Help teaching maths

[keepyourmouthshutox]

Following advice given on this board by Moondog, working and others on methods of teaching, I started teaching ds adding 0 and then adding 1. two weeks ago, ds could only add 1 to numbers below 10 and now we have worked through numbers up to 100 with great success. I am now trying to teach him adding 2 and although he can do 2+2 = 4, he can't seem to understand 2+3 = 5.

Also with more and less - he will ony understand if I asked which is more, 25 sweets or 37 sweets and will get it right but not if I just said the numbers.

Where do I go from here? What would you teach?

He is in Yr 4, so in the couple of months I have been on this board, I feel I have learnt enough to teach him more than what school has.

I think you just have to let him stay in the concrete (ie numbers of sweets) until he is ready to move into a more abstract stage.

So the strategies for him to use would involve introducing the objects himself.

Someone is talking about the number 25, so he needs to imagine, or even draw, 25 sweets/dots/crosses. Even better, get some interlocking cubes. Move towards joining every 10 loose ones together to get a 'ten rod'.

Then when numbers are grouped in tens and ones/units, he should see the comparisons (which is bigger/smaller) and calculations (add 2 etc) are easy.

There is no need at all to rush into the abstract.

HTH

Ds has had a breakthrough understanding numbers, adding subtracting and getting past 10, using an abacus.

I have no experience of it but the thing that is recommended the most often on the main primary board is numicon

Sounds like you're doing a fantastic job. I'm very impressed.

I adore Numicon and second that.
It gives you a coloured shape for each number.
If you have the money I would strongly recommend going on an introductory course.
It's early days yet but I am pleasantly surprised by IXL

Was just going to say Numicon too.... I love it too it really really is worth looking into.

numicon is great - the packs I use at work come with folders with teaching ideas which are very clearly explained
don't be tempted to move too fast - sounds like you've covered a lot in 2 weeks. Keep it visual and use concrete apparatus. Keep going back over concepts that you've already taught every time
cuisinairre rods are also really good to complement numicon
numbershark is a great PC programme for reinforcement - very visual and you can tailor it to the stage your child is at very easily

Thanks for the great suggestions.

Will look into all these.

If only I was not that afraid that school will learn of my plans I would point them to this board so they can learn more.

Thanks - numicon looks interesting for my son too!

Numicon is good, agree.

If possible, try to use a variety of manipulatives as well though.

This depends on the child though. It can be worth focusing exclusively on something like Numicon for a period if they are struggling with the most basic of basics.

You can also get Numicon in plain black grey and white colours as some children find the colours distracting or they may get obsessesed with the colours..

I have also been using ideas from that thread to teach my DD her times tables. What I have been doing is introducing one new fact (eg 3 x 5) each time. And I have been asking her that fact every second question (with the other questions being facts she has already learnt and finds easier) until she really knows it.

I need to ask her it at least 10 times before she seems to learn it, but amazingly it does seem to stay in her brain till the next time we practice.

Classic behavioural approach Indigo, mixing easy with hard. A lot of research has been done around this phenomenen of 'behavioural momentum'. When you tackle something you can do, you are primed to deal with something harder.

SAFMEDS of course are fantastic for teaching times tables. My dd one of the best in her class because of this.

Try making a long number line together, and stick it around the walls of his room. Once he's used to seeing the numbers written out in a long line, show how adding 2 is just skipping 2 along the line. Let him test YOU for a few days with some adding 2 questions.

There's an article on my Maths Insider website which talks about how to engage reluctant learners. Don't make him feel as though he's being tested and let him do lots of questions using the number line.

Hope this helps