MY frustration

Here is my frustration, perhaps I have not been patient enough, perhaps I have gone the wrong way around to teaching math, perhaps there is an underlying problem I am not seeing whatever it is I need to get it fixed.
For our 3rd yr hs math has yet again become a problem with Conner. I don't understand but it's as if just the thought of math gives him a completely different personality. Today is a good example.
His lesson today covered Place Value, yes simple basic place value. Here are his problems

Write each in standard form
4000+500+60+9
400,000+300+50
60,000,000+3,000,000+4000,000+5000+7
1,000,000,000+200,000,000+50,000,000+300+9

Write in expanded form
8998
15,243
672,115
700,946
13,004,205
2,005,940,000

That's it.
Here is how it went. Immediately upon opening the book to the page required he asked for help.
He then needed help for each and every problem until the last two at which point he was finally getting it. But if I were to ask him to do this tomorrow I'm not sure I wouldn't need to help him again.
We tried Saxon but he didn't like it and didn't use it long enough although I think it would help him immensely. He is using K-12 grade 5 Math. The problem here is that when he gets to a quiz he won't remember half of it.
It is sooooooo frustrating sitting there with him helping him through every single problem. It's as if he can't correlate moving from a small number to a bigger number doing the same thing. It is frustrating for the two other boys because if they need help they generally have to wait for me to finish with conner. So I hop between kids although the other two don't require nearly as much help. Basically just Colin and he gets upset when I am constantly helping Conner and he has to wait for me to be done. I don't make him wait for the whole lesson just one problem but it seems that it takes forever.

I saw another math program called Teaching Textbooks where it comes with CD's that gives lectures, practice problems and goes over every single problem. So if you miss number 16 in lesson 23 you can pop in the CD and it will show you how to do that problem. I think that would help him alot. I also like Saxon for him as it goes over a little of everything to keep up on learned stuff so you don't forget how to do it. I don't know if I should switch but if I have to take another year of this much frustration I'm not doing much to help him in math. I can't do that to him or to myself, it's very wearing.
This is one example. For clarification this happens 3-5 days out of the 5 days of school. He is at the point where I think he thinks he can't so he asks for help before he even tries. That in itself frustrates me as I would like to see him at least try. I obviously need to do something to build his confidence in this area. I just don't know how. I also need to find a comprehensive math program that works for him. Again I'm not sure what that is but I have an inkling that it's not the math he is using now.

Vanessa

A great day

I must admit since moving here last summer it has been hard on me and the kids. There isnt a park near they can walk to to play. They havent made enormous friends. And we just haven't learned what fun thing there are to do.

Today though we met with some homeschoolers from our local group. I must admit I was scared senseless. The first time meeting someone jitters and as you guys know conner has had a year of bad behavior to others that is starting to stretch on longer than I care for it to. So with much talking about behavior towards others, manners and the unfortunate long list of "things not to say" that unfortunatly didn't cover everything we went to meet up. (Kids say the darndest things don't they, I just wish mine would say less of them or just at better times.)

Boy am I glad I did. The kids hit it off. I watched Conner's movements for any behavior that was unneccasary and it didnt happen. I was so happy. I remember not so long ago, he made another child cry . This is another story that I havent shared , yet. I felt horrible about his behavior and so upset for the kids he treated so unkindly.

The boys were timid at first, then found some common ground and started chatting .They walked on in front of us. The other mom and I had alot in common too, again very nice. It was such a nice time I was sad and startled to see 2 hrs had passed-time to go. The boys aparently enjoyed it too. I asked them their opinion on the outing and the company and it was a green light. I know not everyone will get along in life or sometimes you meet someone and you just click, but I am giving one big sigh of relief.

I went home feeling elated that my boys did well and liked the other children. I hope this is the start of us finally settling in. I told the boys I was proud of their behavior. I emphasized this to Conner. I hope this is a breakthrough for him so he sees that how he should behave towards others and how that can turn out quite nice.