Posted by margie, bauerd@marshall.edu, on 7/29/98Hi, I taught first grade for years and am moving to 2nd for
the first time. I was wondering: How do you have your
children work-on learning math facts at home?In first grade, I made individual math facts cards for each
child for all the facts to 10 (+ and -) and the envelopes
travelled from school to home daily. Each time a child
studied his/her facts, the parent signed the envelope and
the child received a small token.But I don't want to have to work this hard in 2nd (takes
HOURS to do the fact cards...and, even if I have a parent
volunteer do them, it costs me LOTS of money for all the 3"
by 5" cards.How do you have your 2nd graders learn the facts at home for
12 and 18? I do mad minute math tests, etc. but I'm talking
about how to have the parents help at home.Thanks, Margie
Math facts are a constant problem and a necessity of
life.hmn...I'm always looking for better ideas too. I sent
home a homework calendar(premade by Frank Schaeffer??) at the
beginning of the month. That had math practice tasks on it.
Then on my weekly newsletter I put reminders to practice
certain cards that week (eg. plus zeros) and the families used
their own homemade or purchased cards. If you want to
eliminate any cost of index cards, cut apart cereal boxes and
write on them with markers.
Then when things got dull, or the kids needed incentive, we
would sometimes play that OLD game of TRAVELLING, which the
kids LOVE. (know that one?)Maybe these few hints can be added
to your ideas and maybe someone will send us some more good
ones. I love this chatboard.
MA/3/paTry using your computer to make your own flashcards. I used
mine to make masters for cards that are 2" x 3". Then I run
them or print them on cardstock (index stock) which is like the
3 x 5 cards, only it comes in 8 1/2 x 11 size. Then they can be
cut apart on the paper cutter.
I also ran two sets on colored computer paper and cut up. These
are put in a coffee can. When the children come in the room in
the morning they each take one slip and keep it with them all
day, usually in their pocket. At any time I might call on a
student and say "What is your math fact?" (or number sentence).
The child takes out his mini-flash card and has to recite his
math fact and give the answer--7+8=15. Everyone knows my class
does this, and many people help by asking them to recite their
math fact, even the bus drivers. When all the facts are gone, I
put in new sets. This might be considered rote memory, but rote
memory does have its place.Linda
Hi Margie,I've been teaching 2nd grade a long time and agree learning basic
facts to 18 is extremely important. I also give timed test the
beginning months of school to find out which children really know
their basic facts to ten (from first grade) and then moving them
on individually to facts to 12, to 15 and finally to 18.
However, for home study I use different strategies.First I explain the Math Their Way Bean Game to students (and to
parents on Open House night). It's so simple but sooooo
effective! Children MUST go through the concrete concepts of
numbers before abstract so, playing the Bean Game reinforces in
such a simple way! (Of course, I tell parents they may and
should substitute different objects... toothpicks, pennies,
candy, etc. to keep up interest.) We also use small paper cups
to play on a counter/desk top, pretending we are magicians at a
fair! (Hiding part of the numbers under one cup.)How to play? Basically, it's a fact family game. IF the child
needs to work on the family of 5, you would hold the beans behind
your back, then bring both closed hands forward to the child.
Open one hand and display number (3 beans). Ask, "Now can you
tell me how many are in the other hand?" If the child pauses to
count {Your lowest may even need to touch the beans}, "1, 2,
3,.... 4, 5." And then answers "2", he needs to be on this family
for reinforcement! If the child answers, "2" VERY quickly, try
them on 4+1, then move on to the family of 6.{Kids love to play this with each other at center time, too, and
are very understanding about which family different children are
working on.}Of course, they can also write down on paper all the fact
families with 5 beans. If your beginning 2nd graders are like
mine, half of my class usually has to begin with the number 5, 6,
or 7.We also sing our doubles and doubles plus one (just a little made-
up tune or rap). And practice "counting up" to higher numbers.But, children that really do the concrete activities (playing
with parent reinforcement) are usually more prepared for timed
paper and pencil test. {We also use "Touch Math" or dots on the
numbers! But that's another story!}Hope some of this helps you!
Sea/2/NC
Posted by LuAnn/KS/2 on 7/30/98
The "Box it and Bag It" ideas for Math facts can be packaged for
taking home. The big thing with practicing Math facts is to have
MANY different "formats" for doing it. This would be a good one
to post in lesson plans when we have a nice collection!Here are a few:
1. Mark on/wipe off sheets plus a sand timer or a digital timer.
Child works the sheet, timing self. Check, erase, and try again.
Were the times different?
