Beware of Being Behind – Math-U-See Newsletter Vol. 25

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Beware of Being Behind – Math-U-See Newsletter Vol. 25

April 19, 2011

Beware of Being Behind

The most common myth that I am regularly addressing at fairs, on the phone, and in emails, is that someone’s student is behind.

I often diffuse this by asking what the scripture reference is that determines what age a student must be to take Algebra 1 or Geometry or begin studying fractions. Is it in 1st Hezekiah or 2nd Assumptions? There is often a pause, then a light begins to dawn, and the look of consternation from wrongly surmising their child is behind, is replaced with a look of relief when they realize he is right where he needs to be.

Now if you have an 18 year old that is still counting on his fingers I recommend you consult a learning specialist to determine if there is a problem. But in 20 years will it make a difference whether your student is studying fractions when he is 10 or 12? The primary indicator is a child’s readiness and math background, not his age, or God forbid, his grade level. Perhaps the root problem is not the student, but an insecure parent? While I am at it, most studies do not support putting children in school at 5 years old. Neither is it in the law given at Sinai, that children must leave home at 18 and enter college.

All three of our college graduates were 20 when they entered college, and they did fine. In fact I think they did better with a few more years of maturity than they would have done as an 18 year old.

This is not to say children can’t being formal schooling at 5 or enter college at 17, but please trust your instincts and teach and train your children according to what you know about their abilities and readiness.

Math-U-See does not have grade levels because so many older students have to go back and redo these levels. Most of these older students were moved through successive math classes based on their age and not their achievement. There’s never enough time to do it right the first time, but there is always enough time to go back and do it again.

Please let your children move at their own pace and not some man made standard from one of the worst math nations on the planet, the good old USA.

Protect your children, those precious individuals that God has placed in your care, from state imposed guidelines and raise them and train them in the way they should go.

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Tagged as: beware, education, home, homeschool, learning, math, mathusee, school, steve demme, teaching, tip

http://nogginsandnonsense.blogspot.com dana

Well said!
Becky D.

Thank you so much for encouraging me. I was just fretting just last night about my son and how “far behind I think he is” . But, I love Math-U-See and he is getting it at the pace we are going and I really didn’t want to go faster for his sake – I know how important it is to really understand what he is learning before we move on. But I still didn’t think I knew what to do. Until I read your very timely newsletter. It was a breath of fresh air, just what I need to hear.
We’ll just keep on, keeping on!
Thanks.
Laura

Excellent article! I think the same thing can be said regarding any subject matter. In our household, it would be language arts.
Thanks for MUS! We love it!
http://www.mygodgivenmissionfield.com Ali

Thank you for the encouragement! I start getting worried about this issue, then remember that the real reason we homeschool is to raise children for God’s glory. It’s easy to loose track of that vision when faced with the dreaded standardized tests. But even that isn’t what is the most important. This message is just what I needed to put my homeschool BACK into it’s proper prospective.
http://www.mathusee.com Kim McDowall

Hi,
I just read about not being concerned about the level of math for my children and what “grade” it is supposed to be. I have 12-year-old twin boys and math has been so difficult for them. Their teacher this year, math is not his “thing”, so I have helped them tremendously. We live overseas working in ministry and our children attend a school for MKs that pushes them and they have tons of homework. We will begin home schooling this fall and I feel greatly encouraged by the Math U See program. I had the boys take the competency test and now I know exactly where they need to begin. The boys really enjoyed watching Mr. Demm’s Demo videos and that will also be helpful to them and have math explained in a way they can understand. I am encouraged!
Abby

Yeah!
Suzan

I agree, but some homeschoolers live in strict states. A mom I know is in trouble with the state because her child is behind in math and reading, and they are likely to revoke her right to homeschool her child. So while it is nice to let a child learn at his own pace, there are laws in place that prohibit a child from getting too far behind by state law.

