yet another math question

[MomtoJGJE]

Apparently singapore isn't working for Jayden... We've been through 1A twice and are currently working through 1B and she just isn't getting it... well, she GETS it, but she can't do it... like she completely understands multiplication, but addition and subtraction just blows her mind. She argued with me (another subject) for 10 minutes that 1 - 0 was not 1 but was in fact 0.... she even tried to show me with different objects...

I guess it isn't singapore itself because she does get the concept. She knows that - means take away... she can read a word problem and tell me what you are supposed to do, even write it down, but she cannot DO the math. Even using manipulatives she cannot do the math, she'll miscount. And what's worse is that her 3yo sister will blurt out the answer from hearing me explain it to her, so I can't have them around when we do math. Every review is a whole other shift of teaching... it's like we've never done it before.

HELP?!

[crlacey]

I'm not sure I can help. But for us, when DD seems to be struggling with a concept, I pull out the MUS DVD's we have and watch Mr. Demme explain it. Sometimes that helps her get through that section.

[Carrie]

LoraBeth,

I'm not sure if you're using the hands-on math activities in Beyond that go with 1A/1B? We've found that to be a very important part of understanding the math concepts within Singapore. If you haven't gotten a chance to regularly use all of the activities in the Beyond guide that is what we would recommend first. Then, go back and use the hands-on activities and do a few more similar problems on the markerboard that you come up with on your own that match the examples we gave you. Do that for any concepts that she is struggling in understanding. The misunderstanding she's having is an important one that won't go away with a program switch. She needs to see and understand why 1 - 0 = 1. It may help to tell her that 0 = nothing (even though 0 is a number, for young kids it does help to think of zero like nothing). So, one take away nothing equals one.

Blessings,
Carrie

[MomtoJGJE]

We do all the hands on stuff, and we talk about math all the time (it's easy for me).... she gets the idea, but not the math... is that normal? I mean, she can read a word problem and write it out, but figuring out the answer is nearly impossible in addition and subtraction. Even using manipulatives she still messes up because she's not paying enough attention I guess? Since she can count

If you were teaching her, and you knew she understood WHEN to add and subtract, would you keep moving on even though she doesn't get HOW? Yesterday I told her it was important for her to understand the basic stuff before she could move on to the next level, and that we might get out the Earlybird books we have and let her go through that quickly... of course that made her cry since her sister is doing those books right now...

[MomtoJGJE]

Ok... so I went back today and used money, pennies and dimes, and at least for today it clicked with her... Apparently having something that actually in real life stands for 10 makes more sense to her than a baggie with ten blocks in it, or any other group of items.

I'm going to work more with the money and hope that it sticks this time.

[John'smom]

I have no help to offer , but wanted to say I'm praying for you and your dd.

[kiloyd]

Is he doing better? I liked Carrie's suggestion of zero is nothing.

Can she not do simple math like 8-1? or numbers that add to 10?

Katherine

[MomtoJGJE]

We've always done 0 = nothing... typically when I read something like 1-0=1 it goes like this "I have 1 (apple). I don't take any away. How many do I have left?"

I'm not sure that it's not a behavior thing though, because today she went through 2 days worth (catching up) without a hitch...

But I do have to say that I think using the pennies and dimes helped her for whatever reason nothing else has with 10s and 1s.