I will say that what’s worked for us is to take a smorgasbord approach when the kids are younger (say elementary school aged, and even junior high age). I make sure they’re doing math of some sort on a fairly regular basis–although I haven’t done much formal math with Mr. T since November, if that makes you feel better. Time to start up again! We use a real mix of things: games, literature books on math topics, activities from various math resource books, workbooks occasionally, and especially the math that comes up in everyday life–and their own projects.

If they don’t like what they’re doing, we shift gears.

I don’t think it’s so important to have a linear, all-from-one-textbook, make-sure-they’re-covering-every-last-math-topic sort of education. Especially when they’re younger. My older two fought learning complicated math algorithms–borrowing, carrying, etc. but they could deal with large numbers in ways that made sense to them. I was fine with that (or at least I was after struggling over it with my oldest for quite a while!) To me, it’s more important that they’re playing with math ideas regularly, and they’re willing to tackle all sorts of problems.

H went from that kind of background to doing fine in high school math (B+ and A- work from a kid who has never particularly enjoyed math.) And Lulu is right now studying for a high school placement test. She feels like she has some holes in her math education, as far as what will be on the test. But she sure seems to be picking up the holes and stitching them closed pretty quickly! She probably won’t qualify for honors math–but math isn’t her particular interest either. She’ll be just fine.

And here are a couple of resources I like, because I can’t stop myself from sharing resources.
Cheap math workbooks to dip into from time to time, good for practicing problem-solving skills:
https://pahomeschoolers.c9.ixwebhosting.com/oscommerce/products.php?FigureS&osCsid=h0gqq5kim4uat2ktpf95sjnna6

And these books from Math Solutions, designed to be short, time-filler lessons for math classrooms. I think they’re great for home schoolers. There’s one for K-2, and one for 3-5. You can try sample lessons on the website:
http://www.mathsolutions.com/index.cfm?page=wp18&contentid=591&crid=320&mcrid=107

See what happens when you get me started?

And thank you, Patricia, for opening this discussion. I love having the wisdom of tried-and-true homeschoolers like yourself at hand.

She might be the kind of kid that would enjoy having a secret journal with you. One in which you write to her, but don’t talk about, and leave somewhere for her to find, like under her pillow. Share something fun and secretive (maybe about you when you were a kid) and then ask her a few questions in writing. See if she’ll respond. (Then you’d see her writing!)