Math and an ADHD Child (Boy)

I have a 7 yr old son in 1st grade also. I find the way to make math more understanding and fun at the same time is to basically work with him at home. use simple items(cereal, pennies, gummy worms ect.) make it fun for him to learn he may remember the simple things like 3 gummy worms and he gets to eat 2 of them so how many left. I find if you make learning fun for children they tend to remember it more and understand it better. Good luck....

M.,

I also have a first grader who has ADHD and was struggling with math. The only way I was able to teach him his math facts was with touchpoints. Now he also is on double digit math and the touchpoints have helped him be successfull. The way it works is every number has a dot on it for the number it is. 1 has one dot. Two has 2 dots, one on the beginning and one on the end. Three has 3 dots one on each open end. Four has a touch point on all 4 corners of the number. Five has five dots. Six has 3 dots with circles around them which each of these count for 2. Seven has 1 dot at the beginning of the 7 and 3 dot/circles(which count for two touchpoints) going down the side. I know this sounds confusing but it has helped both of my boys with ADHD be successful at addition. You begin with the larger number and then add by touching each of the touchpoints on the number being added. One of my oldest sons teachers taught it to him in Illinois and he taught it to his brother when he saw him struggling, now they both can do it. Subtracting is more difficult because they have to remember to count down backwards instead of adding up. Try using the words take away for subtraction it has more of a visual meaning to them. Also, maybe use manipulatives like cubes instead of food, I have found that when I use candy they can't concentrate on the math because they are too distracted because all they can think of is eating the candy. I hope these things help, if you can't find info on touchpoint math let me know I could send you a sheet of where the touchpoints are. S.

There is a great math program called Math-U-See. I think you would find that it would really help your son understand and (see) what is happening to the numbers when he is adding and subtracting. So many problems begin when they don't have a good grasp of place value. The manipulatives for the program is what adds up some, but it is really wonderful and in the long run it would be much cheaper than a tutor. I have this program and would be happy to answer any questions. I have 2 children who are ADHD and math can be a bit more challenging because their minds tend to wander so much. Making it a hands on and visual approach helps tremendously.

M.

Hi M.! Just to add some light at the end of the tunnel: My son also has severe ADHD, but was not diagnosed until he was in 3rd grade. His inability to pay attention to the teacher was the reason he struggled in math prior to his diagnosis. The 1st step is realizing that a child has ADHD and treating it. It's wonderful that you've already gotten that far!!

Have you thought about the time of day when your son is in his math class? Is his medicine strong enough? Is his medicine extended release? Maybe the medication is not working if his class is early in the AM or late in the afternoon; the medicine may not have had time to release into his system in the morning or is already out of his system by class time in the afternoon. Also, have him tested for anything you might notice he has symptoms of. Have his eyes checked, have him tested for dyslexia. There could be another medical explanation. Talk with his doctor about newer ADHD medications even. The advancements they have made are amazing!

And, it could be that having ADHD has nothing to do with his problem at all! Lots of children struggle with math! My 10 year old daughter included! My suggestion would be to talk with your son's school counselor and find out if there is a TEACHER there that is willing to tutor him privately. There are teachers at my daughter's school who tutor and I bet you will find a willing teacher in your son's school as well. And I agree 100% with the previous responder who talked about the computer games! They are WONDERFUL! This was how my daughter learned her multiplication facts!!! Making math fun is key!

The light at the end of the tunnel is this: It gets better! My son with ADHD is now a sophomore in high school, taking advanced placement classes and making grades I would have NEVER expected from him when he was in 1st grade (Or 2nd or 3rd, for that matter)!!!

So don't be discouraged! You have already done the MOST IMPORTANT part: You have recognized the problem and are trying to find a solution! Best of luck!

I also have a son who is 8 and ADHD and struggles with math. Subtraction makes NO sense to him at all. I am pretty sure that is the way his brain is wired and he will always struggle. My oldest daughter has a friend who's mother is a math tutor. She charges $20 an hour which I consider to be more than reasonable. We recently moved from the east coast and the going rate there was $70 an hour. Let me know if you want the information...

