OK, you creative types, I need help, please.

[pneumaphile]

My son probably has ADD. We have not yet had him evaluated, in fact, we had not decided whether to have him evaluated, but it seems to be getting more manageable. My specialist says that chances are high he has it, as it's about as hereditary as height, and both my husband and I have severe ADD.

Well. Math. We've had tears over math. More than once.

I watch him, and I know what's happening inside his brain. He just can't. And this is math he knows how to do! But his brain keeps checking out - he can't get through more than one problem at a time some days.

Today, we tried something new. I set up an "obstacle course" in his room for him to do - just like they do in his weekly occupational therapy. It worked! I'm going to ask his therapist for more ideas for things to do at home like that, but I'm asking you, too.

This is what he did: Climbed up to his bed, jumped off his bed into a beanbag, crawled on his belly under the train table through some blankets I tied to the train table, gave me ten good jumps on the trampoline, then did two math problems that I read outloud to him. I had him do the math problems on the whiteboard instead of on paper, so he could use big arm movements. Then obstacle course again, leading to two more problems.

He did every problem perfectly with no challenge whatsoever--and he thought it was fun! But he did mention it was a pretty easy obstacle course, and I figure he'll get bored with it if I don't find ways to change it up or find other things to do besides an obstacle course that allow him to do "math on the move."

This is where you creative types come in. Can you think of other common household things we could put in an obstacle course? Can you think of other ways to do math that don't involve sitting with pen and paper?

I really want to stick to our curriculum if possible, since he's doing well with it and learning it, and liking it, it's just impossible for him to sit still and attend to it right now, until we get evaluation and treatment for him. We're doing Math-U-See Beta.

Thanks for any creative ideas you might have for me!

[Mama Calidad]

What about a "scavenger hunt" type thing. Sorta like the Amazing Race...be given one clue that leads to the next and the next... Before he would receive the next clue, there would be a problem or two to solve. You could have a variety of rotating prizes for completing the race, depending on your day...or even a grab bag with various numbers of points and a chart that he could redeem the points for... :think

[ArmsOfLove]

I just wanted to recommend the book "how to get your child off the refrigerator and on to learning" :tu

[Strumbelina]

I recommend the book by Ruth Beechick called An Easy Start in Arithmetic. This book is only 28 pages long, a quick read, and has lots of ideas for math. She is all about math being learned in everyday life as opposed to texts or workbooks! :tu
I just read it and I can't tell you how inspiring it was even though it is so simple. It has really helped me to RELAX too! :grin

[Hermana Linda]

My boys were not ready for math until they were in their teens. And since every year is a repetition of the years before, with a few new things added, they can learn everything they need to know in one year, providing they are mature enough. :yes

[pneumaphile]

My boys were not ready for math until they were in their teens. And since every year is a repetition of the years before, with a few new things added, they can learn everything they need to know in one year, providing they are mature enough. :yes
Yeah, the thing is, he's doing fine in math. And he enjoys knowing how to do math. He especially likes simple algebra-type solve for the unknown problems. It's not that he's not ready for it, it's that he's got untreated ADD, we think!

There are lots of things I enjoy knowing and am good at doing that if I'm not medicated, I can't complete.

And these ideas are fabulous so far, ladies! Thank you!

[icesmom3]

how about large squares of paper with math facts on them and he hops around on them trying to get from one end of the house to the other with prize at the other end?
Or hunt for math facts hidden in the house?
If he likes to hunt pin a math fact to stuffed animals and scatter them thru the house and see how many animals he can capture with solving the math fact?
Hope that helps!

[Mama Calidad]

Oh Amie, those are great ideas! Feeding off of them...

What if you put some problems on one sheet of construction paper and a variety of answers on other sheets...and then he could put the correct answer with the corresponding problem. All of the solving the problem...none of the writing. (That's the part that frustrates my dd....)

[pneumaphile]

Oh Amie, those are great ideas! Feeding off of them...

What if you put some problems on one sheet of construction paper and a variety of answers on other sheets...and then he could put the correct answer with the corresponding problem. All of the solving the problem...none of the writing. (That's the part that frustrates my dd....)
All of these ideas are so brilliant! I'm still stalking this thread! And you've given me the idea to just write the problems one-to-a-page really big for him to solve and scattering them around.

I'm going to use all of this stuff! Yay!

[Singingmom]

My boys were not ready for math until they were in their teens. And since every year is a repetition of the years before, with a few new things added, they can learn everything they need to know in one year, providing they are mature enough. :yes


That is so interesting! I wonder if the same thing is true for piano lessons? :scratch

I'm liking all these ideas, too, for a fun change now and then for my busy boys.

[Hermana Linda]

Funny you should mention piano lessons... Now, in my opinion, there has to be a gift from God for this to work, but here is what happened to my son. He was taking piano lessons when he was about 13, but he got tired of them. At 14 he took some very informal lessons from a gal at church who only taught him the chords and how to accompany the songs we do at church. A few months later he was playing pretty well and we were invited to help a new church who did not have any music ministry. So, he started leading the music in this church every week for about a year. He got quite good and sometime during that year he found that he could play by ear. He also found that he could read music and taught himself to change keys. About a year ago he also taught himself to play the guitar and bass. He is now almost 16. :shrug So, I don't know if it would work for others, but it sure worked for him. I certainly believe that if he wants to learn, he can, but if he doesn't want to, might as well wait.

