I totally agree with you- teaching math for me is about teaching my kids how to think creatively and critically! And about how interesting numbers can be!! It sounds like you’ve figured out a good path with MathuSee… but if you’re still researching, RightStart Math is amazing! We LOVE it so much and it feels more “unschooly” to me, but both my boys have an amazing number sense!! It uses manipulatives and games instead of worksheets, so it’s super engaging! The creator says that 10 minutes of a game replaces a worksheet! And it really points out the patterns and beauty in math! I hated math as a child, but it’s my favorite curriculum to teach!! They have a game book too, so even if you love MathuSee, you could always throw in some games to practice a concept instead of the worksheets. Happy to have found your channel! Thanks for sharing!! ❤
I agree that real life math with cooking and driving isn’t enough if you want to open career paths in science, engineering, finance, business etc. etc. Worksheets are the cheapest option to achieve this but not the only option. A little glam a lot of mom is a RUclipsr who made a couple videos on how to teach math without worksheets.
I agree that too much repetition in math is exasperating for kids and a great way to make them think that they don’t like it. We use Horizons and Abeka for math, which is spiral, but I only make my son do the hardest adding and subtracting problem on the page (third grade) and if it’s right, you don’t need to do anymore of that type. That way, he can spend most of his time on things he needs extra practice on. It’s also how you can get through two or even three days of math work done in one day.
Usborne has some math lift the flap books that are nice and math dictionaries. Maybe a math tutor would help since he is less likely to get emotional with him or her.
I totally agree and this is what I do. Nothing like school but get some math out of what we're doing. My kids love math games I made up several math games.
I would love to hear your thoughts on kids who fight any kind of math curriculum. My 11 yr old just fights any kind of formal curriculum of any kind. I am finding that he can do math in his head when it just comes up, but if I were to ask him to do something more formally, even in a game situation (for example, I got Brainetics thinking it would be fun) but if it is not immediately easy for him, he explodes. Do I just keep babyspoon feeding him until he asks for it? I mean, if I want to foster a “LOVE OF LEARNING” then doing things that result in an explosion of emotion doesn’t grow that. I am kind of feeling at a loss.
Thanks for your question, Melissa. I'm curious, has he ever been to traditional school? I'm wondering where his anger towards any formal curriculum comes from. I can only speak from personal experience; when my sons would complain/resist math learning, I asked them what they didn't like about it. I tried to find out where they were coming from, and I made it clear that we were on the same side and I wanted to work together with them on fixing this. I explained why we learn math but said I was open to doing it in a way that worked better for them. If your son is resistant to all types of formal instruction, I'm curious if you give him enough time to choose his own activities? Sometimes when kids feel like every second of the day is planned out for them with instruction that they don't choose or ask for, they can understandably resist. Another reason they can resist is because of the way we approach teaching them things. Personally, when I first started out teaching my sons when they were little, I had my "teacher" hat on and tried to get them to do things exactly how I wanted them to. I've learned now that I can still present the same curriculum to them in a way that is more open to their choice. If they don't want to write down answers in a workbook, we write them on the whiteboard. If they only want to do two problems instead of 12, I allow it. The great thing about homeschooling is that there are so many different kinds of resources we can use to help our kids learn. He might do better with online math games or something else where you are not "instructing" him- he's doing it himself. You might consider trying take a break- like we did- and see if he eventually comes around. Whatever you end up doing, I think discussing it with him is key. Let him know he can trust you to share his feelings and hopefully you can get to the bottom of his anger towards formal instruction. I hope that helps!
