Math facts are the very basic foundational piece to your child's future success with math. The more automatic the facts, the easier math becomes.
It is important that we teach these in the correct way. First of all, we want to make sure that we only teach two to three facts at a time. Begin with the one's and two's, and then work your way up on up. There is a really fun picture book about math facts called Math the Fun Way! It comes in two versions, one for addition and one for multiplication. This book gives your child a story and picture to visualize and help with the memorization process. I suggest that you read a math story or two a night at the dinner table.
Have your child then paraphrase the story in his/her own words to help ensure that it reaches his/her long-term memory. They can also draw pictures to help create a longer lasting visual in their mind.
Some other fun ways to practice math facts are...
1. Play math fact bingo
2. Play math fact war with flashcards
3. Create rhymes or songs-- for example, “8x8 fell on the floor, pick it up and
it’s 64!”
4. Write the math facts in finger paint.
5. Build math facts with craft sticks.
6. Get a CD that plays math facts. There are many fun musical versions.
7. Play dominoes and add, subtract, multiply, or divide them as you connect them.
8. Use fact-family triangles to “stomp out” math facts.
9. Have your child draw a visual representation of the fact. Have the student
verbalize what they are visualizing.
10.We know that we learn by teaching. Have your child teach the facts to a younger
sibling.
The key is to make it consistent and fun!
