Math Facts

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Home : 2002 : February : 14

Math Facts
By Kathy

It happens--every year. Students come in not knowing facts they should have learned before. I have found that speed tests (such as mad minutes), progress charts, flash card drills, songs, games, etc. all help them learn
those facts.
My students have to do 45 minutes math drill every week for their homework until they learn their facts. I've found actually sending flash cards home in their homework folder (I ran them off on construction paper)has really helped. Also, we have class goals and rewards if we make it.
On the progress charts, there are a lot of books out there that give a certain set

of facts. One of the best has them divided up: Sums to 5, sums to 10, sums to 14, sums to 18. Almost everyone can at least get the sums to 5, so you can start with success. Once they pass one level, they move on to the next. So everyone is working on their own level!

This site has some great ideas on mulitiplication in the math section. I'm working on them with my 3-4 class and it's going very well! I'm determined no one is leaving this year without knowing their multiplication facts and we're over halfway there! Good luck--I know it's harder with fifth because they've had longer to convince themselves it's impossible to master the facts--but they can do it.