Help! I am working with a 6th grade boy who has absolutely no idea about math. He was taught touch math and can generally find the right answer to basic facts and even 2 and 3 digit problems. My problem is that he does not understand what he is doing. Without his touch points he is helpless. He has never been able to memorize and retain any math facts. He has no number sense and has to count anything higher than 2. If I show him 4 fingers, he has to count them. He does not understand the concepts of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The school seems to think that if we just provide him with a calculator or a multiplication chart everything is ok. All they want is for him to come up with the right answer. I feel very strongly that understanding the concepts is more important than the right answer. He needs to go back to kindergarten or first grade math to develop the concepts. Unfortunately, I can’t find anything that deals with the conceptual that is not obviously for 6 year olds. He is very sensitive and will not work with anything that looks to juvenile. I don’t want a program that emphasizes rote memorization or another program like touch math. He wants to learn math (finally) but is so very frustrated. He is also ADHD and Dyslexic. I have worked succesfully with several other students but this boy is extremely difficult to figure out.
Re: 6th grader with no conceptual knowledge of math
This is an extreme example of a common problem. Here’s something to try — it’s long, but so is everything else you might do:
Get a problem-solving book. You can use some modern workbooks if you can find a good one, or you can do what I do and collect old pre-1955 texts (used book stores, Amazon z-shops, Amazon auctions, eBay, Biblionet) that are problem-based (just multiply prices by 10 to be more realistic). Get some sort of book that has NO drill, or at least less than one page in five of number drill; it should be all problems so you can’t escape reasoning.
Then read through the problems together, talk them over, puzzle out what they mean and why you would do what you do, and solve them together. At first you’ll be more or less telling him the method, but if he’s able to memorize procedures he should be able to catch on to standard problems with enough modelling.
An old Grade 5 or 6 book wil have several pages of review-level work on addition and subtraction and place value at the beginning, so there is simple work to start with. And it will have a 5 or a 6 right on front, so he will know it isn’t baby stuff. If he starts to clue in a bit with one book and then stalls, get another book at the smae level and work through a second review chapter.
This isn’t guaranteed but it is a method that does frequently work. Kids learn what they’re taught; since he’s been taught number manipulation and answer-chasing, he thinks that is what math is about. It’s a bit late to turn his ideas around, but worth a try.
Re: 6th grader with no conceptual knowledge of math
We had a workshop this summer with Grayson Wheatley ( A former Professor at Flordia State University) He has written two books: Coming to Know Number and Quick Draw. I am using this in my 6th Grade Math Tutoring Classes and it seems to be helping a great deal for students who are having the same type of trouble you are describing. The books are written for Elementary School students but I have seen a 7th Grade teacher also use these techniques and grow her math score on the End of Grade math test tremendiously with low level learners without number sense. If you want more info. just e-mail me.
Re: 6th grader with no conceptual knowledge of math
Laura,
My 6th grader also has difficult with concepts and has always had a tough time with mental math. She can’t add simple numbers in her head. She can do them on paper. I have used different items to help her. I used pieces of paper with numbers and m and m’s as decimals. I use money (she really gets it using money). I like the suggetions from Michele to use a book. Don’t give up the concepts of mathematics are too important to skip. My daughter was diagnosed with ADD last year. I understand some people with ADD have a very difficult time with mental math. I no longer force her and let her use paper etc. Good luck
Re: 6th grader with no conceptual knowledge of math
I totally agree that you must go back, all the way back, to the foundation. Like Victoria has stated, they must understand the base 10 system, place value. Everything about working with numbers deals with this. They must understand what they are DOING in math. If they don’t, they will be dead in the water. Fractions, decimals, algebra……..no way.
Re: 6th grader with no conceptual knowledge of math
I have an 8th grader who has been tutored in math with a “hodge-podge”, no curriculum style for 1 1/2 years. He was born and spent his first seven years in an orphanage in Romania. He didn’t get the most basic of life experiences and who knows what else??
He has a working ability with numbers in the basic operations, although all division is quite difficult. The math concepts are extremely lacking which make all kinds of problem solving and retention nearly impossible.
Do you think this type of program would help him as well? There is some question as well as to his overall intelligence level. However, I don’t believe that there is any definitive way to assess this given his early background.
thanks for your advice,
Roberta
Re: 6th grader with no conceptual knowledge of math
Is there a language barrier exhasperbating the ability to grasp concept? The boy probably feels hopelessly stupid and embarrassed which is enough internal emotional pressure to make me blankout.
Unfortunately ADHD appears as a catch all diagnosis that is too akin to Post Traumatic Stress Syndrom. Perhaps working with the boy in a room alone might aleviate some of this child’s obvious stressors and I know that resources may prevent this type of focused instruction.
I have heard that Lindamood Bell “On Cloud Nine Math” is very helpful for this type of problem. I’m sure there are people around here who have used it and can tell you more. Here is the link:
http://www.lindamoodbell.com/OnCloudNineMath.html
Janis