My son is really struggling in some areas.He is having trouble with rounding numbers.We have been working on this for a few days now and he is not grasping the concept at all.I am getting frustrated and so is he. I am looking for any ideas and I am looking for a printable number line WITH the numbers.I have googled until my eyes bled,but I am only finding blank number lines or ones counting by 5s,10s,and so on.I don't want to make one bc I want it perfect so he can see the numbers clearly. As a matter of fact he is just not doing well in the math area.He is in first grade.He went to public school last year and had a very hard time with it then,too.He can count as far as forever and identify numbers to a 1000.But everything else just boggles him.I want to be able to simplify it and break it down for him so he can become solid on the basics. I feel like I could just cry right now,I am so stuck.He does so good in everything else.
While it is not exactly what you are looking for this YouTube video on the number line is cute: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI5P4MPYazE
If I have time over the weekend, I'll write a page or two on the topic and create a test bank of 100 or so questions on this topic. Hopefully, by taking a quiz over and over, your son will begin to get it. There's something quite satisfying about seeing your score gradually increase as your take more quiz attempts.
And rounding numbers can be a hard concept to grasp if it has no practical application. Find something in real life. Shopping or the like that he can apply the idea to to make it real for him. Boys seem to dislike doing 'pointless' work. And by 'pointless' I mean things that don't seem to apply to their own lives. Hang in there. And it sounds as if he is doing really awesome otherwise.
first don't stress this is a first grader, give them time., Second try making a chart with red and blue squares, ten totaled and five each color. Line them up in a stack number them, 12345 678910 Have an arrow that is both ways between the five and 4so it shows what way at what number. Put it up on the wall where your dc can see it when they are doing the work. ITS OKAY TO HAVE THE ANSWER on the WALL! I had to figure that out that I used the walls in school to learn and to help me when I forgot a concept. I keep even multiplication chart up on the wall still for my 13 yr old just for those brain blank moments. Better to be able to get up walk over and review work then come back to your lesson even than sit and cry over not getting it done right. At any rate relax, no stress its 1st grade!
I didn't know rounding numbers was done in most 1st grade math programs. My DD is 7 and didn't start that until about 40 lessons in 2nd grade math. What program does he use?
Here's what comes to mind for me-as I also have a first grader... If he doesn't get it, try letting it be, and come back to the concept in a month or two... Rather than a line, use manipulatives to explain the idea. This is huge with my son (we rarely use worksheets anymore) Anything can be a math manipulative to a first grader. Use army men, buttons, beads, dried beans, M&Ms (sometimes candy makes the concept way more real to them LOL). Make your own-it doesn't have to be perfect. Have him HELP you make it. Cut out a line, numbers and glue them (or use number stickers) and talk about it as you do it.
I was a little surprised too, that rounding was found in a first grade curr. My third grader just started this and he is not doing well either. I have backed off and have decided to wait a few weeks. pushing before they're ready usually backfires.
The math program he is doing is 1st grade Time4Learning online.My kids went to PS last year and my then first grader didn't cover this at all. TeacherMom~You are so right.I really do not need to stress about this.I am not under anybody's thumb,and neither is he!We have recently put up some visual math charts for him(and all the kids).That was one of the best things we could have done,I see them refer to them all the time. CornishSteve~That would be fantastic!(and greatly appreciated!) Thank you all for the ideas and suggestions,and support!We are going to try at it again this week(with some new ideas ),and if he is still at a total stand still,then we are gonna move on for a while.I don't want him to learn to dislike math.I totally agree that pushing before they are ready will backfire.
