Math motivation for a boy??

[Alison in KY]

You would think after nearly 4 years I'd have these down swings figured out, but I just don't. Anyway, my whine today is that it took us 40 minutes to complete 4 problems today. Okay, I must admit that he not only had to work the problems but he did have to check his work, but even with that it's 5 min. a problem.

So, he's 8 and average and he's getting on my nerves with his attitude. He is not excited about math and I don't know if he ever will be. He dreads it. I'm using MUS, which is the best program I've found for him, after tons of diff. programs I've tried.

So, do you just have them do it no matter what, or do you give them a break or what?? Seems like if I just drop it I'll still not get anywhere. Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Alison

[JenneinAZ]

M and Ms

My son can be slow doing his math. So far the best incentive I have found is M and Ms. He can have one per problem done correctly or corrected. He also gets a bonus of 10 M and Ms for finishing the required amounts in the allotted time.

So for example if he has 20 problems and I think he can do them in half an hour. I would give him one candy per problem done and then when he finishes in half an hour or less he gets a 10 candy bonus. If he doesn't finish in the half hour, he doesn't get his bonus but he still gets one per problem.

He doesn't complain nearly as much when he sees the candy sitting there. And he is motivated to complete it quickly and correctly.

[Karen in CO]

Has he "hit a wall" with a concept? If so then a break or a redirect will help.

Is he bored with the content? If so then a redirect or jump up wil help.

Does he just need more supervision/attention during math? My dd is incapable of doing math without me sitting beside her.

Is math a priority? We always do math first otherwise it takes forever. I hold the rest of her day hostage to one lesson of math - no art, no gymnastics, no co-op, no tv, no computer, no fun until a short math lesson is done.

We have gone from dreading math to short, focused lessons. It took me a while to figure out what our problems were, but once we did, it has been getting better.

Good luck. Math is too important to be a burden on the student. They don't have to love it, but they shouldn't hate it.

[Beth in Central TX]

If it's just an attitude issue, then I have my boys do the work no matter what. If it's a conceptual issue, then I back-off and review the last lesson we did or go over basic math facts again.

It sounds like your son is understanding the math, so I would work at his lessons 30-45 minutes a day and call it quits. Now that mine are in 5th & 6th grade, they work on math up to an hour.

My boys have had to learn the skill of staying focused, and it's getting better as they get older. They've also had to learn that even though they don't care for a particular subject, it still has to be done.

I would also schedule your son's favorite subject right after math or let him take a break and do something he really enjoys. That way he has something to look forward to. I usually let my middle son take a quick "Lego break" after math; especially when I see him working diligently.

HTH!

[Sue G in PA]

it takes him over 3 (that's if I let him just keep going). He understands it, can do it...chooses not to. He plays w/ his pencil, stares at the ceiling, plays w/ dd2 whose cuteness is very hard to resist :) and basically does whatever else he can...except his math. It's a boy ting. I typically have to sit almost in his lap in order to keep him on track. My ds8...opposite. Gets it done in 1/2 hour w/ hardly any help. Ds9 prefers to be mobile. Try breaking his lesson into sections (do 10 problems now, go run around the year, do another 10 problems, eat a snack and then so on). Works w/ my ds when I remember to do it!:)

[Alison in KY]

To answer some questions, he does understand it mostly, but just doesn't like it.

He's overweight and would love m and m's, but....i'm trying to get him smaller which hasn't happened in years so i'm failing miserably at that...if anyone has any love weight suggestions for kids i'd love to hear them :)

hmm, his lessons are limited to about 35 minutes.

he's like the last responder...he of course could do his work alone, but he's all boy. he plays with anything he can get his hands on the table. he also becomes very helpful while he's supposed to be doing his math, so if he can answer anyone's questions on anything else he will.

i don't expect him to love this, just to get the work done and hopefully feel a bit better that he has accomplished something. sometimes he even likes it. he's a very moody guy who has a problem with making up his mind but i dont' think that's bothering him with the math.

anyone else...i'm dreading the math this morning.

[mysticamethyst]

My younger son is a very reluctant math person, gets that from me. As long as he is understanding the material, I would just make him do it, I don't care if it takes the whole darn day. This has happen here twice with him; and honestly it was simple math. He gets 40 min. for math, which is no more than 20 problems; and I am right there for help with anything he can't accomplish on his own. If they are not done by the time the bell rings we move on and that is homework. When school is done for the day he is not allowed to do anything other than his homework. If it takes him all day then he has himself to blame, if it is not done the next day same thing happens. Now, my son is 14 so he is much older than yours; but we did this once when he was 8; took him 9 hours to copy the times tables for the 9's, and once again when he was 11; it took him 2 days to complete a speed test of simple addition and subtraction facts. Again, I only did this when I knew he knew the material. I haven't had that problem since. I am sure it will come up again and we will all suffer again but that is all part of it right? Its like when they were babies and didn't want to sleep thru the night, it is just one of those things they have to do. As far as the weight issue, more exercise maybe; this is not always the answer. We have just started walking in the afternoons on the nice days and roller skating on Sunday's. My oldest has actually lost 4 pounds, which is great, they don't even know its exercise. Summer is coming maybe swimming? I must admit this area is my downfall, we are not very ambitious movers, we like our computers and tv, again my fault. But we are working on it. Good luck with math today I hope you find a way that works for both of you.