Horizons users-- is it advanced for a Ker?

[Rhesa]

I been using Horizons/Singapore combo with my son successfully. He's no Einstein, but he has done well.

Now along comes my daughter, and she is just struggling with Horizons. I pretty much dropped Singapore. I'm not sure that she is getting the concepts.

For example- counting by 10s. She can do it orally, but in workbook form, she just looks at it blankly. Now she's complaining that she hates math.

FYI- I've tried non-workbook approaches as well. Our school is very gentle around here- I only have a Ker and 1st. Dominoes, games, etc. Basically, she doesn't like anything "schoolish". (She sees through my thinly disguised attempt to make UNO and War count as schoolwork for the day)

Is it just too much for her? I need some structure for my own sake- I have to report to the school district. Plus, math and writing are the only workbooks we use.

Any thoughts? Anyone?:confused:

[Jan in SC]

I would say that it is slightly advanced. I don't think it is the full grade ahead some web reviews claim it to be. That said, my ds6 k'er is breezing through it, but my ds5 that will be "officially" a k'er next year, is not ready for it. I started him on the lifepac math and it is perfect for him.

[Karenciavo]

What do you think is the disconnect between counting in her head and writing in a workbook?

[Rhesa]

What do you think is the disconnect between counting in her head and writing in a workbook?

I'm not sure. At first she was excited to "do math" like her older brother. But now she wants no part of it. Perhaps she's exercising her will because I can't force her to write in a workbook.

I don't think the physical act of writing is an issue- she doodles all the time, and I require very little actual writing from her.

She won't play math games either. When I cheerfully suggest, "How about a game of UNO?" I'm met with a flat "No. I don't want to." (If she were older, you could insert an eye roll here...she just hasn't figured that part out yet)

I just have a hard time with her- both figuring her out, and getting her involved.

[katie5]

Saxon K is a very gentle approach to math with no workbook pages involved, but the child gets all the skills a normal Ker needs. I have done Horizons with K, but I don't think all the writing is necessary unless the child really enjoys doing workbooky stuff. The main point to me is getting the concepts down-more writing can be done later. This is all just one mom's humble opinion, of course. :)

[TracyR]

Yes . I highly recommend Saxon K in your case . It is a very gentle approach to teaching math . Very hands on with manipulative and requires no writing on her part . I would maybe give that a try . And as a mom to 4 girls I know exactly what your talking about and honestly it just doesn't get better . I still to this day go through that with my oldest daughter .

[8FillTheHeart]

Have you tried doing it with visual cues? Using a 100s chart so that she can see what she is doing all the time might help. I love Horizons K, but I do spend lots of time with my kids talking about patterns. Can she do sequencing with patterns? If not, she is probably not ready for more difficult math concepts. If she can.....try to help her connect sequencing patterns to math.

I would not separate her from her visuals until she understands. If the book is frustrating her....close the book and play games with the chart.

HTH

[Rhesa]

Have you tried doing it with visual cues? Using a 100s chart so that she can see what she is doing all the time might help. I love Horizons K, but I do spend lots of time with my kids talking about patterns. Can she do sequencing with patterns? If not, she is probably not ready for more difficult math concepts. If she can.....try to help her connect sequencing patterns to math.

I would not separate her from her visuals until she understands. If the book is frustrating her....close the book and play games with the chart.

HTH

Yes, I'll try this- I have a 100s chart. Perhaps I can pull that out and skip the workbook pages for awhile.

I'm sooo cheap, too. :blush: I hate to buy Saxon since I've already got the Horizons workbooks!

[Robyn]

I know you said that the physical act of writing isn't an issue, but maybe the combination of figuring the math and then writing the answer seems overwhelming to her. I wrote the answer down for my ds for a lot of K. He practiced writing his numbers separately, in his handwriting program. By the end of the year he had taken over the writing as well as the figuring.

It does seem though, that she is just frustrated with the idea of math in general. Would it be possible to take a bit of a break? I'm not sure what you are expected to report for K, since K is not mandatory in MA, so that might not be an option for you.

My ds has a "this game is school work in disguise" radar too.

[Rhesa]

I'm not sure what you are expected to report for K, since K is not mandatory in MA, so that might not be an option for you.

My ds has a "this game is school work in disguise" radar too.

Part of my stress is the nature of reporting in NY. Because of her birthday, she can either be a young 1st grader next year, or an older Ker. I'm just not sure where to place her abilities- which is why I pull out the workbooks to see if she's ready for it.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions- I'm going to try a few different things today!

[frogpond1]

I'm not sure about K, but they made such small writing lines in other primary books that it was impossible for my children. I also didn't like the choppy way concepts were broken up into such tiny steps and then spiraled. I ended up all Singapore here, but what I found with my 4th son was that he just needed some time learning how to write numbers and messing around with dot to dots and games. I backed off a bit and now he has caught up with where I originally wanted him to be. I think he came into first grade (a young July 7th birthday) a little behind the math curve, but I was sensitive to his immaturities. I didn't panic (having learned to remain calm after fussing over the previous 3 children.) Slowly, but surely his maturity is catching up and he is progressing well. Don't panic because of what the state wants. Just gently teach little bits and prime the pump.

[8FillTheHeart]

That's interesting. I don't see Horizons teaching as an incremental approach at all (meaning broken down into tiny steps). They teach an entire concept, do several problems and review other concepts and keep spiraling through like that. But that isn't quite the same as an incremental approach where concepts are taught in separate steps.

[Rhesa]

I didn't panic (having learned to remain calm after fussing over the previous 3 children.) Slowly, but surely his maturity is catching up and he is progressing well. Don't panic because of what the state wants. Just gently teach little bits and prime the pump.


Ahhh...so you could sense my panic, eh? I was trying to keep that well-hidden:D