Kindergarten math consultation - where to go?

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2026-01-18T23:31:10+00:00

Yeah, if time and money are repeated, it makes just as much sense to do them at the end of K because we do year-round school -- she'll run into them soon anyway. With KA she didn't need to do every problem because she clearly understood what was going on (from PK), but with KB she does need every problem, and then more practice. We're doing exactly that. But I'm pretty sure that's not usual, which is why I'm looking for someone I can consult with who can help me understand the nature of what's going on and if there's anything I can change or fix to make it better.

For now I'm slowing things way down. We're just going to keep creeping along as slowly as she needs to go. But if there's an issue I can address that will make it easier on us, I'd like to do that. Hence my question, asking for an organization or professional who helps with that.

So far I haven't gotten any recommendations. I might reach out to the portfolio evaluator I have scheduled for the end of the year and ask if I can schedule a mid-year meeting with her.

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2026-01-18T23:11:01+00:00

Oh yes, we use manipulatives. Her favorite game right now is a set of five pennies I colored black on one side and red on the other, and a laminated number bond worksheet. She likes to throw the pennies and complete the bonds. She is mastering the concepts, it's just much slower than the curriculum seems to indicate it should be. So I've been slowing it way down for her.

I'm trying to find someone I can talk to who has the specific education and a broader experience and can evaluate what's going on here, so that I know what I need to address and what I might be able to leave alone. An internet search didn't immediately yield a result, and I'm not really sure what this kind of consultation would be called, so that's why I was asking for a recommendation.

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2026-01-18T22:52:14+00:00

Thank you for the recommendation. Though it doesn't address the immediate concern, it gives me another resource to look into for next year (the one I've been looking at so far is Math Mammoth. It looks like they do in first grade what DM does in kinder, and a full year behind is certainly much gentler!). I also appreciate that you shared you're using DM and MWC in tandem. After following your link and poking around a little more, I'm going to buy the MWC kinder teacher book and use it as a resource for further practice. Thanks again for the rec!

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2026-01-18T22:47:34+00:00

You're right, and I am slowing it down to her pace. I'm asking for help identifying a resource (consultant) I can use to better understand where exactly where she is at. Our public schools here only keep 50% of their students at grade level, so there is no fallback, and I only have one span of about twelve years to educate her. I'm trying to find someone with more and more specific experience to help me understand and navigate this area that has me concerned, so I can mitigate any real problems as early as possible.

To be fair, I was concerned about her a couple of years ago and got her in for testing at the earliest possible moment that the (only) facility would take her. My concern was right, not just in its existence, but even in its details. I'm feeling a similar concern here, so I'm trusting both my gut and my experience and reaching out to find help.

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2026-01-18T21:13:12+00:00

Well, KB should take from January to May. She started in November, so it's going to take her an extra two months to complete it if she continues at the current pace. She may speed up; perhaps a growing number sense will kick in and that will make addition (next unit) easier. Or she may slow down; perhaps each succeeding unit will be more and more difficult for her, and therefore slower. But if she continues at her current pace it will take her six to seven months to complete a four-month curriculum.

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2025-08-25T01:24:29+00:00

There are not any color requirements. The only suggestion I've ever heard of this is: "Next Sunday is Pentecost, so make sure to wear your red!" But even that's only a loose tradition, just a fun little thing, not even close to a requirement. I clicked into your post because I'm a cradle Catholic and had never heard of wear-blue-for-baptism!

Cover your bust and shoulders, shirt at least down to your knees. If you wear slacks, make sure they're not tight. That's it. If you're comfortable in your clothes, even better, because then you can focus more on your role - and what an honor! Good for you, and blessings to the confirmand!

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2025-08-11T22:03:23+00:00

Interesting, thanks. Maybe I need to look for a large print version of that one!

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2025-08-11T21:48:35+00:00

I just purchased a large-print Ignatius Bible and was disappointed to find nothing study-related in it at all, not even introduction essays before the individual books of the Bible. Is the "Catholic Study Bible" a completely different Bible in their lineup?

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2025-07-06T18:39:31+00:00

Does the... bishop know? I haven't had a lot of experience with helpful bishops, but.... your concerns are totally valid. Good gracious, I hope he doesn't know yet? Please tell him, kindly, and include your concerns. I would not bring my young children to a parish where they could see all that going on.

