A bit off topic but somewhat related: I've been working with my 8 yr old nephew on some math problems and I've noticed that he guesses a lot or copies other answers without thinking about what the answer means. For the former I think he just relies on the adult to lead him to the answer, and in the latter case if I cover up the rest of the homework except the current problem he can sometimes just shutdown and unfocusedly stare. To try to combat the former I try to lead him incorrectly and then he agrees with my wrong answer! But I only work with him on these things once a week. I think his parents are doing a terrible job because he can have such a sneaky attitude to try to do this as lazily as possible, resulting in worthless learning.
What alarms me most is that he isn't even bothering to learn addition subtraction multiplication and division tables well. Should all kids know how to answer fourteen minus eight quickly? I think without the foundation he will be doomed in the future.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2014-02-18 06:50 am (UTC)I've been working with my 8 yr old nephew on some math problems and I've noticed that he guesses a lot or copies other answers without thinking about what the answer means. For the former I think he just relies on the adult to lead him to the answer, and in the latter case if I cover up the rest of the homework except the current problem he can sometimes just shutdown and unfocusedly stare. To try to combat the former I try to lead him incorrectly and then he agrees with my wrong answer! But I only work with him on these things once a week. I think his parents are doing a terrible job because he can have such a sneaky attitude to try to do this as lazily as possible, resulting in worthless learning.
What alarms me most is that he isn't even bothering to learn addition subtraction multiplication and division tables well. Should all kids know how to answer fourteen minus eight quickly? I think without the foundation he will be doomed in the future.