"Dyscalculia No More"

The math assignments your kids get from their teachers at school can fairly easily be separated into two divisions. There are math problems the kids hate, procrastinate on doing and often do poorly. And then there are math problems that kids love to do and cannot get enough of because they are so fun. Many parents never see that second kind of math problems but they are available for teachers and parents to use. The more we engage the minds of young people with the second kind of math problems, the more success can be achieved in getting the young people excited about math.

Of all of the academic areas most kids take on in their elementary and secondary school careers, it is math that seems to be the greatest challenge to most kids. While some students have a natural affinity to math, others have to work to get good at it. Part of the reason that it just takes extra work to conquer mathematics as a discipline.

The teaching as well as the problems that are given as homework stay at a high level of abstraction which means that kids struggle to see the value of what they are doing learning math. And without real life application problems, students fail to “connect” to math in a practical way.

This is why the more teachers or parents look for ways to make math interesting, fun and practical, the more students will be able to apply what they are learning in school and make those math principles part of their daily life. When that happens, students often go through a sudden transformation from kids that hate math and score poorly in those classes to kids that are excellent at math at an academic level. In many cases, those students that were doing poorly were only reacting badly to that first kind of math problem. If using creative and well thought out math problems that really engage the students surfaces some real math aptitude in some of those students that where were failing before, that’s a great result from working a little harder at the craft of teaching.

The “good kind” of math problems can take on many forms and use many methods. You can use story problems, math games and situations in real life where the math concepts being learned come up in everyday situations. The key to making math problems interesting and fun is to introduce ways to make them realistic and take them from theoretical math to applied math in situations. Even games where math is a big part of winning create a compelling need to use the math that a page full of abstract math problems cannot replicate.

Of the many areas of study a young person takes on in elementary and then secondary school, math is perhaps the one that is of greatest concern for parents and teachers alike in terms of assuring the students grasp the subject and move along with the material in step with the curriculum. Unlike history or many other topics, math is heavily structured so the students must understand each mathematical concept along the way because each lesson is a building block for the next one.

So when you have a student at any level of the academic hierarchy that is approaching a new school year and with it a new level of complexity in their math skills, it is important to know that the young person is well grounded in the basics of their math knowledge so they do not start at a deficit of knowledge when the instructor gets the class moving on the new curriculum. A math assessment test is just the thing to make that determination and to discover early on if there is a need for any remedial training so the student doesn’t walk into class already behind the other students in his or her math development.

There is nothing more discouraging and frightening to a young student than to sit in a math class without the background education that he or she needs and to listen to a lesson that there is no possibility of understanding without those core mathematical principles well understood by the student. Many times students will hide their lack of knowledge from the teacher and their parents so week after week they fall further and further behind. It doesn’t take long before the situation is a crisis which could have been avoided if the child’s parents had simply utilized a good assessment process to make sure the young person was ready for the new academic year in mathematics.

It isn’t difficult to find grade appropriate assessment tests to measure where the student is in his or her knowledge of fundamental math concepts. Many are published by commercial book sellers so you can access them at a book store or on Amazon and get the assessment to your child quickly. There are also online assessment sites that can do the same job for a reasonable fee. Often these are preferable because the child enjoys working an internet testing software system more than working from a book.

The academic counselor at your child’s school can also provide assessment opportunities and follow up with tutoring or remedial math classes that can be taken to get the young student up to speed with their grade level before week one of class begins. This is an excellent step to take the summer before the next grade level to prepare for the next step in the child’s academic life.

Getting Help With Math Homework Online

If you are seeing your child’s test scores drop primarily due to difficulty in understanding basic math principles, do what it takes to change the grade – Get help with math homework. The fact of the matter is your child’s future depends on academic achievement now. Do not let your son or daughter get lost in the crowd, especially when it comes to understanding math concepts. Help with math homework online is just a click away.