I just typed up this long reply and it somehow deleted! 😩 Basically, yes, he went to public school from Kindergarten to the end of 2nd grade, when Covid kicked us out and made me realize that my idea that I should homeschool him must be the right path. I believe that public school sucked the love of learning right out of him (and does that for *most* kids, I would say). I feel like I do most of what you suggest here in talking to him about things and trying different methods of learning things he doesn't want to do. I keep trusting that when there is a *reason* for him to do it, it won't feel "pointless" (there's nothing he hates more than doing something he has decided is "pointless"). He knows he can "talk to text" most of the time. He knows he can use a calculator to figure out math problems most of the time. He knows he can "ask google" for any facts he doesn't know. So, learning how to do those things, or memorize things, is "pointless" to him. I am a fan of the TJEd and WEH philosophies. I probably use "unschooling" more than any formal "curriculum," though, I have bought plenty of curriculums to try out and they have never stuck. Even just trying to refer to them once or twice a week brings up a fight. I finally have him reading a bit on his own, but only EASY (way below his capabilities) Graphic Novels. His vocabulary is fantastic, he thinks WAY outside of the box, pointing out things I would never have thought of. He looks for loopholes in every rule...he is a very BRIGHT child. And, he thinks he already knows everything. He hates to be told he made a mistake or that he is wrong. So, any correction I give him in his learning, he just gets mad and quits. It is rough. I am just trying to figure it/him out. Thank you for your videos and your input. I appreciate it. Gives me a new perspective.
I could have written these two comments myself about my 9 year old. I know it’s been some months since you posted this, but have you found anything that has worked since? I’m searching and searching for something that will help mine and I keep coming up short. Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Just your previous vid on Math! Super helpful and makes sense. My son is 5 yo and we too homeschool. He does know simple math concepts without any teaching. I was planning to find a curriculum. But now i think, i should not . Right?
It’s up to you! It seems like you’re on the right track if he already knows simple math. I started math curriculum at five with my older three and plan to start it with my youngest when she is five in the fall, but some homeschoolers choose to wait until six or older. It really depends on if your child is receptive to it or not. You could buy curriculum, try it, and see how he takes to it.
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THANK YOU! This made me feel so much better about how I want to do math. 😊
Happy to help!
I found a book at the library called
'WHAT'S THE POINT OF MATH?'
I include it as one of our read alouds.
It's a great book and I highly recommend it.
Yes, I've read that book! It's excellent.
I totally agree with you- teaching math for me is about teaching my kids how to think creatively and critically! And about how interesting numbers can be!!
It sounds like you’ve figured out a good path with MathuSee… but if you’re still researching, RightStart Math is amazing! We LOVE it so much and it feels more “unschooly” to me, but both my boys have an amazing number sense!! It uses manipulatives and games instead of worksheets, so it’s super engaging! The creator says that 10 minutes of a game replaces a worksheet! And it really points out the patterns and beauty in math! I hated math as a child, but it’s my favorite curriculum to teach!! They have a game book too, so even if you love MathuSee, you could always throw in some games to practice a concept instead of the worksheets.
Happy to have found your channel! Thanks for sharing!! ❤
Thanks for watching!
I agree that real life math with cooking and driving isn’t enough if you want to open career paths in science, engineering, finance, business etc. etc. Worksheets are the cheapest option to achieve this but not the only option. A little glam a lot of mom is a RUclipsr who made a couple videos on how to teach math without worksheets.
I agree that too much repetition in math is exasperating for kids and a great way to make them think that they don’t like it. We use Horizons and Abeka for math, which is spiral, but I only make my son do the hardest adding and subtracting problem on the page (third grade) and if it’s right, you don’t need to do anymore of that type. That way, he can spend most of his time on things he needs extra practice on. It’s also how you can get through two or even three days of math work done in one day.
Why am I so scared to try this? Thanks for sharing!
Usborne has some math lift the flap books that are nice and math dictionaries. Maybe a math tutor would help since he is less likely to get emotional with him or her.
I totally agree and this is what I do. Nothing like school but get some math out of what we're doing. My kids love math games I made up several math games.
I would love to hear your thoughts on kids who fight any kind of math curriculum. My 11 yr old just fights any kind of formal curriculum of any kind. I am finding that he can do math in his head when it just comes up, but if I were to ask him to do something more formally, even in a game situation (for example, I got Brainetics thinking it would be fun) but if it is not immediately easy for him, he explodes. Do I just keep babyspoon feeding him until he asks for it? I mean, if I want to foster a “LOVE OF LEARNING” then doing things that result in an explosion of emotion doesn’t grow that. I am kind of feeling at a loss.
