Hi Sally! How exciting you are bringing your son home again to homeschool with HOD! Math can be a tough nut to crack for 6th grade students, can't it? If Abeka hasn't been such a good fit, I think it makes sense to try something else. Singapore Math, which HOD recommends, is often considered a year advanced. It can be tough to come in to later, but just to be able to compare it to other math options for your son, here is a link to the Singapore Math placement tests, which give a good look into Singapore too (be sure to look at the
Primary Mathematics version, as that is the version HOD schedules, and start with 4B or 5A, as it's considered at least a year advanced)...
https://www.singaporemath.com/placement-tests
Many times the reason middle school age children struggle with math is because they don't know their multiplication facts. Carrie and I have both enjoyed Skip Count Kid's Bible Heroes Musical Multiplication Songs for help in mastering multiplication facts, especially the 6's, 7's, 8's, and 9's, as it's a great way to commit those tougher facts to memory! You can find this on YouTube, Amazon, and Spotify. I think it is important to print the free booklet that goes along with it, as it has the lyrics typed (yes, as in old and typed by a typewriter typed
). Though the booklet looks old and is old, it helps kiddos have the best chance possible to commit to memory their facts when they are visually following along with the numbers/words as they sing. This is the same thought process behind Charlotte Mason's theory on spelling by using dictation (students see the right model and say it as they write it and then check their written dictation with the proper model). Here is a link to the printable PDF of the booklet...
http://skipcountkid.net/booklet/bible_heroes.pdf
Finally, it could be your son just needs a year of solid, basic review of computation processes like large number multiplication, long division, etc. If so, Richard Fischer (HOD carries his high school algebra program) has
Mastering Essential Math Skills Books 1 and 2 that cover these in a straight-forward, doable way. You can see samples of Book 1 and Book 2 here...
https://www.mathessentials.net/product- ... -5th-grade
https://www.mathessentials.net/product- ... igh-school
Then, after a year of review of clear step-by-step math skills and of practice of multiplication facts, your son might enjoy HOD's Principles of Mathematics by Katherine Loop Book 1. You can see a description, samples, and where to order this on HOD's website here...
https://www.heartofdakota.com/revival-t ... .php#math1
Hope that gives you some good options, Sally! But pop back with further questions or thoughts - we love to help here!
In Christ,
Julie