I am wondering if anyone has had success using the methods in “Math for Humans” by Mark Wahl, published by LivnLern Press.
I recently found out about it during a multiple intelligences class that I took. It suggests teaching math facts through the eight intelligences.
I bought this book because I have an 8 yo daughter who is having much difficulty learning her math facts. We have drilled with flashcards endlessly, and we continue working each summer to not let anything get too stale. I am also now noticing a lot of reversals of numbers and problems with paying attention to which operation she is performing. When subtracting, say 8 from 17, she starts to count backward, but soon is counting forward again. She still uses fingers. Money and time are starting to come. But money is so confusing to her because she will continue to count by 5’s when she switches from nickels to dimes.
Her strengths are that she does like to read. But now when she reads out loud to me she is getting words turned around in a sentence, or putting in different words than are there. I have asked her if this bothers her, and she says that it confuses her when she is trying to understand what she just read. Also, her spelling isn’t consistent and usually turned around.
Any suggestions would be helpful. She has not been tested for any LD as of yet. Two years ago I looked at paperwork for ADD and decided she didn’t have very many symptoms. But I feel the situation may have changed. She says she can’t work when there is noise, which I see as true. She also is very distracted by any movements in a room when she is working.
I know I have just gotten off on a different subject, but I would appreciate any suggestions anyone could give me.
Laura
Re: Has anyone tried "Math for Humans" by Mark Wah
In addition to pattim’s suggestions, I would recommend getting a developmental vision evaluation. You can find certified developmental optometrists in your area at http://www.covd.org. The reversals and word substitutions while reading could by signalling developmental vision delays.
My dd had many writing reversals, difficulty learning to read, and difficulty learning math facts. At age 8 took her to a developmental optometrist at a local non-profit who found severe developmental vision delays — 1st percentile in some vision skills. She did 8 months of vision therapy followed by PACE. Halfway through PACE she spontaneously started counting change on the kitchen counter (I had given up trying to teach her money) and developed a sense of time. She was also finally able to learn and retain math facts. Many of her problems related to vision and sequential processing skills. VT addressed the vision, and PACE addressed visual processing and sequential processing skills development.
I want to second the CAPD eval pattim mentioned. It’s possible your daughter would benefit from an auditory trainer, which would hep with the background noise problem. A good website for information about CAPD (including a search engine for CAPD audiologists, as this is a specialty eval) is http://pages.cthome.net/cbristol/
If it’s any comfort, none of the exam’s we are recommending is covered in a school eval.
I would also second pattim’s recommendation of Math Facts the Fun Way. Website is http://www.citycreek.com
Mary
Re: Has anyone tried "Math for Humans" by Mark Wah
What is PACE???? My daughter is doing vision therapy now. thanks. Nancy
Re: PACE
PACE stands for Processing and Cognitive Enhancement. Website is http://www.learninginfo.com. (I advise emailing them for more info.)
My daughter went through the program after she finished vision therapy. PACE works on developing multiple cognitive skills, including visual processing skills such as visual short-term memory, visual sequencing, pattern recognition. It also works on areas such as logic and reasoning, auditory short-term memory and sequencing, processing speed, directionality, etc.
Typically you get the best results from PACE when all sensory/motor level deficits have been addressed as much as possible. Therefore, you would want a child to have pretty much finished any vision, occupational, sound, or sensory integration therapies before starting PACE, in order to optimize gains.
Basically, PACE consists of about 90 different exercises in very graduated levels. The child works with a tutor for an hour three times a week for 12 weeks, and does an equal amount of homework at home with an adult. Parents usually start seeing significant gains around the end of the 6th week.
It’s a good program, and I highly recommend it after vision therapy. VT is necessary to develop visual efficiency skills — things like focusing speed, tracking, binocular fusion, etc. PACE develops the next level — the visual processing skills. Our daughter was in vision therapy for 8 months, but it wasn’t until the end of the 6th week of PACE that we saw dramatic gains in her reading fluency.
Mary
I haven’t tried the math program you mentioned, but I think you answered your own question about your daughter’s problems with Attention. I would look into ADD-Inattentive and possibly CAPD to make sure that you cover all your bases. My child has both ADD and CAPD, For years I just thought she had CAPD but it wasn’t until 5th/6th grade we addressed the attention with meds. IT has made a world of difference, she has the ability to concentrate and finally got her math facts down. Have you tried Times tables the fun way? It works for many of the kids that I work with.