Maria

WOW what state does your friend live in, Suzan? I have heard of states trying to pass this law, but as of yet I have not heard of a state that has this as a LAW, a threat YES, but legally can NOT enforce this! I’d be very interested in looking into this myself (if for no other reason than to NOT live in that state!) What will that state do when a child does not pass the tests while in their school district? Will they then revoke the right for that child to go to school? Seriously, it’s ridiculous to say only homeschooled children can not pass the testings required. Every child will learn at their own pace. You can not force a child to learn, lead them, guide them, and nurture them DEFINITELY, but you simply can not force a child to learn something he/she is not capable of learning at that time.
I too have fallen in to the trap of “my child is behind” but I continue to be amazed at how much the achieve (and quickly) when they are not pushed beyond their limits! Both of my boys have tested above average on the state wide testings (and I was worried!). I think we put to much stress on our children and “where they should be”
I appreciate this article and his willingness to not shy away from GOD! Well written and well received, THANK YOU!!

Beverly

I have had this fear also – “what if they come test the children”
My husband keeps reminding me that I am not in control – God is..
Who is to say that my children would not be above grade level in math and freeze on the test? Or any number of things not in my control..
I listened to a CD called “Curriculum Advice” by Victoria Botkin and one of her children says:
”our parents taught us that we were to live up to God’s standards – not some government bureaucrat”
Tara

I can’t speak for what state Suzan is in, but I live in NY State and I agree with her that, unfortunately, we don’t always have the option to let our kids choose their own pace. I totally agree with the article that it doesn’t matter if a child studies fractions at 10 or 12. I have always thought it annoying and ridiculous when people boast about how early their kids could count to 20 or knew their ABC’s for this reason. Unless they don’t know their ABC’s when they are 10, who cares if they know them when they are 2 years old or 4? However, like I said, in NYS we have to fill out quarterly reports and IHIP’s and it is true that they can tell you to change your curriculum if they feel it is not suitable, you have to report that you covered 80% or more of the material in your IHIP, you have to have a 2nd party complete a narrative or your child has to take a test at the end of every year, and they can also suspend your right to homeschool if your child fails to progress “adequately” (and part of the fear for me is the fact that they don’t spell out what “adequate” is). This is all 100% legal. Check out LEAH.org for detailed info. In light of all of this, I must say that when I express frustration or concern about being behind to other homeschoolers online I am often saddened and frustrated by their lack of understanding that those of us in strict states can’t just “take a break” or go slower… Gotta love liberal high-regulation states who want to control your life for your own good (i.e. make life harder and butt in your business).

Leslie

I understand what you’re saying about taking it at your child’s own pace. Then I think of his needing 3 Math classes to graduate. He’s in the 10th grade and this is the 2nd year we have been trying to get through Algebra I. How do I keep from getting stressed out?
Candice

I totally agree with the article! So many homeschool parents and children as well, tend to focus on what their friends are doing at what ages instead of realizing that every child has a different natural ability in different school subjects and allowing them the freedom to move that their pace.
As for what Suzan said. I would have to say that you do need to check with what your homeschool laws are by state and adhere to them or move to a more homeschool friendly state if at all possible. Some states do have laws that make it so that you, as the parent, do not have the right to be the authority as to what your child learns when. Very sad and my heart is heavy for those parents who might be in this situation. But, there are also many times that the states try to make it sound like they have the authority to tell you what “behind” is, and they do not, but they are very convincing. I would highly recommend your friend check with HSLDA regarding if their state truly does have that right or not.
We love Math U See and thank the Lord for the freedom to use it!
Allison Jenkins

Thank you! I needed this so bad today!!!
Heather

I agree! Thanks for sharing.
http://ourhomesschool.blogspot.com Ginger

Wonderful! Thanks for the reminder and encouragement.
Jennifer

Thank you for this wake up call. We love your uplifting words and Math-U-See, it has brought peace into our learning.
Christie

I was researching MathUSee as a possibility for my very visual learner today….my 2nd child. My oldest has done well with Horizons but I am looking to see if there might be a better fit for my visual guy. This came up on the first page with my Google search and the title made me click.