Thanks to the Internet, you can give your child the help needed to change a math grade, without leaving the comfort of home. In fact, all you need is a computer with online access, a headset, and a comfortable place to sit.   When parents have to work, the kids are going to school, and traditional tutors generally have a set time for lessons, the logistics of getting quality help with math homework can seem impossible, in the traditional sense. However, with the convenience of online math lessons, your child can have:

• One on One Instruction
• Individualized Lesson Plans
• Interactive Lessons in Real Time
• Affordable Tutoring Plans
• Personal Convenience

Your child can have all of these online benefits, to help change his/her grade in mathematics, if you take the time to do your homework first. As a caring parent, you need to make sure the math tutoring site provides one-on-one instruction. For example, do not settle for the websites that flash an equation and its answer. To truly understand math concepts, your son/daughter needs the same qualified teacher providing regular instruction.

While you are searching for a qualified teacher to help with math homework, make sure he/she will provide individualized lesson plans. To maximize your child’s potential. When it comes to mathematics, lessons using the same textbook as in the traditional classroom are extremely important. Preparation and reinforcement of the math concepts help ensure academic success.

If you are really serious about helping your child change the grade in math, and achieve academic success, look for the site that will implement the latest technology and offer interactive lessons in real time. For example, with a ‘voice over Internet’ program and visualization, teacher and student can use whiteboards to work through the math process in real time, discuss unclear points, and realize success together.

Of course, even the best tutors helping your child realize mathematic academic success have to be affordable. So, find the provider that will offer tutor plans that will both serve your child’s needs and the family budget. If you need an occasional question answered or educational support through the years, you should have the option to choose the best plan suited for your circumstances.

Finally, you need to find online help with math homework – to change the grade – that is convenient for your lifestyle. Forget the peer pressure of other students and the logistics necessary to meet with a teacher/tutor. Instead, pick a time good for your family’s schedule, relax in your own home, and still have inactive sessions when the time is right for you.

In summary, your child’s education is too precious to let slip through the cracks. If academic success starts to slip, especially in mathematics, do something to change the grade today. Look for help with math homework online with interactive lessons specifically designed for your son or daughter, using his or her regular math textbook. Give you child a priceless gift – the chance for a bright future.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder

Your son or daughter could be very bright, but when it comes to reading orally your child may struggle to sound out new words or when writing misspells many words. This will cause lower grades. This scenario is very typical for a child that is affected with central auditory processing disorder; a learning disorder where the brain isn’t properly processing auditory information.

A person affected by Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) can often have nearly perfect hearing, but because their brain poorly processes what they hear, a learning disability results. We learn by processing audible sounds that are around us each and every day.

CAPD can be the result of a variety of causes including head trauma, lead poisoning, chronic ear infections, brain development issues, or other unknown causes. No matter what the initial cause, as with the majority of other underlying learning skill deficiencies, auditory processing skills can be improved in most cases. Due the importance of this skill to reading, spelling and writing it is important to get your child tested for CAPD. There are learning training centers that can assist with the testing of CAPD, and they can provide the necessary program that can assist your child in overcoming Central Auditory Processing Disorder.

Symptoms of CAPD are not hard to identify. These symptoms include leaving off beginning or ending sounds of spoken words, reading difficulty, trouble spelling and writing, mispronunciation of long, unfamiliar words, and poor vocabulary. If any of these conditions are present make sure you get your child tested at a qualified learning training center.

CAPD can be overcome with the proper training and guidance provided by a testing center. A good testing center will take a cognitive approach to assessing this problem and working through it. This approach is simply a matter of training the brain to better process the sounds that define our world. Make sure that the testing center you choose focuses on sound analysis, sound blending, and sound segmenting when testing. With those three tests being utilized, a more accurate program can be established for you or your child, which will ensure a future of quality learning and understanding.

Other learning disabilities that can hinder you or your children from reaching their full potential in life include dyslexia (impairment of ability to recognize and comprehend written words), dyscalculia (impairment of ability to solve mathematics problems), dysgraphia (inability to write), dyspraxia (motor skill coordination problems), and auditory and visual processing disorders (difficulty understanding language or images).

By: Paul Counts

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

LearningRx is a child and adult learning training center which provides cognitive skills testing to help individuals pinpoint the causes of their learning disabilities. To find a LearningRx testing center near you, or to take a free self-screening test visit www.learningrx.com.

To get help with math homework, visit the link.

