Please practice the math facts every night. You can keep the facts I send home, so you'll have a paper to practice the facts with. It is important that they use a timer. Here is an address for a timer: http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/intech/javatimer/javatimer.html I taught a certain order and method for the different types of math facts. We have covered the following facts:
1. Adding 0 and adding 1: The answer is the number added to 0 for adding 0 facts. The answer is the next number up on a number line when adding one.
2. Adding doubles (5+5, 2+2) These should be memorized.
3. Adding 2: Method for understanding these facts is to count by twos starting on even and starting on odd every day. They know counting by twos so well that when they see +2 with any number in a math fact, they know to go to the next number up on the counting by two number line. It is important that they can count by two starting at 1 and going to 21 and starting at 0 and going to 20 forward and backwards.
4. Doubles +1: Method for understanding these facts is knowing their doubles facts by heart. A doubles +1 fact is any two numbers on a number line next to each other. So, 4+5, 6+7, 7+8...are all doubles +1 facts. They must identify the smaller number first. Then, they double that number and add one to get the answer. For example: To solve 8+7 identify 7 as the smaller number and double it, 7+7=14 and add one to the answer, 14+1 and get 15. If they use this strategy it becomes ingrained and second nature.
5. Adding 9 facts: Method for these is to get the smaller number and write down the number that is one less than that. Then, just put a one in front of that number to get the answer. For example: 9+6...identify that 6 is the smaller number and write down 5. Put a one in front of five to get the answer: 15.
6. Sums of 8 and 9 facts: Method for these is to realize that there are only 4 that are new: 3+5, 5+3, 6+3, 3+6. All other facts were already learned previously.
7. Sums of 10: Method: There are only a few new ones: 6+4, 4+6, 7+3, 3+7
Please practice these using these methods. I always check to see if they are using the method. Ones that do use it finish the tests in 35 seconds. Students that don't use the methods take longer than 2:30 to finish because they are adding on their fingers or in their head.
