teenage boy problems with algebra and sequencing

If it is pervasive through all his subjects in school, does he have problems with sequencing in writing and reading as well then you may want to see if he has problems with organization of information and how he is attending in the classroom.

I have a 17 year old son who used to make careless errors in algebra such as you mention. Algebra was a nightmare as a freshman. We found out he was ADD-Inattentive and he went on meds and what a difference. He is now a senior in HS and in AP Calculus and he still makes some inattentive errors in his calculations but he is light years away from where he was as a freshman when careless errors and failure were the norm.

Why must he take calculus in college? It’s usually not required.

If though it is, have him take it over the summer at a different college - your local community college perhaps. That way he’ll be familiar with it when he gets to college.

Has he been tested recently? If you’d want accomodations for him in college such as extra time on tests to give him more time to think and write, he could that extra time by getting tested. It might also give you some insight as to whether it is dysgraphia that’s impeding his writing.

Good luck.

I work with college students trying to get through those requirements. What I see are lots of people who sort of pretty much understand concepts, but not really. I suspect that if he gets the concepts he’ll be able to get C’s and learn strategies for getting aroundthe sequencing issues.
Does he know the times tables? Gotta tell ya, for factoring and fractions and all kinds of things, knowing the facts really comes in handy. Learning them also really helps with understanding what kinds of answers to questions make sense.
Does he know how to add fractions of different denominators? So that he sees 1/2 plus 1/4 he automatically knows to switch the 1/2? (It would be better to do a couple of simple problems like that each week for a minute of the math class for ayear, than to spend weeks exploring the further points of fractions to be misunderstood and forgotten, IMNSHO)
Does he know how to work wiht basic exponents, or does he still think three to the third poiwer is nine?
If he knows that stuff *really well* then algebra will come a lot easier because he can focus on that.

Or… are his skills a lot higher than that already?

If so I suspect he will get by. Does he have career goals or a major in mind?

ADD-Inattentive? Gee, now I haven’t heard of that one! I have read lots about ADD and other LDs but this is new to me. I spent a half hour cruising around sites which explain this condition, and it describes my son exactly. I feel that I should investigate this with a professional. Can someone suggest who? an educational psychologist, perhaps?

Sue, my son knows his facts, but he horrifies me occasionally with questions like, “what’s 9x6 ???” Eeeee gads, I inwardly gasp. It happens more often than is normally expected. We all have a mental lapse once in a while, but he forgets too often.

Mother’s intuition is always right. I have always thought that something is wrong, but I don’t know what. BTW, his verbal scores on the SAT I went from 580 to 720 to 620 in one year’s time, in that order. Doesn’t that say something? He goes from dreamer to genius back to dreamer. His math scores were 670 to 630 to 650 in that order. He did his best the first time he took it. The math is more consistent, yet he should have improved in one year’s time.

I’m just sharing this, because it may be pertinent, and maybe someone can help. Anyway, what kind of professional? Thanks so much.

carol :wink: