What if you are feeling overwhelmed by the math? We just finished CWP 6 pages 49-54 and I am beat and barely hanging on. My 6th grader grasps the concepts a little faster than me, but I feel we could both do a repeat of this program for 7th grade. Thoughts?

I looked up those pages in the CWP book and I know why you’re beat! Those types of word problems are exactly why I consider Primary Math 6 (when IP and CWP is used) to be an honors level Pre-Algebra curriculum!

You’re giving your child such an amazing gift by training them to think, to organize information, to see problems from a different perspective that allows them to solve each one. But the difficulty level of these problems is exactly why I made the IP / CWP Solutions Recordings. I sincerely hope that you are utilizing those videos to help you solve and explain the concepts in the simplest way possible. I went through the curriculum cover to cover with each of my four children before I felt like I was really ready to help others to see the best way to solve the word problems. So many times they are easier than they first appear, but it takes time to develop the ability to see the simple solution.

What suggestions would I have…

1. Set a time limit for how long to try the word problems before you use a solutions recording. Maybe you (and your student) just watch the first few moments to figure out how to get started. Maybe you (and your student) watch the whole thing and then turn it off and try to do it again on your own. Maybe you watch it alone and give your child hints. Maybe you allow your child to watch it on their own and then come and explain it to you. There are lots of ways to use it. And it’s not cheating to watch the recording! I’m modeling thought processes that you can learn and apply in the future. We want to give our kids the best and most efficient tools to do the job of solving word problems. Those tools are demonstrated on the Solutions Recordings.
2. It’s hard on you because it’s hard on your student – all of the suggestions about modifying the length of the assignments can be helpful to both of you. You don’t have to do every page in every book to have a great result. You don’t have to do it at the pace that I lay out in the syllabus. If Primary Math 6 is completed at the end of 7th grade and your student starts Algebra I in the 8th grade, they’re still on the honors math track that prepares them to take Calculus I as a senior in high school.
3. I remember feeling heaviness about starting again with my next student, knowing what was coming and how much work it would be. (I’m just being honest!) Of course, I didn’t have recordings so it was all on me to learn and explain and correct and…it’s a lot of work to be a homeschool mom! But I can tell you now that I don’t regret a bit of it. I’m so glad we finished strong, glad my kids have the foundation they have. I’ve heard it described as second-class fun. It’s not always a good feeling to do it, but it is absolutely a good feeling to “have done” it.

What about 7th grade? Well, you really can stretch it out through 7th grade, slowing down so you have less to do each day and there is longer to sit-and-soak on the different concepts you’re learning. Or you can do the same curriculum twice. My guess is that you could expect more independence next time through but that it would still not be simple for your student.