Failing Math!

[Phasmid]

My son's math grade hit an all time low... F. He has been on a downward spiral this semester. I don't know if it is that the concepts are getting more difficult, or if the left half of his brain has just stopped working. He is doing ok right now, but his teacher told me (in a 504 meeting) that he has over-the-top anxiety in class. He has been avoiding doing math at home with us, I think because we may make things worse by losing patience with him and expecting him to "get it" when he clearly can't. Is it the case with any of you that math is the most difficult for your kids? According to Dr. K. it is a common issue, but I'm not sure it is more of a PANDAS problem than it is in the general population. It would be interesting to hear how many of you think this is an extraordinary problem. Thanks.

[faith]

I'll start by saying I don't know if we are definitevely PANDAS, but we do have symptoms. and HELLO, we are having a rough time with math too, he's definitely falling off. We're fighting over it right now while he's doing hw, he doesn't seem to be able to figure anything out without calling me...hard to say, but the work does get harder, with all the different types of math, fractions, word problems, algebra and all that ......yesterday I got a notice for the first time for summer school for math only. man I was pisssed. first time, and he's in fifth grade. I was kind of the same way as a kid, did pretty well in school, but math was always the sore spot. Even still, I am about to pull some hair!

 

...slowly exhaling.....

Edited May 12, 2010 by faith

[MomWithOCDSon]

Yes, when DS is suffering, his math is suffering, too. Even though he's "gifted," even though he's in advanced math, even though he typically likes math.

 

When he's struggling with PANDAS symptoms, math becomes a bear. He freaks out in class if there's a new concept he doesn't immediately grasp. He freaks out at home if/when he hits a homework problem that either 1) he can't immediately grasp or 2) just "looks" hard and involved, with multiple steps. He works himself up just trying to avoid even getting to the math homework, and his ERP therapist identified this as an "avoidance behavior," and that the mere act of avoidance actually makes him MORE anxious than does just getting down to the homework. So now we have all these "coping statements" jotted down on his desk for him to basically chant when he's struggling, breathing exercises for calming down his emotional meltdown, and other accommodations to help him get through the work. Sometimes I'll help him by writing down the problem(s) as he recites; sometimes I'll just sit by his side and let him explain the problem to me so that he understands it better himself. Some days none of that works, and some days he needs NONE of those additional aids.

 

Honestly, with respect to our DS for whom OCD is the primary PANDAS behavior, I think the avoidance is the primary issue. Because once you "nurse" him over that hump, convince him that doing it is less painful than avoiding it, he can usually get it done in record time.

[justinekno]

Wow, that sounds like my son! We homeschool so I see it alot. There are days he just flies through it and I am amazed and then there are days where he is soooo crabby and any little difficulty in math will set him off. It doesn't happen in our other subjects, except writing but I tread lightly on that one.

 

Yes, when DS is suffering, his math is suffering, too. Even though he's "gifted," even though he's in advanced math, even though he typically likes math.

 

When he's struggling with PANDAS symptoms, math becomes a bear. He freaks out in class if there's a new concept he doesn't immediately grasp. He freaks out at home if/when he hits a homework problem that either 1) he can't immediately grasp or 2) just "looks" hard and involved, with multiple steps. He works himself up just trying to avoid even getting to the math homework, and his ERP therapist identified this as an "avoidance behavior," and that the mere act of avoidance actually makes him MORE anxious than does just getting down to the homework. So now we have all these "coping statements" jotted down on his desk for him to basically chant when he's struggling, breathing exercises for calming down his emotional meltdown, and other accommodations to help him get through the work. Sometimes I'll help him by writing down the problem(s) as he recites; sometimes I'll just sit by his side and let him explain the problem to me so that he understands it better himself. Some days none of that works, and some days he needs NONE of those additional aids.

 

Honestly, with respect to our DS for whom OCD is the primary PANDAS behavior, I think the avoidance is the primary issue. Because once you "nurse" him over that hump, convince him that doing it is less painful than avoiding it, he can usually get it done in record time.