(Our school has REQUIRED weekly timed math computation drills,
and I thought the kids would dread them, but they didn't. We
made a big deal of celebrating each time a child "passed"-- and
the reward was for the WHOLE class, so it was not so
competitive. I also remind the children CONSTANTLY that we're
all good at different things. Some people have speedy "Math
brains" and some don't. We rejoice for those who have that gift!)2. Any assortment of "cute" containers, marked with the numbers
of the answers, plus mini flash cards. (Our Heath Math series
has the masters for these in back. Copy onto card stock.) At
Halloween, I found cute little skulls that were meant to be for
party favors. Boxes covered with Christmas wrap at Christmas.
Assorted pockets. Etc. etc. Sometimes, print the flashcards on
a different color. ANYTHING to make it look a little new and
different.3. The card game "WAR" can be played with math flash cards.
4. Board games can be played with flash cards. I reproduce these
occassionally and send them home for kids to do at home. Parents
sign a note and this can be done INSTEAD of a worksheet.5. We have two OLD computers, Apple IIe and Apple IIc, and the
kids still love those old drill programs. (My room is the
"computer graveyard" cause I can't refuse ANYTHING with a
monitor.)6. A memory game can be played with a mixture of mini flash
cards and equal sized answer cards.7. Math bingos of all kinds. I personally think it's worth my
time/sanity to copy out little bingo boards that the children can
color with crayons. Don't like all those floating pieces and the
passing out, collecting time. We play the first game with yellow
crayon, then orange, then brown-- so we get three games on one
board. Takes a little work to get the initial masters, but it's
worth it to be able to "do" bingo with so little prep time! (We
also do "sight word" bingo for reading the same way.)Posted by dean on 7/30/98
I use cereal or candy for the bingo markers so I don't have to take them back up. Yhe eat them when we are finished!
Posted by Annie/CA on 7/30/98
Linda,
Your idea for the "pocket" math fact is terrific and will work so well for multiplication and division facts. Thank you!
Annie/CA
Posted by Amy/WA on 7/30/98
Another good card game to practice facts: Students are in groups of three. A deck of cards with the face cards removed is handed out to two of the players. The two players take one card and without looking put it on their foreheads. They hold it so the third student can tell them how much it equals. Then they look at the other person's card on their forehead and they have to tell what their own card is- So if I was playing and I put my card on my forehead and the third player said 7 and I can see that the other person had a 3, I would know that I had a 4. Amy
Posted by julie 3/CO on 7/30/98
This is an idea I got from a LEP class. Students choose a fact that
is difficult for them, a target fact. They write this fact on cards
or pieces of paper and tape them in obvious places around the house-
bathroom mirror, doors, fridge, tv, etc. Students can change the
facts every couple of days. I also see no reason not to encourage
parents to invest in a drill and practice computer program, they can
be just a cheapie 10 dollar disk.Re: Learning math facts--how?
Posted by Mona on 7/30/98Here is a site where you can play with flashcards, memory games or make your own games. Great for a center for flashcard practice!!
Go to the site and click on Mathematics. Follow the choices.
http://www.quia.com/Our "school wide " three years ago was to improve memorization of facts. Our principal bought "holey cards" for all!! We had math fact
drill everyday at the sound of a bell. This was done similar to SSR.
Those that finished in the required time went to the office to sign their name on a special board near the principal's office. They could progress through the addition, subtraction, miltiplication and division at their own pace. I had some taking addition, some were working on subtraction......others mutiplication.......each teacher also had rewards on the classroom level. It was fun!! I'm getting those children in third grade now and they really know their addition ans subtraction facts!! Every time a student finished a level they were rewarded a "Math Wiz" pencil from the principal. I only had a few that would make it through all the levels.
We've slacked off on this after year two but I'd like to do it again!!Posted by Jan/ohio on 7/30/98
We put flashcards on our supply lists at the beginning of the year. We put the cards in ziplock bags and send home addition or subtraction on Mondays with homework slip to be signed that they practiced . The cards must be returned on Wednesday when we give a timed test. ( I posted more info on this in an earlier post on 2nd grade homework)
Posted by Sea/2/NC Thanks, Amy! Neat idea... on 7/30/98
I think my kids would LOVE this! We could call it, "What's the magic
number?" as if it were a "mind reading" game! Thanks for sharing.And Mona, thank you for another great site! :)
Posted by Dot, mccorkle@telapex.com, on 7/31/98
Instead of giving the kids a certain amount of time, just let them
work as fast as they can and record their time when they hand it in.
They will work against themselves to get faster and faster. I
always had somebody who got nervous and cried when I called time.
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