Thanks for your question, Melissa. I'm curious, has he ever been to traditional school? I'm wondering where his anger towards any formal curriculum comes from.
I can only speak from personal experience; when my sons would complain/resist math learning, I asked them what they didn't like about it. I tried to find out where they were coming from, and I made it clear that we were on the same side and I wanted to work together with them on fixing this. I explained why we learn math but said I was open to doing it in a way that worked better for them.
If your son is resistant to all types of formal instruction, I'm curious if you give him enough time to choose his own activities? Sometimes when kids feel like every second of the day is planned out for them with instruction that they don't choose or ask for, they can understandably resist. Another reason they can resist is because of the way we approach teaching them things. Personally, when I first started out teaching my sons when they were little, I had my "teacher" hat on and tried to get them to do things exactly how I wanted them to. I've learned now that I can still present the same curriculum to them in a way that is more open to their choice. If they don't want to write down answers in a workbook, we write them on the whiteboard. If they only want to do two problems instead of 12, I allow it.
The great thing about homeschooling is that there are so many different kinds of resources we can use to help our kids learn. He might do better with online math games or something else where you are not "instructing" him- he's doing it himself. You might consider trying take a break- like we did- and see if he eventually comes around.
Whatever you end up doing, I think discussing it with him is key. Let him know he can trust you to share his feelings and hopefully you can get to the bottom of his anger towards formal instruction. I hope that helps!
I just typed up this long reply and it somehow deleted! 😩
Basically, yes, he went to public school from Kindergarten to the end of 2nd grade, when Covid kicked us out and made me realize that my idea that I should homeschool him must be the right path.
I believe that public school sucked the love of learning right out of him (and does that for *most* kids, I would say).
I feel like I do most of what you suggest here in talking to him about things and trying different methods of learning things he doesn't want to do. I keep trusting that when there is a *reason* for him to do it, it won't feel "pointless" (there's nothing he hates more than doing something he has decided is "pointless").
He knows he can "talk to text" most of the time.
He knows he can use a calculator to figure out math problems most of the time.
He knows he can "ask google" for any facts he doesn't know.
So, learning how to do those things, or memorize things, is "pointless" to him.
I am a fan of the TJEd and WEH philosophies. I probably use "unschooling" more than any formal "curriculum," though, I have bought plenty of curriculums to try out and they have never stuck. Even just trying to refer to them once or twice a week brings up a fight. I finally have him reading a bit on his own, but only EASY (way below his capabilities) Graphic Novels.
His vocabulary is fantastic, he thinks WAY outside of the box, pointing out things I would never have thought of. He looks for loopholes in every rule...he is a very BRIGHT child. And, he thinks he already knows everything. He hates to be told he made a mistake or that he is wrong. So, any correction I give him in his learning, he just gets mad and quits. It is rough. I am just trying to figure it/him out.
Thank you for your videos and your input. I appreciate it. Gives me a new perspective.
I could have written these two comments myself about my 9 year old. I know it’s been some months since you posted this, but have you found anything that has worked since? I’m searching and searching for something that will help mine and I keep coming up short.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Just your previous vid on Math! Super helpful and makes sense. My son is 5 yo and we too homeschool. He does know simple math concepts without any teaching. I was planning to find a curriculum. But now i think, i should not . Right?
It’s up to you! It seems like you’re on the right track if he already knows simple math. I started math curriculum at five with my older three and plan to start it with my youngest when she is five in the fall, but some homeschoolers choose to wait until six or older. It really depends on if your child is receptive to it or not. You could buy curriculum, try it, and see how he takes to it.
Thank u so much!
My daughter is so behind in math. I have tried to teach her myself. I feels so bad because it’s frustrating for her and me.
I understand your frustration. What have you used to teach her so far?
Have you still been using apologia with your daughter, and if so, how is it going?
No, I switched back to Math U See for her.