What do I do with my 9 years old?

Question

My son just moved from asian country about a year and a half ago. He learns english very fast. But with math he is so lost. I mean lost! The school is taking it too easy on him coz his situation. but math is math is any language. What do I do with him. I asked him to share $14 with 7 kids. He told me each kid got 2 cents! I can't afford to have him go to the learning center like huntington or slyvia. it took him at least 3 hrs to do his home work everyday. I am always get upset with him when homework time. What do I do?

Answer 1

I agree with Zab.   Help with his homework each night.  Praise him when he does a good job and encourage him to keep practicing if he doesn't get it.  I really suggest that you set up a meeting with your son's teacher and talk about what is going wrong.  He/she can probably give you lots of advice and extra practice to do at home.  Let the teacher know how much time you are spending at home - 3 hours is probably too much.  I know it can get discouraging, but please do not give up!  Teachers love involved parents like you!  Keep it up!

Answer 2

i agree with the first guy

Answer 3

Your son needs help...math is difficult for some kids even WITHOUT a language barrier much less a child that is trying to comprehend a language AND figure out math.See if the school has any after school help in this Subject...most do, as Language Arts and Math are the two subjects kids have the hardest time with. TRY your hardest NOT to get frustrated because he will close down if you do and throw up a wall where math is concerned and if he misses a step in beginning math he will struggle from now on...Be patient Mom..he's trying!

Answer 4

give him time. he is learning a new language, new lifestyle, new currency and new family (i assume), and he has obviously done very well. talk to his school. tell them that you appreciate that they are being understanding of his situation but that you are concerned he is falling behind.

when working with him, give him tangible things to work with. hand him 6 apples and ask him to share between 3 people, ask him to kick 1/4 of the 8 balls sitting in front of him, etc etc. currency will be much harder. he's obviously understanding it (14 divided by 7 is 2) but doesn't understand the difference between dollars and cents. get out the exchange rate and try to explain that. also, reexplain that 100 cents makes one dollar. that 200 cents makes 2 dollars, and so on and so on. good luck!

Answer 5

It seems to me that he understands that 14 divided by 7 is 2 - maybe it's our money that he has more of a problem understanding than math.

Answer 6

Go to the Dollar Store and buy him a calculator

Answer 7

Talk to his teacher.  She/he should be able to tell you if there is any help the school provides in this type of situation.  My children's school offers an after school math program if help is needed.  If his school doesn't offer anything talk to his teacher or the principal and ask them if there would be a teacher or even another student who is a few years older than him that would be willing to help him with his homework after school for a half hour or an hour.

My friends son has the same problem with his homework.  He would throw a fit every night when it was time to do his homework.  She talked to his teacher about it and now he stays after school and does his homework with her.  That way he knows that he has to get it done, but he also has the teacher right there to ask any questions that he may have.

Best of luck to you and your son!  Don't worry...he will catch on!  God bless you both:)

Answer 8

you could help him with his home work, like doing one problem with him and then tell him to do the next on his own and repeat the process. Then eventually he might learn it. Call his school to see if they have any after school help programs. he needs to get good at math, it only gets harder every year.

Answer 9

i think you should find a private tutor, if that is out of the question, then ask his school teacher if he/she could give him some one on one lessons after school a couple of times a week. maths used to be my worst subject too, best to find him some extra gradual help. don't rush him, he might not want to learn if he is forced.

Answer 10

See if the teacher can offer more help or knows of another child that is good at math to tutor him. Sometimes the grade school will have the high school students come in and tutor.