Comments on: 6 Ways to Help Your Students Master their Math Facts

By: Kate Eduardo

Kate Eduardo — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 16:53:13 +0000

In reply to Anonymous. I adore reading and I think this website got some truly utilitarian stuff on it! .

By: Son Cleckner

Son Cleckner — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 18:11:00 +0000

In reply to Anonymous.

http://obits.mlive.com/obituaries/grandrapids/obituary.aspx?pid=166868326

By: Lea

Lea — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 18:08:37 +0000

As a Title 1 Math Intervention teacher, and classroom teacher of 15 years, drill and kill (timed tests) and flashcards are not what is best practice anymore. They are easy and have there place and function, but to really teach those students who do not have fact fluency, legitimate teaching of the facts is the place to start. Those students who struggle need direct instruction and practical practice of the facts before they can be put to memory. If you have a student who struggles with their facts, you need to step back and directly teach the the facts. They will not be able to memorize them if there is no application or connection to them.

By: Jennifer Co

Jennifer Co — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 08:46:46 +0000

Hello, just want to share this… http://www.dadsworksheets.com is a good resource too for practicing math facts. It has math fact worksheets, place value problems, addition without carrying, subtraction without borrowing, suites of multiplication tests using various methodologies, fractions and more. Most of the worksheets include detailed answer keys and all worksheets and tools on this site are free.

By: 2nd grade teacher

2nd grade teacher — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 19:16:00 +0000

I teach 2nd grade, so it’s addition and subtraction facts at that stage. We do drills daily, I got an awesome set at TPT that has two 32-problem drills per page, so we don’t use up too much papers/copies that way. I call it “Piranha Math” and the kids litterally BEG for it, because it becomes fun and not a drag. Why Piranha? First we talked about piranhas and how they are notorious predators that can decimate a prey in mere seconds. Then I explained that they could be piranhas in math too. The goal was to “munch away” the math problems as fast as they could! I hand out the drills according to their level (once they pass a set, starting at +0’s they go on to the next). They can’t look at the problems until everyone is ready, and they write their initials on the back while they wait. As soon as everyone is ready, I say “ready, set, MUNCH!” and start a 2-minute timer. In order to not interrupt but give them an idea of the time left, I have a set of laminated numbered piranha cliparts with a magnet that go from smallest to largest. When the timer starts, the number 4 piranha is on the board. When the timer hits 1:30 I put the #3 on top of the #4. At 1:00 it’s the #2, then the #1 at :30. The kids can look up whenever and have an idea of how much time they have left. The drills take 5mn a day and the corrections and keeping track maybe 15.

By: Christina @There's Just One Mommy

Christina @There's Just One Mommy — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 02:48:54 +0000

Love having the kids practice math facts aloud. I try to sneak it in while we are driving sometimes. And speed drills — my daughter actually asks for them!

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 03:40:19 +0000

It’s frustrating beyond measure to work in a school district that downplays ‘rote memory’ of anything! Hello! You hit the nail on the head with your math problem.

Thank-you so much for helping me to battle stupid people.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 16:41:58 +0000

Amen! I teach algebra and geometry and it’s heartbreaking to see kids struggle because they keep messing up their basic facts – sometimes even with calculators! Eventually kids start to realize that grabbing a calculator for the simplest part of the problem is a hassle. Unfortunately if they don’t have their basic facts mastered, it doesn’t end well.