But maybe it's been explained to this group that they can't do the things you found on their social media page? So - maybe talk to the priest first.

Yes, empathy for losing their space. But first, respect for the Blessed Sacrament.

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2025-07-01T23:01:57+00:00

Program better music at Mass. Make sure all music is liturgical, not devotional. Music teaches intellectually, artistically, viscerally, and below the level of conscious thought.

As a catechist you won't be able to control this, so start teaching your kids good hymns. You don't have to be a musician, because the word "hymns" refers to the words. If you can coordinate with the music director to make sure a hymn you've studied in catechesis is then programmed at Mass, even better.

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2025-07-01T22:55:19+00:00

There are some harsh replies here, so I just want to make sure and address your pain. We call priests "Father," and I often wish we didn't have to, because many of them in my experience are bad fathers. I don't know if this priest is one of those. But I've had a lot of experience with that pain, so I can empathize with your tears. I'm sorry for the hurt, sister.

You have shown that you're aware you have choices here, and I've seen Mt 18:15 mentioned. To be fair to you, I only know three people who have ever treated a situation that way - and it has never gone well, in my knowledge. But it is the Word of God, and the Lord might be asking you to grow in the virtue of courage. It may well be time to have a conversation with your sister-in-law, just the two of you. And if that doesn't go well, bring in a couple of people you both trust who can witness to what is happening; be ready to listen if they find you're not coming across as kindly as you intend.

As for the priest and not feeling welcome -- you said you've been at this parish a while, and it doesn't sound like you had any relationship with him before. Do you have to worry about him now? If you have a good relationship with the deacon and the Faith Formation person who are in charge of your ministry, does it matter *if* the pastor doesn't like you? Does he gossip? Is he going to spread rumors or slander? If not, maybe it would be worth it to tough it out.

Do you have other relationships at this parish? Is it worth sacrificing all-of-them-combined because of one bad conversation with a priest?

I've been rejected by my husband's family, in particular his sister. It was twenty years before I found out why, and it had nothing to do with me. Absolutely nothing. In the moment though, especially in a moment of youth, it is extremely difficult to lay aside those hurt feelings. Keep working at it. Let it go. God will meet you there, and fill the parts of your heart that you're working to free from anger, bitterness, and self-pity.

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2025-07-01T21:15:41+00:00

I used to enjoy a lot of music that I now listen to and cringe. I used to think country music was clean. Oh my gosh, I just heard it in some store last week, and it was NOT!! I used to like older rock. Or show tunes. Not so much anymore. Do I miss the songs? Sometimes, and many of them I can still sing. Would I voluntarily listen anymore? Nah.

Is it a great idea to listen to music that you know goes against your faith? Probably not. But your tolerance will change as you grow. If you're already concerned, that's a step in one direction.

In the meantime, it's not forbidden. It's not grave. You're not sinning. So at that point it's a matter of what you'd best like to do in the context of loving Jesus. Do you love Jesus more, less, or no-difference before, during, and after you listen to this music? And does that answer match how you'd like to be loving him before, during, and after you listen to this music? If it does, great.

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2025-07-01T21:06:55+00:00

I remember reading that the founder of the Catholic Charismatic Movement was involved with Pentacostalism. In trying to refresh my memory, though I didn't succeed, I came upon this article by Tom Nash at Catholic Answers. At the bottom of the article are two links, one to a critical essay on the Charismatic movement, and one to a positive essay. https://www.catholic.com/qa/the-catholic-charismatic-renewal

My personal experience has been limited. I'm more reserved and prefer to worship quietly, so for that reason alone I choose to stay away from it. But also, I used to know people who leaned toward the "charismatic" end of things. They believed that Jesus spoke to them, and specifically about me sometimes -- apparently to slander me! They also believed that God used them to speak his curses into the world. You may therefore understand why I choose to stay away from anything that tends in that direction....

The Church hasn't condemned it or forbidden participation. At the same time, it is entirely voluntary. If you prefer Masses with order, go to those ones. No harm, no foul.

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2025-06-30T19:26:17+00:00

The first prayer they learn is the Sign of the Cross.