Are you looking online for kids learning games? It can be quite the struggle and challenge to find quality kids sites that they can play on without wreaking havoc on your computer – and even a harder challenge to find those quality sites that actually teach your child something! Believe me, I know. I have 4 children and it’s just about enough to make me want to pull my hair out trying to figure out good places my kids can go online – so I can get a little peace and quiet while I make dinner. 😉

I’ve searched and searched for great sites online that have quality content and games for my children to play. I don’t just want them to play per-say, I want them to learn something while they’re doing it! (In case it’s not obvious, I 100% believe in multi-tasking and killing 2 birds with one stone.)

Below are the sites that I recommend for your child. They have great kids learning games and also I’ve found them to be pretty decent when it comes to ads and pop-ups and all the extra stuff that gets annoying. Of course we can’t get away from that entirely on the internet, but the below sites do a good job at sticking to topic.

Side note : Free websites have to make their money somewhere, so as long as you’re using a free games site, you’ll always have to deal with the ads. If you really don’t want them to show up, you’ll have to spend a little money for membership sites – a.k.a ad free sites.

The top recommended site – Free

Cool Math Games – My kids LOVE this site. They always get on it, and they have a blast! They have spent hours on it (don’t judge me – they’re learning, and at least they’re not watching t.v!) This site has quite a bit of ads, but it’s never been a problem for us. My kids’ school actually recommended it and they play on it at school. It’s a great site if you’re looking for free math games for your children.

2nd top recommended site – Not Free but very much worth it

The next site I recommend is Succeed in Math. Succeed in Math is a membership site and it really delivers what it advertises. It’s a software games site that takes your child’s progress and records it, but even better than that, it assess your child’s skills and builds a lesson plan around their needs. Pretty neat. They have monthly membership costs, but also they have the option of paying in other installments such as annual. The monthly cost is only about $9, so it’s a pretty good deal. Especially if your child struggles in math – the lesson plans really hone in on what your child needs. Children with dyscalculia can benefit from it so much.

Other great sites – Some free, some not

2 other sites that have been pretty good to my kids are Nick Jr and the Disney Channel. They are both obviously well known and established sites and your kids will like playing the games of the t.v characters they watch (my 5 year loves the Dino Dan games.) The only thing I’ve run into with both of these sites is that there really are a LOT of ads, and my kids have clicked on things that they shouldn’t and then I have to come to the computer to X out the box they opened, or whatever.

One other thing I should mention is that they are not completely game sites. It’s the entire site, and there are game tabs. There are also videos they can watch. It can get a little confusing for younger children who think they are going to play a game, and then all of the sudden a video pulls up instead. These 2 sites require a lot of adult supervision, so if you want a “set them and forget them” type deal, you may want to avoid them. They also tend to always want your child to enter your email address and sign up for things, but other than that, they’re alright.

Perfect for Kids – Mini-internet

One site I really like is the Bizzy City. It’s kind of a “mini internet” for children. It’s a membership site, but it has a ton of games, videos, social networking…and it’s completely safe for kids. There’s educational videos and games, and it’s actually a very cool place to let your kids have at it. It’s less than $5 a month, and to me, that’s worth the sanity I lose every time my kids are on the internet.

Always remember – the internet is a sea of information, but we still have to protect our children from it. We never know what lies beneath. Do your research before you let your child just go free in the crazy large world of this thing we call the internet.

Here you can read my review on the Succeed in Math site and get more information on math websites for kids.

We all know how boring math can be sometimes. Especially for a kid who just wants to get out of that stuffy school and get home to play. Math can be a very tedious and mind boggling subject and – unfortunately – there’s no way to get around it. We try to tell our kids how important it is and that they’ll need it when they grow up every day. Whether they believe us or not isn’t what’s important. They’ll realize soon enough. What IS important is that we give them every opportunity for success when we have the chance. Below are some fun math games your kids can play to not only get better at math, but they’ll also have fun playing the games. They’ll think they pulled one over on you, but really we know it’s the other way around.

Top Fun Math Games Sites

Cool Math Games is a free site which let’s your kids play cool math games and puzzles. My kids absolutely love this site. In fact, my 7 year old son said to me once (verbatim) “my teacher think we’re learning, but they don’t know that it’s really just games”.

Hmmm.

