Math
[QUOTE=redhead]OMG, don't get me started with math....My son has a LD in math, he tried to use his fingers and can't he tried to use the number line and couldn't.... [/QUOTE]
And that's when you know it's an LD, that's it's an actual problem with understanding math and with grasping math concepts.
OMG, don't get me started with math....My son has a LD in math, he tried to use his fingers and can't he tried to use the number line and couldn't....It took us 2 years to get and IEP on him. The school evaulation team said he learned differently, and now he's doing okay in a smaller classroom, he learned how to do touch points and that works for him. My daughter uses her fingers and the teacher has never said anything and she's in the 2nd grade. Good Luck.....Does he have adhd? If so get him a 504 plan- and get them to put it in there that he may need to use his fingers- and that he may need extra time. Keep practicing his math facts at home- as much as it doesn't seem to sink in- it will help. Just 5 minutes a day. My dd (who I suspect has a math ld) can memorize anything but numbers. It is easy to memorize lyrics, movie dialogue, prayers... but math facts are "out of context information" The math fact alone has no meaning. We continue to drill her and although she is still slow to recall the facts she memorizes one or two new facts each week. (It is a lot of work for that small payoff- but the more she knows by rote the more confidence she will have in math)
I will tell you, my 12-year-old son (dx ADHD and anxiety) is in 7th grade and is a highly gifted math student. But he still doesn't know his math facts as well as he should and he still makes careless computation errors. Unfortunately, many schools put a premium on knowing math facts with automaticity, and certain kids (perhaps like yours and definitely mine) have the kinds of minds that lack the wiring to keep math facts in their heads. I always tell my son it's far more important that he have the problem-solving skills to reason it out and that if he goes into a profession involving math, he will use a calculator (heck, by the time he's in high school, he'll most certainly be using a calculator). Definitely see the teacher and explain how different kinds of minds work. And if need be, go for 504 accommodations. Good luck!
The problem is not being able to visualize things in your mind. Both problem with us both here. If the scores are lower than that grade yes it still can be called a ld in that area. Buy Math you see audio it's math facts by song. Math fact cards don't work with either one for us. Games work great in teaching a skill rather than textbooks. They learn it with out realizing it. We both had a test to prove this thru the ot at the Dr.'s office.Its a test some us on dyslexia testing also.
Okay, I feel so bad for my son. He is in 2nd grade and he is really struggling at math work that he has to do at school, but when he does it at home, it's all but perfect. The problem - at school he's not allowed to use his fingers. The school is really pushing math facts and it is driving me crazy. They say they can't test him for a math disability until 3rd grade. My husband doesn't think he has a disability because he can complete it using his fingers. he just can't complete it in his head without visuals of his fingers. Is anyone else running into this problem. If so, how did you handle it. I tried to tell him to use his fingers discretely and count in his head. I also sent a note to his teacher but have not heard back yet. Just need some more ideas. We drill the flashcards and it just doesn't sink in.
thanks for any advice.
My son had the same problem until I showed him how to use a number line. Can he do the math using a number line. The school should have no probolem with him using it. THis is what it looks like incase you havn't had it in school yet.<----------------------------------->
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 This is a problem with the teacher and the school's curriculum, not with your son. If your son can do the work at home, then he can do the work. It's not a cognitive problem and is not an LD. I bet money that other kids are having just as much, if not more, difficulty. Many children need visuals and tactile objects to perform math problems, and they need these well past 2nd grade!!! The teacher is being ridiculous, in my opinion, and I used to be a teacher. What to do? Try talking to the teacher about this first, but you may not get far. I went through he!! with both my son (who originally was a foster child) and a foster daughter over math facts. They were a nightmare. We did flash cards night after night. We did Multiplication War--a card game. We sung along to Multiplication Rap. At the private school my son attended for 4th and 5th grades, they did Kumon for two years to increase his speed--didn't help. He never got past subtraction because his processing speed was slow. I hate, hate, hate math drills. I think they are stupid and totally unnecessary. The state mandated test is not timed in Texas, where I live, and the new version of the Stanford is not timed. So why are kids having to perform math quickly? What is the logic? Stupid, stupid, stupid. thekidsmom - thanks. he did use a timeline last year and actually it was easier & quicker for him to use his fingers. Hopefully his teacher will come back in agreement with me so we don't have to take it any further, otherwise, I may be forced to do what psm0904 has suggested. Thanks.Why can't they test him for math problems until third grade? That sounds like the SD trying to pull a fast one to me. Don't we have the right to request an IEP at any age? My son had one in kindergarden....I'd call your state Dept. of Public Education and ask for the Special Needs Advocate to gt the really scoop on this. They'll tell you exactly what to do and they have clout. THe SD's listen.
At a meeting last year, the teacher expressed concern because my 4th grade son still used his fingers and couldn't do 100 multiplication facts in 5 mins. She was so surprised when I told her AGAIN that he does know them, he just needs more time to recall them due to ADHD. He gets stressed over it at school and loses recall completely, thus needing fingers.
What do you see when your son does his work at home? Does he seem to know or be learning? At his age, many kids use their fingers. I wouldn't let the teacher upset you or give him a problem over it.
Use flash cards. We made it fun by competing with our son with them. He loved beating his parents or big sister. That increased his confidence.
We made up silly songs to sing about it, like "one and one makes two, and I do love you!" etc.
I made flash cards out of black paper with white writing also, because I had read somewhere that some kids have problems with black on white. He thought it was cool and that made him interested in them so he used them and played with them and had the info reinforced whether he benefited by the b on w or not.
Have him help you measure when you cook. If you double the recipe, he can figure out what 2 times the amt is, or whatever.
Find fun ways to encourage him to focus on learning without realizing that is what he is doing. It is hard but well worth it.
If you are really concerned about an LD, finding out what method he responds to will help you know how to help him and what to ask for at IEP meetings in the future.
[QUOTE=notsosure]
Okay, I feel so bad for my son. He is in 2nd grade and he is really struggling at math work that he has to do at school, but when he does it at home, it's all but perfect. The problem - at school he's not allowed to use his fingers. The school is really pushing math facts and it is driving me crazy. They say they can't test him for a math disability until 3rd grade. My husband doesn't think he has a disability because he can complete it using his fingers. he just can't complete it in his head without visuals of his fingers. Is anyone else running into this problem. If so, how did you handle it. I tried to tell him to use his fingers discretely and count in his head. I also sent a note to his teacher but have not heard back yet. Just need some more ideas. We drill the flashcards and it just doesn't sink in.
thanks for any advice.
I am going through this EXACTLY, my son just entered 3 grade but still used his fingers for counting last year, very hard time with the times tables, he got good marks overall but I know he doesnt "KNOW" it properly! He was tested for Math at the end of last year and he did fine.....makes me crazy!
[/QUOTE]Hi!
Last year my son was tested by the school psychologist who happened to have just received certification to do neuropsychological testing. One of the findings was that if something has no meaning for my son he will not learn it. In other words a story has meaning for him but 3X8=24 does not. I thought this was fascinating. My son is capable of doing the work as long as he can use his fingers or think about it for a few minutes. I think that being able to figure out the problem is more valuable than memorization.
Good luck!
That's rediculous that he can't use his fingers! Don't teachers know yet that there are different learning styles!! That really angers me! I grew up with ADHD and I never could memorise my mult. math facts. Thank god in college I can use a calculator and get double time on tests! Those idiots, it just makes kids think that they arn't very smart, when they very well may have the highest I.Q. in the class!!
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