help, SAFMED query, what did I do wrong?

[signandsingcarols]

I can't sort out the facebook thingy yet, so need to ask here, (sorry for those not SAFMEDing)

I have 'done it wrong' can someone (Moondog, star, lougle etc etc) give me a pointer.

DS loves doing his tables, we do them in the form of tables and in the form of random verbal questions, it is the highlight of his day and I have just made him cry trying to SAFMED them.... I am officially a bad mummy

he was so excited to do it, but he got flustered at the speed, (which I thought I had to do?) and the fact that if he couldn't get the answer out in time (even if he knew it, and could say it after a couple of quick flaps) then it went on the LO pile.

Questions;

1. I think the fact that we had been doing them verbally and I have now been showing him written cards "5 x 7" means he is having to read it as well as think what the asnwer is, too much to do,

I think if I read the question as well as showing him the card he will have to 'do less' but it's more words, which I am supposed to limiting???? HELP??

2. Can I slow down a bit? not long enough for him to work it out, of course, but enough to not fluster him?

3. How about if I make a sheet with all the questions on it, (randomly) and we sit side by side, I point to a question and he reads and answers it, I can cross it through if right and put a dot if its an LO, we can go back to the LOs, and count and chart both answers, (If I do this can I also give a second of thinking time?)

Any advice about where I went wrong and how to fix gratefully recieved...

Oh bless him.

He doesn't have to do it fast, just as fast as HE can.

Can you set a 'target' for him to beat, like say, 4 right, to begin with. One that he easily can beat. Don't undermine his confidence in his tables and imply it is perhaps a 'reading numbers' game.

It's worth persisting with the SAFMEDS because as a tool it is great for teaching other things. But prioritise first and foremost, his enjoyment of it.

You can tell him 'I'm so silly. I got it completely wrong, the rules are that for your first go you have to try and get 4 right' and when he does, celebrate with something wonderful. Can you try and associate the task with something great?

Don't focus on the 'score' for a few days. He's got a lot to get used to. The cards, the way it is presented, handling them, how it is scored etc. Just have fun!

Just my ideas. No expert, of course. Don't be so hard on yourself either. This is something new you have to get used to as well. Ease yourself in and enjoy it.

Think Moondog suggested doing for v short spells if anxiety etc so do for 20secs only if the pressure is too much?

I would also think you need to balance pace against processing speed?

Then again I still have zero experience, dd2 poorly and me cream-crackered.

We are using SAFMEDS for sight words. We tried 20 seconds at first because DS couldn't cope with 1 minute. After a couple of days he got used to the idea of being timed and increased it to the full minute.
We started with 40 words in the pack but at least 1/2 of them he could easily read so he could always get a few of them right. Seeing the cards going into the right hand side pile gives him a bit of momentum and doesn't get as flustered. After he gets a word 9 out of 10 right it becomes mastered and one of the original easy ones gets replaced by a new non - mastered. But he keeps the 1/2 ratio of mastered words in his pack.
We have been doing it just over 2 weeks and he's learned quite a few new words.
so maybe is worth putting quite easy times tables cards amongst the ones that need mastering?

Another thing is setting the goal quite low, and I say "ds these are really difficult words, if you could get 10 in a minute ill be amazed" and he then says "Im going to get a hundred right!!!"

he loves the random lists of words. He reads his own list and I have my own copy. I use the chicken clicker for this one and mark my own copy. He sets the pace and he has been becoming faster and faster.

Sorry, I couldnt finish post as I had to pick up DS.
We had a similar problem with the speed as ds is such a slow reader. We have now found a pace that challenges him but gives him enough time to process. He started with 12-13 words a minute and now he is doing just over 20 words total (correct and LO).
DS likes counting the cards afterwards. He hasn't plotted the data yet though!

But I'm on a learning curve like the rest of you so I hope moondog comes along and gives you sound advice.

Think input/ output.

So Reads/says?
Hears/says? (ie you read it)

Fine for you to say it if it helps but you want a child fluent in all modalities. Think of how we all need to be able to deal with tables in many ways
think/say
hear/say
read/say

You might like to google the Haughton Leearning Matrix for these inputs/outputs. I didn't have time to civer in depth.

He can pace himself if you put the naswers on the back. He answers, turns over to check if right and puts in relevant pile. A lot of our kids couldn't manage the turning and reading, hence us making correct or LO decision.

Yes, start with short bursts, and build up.
Or let him watch you do it with daddy or a friend and show him it is fine to get an LO!. It really is just a learning opportunity to firm up later. Play up the 'Doh! Silly me! Darn it, next time I'll lick this thing!' angle.

Gresat advice from other folk too.

thanks guys, that's really helpful, I now feel I have options, and ds liked stars suggestions.

thanks