02/26/99

Math Facts Still Matter

Q: My wife and I are getting more frustrated as the school year wears on. Out son will be ten next month and is in the fourth grade at a public school. Math has been a struggle all year because he has a hard time retaining some of the basics that make math easier. He's doing multiplication problems but hasn't memorized the tables. This slows down the homework, and it's downhill from there. We have MathBlaster on the computer, but time spent doing all of his homework limits play time. We're scheduled to meet with his teacher, but we'd like to see what kind of outside help is available in math before we see her. The teacher kind of hedged when we asked about the availability of tutoring. We're afraid of putting him through a bunch of testing and having someone who doesn't know our son tell us he's ADD or something. Can you point us in the right direction?

A: You will have a better idea what steps to take next after you meet with your son's teacher. S/he may be willing to make extra time available to him before or after school to help clear up any confusion he has about math assignments or concepts.

At home, make some multiplication flashcards together and drill with them. Once he's learned them cold, he'll be glad he did. Let him know that once he has them memorized, he'll never forget them because he'll use them all his life. Will he work for an incentive such as a fun activity with you or a friend? (I discourage offering money or expensive gifts as rewards.)

Taking him to a tutoring center, like Sylvan or Score!, to have him tested is also an option, of course. If the testing is done thoroughly, you will receive a profile of scores describing your son's strengths and weaknesses in math, a profile which you can then share with his teacher to guide subsequent lesson planning; or you may decide to hire one of the center's tutors to help him fill in conceptual or skill gaps. If the expense is prohibitive, your local high school may be able to give you the names of a few student math whizzes who are willing to tutor younger students for a more reasonable rate.

If he falls dramatically behind his peers in math, you can request a comprehensive evaluation through the department of special education. A Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meeting would be called, to which parents are invited, and the group assembled would recommend the necessary assessments, reconvene after the various tests have been completed and review results at a second PPT to develop an intervention plan if indicated. The school district cannot proceed with individual evaluations or special education services without your signed permission.

LINKS:

Educational Standards in Connecticut
Federal Resource Center for Special Education

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.