I hear and appreciate the spirit of the article here. I had some early childhood classes in college and totally agree with the fact that kids develop in different areas at different times and we shouldn’t get all discouraged as parents about a child being “behind.” I think sometimes, though, as moms we can be too quick to point fingers at what other moms are doing and judge it to be “the wrong way.” God made all of us with different personalities just as he made our children differently. Some of us are careful. Some of us throw caution to the wind. I think we can each learn from the other in the homeschooling community. Does it honor God to be careful to the point of worrying, competing and basing self-worth on a child’s scores? No. Does it honor God to become prideful, self-reliant and unteachable ourselves in regard to our chldren’s learning? No. I believe there is a point where we can trust God and still use the state standards as a resource along the way…along with other materials that we pull to serve God as we strive for excellence in teaching our kids. The Bible tells us, whatever your hands finds to do, do it with all your might. I think that motivates a lot of homeschool moms to strive for excellence.

I have listened to homeschooling moms on different sides of this issue and just happened to read this article after attending a meeting where veteran hs moms were allowed to admit out loud that they ARE concerned about state standards. This was refreshing. There were those in the room that don’t agree and they commented respectfully in this case. I thought that was very healthy.

I hope anyone who might happen to read this realizes that I am offering another perspective of striving for excellence. I hate for moms who are doing their best to be lectured by those who feel that they are just being insecure or reliant on their state. (This is less of a reaction to this post and more of a reaction to moms who I have heard belittling other moms and doubting their trust in God and their decision-making abilities.). I believe that when we pray and ask God for wisdom in our specific situation and follow Him we can’t go wrong….even if that includes a peek at the standards.

I happen to have a child who excels in Math. Am I to feel guilty because I look for ways to teach him beyond the curriculum and even use state standards as a resource to get ideas for other things to teach my son after he has easily mastered the curriculum I choose.
Margo

Thank you so much. I was coming on here to ask a question about my child with a birth defect not being ready for fractions. I guess I don’t need to ask. God put the answer right in front of my face. Thanks for the reminder and the gentle chastisement I clearly needed.
Amber

Thank you, that is exactly what I needed to read today.
Laurie

Steve-you are a good man! Very well said, all of it, and shame on us for bowing to the standardized test idol. It IS frustrating to see that if your student hasn’t learned all the material that the SAT authors deem grade appropriate, they are scored two or so grade levels “behind” on the composite. But that is the fault of the “one size fits all” mentality that is being thrust upon all parents, not the Math U See curriculum.
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Cindy

Thank you so much for this great post and wisdom that you have given us. I was just looking through to see how much of the Alpha book we had to cover this year. And I couldn’t find a grade level. How happy and relieved I was to read this and to feel the Spirit of God within me confirming what you have said. Bless you for being of His Kingdom and not of this world. And for not being afraid to share your great wisdom with all of us!

Blessings in Christ,
Cindy
Trifany

Steve – just wanted to say THANK YOU for the Math-U-See program. I have homeschooled all 3 of my boys. When the oldest (dyslexia, ADD issues) was 9 we were using a different (highly recommended) math program – I would read it to him; he would look at me with glazed eyes. He did not get it at all. When we switched to your program, he “got it!” Manipulatives (with grooves) were it, as he is a kinesthetic learner. My middle son (ADHD enhanced!) also “got it.” My youngest son is a visual learner, so our struggle was for him to use the manipulatives, even when he only “kinda got it…” We were always way behind in math compared to public school kids. But my goal was for them to LEARN it! So we spent over a year on math facts. My definition of “knowing their math facts”: they had to tell me the answer to each math fact within 3 seconds. And the book on fractions!!! I had lots of questions of “WHY DO I HAVE TO LEARN/KNOW THIS??!!” But my kids do not even bat an eye with fractions, decimals or percents now. It is no big deal. Both of the older kids took the G.E.D. and passed math just fine. My middle son even scored 780 out of 800 in Math (big happy smile!!!). Thanks so much for this program that has allowed/helped/encouraged my children to be great in Math!