So the old theory that kids actually do learn better when they don’t realize they’re learning is true then. It’s a great site to let your kids have it and just play around.

The only down side to the Cool Math Games site is that because it’s free, there are a lot of ads. HOWEVER…that doesn’t make it a bad thing. I’m just pointing that out. My kids play on there all the time, and I have never had a problem.

Succeed in Math is second on our list of the top math games sites. The Succeed in Math site isn’t free (it’s very inexpensive though – nice on the wallet) but it has some very cool features and fun games for kids to play. This site is more geared toward creating a tailored lesson plan for individual children. It’s great because every child is different and needs to work on different things, and this site actually goes through and accesses your child’s needs. Just like Cool Math Games, the practice is disguised as games, so your child won’t know he or she is actually learning.

The only down side to the Succeed in Math site is that it’s not free. However, like I mentioned it’s very affordable, and you have to always remember…you get what you pay for. If you’d like to read my full review you can see that here : The Succeed in Math Review

Top Fun Printable Math Games

Of course, math practice wouldn’t be complete without printable math games and worksheets.

Making Math More Fun is a great site that offers a ton of printable math games and worksheets. With it you get 4 different books – math board games, play sheets for 2 players, card games and great ideas on how to help your child with math. It’s a great value, and you can print them off right away. There’s so much included in the Making Math More Fun I can’ possibly go into it all. However, the value you get for your money is really a good deal. The games are fun and very easy to print.

There are so many different websites right now that offer games and/or practice. It can be kind of difficult to sift through them all just trying to find a site that your child will enjoy. Hopefully the list above (while I know it’s short) has given your some options.

The only down side to the Making Math More Fun package is that…well, that they’re printable! If you’re looking for a site that your child can play on obviously the 2 mentioned above would be a better fit. However, if  you’re looking at expanding your child’s horizons and giving them more choices, then the Making Math More Fun would be a great idea. You’ll always have the games on hand once you print them.

So there you have it, in a nutshell! My top picks for fun math games. I hope your children love them as much as mine do!

Check out one of my previous posts – Do We Diagnose Dyscalculia too Quickly?

Help Your Child With Math!

Children learn best when they don’t know they’re learning. The reason for this is pretty much at your discretion, but I believe it’s because when they are playing or having fun, the pressure of having to “perform” isn’t upon them. It’s our job as parents to help our children get better at things! So instead of constantly drilling your child to practice, or do your homework (or whatever else comes out of our mouths), next time offer up a game to them. You’ll be surprised at how excited they’ll be to do it! The key here is to not tell the child they’re actually learning.

Math Websites for Kids – the Succeed In Math Review

There are a lot of websites for kids online, but you want to make sure that the site you sign up for is actually what your child needs. For example, if your child struggles in fractions, you want to make sure that site offers fraction help. I know, it’s kind of a no-brainer…but it had to be said.

One website I find to be very beneficial is the Succeed In Math website. It’s a website that offers not only games to children to help practice their math skills, but it creates a tailored lesson plan to your child. The program actually assesses your child’s skills and creates a plan 100% completely based on what he or she needs.

It’s extremely easy to use, and it’s not the typical “one-size-fits-all” approach  (hence the tailored lesson plans). The internet based math tutoring program touches on a lot of important things for us parents.

Some of the key things are:

• It’s convenient (anytime, anywhere internet access)
• It uses a proven system since 2004
• The software works for all levels, including Special Ed and learning disabilities such as dyscalculia
• Covers basic to advanced arithmetic concepts
• Software is self paced, so your child never feels the pressure or time constraints
• Progress reports for parents – huge benefit!

This is a great site that offers great math tutoring for your child online. If your child has struggled at all in math, this is the help you may have been looking for. The software program will work for all children who struggle with math. It’s great for children who:

• Just need a reminder of material previously learned
• Suffer from learning disabilities, such as dyscalculia
• Have difficulties concentrating in class
• Aren’t able to keep up with classroom instruction

The software really helps children to build a math fundamentals path for success. If your child has struggled at all, or you just need some extra practice for them and you want to help your child with math, I highly recommend you check out this math website for kids – Succeed In Math.

Hey, what do you really have to lose?