My only advise would go to a College and find a tutor there. I'm lucky my brother is a whiz at Math. Got A's without even trying in Calculus and every other Math class out there.
Having some of the same problems with my 9y/o in 3rd grade. Believe me it gets a lot harder for us parents b/c I don't remeber division??!!@#$ Crazy stuff.
Good Luck

Suggestion: The Better Brain in Allen helps children, adolescents & adults with Neurofeedback training which helps rewire the brain without medications. You might want to give her a call.
www.thebetterbrain.com ###-###-####. You can tell her that N. with CBTx sent you.

I use to teach math to middle schoolers for 8 years and have done private tutoring on and off. AND, I am ADHD! So, I know where the kids are coming from. You or a tutor need to work with him usuing engaging activities and take frequent breaks. I had on Kinder boy who we would work for 30 min. then play a game of Uno (or whatever) then get back to work. I used munipulatives like cm cubes or money cut outs. It is hard and stressful, but keep working. I charged $25/hr. and did no less than 3hrs. a week. The going rate out here (Katy) is like $35-40/hr. However, you may be able to find an ed. major at a college close by- or a new teacher looking to make more money. Maybe you could call the guideance counselors at your school or neighboring schools to put the word out- and not just at elem. schools.

M.,
I know that kids with adhd often love playing games on the computer. Try coolmath4kids.com. There is a section for addition. Perhaps addition as a computer game will give him the head start to understand the concept. Once he understands the concept, you can transit to paper. I know people say kids spend too much time on computers, but when you've tried everything else, it's worth a try. Just a suggestion.

M.,
My son,now 10--is adhd and math is his worse subject...always has been. He just doesnt get it. You school HAS TO HAS TO HAS TO HELP YOU! PERIOD. My sons school tried the same (bull) before-until my husband did some serious research and threw it infront the the school board..boy,they changed their tune super fast! They bent over backwards for him! There is a program called section 504,ask them about it...also,no child left behind...My son recieved xtra tutoring from the school as well as they put him in content mastery,which is where he took his math with him,and had a one on one to have someone help him with that days work...we moved to justin,northwest schools...and was back at square one,they lied to our faces claiming they werent there to babysit my son...and offered nothing.said they only had special ed,and of course he didnt qualify for that.Until I went to the schools super over it...they offered a tutoring 30 min class(big deal)...so-i hired a tutor myself...a senior high school student..she tutored him 3 times a week for one hr...30 mins is not enough..they're barely "getting" it after 20 mins...she charged me 40 dollars a week...some tutors charge insane prices

Call ur local high school and put the word out to the seniors...There are plenty out there happy to make extra money and capable of tutoring.
My son went from an F to a B in math.
Since then we moved to keller recently,and hes failing math,again..hes in the 5th grade and HAS TO PASS THIS YEAR on the taks tests,or theyll keep him back...so,i am in search of a tutor as well...it made a huge difference!!

Please feel free to email any questions,id be happy to help--ive been and still on the same road as you,lol
Kelly

**I am not an attorney - just a mom.
Try the special ed rout. Your child has a real special need and can be provided for under the ADA rules! It is my understanding - If you want the school to provide special ed/learning disability testing (in TX) they have 30 days to comply. Make your request IN WRITING! I learned this after several years of expressing concern and being told they could not do anything. Balderdash I say! They can test, and they can offer academic solutions. Your child may well qualify for the (OHI) 'Other Health Impairment' for ADD/ADHD that you and your doc have already been treating. If there is another Learning disability/difference the school diagnostician can identify and address it through testing. You will want to seek information about rights of those with disabilities (which often includes ADD/ADHD). You should also talk with the doc. that prescribes his meds and ask about a letter stating his diagnosis that you can provide to the school. That will establish the understanding that he really does have ADD/ADHD. Everything MUST be in writing telling the school is NOT enough. Rem it is a bureaucracy with a systematic approach - that's just life.
Once your child has the Special Ed qualification the school must provide services for that area of disability. If your child does not qualify for full fledged Special Ed services he may have an IEP (Individual Education Plan). In both cases you get more input then you do as a general ed parent! You may find it quite helpful to seek out other parents within your school dist who's children receive services from Special Ed.

This may be helpful for parents of ADD/ADHD kids. http://www.adda-sr.org/

Kumon is a tutoring type program I like. It is not specially geared toward disability though. They have tutoring a couple of times per week and give the kids worksheets to practice skills for 15 min per day. They start with the basics of addition and move up from there.

Also free worksheets and answers can be found at
www.aplusmath.com
Best Wishes