He's in the 6th grd. and as usual we're up all night with math. How do I peek his interest. He knows the work, he says it's boring. what do I do?
2006-09-11 15:37:22 · 14 answers · asked by mikel0806 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
I would suggest not keeping him up all night doing homework. If he's struggling so much that you need to re-teach everything he learned in class each night, then you might want to haul your teacher in for a chit-chat.
Right after school is the best time to get homework done. Before anything else, while it's fresh. By 6th grade he shouldn't need you by his side the whole time.
Peak his interest? Reward him. Tests with a C are worth 5 dollars, tests with a B are worth 15 dollars and tests with an A are worth 25 dollars!!!
Imagine what kind of bike/ video game box/ etc he could buy next summer with all that cash!
Get a jar, so he can see it adding up! Nothing motivates todays society like a big payoff at the end of a lot of hard work.
2006-09-11 16:34:49 · answer #1 · answered by lucy_shy8000 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've been there. Doing math late at night just doesn't work. I know evenings pass by quickly but there's a reason why in school math is usually scheduled for the mornings. Late night math homework just ends up frustrating for both of you. Talk to the teacher, keep on top of it, don't leave it to the last minute. Baking is good to do together to work on fractions and reading numbers.
2006-09-12 02:47:56 · answer #2 · answered by trinity2379 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he is in the 6th grade, I assume he is studying fractions, my guess. You have to make this his everyday life. When you cut your Cake at home into 4 slices, make him aware that each slice is 1/4. When your gas tank is half empty, make him aware that this is 1/2 of a tank. Also make him a ware that a quarter of a tank of gas is 1/4. A quarter of a Dollar is $0.25 which is also 1/4.
It take 4 quarters to make a dollar(0.25 +0.25 +0.25 +0.25=$1.00) which is the same as 1/4+1/4+1/4+1/4=1.0 . Note 1/4=0.25, you can try this with your calculator just divide 1 by 4.
OK, I don't want to make this to complicated. Just make math part of his every day life somehow or someway and it will become easy. You can start buy showing him how to read a ruler. Good Luck.
2006-09-11 15:54:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are several ways to approach this.
1) Make it interesting - Pick a topic that your son is interested in and relate the problems to that.
Example: 2 x 15 + (-6+15) = ?
Jake, Mike and Andrew have fifteen different guitars. They want to put all their guitars together in a collection. However, Andrew six guitars that he is giving as gifts. How many guitars do the three have after Andrew gives out gifts?
It's a little complex that one but you get my point.
2) Sylvan learning centers are another alternative that many parents have turned to. Here is a link to their main site:
www.educate.com
I hope I could be of some help to you.
2006-09-15 09:06:39 · answer #4 · answered by nmk9543 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
TALK to his teacher. Some kids just don't like math and your not going to change that. You can however explain to him that it is a necessary evil and he is just going to have suck it up and do the work. Doing things we don't like is part of life. Also making him do his math work first, using a timer or even rewarding him if he keeps his math work up for a week or a month in a row WITHOUT you being at it all night might make it easier.
2006-09-11 16:32:50 · answer #5 · answered by Barbiq 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if i were kept up all night on schoolwork i would find it boring too (and heck yes i AM a qualified maths teacher would you believe?)
i am thinking perhaps to do less 'school' work and more games and investigation work with him that involve some mathematics but also have a play element to them
i do know that Tarquin publications do some really cool stuff that is nicely presented (if you can get hold of that where you are?)
2006-09-11 22:03:55 · answer #6 · answered by Aslan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put the math problems in terms he will understand. I can't remember what is considered a 6th grader's math level, but try using pizza, video games, or whatever he likes doing as a math problem.
2006-09-11 15:44:58 · answer #7 · answered by Mariposa 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Relate it to something he really enjoys... for example if he's really into baseball get him into tracking and figuring his stats like the pros do (that will work for lots of other sports too...pull out how important math is to the game). It really all depends on what his interests are.
2006-09-11 15:45:30 · answer #8 · answered by Goddess73 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If he's bored but is getting the answers right you might want to talk with his teacher and see if he can get in advanced math.
2006-09-11 16:37:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is he interested in graphic arts? In music? They both require math to learn. Get him interested in art or music.
2006-09-11 20:25:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