[tempus vernum]

I got this book out of the library with lots of ideas JUST like these. I can't find the title.
I got the recommendation out of the book "homeschooling for excellence" by the Colfaxes-- it is upstairs and dh is sleeping. I'll post it tomorrow :)

[Rabbit]

If he's understood the material, 5 problems of one type is generally plenty, so you might also be able to cut down how many problems he has to do. If he's not got them right, though, then more practice.

-Natalie

[beccafromlalaland]

Hmmm Math Problem Hopscotch?

[Singingmom]

Funny you should mention piano lessons... Now, in my opinion, there has to be a gift from God for this to work, but here is what happened to my son. He was taking piano lessons when he was about 13, but he got tired of them. At 14 he took some very informal lessons from a gal at church who only taught him the chords and how to accompany the songs we do at church. A few months later he was playing pretty well and we were invited to help a new church who did not have any music ministry. So, he started leading the music in this church every week for about a year. He got quite good and sometime during that year he found that he could play by ear. He also found that he could read music and taught himself to change keys. About a year ago he also taught himself to play the guitar and bass. He is now almost 16. :shrug So, I don't know if it would work for others, but it sure worked for him. I certainly believe that if he wants to learn, he can, but if he doesn't want to, might as well wait.


Wow! I'm sure my ds has a musical gift, but the interest for piano lessons is definitely not there. Maybe I'll stop worrying about missing the window and see how the Lord leads. Thanks for sharing your story. :)

[Singingmom]

If he's understood the material, 5 problems of one type is generally plenty, so you might also be able to cut down how many problems he has to do. If he's not got them right, though, then more practice.

-Natalie


I know you're right, but the major overkill with the number of practice problems always makes me second guess myself. Anyone who looked at my kids' completed math wkbks would think we were total slackers with most of the page undone each lesson.

[Rabbit]

Just keep in mind that the workbook was not designed for a child who is good at math AND who has ADD. It's useful for him, but it also has to meet the needs of a child who just isn't getting it, and needs lots and lots more help, and thus that child's parents need many more problems to work with him.

Usually, 80% right is considered mastery, so if in 5 problems, he's missed one, do another five to double check how well he's learning. If he gets all of those right, you're golden. If not, maybe he needs a review, to be retaught with a different method. If it's a calculation error (common with ADD), not a method error, then I would move on.

-Natalie

[Hermana Linda]

Wow! I'm sure my ds has a musical gift, but the interest for piano lessons is definitely not there. Maybe I'll stop worrying about missing the window and see how the Lord leads. Thanks for sharing your story. :)

In the case of my son, anything we do to try to make, encourage or bribe him to do makes him not want to do it. :rolleyes2 He's always been pretty strong willed, that boy. When I read the book, Your Spirited Child, it fit him to a tee. Also, Your Explosive Child. By the way, I probably have the titles wrong, I usually do. :rolleyes2

[pneumaphile]

If he's understood the material, 5 problems of one type is generally plenty, so you might also be able to cut down how many problems he has to do. If he's not got them right, though, then more practice.

-Natalie
You know, this is important and thank you for pointing it out. I had already drastically reduced the number of problems he had to do, but I still think maybe we could move faster through the material, and maybe it would be more interesting for him - something different to do every day, you know? He is very bright and is mastering everything very quickly, and it's hard for me to see that maybe I'm making him do more problems than are necessary to cement it in his head.

Thanks for making me think more about this.

[girligirlmom]

Mozart or other lively music - our library does not own any Mozart but plans to order it. We have been using the instrumental parts of Beethoven's wig and ds7 flies through math. Without the music he zones out and/or is frustrated. I start the music then ask if it is helping. It must be lively instrumental. I was the same way as a child was bright but I needed music on or the radio or even TV as a distraction so I could focus at times. I remember not being allowed to have and being frustrated.

Some other ideas to help with the ADD if you haven't seen/heard of these: Add High Vitamin Cod Liver Oil (CLO) & Homeopathy and remove mercury and soy.

CLO - http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyourfats/fatty_acid.html (http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyourfats/fatty_acid.html) - While this may be true in the case of young boys who are at risk for ADD/ADHD when they are lacking an appropriate balance of essential fatty acids (EFAs)
http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnutrition/clarifications.html
http://www.gentlechristianmothers.com/mb/index.php?action=post;topic=82691.15;num_replies=1 8

A Huge Thank You
I owe you a huge thank you for the article you posted on your website about Mary Megson's work with autism. My daughter had a weird form of ADHD that was really scary and now after a few months of cod liver oil it's all gone. And she went from not knowing any of the letters or numbers (dyslexia?) to knowing the whole alphabet, all the numbers and starting to read in just a few months. My husband's ADD is getting much better also. We also switched to raw milk thanks to the Real Milk campaign. The health food store sells out by noon now, so I guess word is getting out.

Renate Haeckler
West Chester, Pennsylvania

Homeopathy
http://www.drluc.com/hyperactive-child.htm
Individualization is the key in treating any chronic condition with homeopathy, but it is particularly important in treating children with ADHD. Symptoms in these children can vary greatly: some are violent and aggressive, others are sweet, sensitive and compassionate, trying to cooperate fully with the physician although unable to concentrate in school. This diversity explains why no one medication, whether prescription or homeopathic, will work for all these children.

HTHs