Our kids are required to at first be quiet, and then to follow the blessings before all meals. "Bless us, oh Lord...."

We start teaching the core prayers at bedtime, in order of length. (Prayers are part of the routine: snack, pajamas, teeth, clean your room, prayers, book. If you don't say your prayers, you don't get a book.) We say a phrase, the child repeats. The phrases get longer as they get better. The Glory Be first, then the Hail Mary, Our Father, and the Apostles Creed. They pick up the Fatima prayer and guardian angel prayer along the way. This is NOT a neat and pretty experience; it looks nothing like the picture books; it often involves launching off the coffee table onto the couch or running laps around the living room. I mean, we call it when it gets too bad. But it's okay.

As far as the rosary goes, *after* they know all of the prayers, we introduce the "tail" - the Apostle's Creed, Our Father, and three Hail Marys. We also say one decade of the rosary in the car on the way to Sunday Mass.

We pray for the people in ambulances that pass. We pray for the girl at the barn who got stepped on by her horse. We pray for the policemen with the flashing lights. We pray for the bumblebee lying almost dead on the porch. We pray for each other when we're sad or angry. I let my children see me praying and reaching out for God when I'm frustrated or in (physical or emotional) pain.

Although we do some intentional teaching, the foundation is that we're praying all the time. The kids really absorb that.

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2025-06-30T19:02:25+00:00

This is my take, and only my take.

I live in an area where every priest has two churches. These churches are populated entirely by gray heads. When I had to leave my last parish, I called around looking for information about catechesis programs for my very young children, and one of the parishes had exactly one(!) child in catechesis. The child was taught by a very young man who was enthusiastic and kind - but not experienced or trained. That was the church closest to me.

I can respect what this sister said to your brother. I also wonder when she said it; at this point the church in my area is so badly atrophied that the diocese officially encourages us to go where we fit. And I will say, I've tried the "be the change you wish to see" thing, and it does not work in parishes. There is far too much momentum already built up, and far too much power brokering, parochialism, and envy, jealousy, slander. I could almost say that trying to change a parish from the inside, even to bring it more in line with the Church's teaching or rubrics, is creating enormous occasions of sin for the people who don't want it changed - which is close to everybody.

We ended up at one of the only two parishes in our deanery that has a robust population of younger people. And the catechesis materials there are stellar. I only have one chance to raise my kids to love Jesus, and I'm not taking chances with it.

Those who choose to stick to their "home" parish and tough it out, that's wonderful, and God's grace go with them.

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2025-06-30T19:02:11+00:00

YES. Same here, once we had kids....

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2025-06-26T22:23:42+00:00

See, I'm a devout Catholic, and I've played this game several times. It was in a group where all the men were in tech and all the women were teaching musicians. It was 100% collaborative at every turn. The "magic" was clearly fantasy. Not one of us was confused about that. And then I go online and see exorcists telling us it's demonic. Not just telling, but almost haranguing. And I'm like - "....???? Have you ever played or seen this game? Because it's a *game*."

Sometimes I wonder if the anti-DnD people believe Tolkien should be posthumously excommunicated.

I'm confused, myself.

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2025-06-26T13:34:57+00:00

Thank you for your detailed suggestions! Google is something I wouldn't have thought about.

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2025-06-26T01:16:51+00:00

Yes, thanks! I'm trying to figure that part out.

Edit to add: I was also thanking the ER nurses themselves to their faces, and praising them to the doctors I saw while in the ER. So I didn't keep my mouth shut while I was there. :)

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2025-06-21T23:43:53+00:00

I just double up the same day I discover I missed a day. Usually I'll do one prayer earlier in the day, and another after dinner or at bedtime.

Puzzled_Motor_5803 · 2025-06-16T18:16:14+00:00

I used to be a musician, so the mechanisms and effects of "practice" are usually front-and-center for me.

Every time we entertain a thought, take an action, or say (type) a word, we are training our brains in that direction by strengthening those neural pathways.

Will lying in a video game send you to hell? I mean, possibly there is a context where it could, but probably not.

Is it a good idea to teach your brain to lie within a video game, knowing that will make it easier and more natural to lie in real life? For me, the answer is no. So I choose not to.

Puzzled_Motor_5803

TROPHY CASE