I have several math workbooks that I like and that work well for my dd...except that she balks at that "estimate and then solve" sort of instructions they have.

I find it interesting that they have so much estimation in there...but I think it's great and that it teaches a different type of thinking vs. just solving the problems.

She hates it though--should I make her do it anyway?

Lately I've been just telling her to estimate on 1/2 of them or whatever but it takes her 10x longer to do one by estimation than by just working out the problem. Which to me is evidence that she SHOULD have more practice with the estimation part. What do ya'll think? Thanks!

I think it is pretty important. It is something I use on my day to day life.

When Nico has problems with certain things in Math, we practice it more. Not necessarily within the math sheets, but also while out and about. Then she is more apt to see it as a life skill and not just a task in the math books.

I think a good student can do well at math without it. I know this because I did very well in math all the way through high school. But I did NOT learn estimation. I'm guessing they didn't teach it then? You know how they go through phases in math. But I honestly never learned any mental math.

SO, I think it's really important to learn. I agree with Meeshi, it's something you use daily. And if you don't know how, you end up having to do much more tedious daily math. I still count on my fingers for basic addition, and get out a paper and pencil for longer problems.

However, since doing Singapore with Erik, I am SO much better at mental math/estimation. It's fun! And Erik is really good at it. One of the many benefits of homeschooling, right?

that if you give a child a dollar and tell them they can buy as much candy as they can with it they will learn estimation pretty quick!

Same goes for teens and clothing!

I never taught estimation and my children estimate all the time (how many minutes until we leave, how many days until my birthday, etc.)

I think if your child is having trouble with it that it may be flexing her brain! (Meaning it's hard) Maybe you should back off for a while?

Sincerely,
Debra

*At oral-motor therapy we do the mouth exercises first since my son cries if we do them at the end of the session when he is maybe more tired. It's work for him. Maybe you could do math first when your daughter is fresher?

I have several math workbooks that I like and that work well for my dd

I find it interesting that they have so much estimation in there...

She hates it though--should I make her do it anyway?

Another thought I had was workbooks are often created with children in institutional settings in mind and many homeschool versions are strikingly similar. Maybe the reason there are so many problems in there is that it is busy work for students in classrooms so the teacher can devote more time to helping those who need more help KWIM? Maybe you are only supposed to expect a student to do 20% of the work and you are forcing your child to do 5x as much!

I don't learn something well when I am forced to do it. Just a thought!

Sincerely,
Debra, homeschooling mom of 4 ages 9 1/2, 8 1/2, 6 1/2, and 3

I can't estimate to save my life. I wish I had worked on it in school. I don't recall ever learning estimation during my school years. That said, I think it's very important but if she's not liking it chances are she won't absorb it so well. I would let it go for a while and come back to it later. Maybe from a different angle.

Thanks, mamas! It definitely must be a new approach the way they are teaching it now--which is great. I happen to have an aptitude for mental math and can do pretty complex things in my head (as can my ds). Dd is more like dh and can't do that stuff quickly or easily just mentally...same with estimation. I want her to learn it but I'm not sure having it come easy can even be learned. I think I will not quite skip it all together, but ask her to pick one to estimate rather than estimating and then solving all of them. I think she'd find this a great compromise and perhaps without being faced with 6-10 of them, she'll not be so intimidated. :D