D.M.
Do it yourself... It isn't like a 6yr old is doing algebra ;-) or reading Shakespeare. Play counting games and read to him everyday. Not just books on his level either. Find some real classics. Most kids don't have the full cognitive skills it takes for reading and math until 7-8yrs old and the schools push these little guys way before their ready and then wonder why they are ADHD when they are 9. We use to teach children to read in 1st grade and introduce them to math. Now they are pushed in preK and K to read and do math.
One more comment - Boys tend to have more of a problem at this age than girls. Boys need to be physically active, playing outside, building with legos, riding bikes. All this prepares their brains for learning. They eventually catch up to the girls and often pass them if you don't ignore their need to move and wiggle. My son did his best math when he was bouncing a ball. He would memorize multiplication tables while pacing. Hint- after you do some reading or math exercises have him stand up, but his arms out in front of them and swing his arms back and forth across his body like scissors switching one on top for the other on top. That actually will help build neuro-connections between the right and left hemisphere of the brain and allow what he just learned to move from short-term memory to long-term memory. The principle of Legacy Christian Academy in Frisco was a child developement specialist and she taught her teachers how to do this with the kids, even the highschoolers did this and other activities like it. My son's speech pathologist also confirms this activity as valid.
Do it yourself - consider it bonding time and time well spent.
I have homeschooled for 25 yrs and never pushed my kids to read until they begged to. Now, I did do pre-reading, pre-math things with them all the time. I read them books way beyond their ability to read but not beyond their ability to comprehend. All three are now voracious readers. Don't waste money on a tutor. Go to Mardel or a teacher store and find some fun ways to PLAY. He will be learning without knowing it.
