We are struggling with memorizing facts here. I am curious as to why HOD does not include math drill work in the curriculum. Is this something we should be adding in ourselves?
Carrie, could you please share your ideas on how to get children to memorize their math facts?
Thanks so much!
Can we talk math drills?
Re: Can we talk math drills?
I've wondered that myself. In our home a "little" bit of practice 4 days a week, goes a LONG way. I keep a master check list of all the facts - addition, subtraction, multiplication, division for each child. Each day they spend no more than 5 minutes practicing using either a worksheet, flash cards with a sibling, FlashMaster or Quarter Mile Math software. As they master one level they move to the next. I haven't been doing this, but for those facts that are challenging I'm gonig to simply use the "exercises" that Carrie uses in the Bible block for Scripture memory. The Kinesthetic piece really seems to help things come together.MommyInTraining wrote:We are struggling with memorizing facts here. I am curious as to why HOD does not include math drill work in the curriculum. Is this something we should be adding in ourselves?
I'll look forward to reading Carrie's post on this, as well.Have a happy day!
With Joy!
Florence
My blog: http://florencebrooks.com/
Began HOD 1/2009
Currently using: Bigger, RTR, Rev to Rev and MTMM
Florence
My blog: http://florencebrooks.com/
Began HOD 1/2009
Currently using: Bigger, RTR, Rev to Rev and MTMM
Re: Can we talk math drills?
Ladies,
The design of the Singapore math that is scheduled in our guides goes through the facts in the lessons in a way that helps with memorization pretty well. Often kiddos using the math as scheduled in the HOD guides do not require additional fact practice. For those kiddos who do require additional practice on fact memorization, there are many options available to help in that area.
At our house, we give our kiddos every opportunity to get their facts down purely from their math program. By third grade if our kiddos do need extra practice, it's usually just for a few remaining tough facts that aren't sticking in their minds. We've found that good old flashcards worked better than anything else.
I have my kiddos make their own set of flashcards on index cards cut in half. They put a small piece of masking tape on the back to use for writing the answer in pencil (so the answer cannot be seen through the card on the other side). I have them make one set at a time, starting with the 0's, which they already know (but just to make them feel successful). They make a card for 0 + 1, 0 + 2, 0 + 3, etc. (all the way up to 0 + 12). They practice the set until they can do it in 15 seconds or less. Then, they test with me. If they pass, they get a quarter for their bank. If they don't pass, they practice again. We only allow testing once during each day. This is so that we don't get bogged down in testing over and over again until they get it only for the day, but don't remember it the next day. Anyway, this is just the way we do it. I know more moms will be along to share their wisdom!
The only other thing we've really found to be worthwhile to add to math time is the Skip Count Kids: Bible Songs version for teaching skip counting. Skip counting is a very useful skill for addition, learning multiplication tables, and dividing.
Blessings,
Carrie
The design of the Singapore math that is scheduled in our guides goes through the facts in the lessons in a way that helps with memorization pretty well. Often kiddos using the math as scheduled in the HOD guides do not require additional fact practice. For those kiddos who do require additional practice on fact memorization, there are many options available to help in that area.
At our house, we give our kiddos every opportunity to get their facts down purely from their math program. By third grade if our kiddos do need extra practice, it's usually just for a few remaining tough facts that aren't sticking in their minds. We've found that good old flashcards worked better than anything else.
I have my kiddos make their own set of flashcards on index cards cut in half. They put a small piece of masking tape on the back to use for writing the answer in pencil (so the answer cannot be seen through the card on the other side).
I have them make one set at a time, starting with the 0's, which they already know (but just to make them feel successful). They make a card for 0 + 1, 0 + 2, 0 + 3, etc. (all the way up to 0 + 12). They practice the set until they can do it in 15 seconds or less. Then, they test with me. If they pass, they get a quarter for their bank. If they don't pass, they practice again. We only allow testing once during each day. This is so that we don't get bogged down in testing over and over again until they get it only for the day, but don't remember it the next day. Anyway, this is just the way we do it. I know more moms will be along to share their wisdom! The only other thing we've really found to be worthwhile to add to math time is the Skip Count Kids: Bible Songs version for teaching skip counting. Skip counting is a very useful skill for addition, learning multiplication tables, and dividing.
Blessings,
Carrie
Re: Can we talk math drills?
In addition to flashcards, we are using a poster I found at the Dollar Tree. It works great, it does have the answers on there but just the repetition helps. We have "circle time" for this. We also play a math addition/subtraction Bingo I found at Dollar Tree also. When we are on a long drive dh & I call out math problems and have them answer. None of my boys have their facts memorized, they usually use their fingers but I can see progress!
~Summer
Using LHFHG & BHFHG 2008-2009
http://wisdom4us.homeschooljournal.net/
Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.
~William Butler Yeats
Using LHFHG & BHFHG 2008-2009
http://wisdom4us.homeschooljournal.net/
Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.
~William Butler Yeats
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Alison in KY
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:00 pm
Re: Can we talk math drills?
Terri, we like to use the online MathUSee drill. It's free and they are getting math fact drills in a painless (well, at least for me) way. I usually mix it up a bit, you can combine everything or just work on one or two facts, so it's really versatile. I have mine do it daily...but like anything else it just sometimes does not get done.
Alison in KY
Alison in KY
Re: Can we talk math drills?
The book Games for Math by Peggy Kaye has lots of great ideas for working on those math facts.