pass, then math will always be a struggle. I used this method with my dd to learn her multiplication facts. She learned them all in the summer between K and 1st, several years before most.

I know you were just venting and didn't ask for advice, but I know this worked with dd. I hope it helps your dd. It's tough being a Mommy isn't it?

 

[BuckNaked]

I don't see how it could possibly hurt to try the flashcards again.

 

[Mom21]

In fact we love using home made flash cards for other subjects too. When she has a test in social studies or science or any other subject, we write questions on one side of an index card with the correct answer on the other side. She studies the flash cards for a little while then I test her. I show her the question and I have the side with the answer on it facing me.

We used to do this too. I even bought a compact notecard binder type thing in the drug store. That way she could carry it and study in the car without dropping the cards all over the place or losing them.

 

[Cindy B]

THis is addition and subtraction,just wait until multiplication. It makes it worse then!

 

[Pooh93]

I'll chime in for give the flashcards another try. In second grade, dd's teacher sends home a calendar for the month and if the kids practice their flash cards for 10 minutes a night (addition&subtraction combined) for 20 times in a month, then they get to pick out of the treasure box at school. Perhaps, you could set up a reward system like this for your house.

I agree with Cindy B about just wait until multiplication because dd who is in 4th grade (and used to fight me tooth and nail in 2nd grade regarding flashcards) now understands why you need to be very good at addition and subtraction when you are multiplying 2 digits by 2 or 3 digits and they will be starting 2-3 digit division very soon. Luckily, she does pretty well with it except making silly mistakes and it's very rewarding to see that all of our work 2 years ago has really paid off.

 

[McKelly]

Well, this may be a long shot, but here it goes anyway.......you said your child is failing/getting bad grades in math because of her timed tests. Does math come easier to her otherwise, does she just do bad at the timed tests. The reason I ask, is because my DD just started time test in 1st grade and the first one she brought home she failed. I looked at the sheet and thought to myself, well, I KNOW she knows this stuff. I asked her and she said she didn't have enough time to write them all down. I told her she had to write "really fast" and she has passed them all since. They might not be written as perfect as she normally would write them, but they are legible enough.

I am not a teacher, but I have helped out in school quite a bit and some kids are just "pokey" when it comes to writing, they seem like they want it to be perfect at all costs.

Just a different thought for you, if the timed tests are the only thing that is keeping your daughter's math grade down.

Good Luck!!

 

[CheshireVal]

I don't understand how saying "MathWhiz isn't helping your daughter" is really all that negative?

If she's not doing so well on the tests, then obviously something's not working. I'd definitely try the flash cards.

 

[disneygals]

oh...the dreaded time tests!! When my 1st dd was in third grade, they had them but were not graded. My 2nd dd had them in 2nd, never finished them, had a third grade teacher who DID NOT believe in them and by fourth, she could do them. Thankfully, 3rd dd who also started in 2nd (homework all year long) can do them.

Good luck!!! ...try the flashcards, give rewards!!!

 

[horseshowmom]

Those old-fashioned flash cards really do work if they're used regularly.

I used to teach GED classes for adults, and I had my students use them to get ready for the test. I never had a student fail the math section of the GED (when the pass rate was pretty low statewide for first time testers).

The flash cards strengthen and reinforce the math facts that are so critical to completing math work (helping eliminate careless mistakes that result in wrong anwers). Having memorized the facts helps speed things up (thus the speed drills) and keeps students from getting bogged down in problems.

Many kids/adults who detest math just never truly mastered their math facts, and that makes everything harder (long division alone has division, subtraction, and multiplication facts involved).

Good luck!

 

[whosyourdaddy]

Just a thought. Could the OP be mad at the teachers suggestion because if she uses real flash cards it will take her time, instead of ploping the kid in front of the computer and letting it do the work. Just a thought!!

