My son is also failing Math and acts as if it is no big deal. He used to be so good at math. How do I get him to understand that his marks are important. Elizabeth

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ReneeW said: Does anyone have suggestions on what to do when you child just doesn't care whether or not his homework is completed correctly or if at all? He is basically failing right now in math but could care less. I'll check the worksheet and offer to help him make corrections but it's a battle to get him to do it over. He thinks as long as all the blanks are filled in it is fine to turn it in like that.

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ReneeW said: Does anyone have suggestions on what to do when you child just doesn't care whether or not his homework is completed correctly or if at all? He is basically failing right now in math but could care less. I'll check the worksheet and offer to help him make corrections but it's a battle to get him to do it over. He thinks as long as all the blanks are filled in it is fine to turn it in like that.

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Elizabeth said: My son is also failing Math and acts as if it is no big deal. He used to be so good at math. How do I get him to understand that his marks are important. Elizabeth

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In just starting to deal with a child with ADD and having a math computation disability on top of that, can seem mind boggling to all of us. Follow the same rules and guidelines that have been established through school and visa versa if they have been established at home. It is the structure, it dosen't matter what they don't want to do or that they say they don't care, because I bet you 10 to 1 they really do care, it is just very hard for them to do the things that are simple to others, and they are frustrated. We need to remember that we are the adults and the mentors and they will seek help from those that are willing to take the time. I have strongly considered checking out the math department at the local college to see if there are any students available to tutor, some of them may need to do this for credit hours and others because it is a learning experience for them too. Some college students or the colleges themselves charge a fee, but wouldn't it be worth it to see your child flourish. I think getting them to grasp the basics concepts +,-, /, , is the best place to start because most people with math disabilities are at this point and cannot move on until they can master these skills. Make sure there are consequences - taking favorite things away or giving an ultimatum - complete this or no more this and rewards - shopping for something they want, but don't promise, because in their minds if they do part of it, they should get this reward. It all seems harsh and to them unfair, but if you have to sit their and help them, by gosh, that's what they are going to do.Heck even make them sit there if you have something that needs to be done, like paying that stack of bills that is 4" high and see if they enjoy using their free time listening to you whine about writing checks and balancing the checkbook, and still having more bills coming in this next week. Then explain to them that even though you "don't" like doing this because it takes time, it needs to be done, it's a responsibility, just like their homework is to them.

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I am a mother of a 11 year old 6th grader with ADD and I also have ADD. We are just in the first few weeks of school and I am noticing changes since 5th grade. My son's is having difficulty with long division and I believe 6th grade in general. His teacher gives each student a handout with an example long division problem. On this handout, she meticiously lists the steps needed to complete the problem. My son's handout was filled with "doodle". I know that doodling helps him to focus and he does listen and usually understands what is being taught. Although this is not the case with long division. I see him struggle and he tries to complete the homework. He said that instead of the teacher giving him a handout with the infomation already explained to him, it would help him more if he wrote the methods to solving the problem himself. Which I really don't understand. He is already "forgetting" homework at school even though he has an assignment notebook with important items highlighted. He is having trouble sleeping and doesn't know why. What I have feared most I believe has come true. He did well in 5th grade (all A's and B's) because of the teacher and her methods of teaching. I have heard that a student with ADD may do great one year and have problems the next due to the teacher and her styles of teaching. I have a meeting set with his new 6th grade teacher. My biggest worry is next year middle school. I would like to get these issues undercontrol sooner rather than later. Are there any other members with similar problems????? Please help - my husband made a comment that my son is just not trying hard enough!!! How many times have we heard that and thank God we know better!!!!!!! Lisa - IL

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When my son struggled to learn the multiplication tables through rote memorization, it was torture for both of us. I decided there had to be a better way! I drew a grid for tables 1 - 10 & day by day, we discovered amazing number patterns for each of the tables. Patterns provide structure, making the tables easy to learn. Patterns, a right-brain approach, boost memory. I published my method, Teach Your Child the Multiplication Tables, Fast, Fun & Easy! to help other families. My workbook has been endorsed by Sandra Rief, author of How to Reach & Teach Children with ADD/ADHD (an excellent resource!) & the Mathematics & Science Partnership of the Department of Education. I have 5 free copies to offer moms in exchange for brief follow-up survey on how my method worked. Contact me on contact form of my website: www.TeaCHildMath.com. Eugenia

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Hi im a mom of an 8 yr old daughter struggling with math already. I am interested in your methods. My daughter isn't getting a lot of help from teachers or administration at her school and it is very frustrated. She takes adhd medicine but us labeled as the bas kid and is always in trouble . I believe she will just answer the problems with anything just so she doesn't get in trouble for not finishing . Maybe your methods could help me teach her so she can finish it correctly in a timely manner.

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I am a mother of an 8 year old daughter who has ADHD she is having so many problems with her math and also science. She was an A and B student til she moved up to third grade. She is having problems on staying focused and comprehending what she reads and I dont know what to do! I met with her teacher today and she basically told me that my daughter was the worst student that she has seen! Someone give me some advice on this matter PLEASE!

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Kudos to the Momwithattitude! You really have to skip right past all that "do they or don't they WANT to learn?" nonsense altogether to make any progress. There are a lot of strategies out there. Does McDonalds Serve Cheese Burgers Raw? Divide, Multiply, Subtract, Check, Bring Down Remainder (a creative way to remember the steps to long division). This silly little saying is why my daughter can handle long division now. All the lectures in the world about responsibility and how important school is didn't do that, a simple, real strategy did. Nobody wants to do that which they already know they will be bad at. How do they "already know" they are bad at doing homework? Let me see, grades, negative teacher comments on the school side, lectures, punishment, negative remarks on the home side, would YOU want to spend your time on an activity that produced these results?!?! You'd do anything to avoid it, anybody would. That's not to say that there should not be consequences for just not trying, there should be, in fact, there has to be. I think Momwithattitude has made a great point about letting your kid actually SEE and EXPERIENCE something like parents-paying-bills to show how adults really fulfill their responsibilities. We all REACH more than we TEACH our children. In other words, they are watching whatever we do, and teaching things like why you have to do your homework is not cut and dry, and not done just when they are actually doing the homework. Sometimes it's easier for a parent to believe their kid just doesn't want to do it, just like it's easier for teachers to decide some of their student's just don't want to do it. I hope I'm not coming off too harsh, as I do so very much appreciate the frustration, and have been there myself. I do know that the one thing that has made a difference (a HUGE difference) for my daughter has been MY OWN change in thinking, from believing that her difficulties were a lack of effort, to understanding the real issues so that she could have access to meaningful help. Now in 7th grade, my daughter has gone from (2nd grade) hiding unfinished work in a nearby empty desk and getting horrible grades while blowing away the standardized tests, to (Currently) doing homework independently, and bringing home an interim report that has no grade lower than a C (and only one of them-she may get on the honor roll for the 1st Term). The best way to find solutions to a homework problem is to first get a good grasp on what the problem really is. Most of the time, I firmly believe, deciding that it's just because the kid "doesn't want to" is too easy to be the real answer. The problem is, once a problem is perceived as lack of effort, nobody is going to be looking for the real reasons.

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I'm so glad your getting this out there, Eugenia Francis!!! I have one question for you though....where were you when my daughter was in elementary school??? But seriously, this is just, completely awesome. Your saving lots of kids' self esteem, and lots of parent's sanity! You go! Love it!

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