[Momof4Boyz]

For some reason the school calls my husbands number instead of mine with everything, anyway Joe's teacher called today to inform us he is failing basic math. The stuff he can't seem to catch onto is basic - multiplication, division, recently she said he's been struggling with addition (but not subtraction, weird huh?). But he has no problem with the pre-algebra, the fractions all that other stuff he does great with. She suggested we work with him more at home and my husband told her we work with him every single day. We go to the websites, we play the games and he still just isn't getting it. Then it will seem like he's catching up and he'll fall right back behind again. He told her - if we can't teach it to him and apparently you can't teach it to him, then where do we go? What do we do? Of course she didn't have any advice there so she said she'd "get back to us".

We have Sylvan learning center here and a Huntington so maybe we'll check those out. My DH's neice is in college (to be a math teacher) and she did offer to tutor him, she'd surely be the more affordable option but her schedule doesn't give her much time to come over and work with him. Ahh! I just don't know what to do for him. I'd hate to see him get held back over math, he's way above grade level with everything else, it would just ruin school for him.

[w292737]

that's frustrating, do they have any after school turoting available to him?

[SpazTaz]

I will say a friend of mine went to Sylvan when we were in high school and totally turned his grade around.

With that said you may want to have him tested for a learning disability in math. I struggled and struggled too and unfortunately it was NEVER caught until after I was out of school and in college and a college professor asked me about it and I tested and sure enough I have a learning disability in math. Made knowing all the hours I put in and only poking out a C- weren't in vain. Yet on the flip side I was in honors English and honors history and graduated with honors from high school so it doesn't have to be in everything and it may be slight enough that nobody has noticed. Just an idea. I was the opposite, got the basics but couldn't get anything else (geometry was a NIGHTMARE).

Past that I agree I'd see if the school has any type of tutoring program, if his teacher may be willing to tutor him before and/or after school. if maybe another teacher would be willing (sometimes the difference in people explaining can make a HUGE difference). Also maybe see if there's any extra credit he can do to help raise his grade.

Good luck! I've been there when I was the one struggling and know how frustrating it can be that's for sure.

[LovinMyGirls]

I know here we offer tutoring programs if students are not performing well on 4-sights/ or other standardized testing. I would definitely see if there is someone in his building who can work with him. We have college students all over our building that if he was my student that I would be able to have tutored atleast a few days a week..obviously no guarantees but atleast it's better than "I'll get back to you". Obviously if he's getting certain math and struggling in basic skills something's not quite right. Something obviously is "appealing" to him or making sense that is not coming together in the basic facts..could just be the basic recall of facts.

[Momof4Boyz]

His report card also came yesterday, he had over 90% in everything BUT math, he only had a 70% in that. So I checked the box on the return envelope that I wanted a conference. Maybe if we can actually sit down with his teacher and his math teacher we can figure something out. Last conference I wanted to talk about it but she "chit chatted" with the parent infront of me until A, she had all the waiting parents pissed off and B, I didn't have but 10 minutes with her. Ugh! Plus I never got to even meet the math teacher.

So we'll start there and hope we can figure something out!

[w292737]

good luck!

[BensMom]

Maybe it's the approach. A learning disability could be the cause, but the learning STYLE could be the cause, too. What have they (or you) already tried? Using rote memorization (speed drills)? Computer games? Manipulatives? Musical reminders? What about his skip counting ability? Is he really good with that, or does he struggle with it, too?

[LJD3Tdance]

Have they had him tested? Maybe he has a math disability. I teach math as well, but Idk him, so Idk what to say. I mean what exactly is happening as far as his math? He doesn't get the easy concepts, or he doesn't remember them, or he's just mixing them up a little?

[~*Dolphin~Dreamer*~]

I really hope setting up the meeting gives you some ideas, Rose!

UGH, I would be so upset with the "we'll get back to you" answer.