Math Facts...we've got issues! Help!

[Mom2Monkeys]

My 7yo dd can NOT memorize her math facts. She is math advanced I guess you could say but is slowed down by her slow fact recall. She still uses her fingers and sometimes she takes a L O N G time to answer something as simple as 8+1. I have some things to make it more fun (card games, wrap-ups, cd-rom games, a large electronic pad that calls out problems and she steps on the right number. Oh, I've started her on math fact copywork today as well. She understands the concepts of add/subt and even mult/divide. But, she just can not get these facts down. I'd decided to put math on hold until we can get the facts memorized pretty well but it looks like that will take too long. So I don't want to put it on hold too long. I'm starting her back in Singapore 2A to fill any gaps and get a good grasp on the way singapore works (She could have done 2B and 3A). Should I just continue math as is and add in the fact drills? Or should I keep it on hold and just work on the facts?

[AboveRubiesMama]

Well I'm not at all familiar with Singapore math but your situation sounds a little like mine. My dd does well in math but also struggles to memorize the facts, so we plan to do nothing but flash card drills and review between our first and second semesters. It'll give us about a 6 week break of just reviewing facts. We also plan to do this for reading as well--we're going to spend 6 weeks of reviewing sight words, phrase flash cards, and reviewing her Primer.

[inHistiming]

If it is a concern for you, then I would add some sort of drill each day...either a worksheet or flash cards, but TIME her. We had this incorporated with my ds's math last year, and it really helped him to remember his facts better. If he had to try to beat the clock, then beat his previous time, that motivated him. Also, go back and have her correct the ones missed and complete any she doesn't get to (if using worksheets) because this will help cement the 'correct' fact in her mind. I also think starting her earlier...my son was 9 when we did this...will help a lot. My dd 8 is often quicker than her brother with her facts...and I believe it might be because she 'got it' earlier...her strength is math though, so that could be it as well. HTH