As a parent, we face many challenges when it comes to our children. We have an over abundant amount of love and protection that is naturally instilled in us when we become parents. When dealing with different phases of our children growing up, we have to learn how to handle each situation as they are presented to us. One of the most difficult challenges we face as a parent is raising a child with a learning disability.

Learning disabilities can range from mild to severe, and can also range from many different subjects. Having difficulty grasping concepts in just about anything could mean there’s a learning disability present – but it could also mean that your child is just a normal child and isn’t understanding a certain concept or idea. Dyscalculia is one of those learning disabilities that can be tricky to diagnose.

As a child,  had an extremely difficult time in school understanding math. I hated it, I wasn’t good at it, and I failed many of my math classes.  It was one of those things that I just couldn’t wrap my brain around. But it wasn’t because I had a learning disability. It was because that is my personality, who I was, and what my character was all about. To this day, I still hate math and I will never understand it as some people do. I have a basic understanding of the subject and I know what I need to know to be a successful adult.

Food for Thought – Do We Diagnose too Quickly?

I excelled in other subjects in school, such as reading and writing. I had a natural passion for those subjects, and I was naturally good at them. It was easy to be good at them because I liked them. The point is – don’t just assume that your child has a learning disability because they are struggling with a certain subject. Take a look at your child and assess their school work as a whole. Many people these days are so quick to diagnose “everything with anything”, that a simple character asset turns into a “problem”. Think about it. How many drugs do we have on the marketplace today to help with anxiety, or depression, or ADHD…the list goes on. There always seems to be a new problem, with a new medical cure.

Before anyone gets fired up about that last statement, I must be VERY clear – I am NOT minimizing any of the above issues,  nor am I against any of the medications that are prescribed.  I am simply pointing out the fact that our society is so quick to “diagnose and prescribe”, rather than looking further than the end of their nose. So I ask you this…do we diagnose too quickly?

Do not just assume your child has dyscalculia because they struggle with math, and do not let counselors or advisers just “tell” you your child has dyscalculia, without assessing it yourself. Yes, dyscalculia is a learning disability and can effect many children, and if your child has dyscalculia, then there are certain things you can and SHOULD do to help them with it.

But don’t just “diagnose and prescribe” your child’s learning disability because they “have a hard time in math”.  Do your due diligence, and asses it first. No one knows your child better than you.

How to raise a good child – if you’ve been a parent for any amount of time, or about to become one, you’ve most likely asked yourself this exact question. Read on to find out how you can raise your kids to be responsible adults, and keep your own sanity.

Raising children has become increasingly more difficult in today’s society. Why? Well, back “in the day”, being a parent didn’t have so many “restrictions or judgements” placed on them. Think about it. How many parents smoked in front of their children? Wearing seat belts were an option, spanking your kids was necessary (not abuse) and teachers taught with disciplinary action. Kids stayed outside and played all summer, they said yes ma’am and yes sir (and wouldn’t dream about speaking disrespectfully to an adult, lest they have their mouth washed out with soap).

Yes, things have certainly changed in today’s society when it comes to raising kids.

So, how do you raise a good child? The tips below will help you stay focused on the end goal – raising a good, responsible child into adulthood. No matter what age your child is, the tips below should always be in effect.

• Always remember. YOU are the parent. Not your child, and not some stranger, not your family or friends. YOU are the parent. If you’re not comfortable with a choice or decision, stick with it. Your instinct is usually right.
• You are first and foremost your child’s parent, NOT their friend. There is a line to be drawn here. You should absolutely have a friendly relationship with your children, but when push comes to shove, you are their parent, their keeper. You know best. Do not let the fear of “my child won’t like me” ever enter your mind. You are there to guide them and raise them into responsible adults. They will thank you for it later, I promise you that.
• Be loving, but firm. This goes hand in hand with the above.
• Give your children freedom and flexibility as they demonstrate responsible behavior, but only a little at a time. Do not give them the ocean before they are ready swim. With good behavior comes good rewards. But they must earn them. And…they must certainly be taken away if they abuse the privilege. Cause and effect…

Be sure to check out Democratic Parenting. It’s a wonderful ebook that teaches an amazing parenting system. It’s a must read for any parent, with children of all ages. You can read more about it here: Democratic Parenting