My daughter, just turned 6, is working on Level B now (completed Level A last year). We are up to about Lesson 80 and she seems to be struggling. We have been going through the lessons very slowly since around Lesson 60. She is doing okay with some double digit addition. (I have to write to problem down for her to see. If I just ask her orally, she gets really frustrated and almost always gets it wrong.) So for example, she has no problem with the written problem 29 + 32 = 61 because she knows 2+3=5 and 9+2=11. (She understands that the 3 and 2 are tens, and 9 and 2 are ones.) However, many of the "easy" addition problems like 7+4, 8+6, even 4+3, she doesn't have down yet. So now I'm not sure if I should continue to work with her on these single digit problems, until she "really" knows them, or press on with the Lessons? I've been playing games with her and taking it slow, but still if I ask her 4+3, she says (without thinking) 9 and 8+8 (again without thinking ) is 18.


Also, should I be encouraging her to add the tens first, then ones? For example 36+25 would be 36+20=56 and 56+5=61. She does not want to do the problem this way as it now seems to invlove 2 problems, and fights it. But is it important later on (with triple digit, etc addition) to be able to do this?

Sorry this is so confusing. Any advice is appreciated.

Brett

Dear Brett,

Thank you for posting your questions. You are very wise to take these lessons slowly. In fact I would like to recommend that you consider taking a break from the lessons and just play games for a while, giving your child's brain time to think through all she has learned up to this point. I would recommend playing corners allowing her to have her abacus beside her as she adds up her score.

As far as taking the numbers 36+25 there are two ways to solve this one. The way you stated is a good way to make sure no numbers are lost in the process, however, I know with my son, he liked to add the 10's place first, then the ones place. If he had to trace 10 ones for a 10 he did so. So what he still does would be to add 36+25 as 30+20+6+5=50+11=61. As long as your child can keep track of the numbers this is fine to do. three and four digit addition will be done on paper.

Your post was not confusing for me to follow. Please know that it is very common around lesson 70, give or take, for children to need some time to stop and take time to think through their math (assimilate) all the new information they have been taught, and play games. Sometimes even taking a few days off from math all together is ok. We at RightStart really believe that games are to math as books are to reading....please play the games. :)

I hope this helps answer your question. Please feel free to email, call or post any other questions you might have or to continue this conversation.

Sincerely, Rosine

Brett,
I just had to write and say that I could have written your ENTIRE post about my son. You took the words out of my mouth. I found Rosine's advice very helpful, and plan to slow down and do just games for a while. I just wanted you to know that you aren't the only one!
Happy teaching,
Lizzy