Math instruction with lots of kids!

[Tiffini]

I know that I'm not doing a good enough job on math instruction with my older kiddos. I have one doing algebra, one doing decimals and one doing fractions. We use a video math instruction program and my kids watch the new lesson and do the math problems themselves. I check their work daily. However, I think things are falling through the cracks because I am not sitting with them daily and making sure that they are doing it correctly. I don't catch it until I check their work at the end of the day and by then, they might have spent a long time doing it WRONG during the day. The problem is that I can't seem to find the time to sit with THREE kids during my very busy days to make sure that they are getting it all. Math is a long subject and I can't see how I would sit with all 3 of them during their whole math session. Does anyone have some simple tips as to how they make this work with multiple kids doing math and a very busy household. (I always read Carrie's posts about math and realize that I have failed them as they've gotten older and not spent the time on math with them as necessary. I hope to do better with my younger two coming up ).

[MelInKansas]

I feel this way sometimes with my 8YO too. If she goes through it all doing it wrong and then I catch it only when I go over her problems.... argh!

Is there a way you can have them do just a few - say 10 problems or I don't know, some portion of what they have - and then have you look at it to see if they are doing it right. Problem there is that you would have to stop something else to help them if they got it wrong, or could set it aside for a specific time left open for math tutoring if they need it? I'm just throwing out suggestions. When my DD makes mistakes on her math I do try to help her and correct it but I also tell my DH at dinner time and then he usually spends some time with her going over the concept again or giving her problems to do, and he makes it fun. He is a great teacher and so patient and he is even better at math than I am (and I have a computer science degree so I am no stranger to math).

I hope this helps some.

[my3sons]

Hi Tiffini! FWIW, I loved visiting with you at the book convention, and I think you are doing an awesome job teaching your dc!!! For math, I am impressed you are getting things corrected daily with that much going on. It is tough to keep on top of it all, for sure. I have not done the math you are using, so I probably won't be able to give very good advice here, but I am wondering if it would work to focus on a different child each day? Would it work to watch one child's segment and work by their side for one day, then the next day another child, and the last day another child? I'd say doing this with each child once a week may be enough to keep some tabs on their instruction/work, as generally a week is spent on a particular skill. How long are the math video segments? Would that take you forever to do? Maybe that is not a practical idea, but I thought I'd share it! If you are using VideoText, the course notes are quite helpful, as are the line by line fully-worked solutions. You can give that a try if you are not using that possibly!

In Christ,
Julie

[countrymom]

I like Julie's idea to focus on one child each day. I do math during our semi-independent time for one child and during our "teacher time" for the younger child (he does handwriting and basic skills during our semi-independent time). One thing I have done that has helped (might not work for algebra though) is I have my older son check his problems with a calculator as he goes. He knows not to use it to get the answers and I trust him. I am back and forth anyway. He circles the problems he got wrong and figures out what he did wrong if possible. Then we go over them at the end of math time. If he gets more than 2 wrong he stops and gets me so I can stop a pattern. I'll admit math times are when I feel the least organized during our school day, but our plan has been working well.

[8arrows]

I have to watch the video and do the practice problems with one of my children each day. Then, I have to be sitting near to help the rest of the lesson. Math is not this child's strong point. With another child though, using the same program, I just help as needed. This child just calls when there is a problem. However, I am needed everyday! I have also had to erase lessons to have them redone if it was clear the understanding was not what I would like it to be. This has only happened about three times. It was with hard concepts, and redoing the lesson worked great, so I am not saying that as a negative at all. With my younger Singapore students, I go over the lesson while I am available for the child I have just watched the video with. Everyone ends up doing math at the same time, but with a staggered start time so that I can get the one that struggles the most with math well underway first. We also do this first thing in the school day. One year I had one of my olders watch the videos with this student. It worked OK as there is a 5 year age difference, but the helper was not as patient as I am (and I could be better). I think it depends on your students' abilities. The staggered start time and everyone doing math at the same time has seemed to help. I hope something in there is helpful to your situation.