My dd’s CAT scores came in and I was pretty pleased with where she placed. She came in at the 69th percentile overall. She did EXCELLENT in her Language categories and even did goood in her math computation which was a shocker! Her math concepts were another story.

I gave her this test for my own information and benchmarking, not that I did not know what she could and could not do but I guess this confirms things for me.

One thing that I know affected her understanding of arithmetic is that I switched gears in mid-year and then decided to take the approach of informal math instruction in the early years so I did not ‘push’ arithmetic as hard as at the beginning of the year. I started playing more arithmetic games with her just to get her to enjoy math again first of all. She had come to dislike it. She really enjoyed the games and I’m so glad I have a book FULL of them!! It is Peggy Kaye’s book entitled GAMES FOR MATH. She has one for reading, writing, and several others.

Another thing that affecter her confidence in taking the math portion of this test is that I gave her no manipulatives. Just a piece of scratch paper and told her to work it out. Now that is not how we had been doing our lessons…she used an abacus and sometimes her fingers but always had something she could count with…we’ve even used numberlines to instill the principle that ALL ARITHMETIC IS COUNTING. ADDITION IS COUNTING FORWARD ON THE NUMBERLINE. SUBTRACTION IS COUNTING BACKWARD ON THE NUMBERLINE. I didn’t know if they were allowed touse manipulatives or not…I should have found this out before I gave the test.

So I think the test ‘proctor’ needed a course in proctoring tests….

And then another thing, I did not do a review with her. I know..I know!!! Bad teacher-mom!! I decided on the test at the last minute and ordered it and then had to have it back within 2 weeks(I know, no excuses!!!) .

Well that is how that cookie crumbled…my poor baby…so that is why I’m so pleased with her scores….no review…switching mid-year in math with approach and philosophy…no manipulatives…..and then taking a timed test….all for First Grade….I think she did ok. At least she came in above the 33rd percentile which is what the law in this state is. I don’t have to report test results to the district until 5th grade…so we do it again next year.

So my baby overcame those odds…good girl!!

Now I must turn my attention to how to approach arithmetic this year. I’m still using Ray’s…I love the approach they take. They don’t rush the child into being able to write math problems but to use manipulatives if they need to and then to gradually transition into not needing manipulatives at all thereby strengthening their mental capacity to memorization of the addition/subtraction facts…this is all on the CHILD’S timetable not an government or standardized test’s timetable…..then moving onto mulitplication/division. I love this but the tests require that they know what 5+2= when they see it on a test. So I’ve decided to use Ray’s approach and integrate, somehow, more traditional mathwork from Abeka’s arithmetic grade 2 series. I feel Ray’s gives good experience in exercising the brain to understand/internalize the operations of math (addition/subtraction) and Abeka would give her good practice in applying the ‘categories’ of arithmetic to these operations(such as learning how to count money, fractions, review of time, linear measurement)…Abeka’s text has it all.

So why was I up at 3:00am this morning wondering if this is going to work? I guess b/c I was starting to worry.

I was reminded of this thought/principle as I sat in the quiet of the morning…that just as I MUST trust God with my dc’s spiritual growth(godly character growth) I MUST trust Him with their academic growth. Just as I sow the word of God into them and teach them about Him from His word and attempting to model a life of obedience to God in front of them so I must just diligently sow/teach my dc whatever ‘academics’ they need/require and leave the rest to HIm. Their spiritual/character growth is His business and something that I can’t touch(even if I tried), so it is with their growth and understanding in math.

Yes, correct teaching, timing, and effective application of what is learned helps the process tremendously and that is what I’ve had to commit to this coming year but I’ve got to stay out of the realm of worry. I’ll do my part and God SAID He will be faithful to do His…

I Corinthians 3:6-7

I thank God for His Word which imparts sooooo much hope. I am just so thankful that He IS Hope. I so appreciate that I can REST in Him and come to Him when I’m feeling burdened… and He promises that He would give me rest in my heart and mind(Matthew 11:28)

So I commit this coming year to the Lord’s care, casting all of my care and burden on Him for He careth for me. I commit my way(my teaching, my methods to Him) allowing Him to change/establish them as He sees fit, and I commit my children and their growth in all areas to Him-not worrying about them but trusting that God will make up what is lacking in me for them…and that despite my failings and shortcomings and mess-ups that He will indeed give the increase… so that He receives the glory

Amen