 

[Hannathy]

IMO the written timed tests are a pain. Note I say written I wish the teachers would do them verbally. My DD is gifted in Math 3 years ahead in middle school but got a very poor grade in 3rd grade cause she couldn't write fast enough on the timed test. She knew all the answers and I know this cause she used flashcards so I knew she wasn't spending time figuring them out. She was and is terrible at handwriting!
Do the flash cards that way you know if she knows the facts and that is what is important. On the computer she will never get faster than she can type and it gives her too much time to "think" about the answer and not just know the answer. Do you know for sure she knows the answers ? Math builds on itself so make sure she knows it and then if it is just the method of testing you can acknowledge it and move on. I don't know anywhere that elementary grades affect your GPA for college so don't worry about the grade IF and only IF she knows the material.

 

[padams]

DS is in 2nd grade. He has timed tests too (100 problems in 5 minutes). At the end of 1st grade, his teachers were concerned because he was only finishing half of the timed tests. I had him write for me the numbers 0 through 9 ten times each to be sure that he could write quickly enough. He could write the numbers just barely fast enough so he saw that he needed to write as fast as he could.

I also had him make his own flashcards using 3x5 notecards. We went through the stack every day until he could get a 100 on the timed test. It was not until he could immediately, with absolutely no pause, look at the card and say the answer that he was able to get a 100 on the speedy test at school. If he had to think at all about the problem, he didn't know the facts well enough yet to get through the speedy test.

Have your dd use the mathwiz every night. If she doesn't improve her scores in a few weeks, then you should consider trying the flash cards. The teacher sounds like she knows what she's doing, and you shouldn't scream at her for trying to get your dd to learn math.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I can sympathize because my oldest son is a very slow memorizer. 2nd and 3rd grade (the Math Fact years) were just torture.

However your teacher may be justified.
There is a growing body of evidence that many children do not learn well electronically -- ie with computer screens. I've read a couple of articles on the subject. It is something about the way a child's mind processes information, compared to how it is flashed on the screen.

There are a couple of "advanced schools" now that have completely removed computers from their classrooms until the Jr. High years.

My advice is that the teacher may be right -- and what you are doing is not working. I can understand the wanting to scream though because I've been there.

 

[froglady]

DS had trouble with the timed test, also, due to his hand problems. The only way he could pass was when I used sheets where he had to write the answers so he could practice writing quickly. I was fortunate in that I had volunteer tutored 3rd graders who were having trouble with this, so I had a supply of sheets identical to the ones the school used.

I agree, the format does make a difference (up and down vs across) and the mental transition from reading the problem/thinking/writing correct answer can also be a problem, and it might only be solved the old-fashioned way: by using rote memorization (flash cards) followed by pencil and paper.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I'd try both. I taught 1st and 3rd grade and then had two kids of my own, so I've had a lot of experience with this. My kids had trouble with learning math facts, so I have sympathy for you and your DD. Know that she'll eventually get them.

I think flash cards have their place. It certainly helps you see which ones she is getting and which ones she is still struggling with. There's also something about the one-on-one time with a parent helping that's good. Of course, my son got to the point where he would cry when he saw us get out the flash cards and that kind of defeated the purpose.

I found that my kids LOVED Mathblaster games. They have you solve the facts and speed is an issue. In other words, to do well you have to solve them more quickly. So it was practice on speed as well as the actual facts. Many math games only stress getting the right answer and in this case she needs to work on speed.

And I used to have a book of timed tests. Go to a teacher supply store and get one. Copy some pages and practice that with her.

I'd also work on a way to reward her progress. Maybe you could make a chart with all the families of addition/subtraction facts listed. Give her a sticker each time she "gets" a whole family right without having to stop and think. If she succeeds, think of something she really likes and as she gets better and better, give her some sort of reward. It can be as simple as getting a slushy or letting choose the recipe and bake cookies with you or something. Let her help you come up with the next reward so she's into working hard at it.

 

[In a hurry]

Just a thought. Could the OP be mad at the teachers suggestion because if she uses real flash cards it will take her time, instead of ploping the kid in front of the computer and letting it do the work. Just a thought!!

A pretty rude one too...

 

[whosyourdaddy]

A pretty rude one too...

Thanks!